《Intergalactic conquest with an AI》


 Chapter 1: Corporate slave.

    (It hasn¡¯t been that long since I got sent to this God-forsaken world in the outer gxy to work as a guard in a new miner colony that was recently founded for the extraction of metals and yet.)


    Rex let out a deep sigh as he looked at the destroyed bar, where just hours before he was enjoying a cold drink after his shift had ended; it was now all in ruins, and he was lying down at one of the corners of the bar with a deep wound to his chest that was wide open.


    A few meters awayy the carcass of some unknown enemy, who looked just like those creatures that you could normally see only in horror movies. This one was just one meter long, with big wings, and his limbs resembled des. The creature had lost one of his des, which was in the hands of Rex.


    I don¡¯t know how this could happen to me; a few weeks ago I was just an officer worker, another ve of one of the megacorporations out in the gxy. Maybe that is why I am here. Damn ve contracts. Next time you see a contract promising a well payout and good retention credits, never say yes to the possibility of travel. It could end up fucking up all your life.)


    (Just like it did to mine.)


    *World of Nakor Year 5600 of the imperial gctic system*


    "Hey Rex, have you seen thepany news?"


    Rex felt a strong pat on the back as his best friend, a bald guy that looked not more than 24 years old, approached him, making the usual chat in the train going to thepany.


    "Hey, Carlos, yes, I did; they said that thepany will redeploy workers to a newly established colony in a new mining world."


    It was amon thing forpanies to send workers to work on others. This was the era of exploration and conquest, where new worlds were discovered andpanies were fighting for the control of the new worlds, among which was thepany where Rex was working.


    Thepany he worked for was Duotherm Omega, one of the 6 megacorps in the gxy. As a megacorp, it was well-bnced in each of the mayor districts, be it the Militar Tech and Exploration Tech. All megacorps had an army of their own that was much stronger and greater than any empire, since they have massive assets around the gxy.


    If someone was so dumb to defy a megacorporation, his world would be destroyed by a massive and superpowerful fleet that could destroy an intergctic empire in weeks and a world in a matter of even seconds, like the human race, that was bold enough not to give up to the control of one megacorporation and got all itss conquered in hours, and all the people made ves and sold across the gxy.


    While Rex was lost in thought, remembering this stuff, Carlos told him his biggest concern.


    "Do you think they will send us to this new colony?"


    Rex could feel the panic in the voice of Carlos since he had a kid at home that he was responsible for, and if he was selected to go to the new mining colony, he would have to abandon his kid here and go to the new.


    "I don¡¯t think so. We are just office workers; what will we do in a mining world? Count rocks?, just rx and be ready where almost at the office."


    Rex patted Carlos on the back to reassure him, just in time for the train to stop and all the workers came out and went to their works. Once at the office, Rex was doing the usual, just reading some documents and changing some stuff here and there. He did this for 10 hours till it was time to end this day shift.


    "Attetion to all the workers of rank 6 to 5, assemble at the conference hall."


    This announcement caught Rex somewhat off guard; he was somewhat surprised that they waited until the shift change to call for them, yet not really, since workers of rank 6 to 5 were just ves around the office, and nobody respected them. He went to the conference hall, where he could already see thousands of people.


    All sorts of races of conquereds worked in thepanies, and this one was not an exception. The human race here didn¡¯t even add up to 0.1 percent of the workers present here. Seeing a human in the gxy who wasn¡¯t a ve was just a miracle. Rex and Carlos were some of those few fortunate ones who could buy back their freedom.


    (That¡¯s ironic. After working like a ve for 18 years, I could finally buy back my freedom from the one who bought me, just to stop being a ve for a megacorp. There is nothing only here; at least I can sleep 8 hours.)


    While Rex was lost in his thoughts, a big guy entered the conference hall and faced all the others. He was wearing an athmosperich suit; his body was humanoid-like, and he had the face of a fish, not the cute ones. On his chest he had the Rank 3 ID.


    Once he was satisfied that he was visible to all, he began his usual corporate boss talk of loyalty and so forth. Since thepanies had many races, it would be impossible to learn all thenguages in the gxy, so they all had a universal trantor device on their arms.


    It was a small hologram screen that came out once the button on the device was clicked to start it. Once that was done, it would listen to the voice and trante them into the selectednguage in text. Like this, everyone couldprehend the words of the other races.


    "And with that said, each and every one of you will be sent to the new mining colony; rank 6¡¯s as miners, rank 5¡¯s as guards. Be joyful, everyone of you! You will all be some of the first lucky people who get to enter this new world and colonize it."


    The fish guy said all of this with an energetic voice while raising his hands like some kind of messiah, making this sound like a once in a lifetime opportunity when in reality it was a death sentence, because it was well known that those who go to an unexplored always end up dying.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the murmurs of discontent rose among the workers in the hall; the fish guy became annoyed, and bringing his fingers to his arm where his device was, he typed amand, and within seconds, everyone of rank 5 and 6 in the hall began screaming in pain, grabbing their heads.


    Once a few minutes of screams and dispeir, the fish guy was finally ced and back with his smile on his ugly fish face, and so he stopped themand he had just sent to the chips inside of the brain of the workers. This chip was developed years ago and was used to prevent the workers from doing corporation spionage and keep them controlled.


    It was a requirement in any kind of work; even the space pirates used them on their members to keep them under control, and forpanies this was a must if you wanted to work in one of them. Once the pain finally stopped, Rex could finally stop dancing like a worm on the floor of the hall, and with fury on his face, he was staring at the fish guy.


    "So, now I can tell that everyone here agreed with their own volition to go to the new mining colony, Marbellus; the transport ships are waiting for everyone outside of the building; be careful when going up, and don¡¯t fall."


    Having said hisst mocking words, the fish guy left the hall, and soon after, armed guards came inside of the hall to make everyone start moving to the transport ships. Rex could see from afar how some of the workers were trying to run away, just to be shot down with tasers that knocked them out in seconds.


    Rex could also see how one of them was Carlos; he was already tased down by the guards and was being dragged to the transport ship. Rex could only tighten his fist in anger and shame of how weak he was while watching his best friend being dragged away.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Without even the opportunity to tell his 5-year-old kid back at his house that he was going to leave the world and that kid will probably die of hunger if someone does not help him, Rex then got out after a few seconds from the line going to the transport ships and walked toward one of the guards.


    The guard, seeing that one of the workers that was supposed to go to the transportship wasing toward him so he pointed his gun toward the worker and got ready to shoot, his finger already on the trigger.

 Chapter 2: Arriving to the new world.

    Once Rex saw that the guard was pointing his gun toward him, he raised his hands in sign of surrender.


    "Hey, hold on; I¡¯m not trying to do anything dangerous. I just want to make a deal with you that¡¯ll make you get a good amount of credits, and without doing anything tooplicated, what do you say?"


    The guard thought for a few seconds before putting down his gun.


    "Say, what is the deal? I won¡¯t let you leave, just so you know; after all, there¡¯s not enough credits in the whole gxy that could make me bet my head on; after all, what use are the credits if I can¡¯t enjoy them?"


    Rex then lowered his hands and began to touch his left arm device, essing his bank ount. Once on his bank ount, he walked up to the guard and shed the credits.


    "This 300k credits I have is the payment; all I want is for you to go this direction; I¡¯m transferring you right now; there lives an Aquarian grandma, and all you have to do is tell her to take care of the bald kid, and that¡¯s it, easy credits for you, right?


    The eyes of the guard widened when he saw the 300k credits. As that amount was a lot, since he could only gain 30k credits per year, these 300k credits were the savings of 5 years of Rex that he was saving to buy himself a cybeic upgrade, but saving the kid of his best friend was more important than the credits right now.


    "All you want me to do is tell the grandma this message?"


    Rex nodded slightly.


    "Yeah, that¡¯s all you have to do. I¡¯ve transferred her 150k credits that she¡¯ll pay you when you get there with her and deliver the message."


    Then, Rex transferred the 150k credits to the guard and joined the line to the transport ship, where Carlos was also going. He thought that calling it a transport ship was too big of a praise since it was only a big empty area inside of it, without anything else. Rex then started looking for Carlos.


    Once he had located his unconscious friend, hey down next to him on the floor and let out a deep sigh.


    ("And there goes my cybeic hands upgrade, at least I know that the kid is going to be safe with grandma, I have no idea how long we¡¯re going to travel, so I better take a nap. Later I¡¯ll provide the grandma¡¯s bank ount number to this damned bald, and I am not going to pay to his son all of my life, not like he is a beautiful and hot single mom, damn.")


    Cybeic upgrades had been around for 2,000 years now and were a tech that anyone could buy. Anything you could think of, from legs that could let you fly to arms that could be miniguns to even boob guns, was out on the market. There was no limit to the imagination on these things.


    Normal cybeic imnts were open for all the public to buy, while those of military use could be found on dark markets across the gxy or with your smuggler of trust. If you could even trust a smuggler, those guys could even cheat a cookie from a baby and sell it back to the mom.


    There¡¯s also a special type of upgrade called bionics. Only nobles or high military posts could enjoy those types of upgrades, since even one bionic eye could cost 500 million credits. They were costly since it was bio-technology that could change the organs and make them half organic, half machine.


    It took 8 hours of travel from this world to the new one with the wormhole jumping technology developed 300 years ago that was now ofmon use for medium-size ships and bigger. Since there were not even windows on this transport ship, nobody inside could tell when they arrived.


    That was until the door of the transport ship started to open. Rex could feel the hot airing inside the cargo bay, where everybody was. Thanks to the residential dome, the oxygen one needs to live here was optimal for those who needed it; other races were just using their own atmospheric suits.


    The guards of thepany that escorted the transport ships here began to make everyone get out of them. It was when Rex stepped outside the transport ship that he realized theirpany wasn¡¯t the only one to send workers here, but many other ships were also dispatched with differentpany emblems onto thending zone.


    "Those of Duotherm Omega Company, this way! Don¡¯t get lost; we won¡¯t be responsible for an idental death on thending zone. Nowe follow me."


    The one speaking was a tall man of dark skin with the usual guardbat suit; behind him were the other 20 more armed guards to prevent rebellion of any kind. Like this, everyone followed the man up until they arrived at a big open space.


    "Now I will give the orders the higher-ups sent me: those of rank 6 are to be miners and are to live in the residential area, and those of rank 5 are to be new recruits for the guard and are to live on headquarters residential; thats all; those of rank 5 follow me, and those of rank 6 go with this guy here."


    Rex gave Carlos a pat on the back to cheer him up.


    "Well, since I am rank 5, I will go to this side. I will see youter, my bald friend. Don¡¯t forget to send Grandma credits for the expenses of taking care of you, kid."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Once Rex was about to leave, Carlos spoke with him.


    "Wait Rex!, I just wanted to thanks you for all you did back there to help my kid, I know that those credits means a lot to you, and I will pa-"


    He had not even finished saying it when Rex interrupted him.


    "Wait a second; don¡¯t you even dare say that. I gave those credits on a voluntary basis; if you want to pay me, then let¡¯s search for a tavern with the worse name tomorrow once our shift is done, and you will pay since I have 0 credits right now. Sounds good?."


    The warm smile that Rex was giving Carlos right now was a safe haven from all of this that was happening, and after hearing these words from his best friend, he wanted to cry, but he just manned up and joined hands with him, making the promise to drink tomorrow at night.


    Like this, they left to their ces. Rex could notice that this world had a sun and 2 moons that were so big that you could see them without difficulty from the colony. This colony, like any other mining colony, was made full of metals, and you could see pipes everywhere releasing smoke from time to time.


    While usual holographicpany ads were being transmitted, together with the news of the colony, it didn¡¯t take him long to reach the guard headquarters of the Duotherm Omegapany: it was a big building situated in the northeast part of the colony.


    After he entered the hall, he was taken to a 4-by-4 room in which he would be obliged to live from that day on.


    ("Well, it could be worse; at least I was in luck and got a room with a window.")


    He opened the window of his room, undressed from his formal office worker clothes, and sprang onto the bed, which was as hard as a rock. Now he was clutching at his chest area from the jolt with the hard bed.


    In fact, he did not take long to sleep; after 5 hours of sleep, he was awakened by an rm installed in his room, which meant that it was about time his shift started, and he had to head to the barracks to put himself together, and so he did that while dragging his still sleepy legs towards the barracks.


    There, he was given an electronic key with the number of the armory locker he had been assigned to. Once he walked towards his locker and opened it, he could see a ck guard uniform with usual guard chest armor and helmet, and therey an electric rifle.


    The electric rifles were a new military technology capable of firing bullets without using gunpowder, an achievement that was to be twice as fast and twice as strong as a regr rifle. It took Rex just about 10 minutes to be fully armed and ready for the start of his shift.


    It wasmon that the colony guards weren¡¯t even trained in the use of weaponry or other kinds of military training. Since thepanies didn¡¯t care what the guards in the godforsaken colony did, they only cared that theyply with their material orders.


    Since this was the first time for Rex here, he walked toward the guy in charge of the armory to ask for a little advice.

 Chapter 3: First contact (1)

    The guy in the armory was the typical ck marker smuggler; he was a fat alien lying on a big armchair while smoking T355. Some sort of substance simr to tobo, which humans usually smoke. Without wasting more time, Rex finally spoke to him.


    "Hello, senior, I wanted to ask, Where do I need to head next?"


    The armorer supervisor looked at Rex up and down before answering.


    "Ha! A rookie, I see; well, just go to that terminal over there and introduce your electronic key to see your job for today."


    Rex thanked him and then proceeded to the terminal. There, for the first time, he knew what he had to do; it was a patrol mission with another 3 new recruits and one more experimented guard.


    Then he started to look for his squad until he found them. After some introductions, they started doing their patrol route; it was just walking from point A to point B without too much to do; it was your typical routine mission, and like this, his shift was over, and he got this day¡¯s pay, only 300 credits.


    It was then time to look in this big colony for his friend Carlos. Rex spent an hour searching bars till he finally found him. The name of that bar was Atomic Cocktails. Once Carlos noticed Rex from far away, he started waving his hand so he could notice where he was.


    "Hey Rex! Finally you arrived; for a second there I thought that you got lost; I was going to call the guards reporting a lost kid."


    "Haha, fuck off, man; it¡¯s harder to find someone than it is to search for a bar; next time you will have to search for me."


    While they were conversing, Rex put his arm around Carlos¡¯s neck and dragged him inside the bar. The ce was nothing new, just the normal bar; some electronic music and a lot of lights. At least here in this bar, there weren¡¯t that many people, so they could find a table where they could sit down and drink their beers.


    "Oh yes before I forget, here take this Rex"


    Carlos pulled from his pocket a hand-sized white quartz.


    "I mined that one today; since they have no value, the area supervisor let me have it, and since I know you like to collect strange rocks, make this one your first in this new world."


    Once Carlos ced the quartz on his hand, Rex was ovee with emotion.


    "Although you are just a bald guy, you really are nice; now you even to make me cry."


    They both continued having silly discussions until they were deep drunk and were kicked from the bar. Since Carlos¡¯ house was closer to where they were, they decided that they would sleep over at his ce. The moment they reached Carlos¡¯ department, they fell onto the floor and slept like logs.


    They woke up hungover, as was a ritual by now. Rex said his goodbyes to Carlos and proceeded to make his way to the armoury to retrieve his uniform and begin the daily patrol routine. Thankfully, due to the helmet, the squad leader had no inkling that Rex was hungover and not that he gave a damn anyway.


    This was supposed to be just another routine mission, but sometimes the clock of fate just loves to pull off some really cruel pranks. From the centre of the colony, a big explosion took ce, followed by an unnatural earthquake, and it did not take long before the shootings of guns could be heard from every direction.


    "Central here, guard G-45, what is the situation?"


    The squad leader of Rex tried to contact the central with his inteunicator but got static as an answer.


    "Hey! Look up there! What is that?"


    One of Rex¡¯s guardpanions pointed to the sky; once he followed his finger to see where he was pointing, he could see how from inside the dome many flying bugs of a considerable size wereing out, and before he could say anything, the ce where the guard that pointed at the sky was standing started to crumble.


    And soon after, a long bug with big and powerful ws came out of the ce that crumbled, while having the guard that was standing there on his big jaws, just a secondter, to cut him in half with its powerful jaws.


    "Ahhhhhh


    Rex let out a scream out of panic while pulling his rifle¡¯s trigger, emptying all the clip on this bug. All that could be heard was the little electricity of the rifle trying to shoot since it was out of ammo already. Rex could let out a sigh of relief when he saw that the bug was dead, praising his luck that at least the rifles could kill them.


    But that relief didn¡¯tst long; the shots made those flying bugs aware of them, and now they were alsoing down toward Rex¡¯s squad.


    "Shit! Run!"


    Rex could only say that before he started to run, followed by the other 3 guards, the swarm kept following them pretty close, without a sign of losing interest in them.


    "Here! Let¡¯s enter this bar!


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    For whatever reason, Rex ran all the way to the Atomic Cocktail Bar, as that was the only ce he knew. Once they went inside the bar, they tried to close the door, but it was useless; the bugs fell onto the door, sending it flying open, making a puree of meat and blood of the guard that was trying to close it.


    Rex and the rest started firing at the bugs, attempting to get inside. Since the opening was small and tight, the bugs could only enter a few at a time instead of swarming it. Like this, it caused less of a problem for them in shooting the bugs down, but their numbers were endless, while their bullets weren¡¯t.


    The moment they ran out of ammo, the rest of the flying bugsing for them got inside the bar; only the screams of the guards could be heard while they were being chopped to pieces, and the luck of Rex also ran out. 2 flying bugs also charged at him; one of them managed to cut down his leg with one of his sharp legs like des.


    While the other bug has pierced his chest with one of his de legs and made him spit blood out.


    "Darn it!!!"


    With a fierce scream, Rex took his handgun out and put it inside the mouth of the bug that pierced his chest, unloading all the magazine on it and blowing its head on many pieces. Then he took hisst handgun clip and reloaded it, and with that he shot at the other bugs. These bugs were too squishy and easy to kill; thus, they died easily.


    He then shot at the leg de that was inside his chest, cutting it down from the dead bug on top of him. Finally, he pushed the bug down from him, and with thest strength he could muster, he pulled the de from his chest.


    He could only pant and cough blood by then; he could already feel the cold and peace of the iing death; the blood loss from the ce where minutes ago was his leg and from his chest, which probably was now without a heart, was going to be the cause of his death, even after kiling all those bugs.


    "Sigh, this is so damn unfair; not even 3 days I could survive. Fuck this world, fuck thepany, and fuck all those bugs, dammit!"


    [You weep like a little baby; since your going to die anyway, how about you give you body for my use?]


    Rex let out a small smile, thinking he was going crazy already.


    "Like hell, I will do that; it took me many years to get my freedom, and I won¡¯t give it to anyone."


    [........]


    [Then, what about a deal? In exchange for me to restore your body, you will share your body with me; how about that?]


    Rex could hardly hear thosest words, so he answered with the first thing that came to his mind before finally fainting.


    "You have a cute voice....."


    [.....]


    Once he fainted, the white quartz that was inside his pocket all this time started bing a white metallic liquid that went all the way up to the chest of Rex and inside of the injury.


    [Carbon base life form detected, initiate symbiotic rtion, repair damaged tissue, reconstruct body to an optimal life form for me to use.]


    Now, the white metallic liquid that had gone inside Rex¡¯s body quickly started to spread in his body, changing his frail bones into metallic bones and changing veins with tubes and cables; all of his organs were also converted to bionic ones; all of his body was now a bionic one, half machine and half organic.


    [The weakness of this body is now gone; all that is left to do is for me to be the source of power for this body.]

 Chapter 4: First contact (2)

    Rex didn¡¯t have a single clue when he died because the only thing he remembered was the sound of a very beautiful voice of ady. Then he felt the dark, cold sleeping. Everything waspletely dark everywhere around him until some rays of light began to show up.


    The moment he opened his eyes, he was dumbfounded by the way he had been feeling; all pain that he felt before dying was gone, and even more amazing than this, he was now seeing things perfectly, or even more than that, he could see even the dust falling on the other side of the bar.


    But suddenly, the panic came to him when he noticed he couldn¡¯t even move a finger, and he could only breathe and move his eyes.


    "It seems you are finally awake; I was waiting for you to awaken before I started the system. Give me a second."


    Since Rex was unable to even speak, the questions he had on his mind would have to wait, which didn¡¯t take that long. He could feel a warmth on his chest while he could hear the sound of various systems going online one after another, like you do when you turn on a PC.


    He could also feel how from his ribs area a strong, hot wind wasing out, sending dust flying around on the destroyed bar. The hot airsted for a few minutes till the air started toe out cold and in less quantity.


    ["System status all green, host body status all green, initiating activation"]


    When he heard those words, the body of Rex jumped a little, and after that, he managed to move itself as usual. He lifted his left arm and looked at it. He could feel that it was heavier and stronger, but what caught more of his attention were the strange ck lines around all the visible parts of his skin.


    "I know you¡¯re impressed by my work, but sadly, it¡¯s time to move. The enemies detected the energy used for your activation, and they¡¯re on their way. We should leave as soon as possible."


    Rex stood there, still in shock. He remembered dying, and there had been a hole in his chest. Now, though, that hole was gone, reced by a strange, prism-like gem of white light, encased in ck lines. Even stranger, his lost leg was back. As he inspected himself, the words of that beautiful voice he¡¯d heard earlier echoed in his mind again.


    "Wait, I know your voice... who are you?"


    Before he could finish his question, a sound like the pping of a thousand wings rushed closer. Remembering what the voice had told him, he bolted toward the door of the bar and ran towards the barracks.


    He was running at an insane speed, reaching easily 100 km/h. Unused to this newfound power, he mmed right into a mining car, pushing it forward slightly.


    "What the... how am I this fast all of a sudden?"


    "I suggest you start running again. The enemies are multiplying, thanks to all the noise you¡¯re making. You¡¯re worse than a newborn Kemr."


    "Ouch. Harsh, ma¡¯am, but technically, I am a newborn... if you think about it."


    [...]


    Rex just grinned, shrugging it off. He started running again, slower this time, gradually increasing his pace as he got more used to the speed. Before long, he was near the guard headquarters; he was only about 2 km away, but what he saw there sent a chill down his spine


    The guard headquarters was under siege by the bugs. Defensive turrets fired non-stop, with missile barrages raining down on the swarmingnd bugs. The remaining guards fought desperately, trying to keep the flying bugs away from the towers. But from the looks of it, they were on borrowed time, about to be overrun.


    "Hey, beautiful voice. Is there any way to get inside the barracks without, you know... dying?"


    "There¡¯s one way: activate Overdrive. It¡¯ll make your body twice as strong as it is now. If we make four or five jumps, we should reach the barracks."


    "Uh, Overdrive? What exactly is that?


    "No time to exin. Activating Overdrive... please stand by."]


    Suddenly, Rex felt a surge of heat through his body. The cool, quiet air that had been seeping from his ribs turned hot and wild. He could feel parts of his body shifting into small propents opening up in his limbs.


    ["Overdrive activated. Energy reserves are limited, so you only have 30 seconds. I suggest immediate action."


    "Wait¡ªwhat?! You could¡¯ve told me that sooner!"


    Wasting no more time, Rexunched into his first jump. As soon as he leaped, the propellers on his legs ignited, sending him flying farther than he thought possible. The height was terrifying.


    "Oh sh*t! I¡¯m falling! I¡¯m going to die!"


    Despite his panic, Rexnded smoothly. The beautiful voice had taken control of his bionic imnts, slowing his descent just before he hit the ground. Since his body was now fully bionic, the abrupt deceleration didn¡¯t harm him at all.


    ["Stop yelling and start moving. You¡¯ve got 18 seconds of Overdrive left."]


    Without another word, Rex kept jumping, the beautiful voice guiding him and keeping him from smashing into anything fatal. Finally, they reached the rooftop of the headquarters.


    ["Overdrive mode has ended. Energy at 8%. Entering energy-saving mode. I suggest the host find an energy source immediately"]


    "Hey, I can¡¯t keep calling you ¡¯beautiful voice¡¯ forever, so... do you have a name?"


    [My assembly number is FTR-256.]


    "Yeah, no. That¡¯s not going to work. From now on, you¡¯re Cleo. Seems fitting for someone with such a cute voice."


    [...]


    Rex felt a little awkward after the silence that followed. No reaction at all. He just shrugged, kept quiet, and opened the rooftop door to head into the headquarters. As he made his way down the stairs, he noticed arge truck blocking the exit.


    "Cleo, the exit¡¯s blocked. Any bright ideas?"


    As soon as he said that, beams of light shot out from his eyes, scanning the vehicle.


    [ording to my analysis, you¡¯re strong enough to push this vehicle without much effort.]


    "Cleo, we need to have a long talk about what you¡¯ve done to my body after this."


    [As you wish.]


    Rex took a deep breath and started pushing the truck. To his surprise, it moved. Easily. Once there was enough space for him to slip inside the barracks, he got in, then pushed the truck back into ce, blocking the stairs again.


    He jogged toward the armory at a normal pace, nothing that would draw too much attention if anyone saw him. After reaching his locker, he quickly changed his pants and grabbed a new helmet. Then he made his way over to the weapon racks. He picked up an electric rifle and grabbed eight clips of ammo.


    ["I rmend the host also grab a melee weapon. Based on my observations, thebat machete over there would be a suitable choice"]


    "Good idea. Thanks, Cleo."


    ["I¡¯m reminding the host to recharge energy. 5% remaining. Once it reaches 1%, the host will enter deep slumber until energy is replenished."]


    "Okay, Cleo, so how do I recharge?" Rex asked, sounding a bit worried.


    ["Please wait. Scanning in progress... Found the closest energy charger. Follow the path I¡¯m disying toward the power source."]


    Small glowing orbs appeared, creating a path for Rex to follow. He walked along until he arrived at one of the main generators of the headquarters.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Alright, I¡¯m here. Now what?"


    ["Grab a cable and bite it."]


    "...Come again?"


    ["Activating emergency recharge mode."]


    Suddenly, Rex¡¯s teeth sharpened, making it easier to bite through the cable.


    "Wait, are you sure this is safe? Pretty sure this could kill me."


    ["Energy at 4%. I suggest the host hurry."]


    Rex sighed heavily, his hands trembling. With the same hesitation a kid has before taking bitter medicine, he closed his eyes and bit down on the cable.


    The moment his teeth made contact with the copper inside, high voltage surged through his body. But instead of the agonizing pain he¡¯d braced for, it felt more like a mild tingle spreading all over.


    ["Energy transfer detected. Redirecting power to the central core. Please stand by. Redirection sessful. Energy at 6%. Estimated time until fully charged: 30 minutes.


    Please remain still."]


    Thirty long, awkward minutes passed with Rex sitting on the floor, biting the cable like some weird, futuristic vampire.


    ["Energy at 100%. Please disconnect from the power source to prevent damage to the host."]


    Rex quickly spat out the cable, shaking his head and spitting out small bits of instion stuck in his mouth.


    "Ugh, that tastes like crap. Is there seriously no better way to recharge than chewing on cables?"


    ["To answer the host, there is a more advanced method, but this facilitycks the necessary equipment."]


    "Great," Rex muttered. "Alright, let¡¯s go find the guard captain. I need answers about what the hell is going on."

 Chapter 5: Into the Abyss

    Rex searched everywhere for the captain but couldn¡¯t find him. Frustrated, he started asking the injured guards if they had any idea where the captain had gone.


    Finally, someone gave him a lead. Apparently, the captain had been outside the headquarters when everything went down. Hisst known location? The mines. He¡¯d gone there after hearing a report of strange noisesing from underground.


    ("Wait... the mines!? Carlos!")


    Rex¡¯s stomach dropped. The bugs hade from underground, and that meant they¡¯de from the mines where his best friend, Carlos, had been working. If the captain went there because of the noises, the ce had to be chaos now. Rex dreaded the thought, but it was almost certain no one could still be alive in there.


    Still, Carlos was his best friend. He had to try, even if there was only the slightest chance he was still alive, maybe hiding somewhere. But the problem was getting there. The mines were a 30-minute drive from the colony.


    Taking a helicopter? Suicide, with the flying bugs still circling. A vehicle wasn¡¯t much better since the noise would bring the bugs straight to him.


    ["I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re overthinking this. If the host wants to go to the mines, I rmend running. At our top speed of 100 km/h, we make almost no noise. We¡¯ll be there in an hour."]


    "Wait, that¡¯s right! Cleo, you¡¯re a genius!"


    [.....]


    ["Tracing the route to the mining area, based on gathered information."]


    A small, glowing point appeared, showing the route to the mines. Rex knew how this worked and didn¡¯t waste a second. He leapt out of the headquarters, moving from roof to roof, staying as far from the bug-infested areas as possible.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Once he was in an area with fewer bugs, Rex dropped to the ground and took off running at full speed. Every now and then, he spotted a bug or two trying to chase him, but he was way too fast for them. After a few minutes, he found himself nearing the colony¡¯s exit.


    "Hey, Cleo, you know... uh, we kind of rushed out here, and, well, I forgot my atmospheric helmet."


    ["Host, there¡¯s no need to worry. I¡¯ve upgraded your pulmonary capacity. You can store oxygen in your lungs, and I¡¯ll regte your intake. You¡¯ll be able to go without breathing for five hours."]


    "Damn, I¡¯m amazing! Haha! Alright, let¡¯s go!"


    With all the chaos from the bugs attacking the colony, the exit was unguarded. All Rex had to do was swipe his guard keycard and slip through. No trouble at all. Once outside, he picked up the pace, sprinting toward the mine entrance.


    The¡¯s desert terrain made for an easy run since there were no obstacles to slow him down. After about an hour, he finally reached the mine. Two vehicles were parked near the entrance, probably the ones the guard captain had used. One of them had a mounted machine gun.


    "Cleo, don¡¯t forget about this vehicle. That machine gun coulde in handy if we run into something nasty inside. Oh, and can you scan the mine for me?"


    ["Host, it¡¯s not possible to scan the interior. Weck the necessary equipment. I suggest locating my covert ship."]


    "Wait, you have a ship!?"


    ["Affirmative. Though it¡¯s heavily damaged from the battle that brought me down, it can still fly and has some assembly capabilities intact."]


    "So, since you¡¯re part of me and you can only go where I go... doesn¡¯t that mean the ship is technically mine?"


    ["Host has temporary ess to the ship while we are connected."]


    "Wow, Cleo, you¡¯re surprisingly cheap for an AI. Anyway, let¡¯s keep moving."


    Rex stepped inside the mine, and almost immediately, he noticed the lights were dimmed way down. He figured it had something to do with the bugs that showed up a few hours ago, but it only made his anxiety worse. He could barely see anything.


    "Hey Cleo, we don¡¯t have, like, some shlights or something? I can¡¯t see a thing in here."


    ["Negative, host. But we do have night vision. Would you like me to activate it?"]


    "Yes, obviously! I can¡¯t even see my hand in front of my face. Also, maybe just... do stuff like this without waiting for me to ask, yeah? I don¡¯t even know what¡¯s going on half the time."


    ["Understood. Activating night vision. Combat mode on standby, ready to engage."]


    "Wait, what? Combat mode? Why¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the night vision kicked in, and what he saw made him freeze. His grip tightened around his electric rifle. The bodies of the miners were scattered everywhere, none of them intact. Holes lined the walls of the mine, and they definitely weren¡¯t from the miners. Nobody in their right mind would dig like that. Way too risky.


    "What... what happened here?" he muttered. "What could even do something like this?"


    Suddenly, a soft light came from his eyes, scanning the area.


    ["Scanplete. There is a 98% chance this was caused by a Burrower."]


    "A Burrower? What¡¯s that?"


    ["essing database. Data retrievalplete."]


    ["Burrowers are subterranean insectoid creatures with powerful ws for digging. They specialize in tunneling underground andunching surprise attacks. Their ability to disrupt terrain makes them ideal for guerri warfare and ambush tactics."]


    Rex went quiet for a moment. The information Cleo was giving him felt... weirdly specific. Like she hade across these things before.


    "Hey, Cleo, have you ever dealt with bugs like this before?"


    Rex, true to himself, didn¡¯t bother softening his tone; delicacy was never his strong suit.


    ["Yes, I encountered this species years ago. They were... responsible for the extinction of my race."]


    "Oh, uh... I didn¡¯t know. I¡¯m sorry."


    ["I don¡¯t understand why you would apologize for something beyond your control. More data is required."]


    "Data? What do you¡ª"


    Before Rex could finish, his muscles tightened. His eyes caught sight of glowing red markers rushing toward him. He realized Cleo¡¯sbat mode, which she¡¯d set on standby earlier, had activated. Those red dots were heading straight for him and were hostile.


    And if Cleo gged something as hostile, it could only mean one thing. Bugs. Without hesitation, Rex raised his electric rifle and aimed at the iing threat. His heart pounded as he finally saw them; it was those flying bugs that had overrun the colony.


    Instinct took over. Rex didn¡¯t think; he just fired with deadly uracy. Just a few days ago, he¡¯d been an office worker, clueless aboutbat. Now, here he was, taking out the swarm like some seasoned soldier. It had to be Cleo¡¯s doing, whatever she¡¯d done to his body. In just a few minutes, he¡¯d wiped out the bugs that hade for him.


    ["I advise extreme caution from now on. The sound of gunfire may have alerted other enemies."]


    "A beautiful girl worrying about me? Gotta admit, it¡¯s kinda a nice feeling."


    [...]


    ["It would be wise to proceed in silence to avoid further ambushes."]


    Rex just shrugged, grinning to himself, and pressed on deeper into the mine. More bugs appeared here and there, but he took them down with ease, sending each one to its grave without a second thought.


    He kept going, deeper and deeper into the mines. Time had blurred; it could¡¯ve been minutes, maybe hours, since he first descended into this ce. The bugs were relentless, and now he was out of bullets. Great.


    "These bugs are really good at burning through my ammo, Cleo. How good are we with melee weapons, again?" Rex muttered, more to himself than to his AIpanion.


    ["We¡¯re as good as any advanced swordmaster with melee weapons."]


    "I dunno how good that is, but it sounds impressive," Rex shrugged.


    He finally reached the mine¡¯s elevator, realizing he was now somewhere near the middle levels. Down here, eachpany had their own floors where they mined whatever resources kept the corporate machine running. The elevator itself was a marvel of engineering, built to haul tons of minerals, equipment, and personnel without a sweat.


    Rex stepped over to the console, relieved to see it still had power. Luckily, the thing ran on an external battery, so he wouldn¡¯t have to mess around in the dark. The only catch? He had no clue which floor his bald-headed friend was working on.


    "Of course," he grumbled. "Now I gotta search floor by floor for this guy. Why couldn¡¯t he be a gorgeous, ck-haired beauty or something? At least then I¡¯d have something nice to look forward to after rescuing him. Damn it, bald dude."


    [".....Noted"]


    "Hm? You say something, Cleo?"


    [...]


    "Great, now I¡¯m talking to myself." Rex sighed, rubbing his temples.


    With no other choice, he selected the first floor. Maybe there¡¯d be survivors there. It didn¡¯t matter whichpany they were from; in the end, they were all the same, just ves to different bosses.


    The elevator groaned to life, rattling and nking so loudly it made Rex flinch. He knew that sound would carry far, and if there was one thing he¡¯d learned about these bugs, it was that they had a thing for noise. A noise like this? It was practically rolling out the red carpet for them.


    "Yeah... fuck my life."

 Chapter 6: Noble

    It didn¡¯t even take the bugs three minutes before holes started appearing all over the mine walls. Burrowers poured out first, followed by a swarm of flying bugs, all of them charging at Rex like ants drawn to sugar.


    ["Activatingbat mode, activating meleebat assistant, ready to engage at any time."]


    "Thanks for the backup, Cleo!" Rex shouted.


    Cleo had everything online in under two seconds, and it was just in time. The first burrower lunged at him, but with his newly upgraded body and Cleo¡¯s assist, Rex could now predict where the attack wasing from, though with a small margin of error. As the creature leapt, Rex dodged, his reflexes kicking in almost automatically.


    Without hesitation, he grabbed the burrower by its tail. Using his enhanced strength, he swung it around like a club, smashing it into the other bugs charging his way. The thing¡¯s body hit the flying bugs with a sickening thud, knocking several of them out of the air.


    "Hahaha! Come on, then! I¡¯ve got plenty for all of you!"


    ["Host, I rmend switching to thebat machetes. While using the bug as a weapon is effective for crowd control, it won¡¯t kill them."


    "Cleo, you really need to learn how to have fun," Rex grinned, still swinging. "But yeah, you¡¯re right¡ªthis isn¡¯t ytime."


    He dropped the battered bug and pulled out two machetes from the scabbards on his hips, instinctively falling into abat stance that felt strangely familiar, like he¡¯d done this a thousand times before. Meanwhile, the swarm of flying bugs kepting, but now he was ready.


    As soon as they were in range, Rex started slicing through them like they were nothing. With his heightened senses, he could pinpoint the weak spots, cutting through their soft tissue with minimal resistance. He focused on the flyers, shing them down with fluid, deadly efficiency, all while dodging the burrowers that tried to crush him.


    While Rex was busy tearing through the bugs, the elevator finally reached the first floor of the mine. The automatic doors detected its arrival and began to slide open with a quiet hiss. Standing just beyond the doors were a few survivors from anotherpany that had been sent to this world.


    At first, the survivors flinched, their hearts pounding as they saw the swarm of bugs just outside. These were the same creatures that had massacred their team only a few hours ago. And now, right in front of them, more bugs swarmed, ready to attack.


    "Look over there! There¡¯s someone!" one of the survivors shouted, pointing with trembling hands.


    The rest turned to look where he was pointing, and that¡¯s when they saw him¡ªRex. He was in the middle of the chaos, moving like a whirlwind of steel, slicing through the bugs with terrifying precision. His movements were effortless and fluid, like he¡¯d done this a thousand times before. The finesse with which he wielded those des could only bepared to a master swordsman.


    "It¡¯s a noble! A noble¡¯s here!" someone gasped.


    "A noble?!" another echoed, sounding both awed and terrified.


    "How do you know he¡¯s a noble?"


    "Come on, think about it; swordmasters are all nobles, and look at him! He¡¯s got bionic imnts all over his body; that¡¯s why he¡¯s so strong!"


    In this gxy, the nobles were descendants of the megacorps, and they were the only ones who could afford the kind of high-grade bionic imnts that Rex had. Imnts like that weren¡¯t just rare; they were exclusive to the elite, practically a symbol of their status. So, seeing someone with that kind of tech was a dead giveaway that they were dealing with a noble.


    It was hard to miss, too. Every so often, a faint green glow would pulse from Rex¡¯s body, lighting up the parts where his enhancements were most active. The glow appeared on the visible areas of his skin, reinforcing the belief that they were in the presence of someone incredibly powerful and incredibly dangerous.


    "If he¡¯s a noble... and we¡¯re just standing here, watching while he fights the bugs..." one of the survivors muttered, panic creeping into his voice, "wouldn¡¯t he... I don¡¯t know... kill us for not helping?"


    The tension in the air spiked.


    "T-that¡¯s right!" another stammered. "Guards! Go help him! We can¡¯t just stand here¡ªwhat if he turns on us?!"


    "Y-yeah, go! Do something!"


    Under pressure from the terrified survivors and the overwhelming presence of what they assumed to be a noble, the guards hesitated for a moment before finally giving in. They raised their weapons and began firing at the burrowers creeping too close to Rex, hoping to avoid any potential wrath.


    Rex was too busy dealing with the bugs to notice the elevator doors opening behind him and the conversation that the surviors were having. But Cleo did, quietly storing away the data about nobles forter. When the guards started firing, Rex¡¯s instincts red, and he spun around, momentarily thrown off.


    "Dafuq¡ªwhat now? Who the hell¡¯s shooting at me?"


    "Answering the host: the survivors on the first floor have begun providing support in the fight against the bugs. Should we ssify them as neutral?"


    "Yeah, yeah, do that. Last thing I need is to identally kill someone who¡¯s on our side."


    With Rex¡¯s confirmation, Cleo adjusted her targeting system, marking the guards who were helping with a soft yellow outline. Now, whenever Rex nced their way, he¡¯d instantly recognize them as non-hostile, which was a relief in the chaos.


    The guards¡¯ cover fire came just in time, thinning the swarm enough for Rex to keep his focus on finishing off the remaining bugs. The battlefield was a mess of bodies and broken limbs, but finally, after a relentless back-and-forth, thest of the bugs fell.


    Rex stood amidst a mountain of insect corpses, catching his breath. One of hisbat machetes was in pieces,pletely wrecked from fending off the burrowers¡¯ crushing jaws. He tossed it aside, figuring he¡¯d need to find a recementter.


    Meanwhile, the survivors just stared at him, wide-eyed.


    "So this... this is the power of a noble," one of them murmured, half in awe, half in disbelief.


    "No wonder they can conquer whole systems. If a single noble can do this, imagine a fleet full of them," another whispered, almost afraid to speak too loudly.


    Rex, hearing their words, couldn¡¯t help but smirk. "Noble, huh?" he muttered under his breath. "Guess that¡¯s what they think."


    "Might as well use this ¡¯noble¡¯ thing to my advantage and get some info out of them," Rex muttered to himself, eyeing the cowering survivors.


    ["I¡¯m surprised the host is finally making sensible decisions."]


    "Cleo... I¡¯m starting to think you¡¯ve got a pretty low opinion of me," Rex grumbled. "Anyway, let¡¯s give them a little show."


    With that, Rex bent his knees slightly andunched himself high into the air, leaping down from the mountain of bug corpses with ease. He soared several meters up beforending right in front of the survivors, his feet hitting the ground with a dull thud as if it were nothing.


    The moment they saw himnd, the survivors froze. The stories about nobles being ruthless and quick to anger must¡¯ve been running through their minds, because without hesitation, they all dropped to their knees, heads bowed low, not daring to look him in the eye.


    Rex felt a wave of disgust ripple through him at the sight of their submission, but he kept his expression cold. If he wanted information, he had to y the part.


    "Who¡¯s in charge here?" he asked, lowering his voice, making it deep and authoritative.


    "T-that would be me, sir!"


    The response came from one of the guards, his voice shaky. He remained on his knees, head down, speaking without even ncing up at Rex.


    Rex let the silence hang in the air for a moment, letting the tension build. He could practically feel Cleo smirking in his head.


    "Good," Rex said, folding his arms. "Do you have any idea what¡¯s going on? Why the bugs started pouring out and attacking the colony?"


    The mention of the colony sent a visible shiver through the survivors. Their faces paled as they realized the gravity of the situation. If the bugs had reached the colony, it meant things were far worse than they¡¯d thought.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    And now it made sense to them as to why a noble had been sent to investigate. Only someone with that level of authority and power could be trusted with handling something like this, especially if it meant finding whoever or whatever was responsible.


    "We... we don¡¯t know, sir," one of the guards stammered, his voice barely steady.


    "A few hours ago, we were just guarding the miners when this massive earthquake hit. A few minutester, the bugs starteding through holes in the mines. They swarmed us... we didn¡¯t stand a chance. The people you see here... we¡¯re all that¡¯s left of the survivors."


    Rex frowned, taking in the information. "Hmm, fine. Get into the elevator," he ordered. "We¡¯re heading back to floor 0. I want all the miners out of here ASAP. As for you guards, you¡¯re under mymand now.


    Also, give me some ammo clips. I¡¯m out after clearing the way down here."


    The survivors quickly did as they were told, scrambling to gather what little ammo they had left and handing it over to Rex. Their fear was palpable, especially now that they understood the full scale of the disaster. The guards handed him a few ammo clips, and without another word, they all piled into the elevator, the air thick with tension.


    As the elevator started moving, a deep, mechanical hum filled the shaft. The survivors went stiff, their eyes darting around nervously, fearing that the sound would attract more bugs.


    Rex nced at them, reading the fear on their faces. "Rx. If anythinges, I¡¯ll handle it."


    But despite his words, they remained frozen, the weight of their situation settling in as they rose toward the surface.

 Chapter 7: Necrohounds

    But, thankfully, despite what they feared, the elevator reached the top floor without too much trouble and without anymore bug attacks.


    "Alright, the civilians can get out now. I cleared the path here, but just in case, don¡¯t make any noise on your way out. If any bugs show up, there are two vehicles outside the mine. One of them has a mounted machine gun. Use it for defense if necessary, but don¡¯t try to leave. Wait for us toe out."


    "U-understood, my lord."


    "We will wait for your eminence."


    Rex still hadn¡¯t gotten used to people kneeling or bowing their heads in front of him. He hated it, but for now, he had to swallow his anger and y the part. Once the miners were out of sight, one of the guards pressed the button for the second floor.


    Since the guards didn¡¯t have night vision like Rex, they were using shlights mounted on their helmets.


    "Hey, Cleo, don¡¯t you think it feels a lot creepier moving forward with just thesenterns? It kind of reminds me of those horror movies in the theaters.")


    "I don¡¯t have any data on what a theater or a horror movie is, host. Could you exin?"


    ("Uh, well, a theater is a ce where you watch films for entertainment, and horror movies usually have a creepy monster that, you know, eats people."


    ["Understood. Storing the data for future reference."


    The whole conversation took ce inside Rex¡¯s mind, of course. It would be weird if the others saw him talking to himself, especially since only he could hear Cleo¡¯s voice. If he didn¡¯t already know she was the one who upgraded his body, he might have thought he was going crazy too.


    Meanwhile, the guards next to him were sweating bullets, nervous to be so close to a noble who could easily kill them. And there he was, just standing still, staring into space like a predator waiting for his next move, ready to strike.


    [Multiple hostiles detected. Activatingbat mode."]


    "Prepare forbat! Something¡¯sing!"


    Thanks to his new eyes, which worked like radar, and Cleo¡¯s ability to detect hostile creatures from a few meters away, Rex wasn¡¯t caught off guard this time. The moment the door to the second floor opened, multiple dog-like bugs started charging toward Rex and his group.


    "Open fire!" Rex shouted, pointing toward the oing hounds.


    The guards quickly started shooting, but it was pitch ck down there, and the hounds¡¯ jet-ck bodies made them almost impossible to see in the dark.


    "Cleo! Do you have any info on these things?"


    ["The enemies are Necrohounds¡ªcarrion-eating insectoids that thrive on battlefield remains. They can repurpose biological matter to heal themselves or others. After battles, they scavenge to feed. Necrohounds can regenerate lost limbs or enhance their bodies with absorbed biomass, making them difficult to permanently kill."]


    "Is there a good way to take them down!?"


    ["There¡¯s one effective method: fire, to stop their regeneration. But we don¡¯t have those kinds of weapons. There¡¯s another, less effective method, chopping them into pieces till they cant regenerate."]


    "So it¡¯s meleebat again? Fine, let¡¯s do this. Support me, Cleo!"


    ["Understood. Activating thermal vision."]


    The moment Rex¡¯s thermal vision kicked in, his eyes glowed red, making him look like a true predator of the night. While the guards continued shooting at the Necrohounds, they didn¡¯t notice when Rex slipped away and began his hunt.


    One of the soldiers suddenly caught sight of those glowing red eyes in the darkness. Fear shot through him, and without thinking, he fired his weapon at the red glow.


    ["Activating emergency evasive maneuvers."]


    "W-wait! Hold on!"


    The moment Cleo activated the emergency evasive maneuvers, she took full control of Rex¡¯s body, swiftly dodging most of the bullets. She even used the machete to deflect a few shots, angling the de just right so the bullets were redirected to the ground rather than damaging the weapon.


    When the guard¡¯s clip finally ran empty, Cleo moved Rex¡¯s body forward, closing the distance between them. Without using full force, she delivered a punch to the guard¡¯s stomach, knocking him to the ground, gasping in pain.


    ["Returning control to the host."]


    "Next time, watch where you¡¯re shooting! Don¡¯t waste bullets."


    For a brief moment, the other guards froze, watching one of their own writhing on the ground. But none of them dared to speak up. They knew full well that if they tried anything, the noble standing before them could kill them all before they even realized what was happening. So, without a word, they kept firing at the Necrohounds.


    ("Uh, Cleo? Wasn¡¯t that kind of our fault for getting in the way while they were shooting?")


    ["Hmph."]


    ("Wait, are you... pouting?")


    [...]


    For a moment, Rex found himself oddly amused. Because Cleo, who was supposed to be just an AI, was acting more and more human. It was the first time he had ever encountered an AI with this kind of behavior. Everyone knew AIs weren¡¯t supposed to evolve beyond their programming or develop emotions; it was considered taboo, a safeguard to prevent machine rebellions.


    His thoughts were cut short when he heard one of the guards yell that he was out of ammo. Rex refocused and returned to the fight, resuming his hunt of the Necrohounds. While the guards did their best to hold the creatures back, Rex darted from one spot to another, slicing off limbs and heads with precise strikes.


    The battle raged for another hour, but fortunately, there had only been ten of the creatures.


    If there had been more, the guards wouldn¡¯t havested, and Rex would¡¯ve been forced to retreat. The hounds¡¯ ability to regenerate made them not only dangerous but incredibly frustrating to deal with.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ["Host, I suggest we scavenge this floor for gear. The Necrohounds only eat biomatter; they don¡¯t bother with metals." ]


    ("Oh, great thinking, Cleo!")


    "Alright, everyone, listen up! Start searching for ammo and anything else we can use. I doubt we¡¯ll find any survivors, but keep your eyes open for anything unusual. And this time, try not to shoot me."


    With the noble¡¯s orders, they all startedbing through the floor for ammunition and supplies. After some time, they managed to find a decent number of ammo clips. The rifles from the fallen guards were the same model they were using, so they left the spares where theyy.


    "Alright, that should do it. Let¡¯s head down to the next floor."


    They made their way to the elevator console and went straight to floor three. But just like before, the ce was empty, and only torn bodies and rivers of blood remained. The same story yed out on floor four.


    Morale was sinking fast. A few days ago, these guards were just office workers, and now they were witnessing unimaginable carnage. You didn¡¯t have to be of the same race to feel the weight of all this senseless death.


    Meanwhile, Rex was growing more and more anxious. If floors three and four were this bad, what horrors awaited on floor five? He clung to the hope that his best friend was still alive. His distress didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Cleo; she could feel every bit of it, thanks to their symbiotic bond.


    [....]


    After a few more minutes, the elevator finally reached the distant part of the mine, floor number five. As soon as they arrived, they started surveying the area. This floor was much bigger and wider than the others.


    ("Cleo, start scanning the area. I want all the details.")


    ["Understood. Beginning scan. Please continue to check different areas."]


    Following Cleo¡¯s instructions, Rex moved around the zone. As he looked at different spots, a scanning light emitted from his eyes, sweeping over everything in his gaze. The guards were stunned. They already knew Rex had bionic enhancements in his eyes, but they hadn¡¯t expected him to have scanner sight.


    Scanner sight was supposed to be reserved for top military investigators. Now, it was clear to the guards that the noble standing before them wasn¡¯t just any noble; he was likely a high noble. The high nobles were like fleetmanders, in charge of entire armadas, controlling the fleets of the megacorporations.


    But Rex wasn¡¯t paying any attention to their reactions. He stayed focused, continuing to scan the whole area.


    ["Scanplete. A small-scale battle took ce here. There are spent shell casings and bullet impacts scattered around. Tracks suggest the presence of arge, heavy creature. There are also the bodies of miners and guards. End of report."]


    ("Thanks, Cleo.")


    "You all stay here and guard the elevator. I¡¯m heading deeper into the excavation zone. If I¡¯m not back in 30 minutes, leave without me."


    "Don¡¯t worry, my lord, we¡¯ll wait for you."


    "Good luck, my lord."


    Rex simply nodded before starting down into the excavation zone of floor five. The tension in the air was thick, and the fear he had been trying to suppress began creeping back in. What if his friend was already dead?

 Chapter 8: Khryssari Vanguard.

    Rex kept moving deeper into the mine. The further he went, the more he spotted small pools of blood here, abandoned equipment there. His nerves started to get the best of him. Every sign he came across chipped away at his hope that his best friend might still be alive.


    ["Reminder: The stored oxygen is almost depleted. With about an hour left, I rmend finding an oxygen tank from the equipment scattered around."]


    "Oh man, I almost forgot. I¡¯ve been breathing fine, and it felt... normal, I guess. Alright, help me find a tank with oxygen, then."


    ["Scanning... There¡¯s one ahead. Please follow the illuminated path."]


    Rex followed the glowing trail in front of him. Since the mine was worked by various races, there were all kinds of tanks scattered around, some not even filled with oxygen. That¡¯s where Cleo came in handy. Without her, he wouldn¡¯t have a clue what was safe.


    "Got it. Now what? None of the atmospheric suits down here are intact."


    ["Not necessary. Just open the tank and inhale the oxygen directly. I¡¯ll store it in your lungs and expel impurities using the breathers near your ribs."]


    "Why do I get the feeling I¡¯ll be eating a lot of strange stuff because of you? Well, here goes nothing."


    He did as Cleo instructed, while she efficiently stored the oxygen, extending the time they could survive without having to breathe the thin air. Rex pushed on, heading further into the excavation site until he reached what looked like the main operation zone. There was equipment everywhere used for mining.


    He nced around, trying to spot any sign of Carlos. Maybe he was still alive, hiding out somewhere.


    "REX! WATCH OUT!"


    Rex barely heard the shout before something heavy mmed into him,unching him through the air. He crashed into one of the mining vehicles with a sickening thud, the impact causing its battery to explode in a sh of light and sound.


    ["Multiple damaged areas confirmed. Beginning automatic repair process. Host incapacitated. Detecting powerful threat ahead. Activating overdrive,bat mode engaged."]


    Rex had been knocked out cold by the unexpected hit, leaving Cleo to take full control. From within the mes of the wrecked vehicle, the sound of gunfire echoed, shots ricocheting off the armored enemy that had ambushed them. But something was off. The bullets weren¡¯t even scratching it.


    With a powerful leap, Cleounched Rex¡¯s body out of the burning car. His wounds were already healing, skin knitting back together at a pace that seemed impossible. Where his eyes were once ck, they now glowed a fierce amber, illuminated by Cleo¡¯s control.


    ["Enemy identified: Khryssari Vanguard. Insufficient power to neutralize. Searching for alternatives."]


    The Khryssari Vanguards were notorious for being the first wave of a hive-mind army, built for brute strength and terrifying endurance. Their thick, organic armor could shrug off most conventional weapons like nothing.


    Cleo kept firing, maintaining distance while dodging the vanguard¡¯s relentless charges. Each shot was precise, aimed straight at the thing¡¯s head. But the rounds weren¡¯t enough. They bounced off its thick carapace or simply got absorbed, and any damage they did manage to inflict was quickly being repaired by its living armor.


    ["Target possesses living armor. Danger level increased."]


    This armor wasn¡¯t just tough; it was alive. It regenerated by consuming any bio-matter the vanguard had stored up, and judging by its movements, this one was well-fed.


    Cleo didn¡¯t stop. She kept unloading round after round, swapping clips without hesitation. Yet every bullet seemed to vanish into the vanguard¡¯s regenerating head, as if all the effort was for nothing.


    Then, the vanguard stopped. For a moment, Cleo¡¯s shots hit its chest dead-on, but the beast didn¡¯t even flinch. From its arms, two biosma cannons emerged, glowing a sickly green.


    Without warning, the sma bolts came screaming towards Cleo. She ducked and weaved, barely avoiding the searing shots as they tore through the mining vehicles around her. Each hit caused massive explosions, turning the already chaotic battlefield into a hellscape of mes and wreckage.


    After the six sma shots, there was a brief lull. It seemed the vanguard could only fire six rounds before needing to cool down. Still, the damage those sma sts had done was no joke; their sheer destructive force was terrifying.


    Even with Rex¡¯s body in overdrive, Cleo could barely manage to dodge the shots. They didn¡¯t have the equipment to take this thing down, not directly. But Cleo wasn¡¯t just biding time since she had alreadye up with a countermeasure to deal with the Khryssari vanguard.


    ["Hackingplete. Activating vehicles."]


    While the vanguard was scanning its surroundings, trying to locate its prey, one of the massive excavators suddenly swung its mechanical arm straight into the creature¡¯s side. The speed of the strike was far beyond what you¡¯d expect from a machine that size.


    The impact sent the vanguard flying, crashing into a drill vehicle nearby. At that very moment, the drill roared to life, its massive bit spinning with deadly intent, and it tore into the vanguard¡¯s right side.


    The beast let out a screeching, almost inhuman wail as the drill ground into its flesh. It tried to pull away, but the surrounding excavators, also under Cleo¡¯s control, closed in, pinning the vanguard against the drill. Its living armor, powerful as it was, couldn¡¯t keep up with the relentless friction.


    The heat generated by the spinning drill was enough to burn through its regenerative capabilities, and slowly, its body began to tear apart.


    Piece by piece, the vanguard was destroyed, until finally, it was sliced clean in two.


    ["Khryssari vanguard eliminated. Beginning survivor search... Scanplete. One survivor located."]


    Cleo leapt onto the drill vehicle, then jumped down to the ground,nding in front of the driver¡¯s door. She yanked it open, and there he was. The person Rex had been looking for. Carlos. He looked up, startled, eyes wide in shock as he saw Rex standing there, though clearly, it wasn¡¯t quite Rex at the moment.


    ["Scanning individual. Scanplete. Individual matches stored memories. Deactivating overdrive, shutting downbat mode. Returning control to host."]


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Carlos had no idea what was going on. He¡¯d just watched his best friend take down the monster that had killed everyone in the mine, but the voice he heard wasn¡¯t Rex¡¯s; it was soft, almost too feminine to belong to him.


    Once Cleo confirmed that the person in front of her was Carlos, Rex¡¯s friend, she decided there was no further threat. Control of Rex¡¯s body was released, and immediately, he copsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.


    Carlos, rmed, scrambled out of the drill vehicle¡¯s cabin and rushed to help Rex up, but when he tried to lift him, it was like trying to move a statue. Rex was impossibly heavy now, his body a dense mix of metal, cybeics, and bionics, easily weighing over 500 kg.


    "Dude, you¡¯re heavy as hell. Seriously, you need toy off the pizza," Carlos grunted, still struggling to even budge him.


    "Shut up, I¡¯m not fat," Rex¡¯s voice suddenly groaned from the ground. "Check out these sexy muscles."


    Carlos nearly jumped out of his skin. "What the¡ª! If you¡¯re awake, say something! I almost had a heart attack, man."


    "Haha, my bad," Rex chuckled, slowly sitting up, rubbing his head like he¡¯d just woken from a nap. "I wake up to find you groping me¡ªjust for the record, I¡¯m not into dudes."


    Carlos let out a sigh, both relieved and exasperated. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You¡¯re lucky you didn¡¯t get your metal head kicked in."


    "By the way, since when are you this strong? And what¡¯s with the beautiful voice? What the hell is going on?"


    "Whoa, slow down, man. One question at a time," Rex replied, shaking his head with a smirk. "Let¡¯s move first¡ªI¡¯d rather not stick around and find out what else is lurking down here."


    Just as they were preparing to leave, something pinged on Rex¡¯s radar; it was a single blue point. That was new. He hadn¡¯t seen a blue signal before.


    ["Unnatural presence detected in the vehicle ahead. I rmend investigation."]


    "Hold on, Carlos," Rex said, his tone more serious now. "What¡¯s in that car over there?"


    Carlos followed Rex¡¯s gaze, squinting as he tried to remember. "Hmm, no idea. When I clocked in for my shift today, that car was already parked there, with a bunch of guards around it. A few hourster, even more guards showed up, but that¡¯s all I know. Why? You think it¡¯s connected to whatever went down here?"


    "I¡¯m not sure," Rex replied, staring at the vehicle. "But if they had guards swarming around it, the corporations must¡¯ve known something was up. This thing might be why the attack happened. You stay here; I¡¯m going to check it out."


    Rex moved toward the vehicle, his body still feeling a bit stiff from the overdrive. He made his way to the back of the car, stopping just behind the cargo bay doors. They were sealed tight, clearly not meant to be opened by just anyone.


    But Rex wasn¡¯t "just anyone" anymore. With his enhanced strength, he dug his fingers into the edges of the doors, and slowly, they started to give way, metal groaning under the pressure.


    With onest pull, the doors swung open, revealing the contents inside.


    What he saw was breathtaking; it was somethingpletely alien. Even Cleo, normallyposed and calcted, sounded surprised.


    ["Incredible... Host, what you¡¯re looking at is rare, almost unheard of in the gxy."]


    Rex stood there, staring in awe. Whatever this thing was, it was the kind of discovery that could shake the universe to its core.

 Chapter 9: Khryssari Princess

    "Cleo, what am I even looking at right now?"


    ["Answering the host, this is a Khryssari princess."]


    Rex stared at what looked like an egg, though it wasn¡¯t like any egg he¡¯d ever seen. It seemed to be made of some kind of hard tissue, pulsating every so often as if it were alive. The surface was slightly transparent, and inside, he could make out a shadowy figure; it was humanoid in shape with long hair.


    "So, Cleo... should we kill it?"


    ["I¡¯m dumbfounded. I already knew the hostcked intellect, but I didn¡¯t see thising. Congrattions, host; your level of stupidity can¡¯t even be measured by me."]


    "What? Cut me some ck. I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before. If it¡¯s dangerous, wouldn¡¯t it be better to destroy it?"


    ["You can destroy it, yes, but it¡¯s not rmended. The Khryssari hive minds only have one daughter in their lifetime. She bes the Queen if the current one dies."]


    Cleo¡¯s voice softened a bit, almost cracking, when she mentioned the egg.


    ["Years ago, my race also encountered a Khryssari princess egg..."]


    Rex noticed how her tone had changed, then she made a brief pause before she continued.


    ["One of our primary memory systems made the decision to eradicate the egg, thinking it would prevent future threats. But it turned out to be one of the most catastrophic mistakes we ever made."]


    [¡­.]


    ["Soon after, wormhole signatures began to appear across the where we destroyed the egg. Hivemind fleets poured out, an endless number of them."]


    [Our fleet was annihted in minutes. The was razed to the ground, and they didn¡¯t stop there. The Khryssari¡¯s fury over the loss of their princess burned for years. My once-prosperous race... was wiped from the gxy."]


    "So, is this why you ended up on this desert?"


    ["Affirmative. The fleet I was assigned to got caught in a battle with one of the hive mind¡¯s fleets. Our fleet was mostly made up of cargo and escort ships; we didn¡¯t stand a chance against them. I managed to escape through a wild wormhole."]


    ["But wild wormholes are unpredictable. My ship took severe damage, and my body was alsopromised. I had no choice but to enter hibernation until I woke up a few hours ago."]


    "Alright, so what do we do? Should we take it with us?"


    ["That would be the best option. If we leave it here and something happens to it, which is as good as death, the consequences could be catastrophic. Take it to my ship. Sharing coordinates now, proceed as quickly as possible."]


    Rex noticed the illuminated path appear once again.


    "Okay, but first, let¡¯s get out of here. We¡¯ve already kept Carlos waiting too long, and who knows if the guards have ditched us by now."


    He closed the cargo door, signaling for Carlos toe over so they could hop in the vehicle and leave.


    "Ready to leave this death trap, my bald friend?"


    "Of course I am. I don¡¯t want to stick around here any longer. But, hey, you¡¯re going to tell me what the hell happened back there, right?"


    Rex fell silent for a moment. Exining to someone else about Cleo, the AI capable of altering his body in mere hours and a sentient AI, no less, it wasn¡¯t an easy choice. But he had known Carlos since they were kids, growing up and working as ves together. If anyone was close enough to call a brother, it was him.


    So, with a sigh, Rex started recounting everything that happened at the colony and how he met Cleo. Just as they neared the elevator, the vehicle¡¯s headlights revealed the guards, still standing by.


    Rex rolled down the window and gave them the signal to start the elevator. As he drove up to it, the elevator began its slow climb to floor zero.


    Since the giant elevator was slow, it took about 10 minutes to go from floor 5 to floor 0. Once they finally reached the top, Rex hit the elerator, leaving the guards behind. The guards didn¡¯t seem to care since it was better for the noble to leave now than stick around and risk killing them out of impatience.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    After a few minutes, Rex reached the exit of the mines, where the miners were still waiting. He rolled down the car window to speak to them.


    "I¡¯m heading out. You all wait for the guards toe up. Head back to the colony and try to catch one of the transport ships to get off the, or go to one of the headquarters. Good luck."


    With that, Rex drove off, following the glowing path toward where Cleo¡¯s ship was supposed to be. After hours of driving through endless sand, they finally reached the location, but all they could see was a sea of dunes stretching in every direction.


    "Cleo¡­ are you sure your ship¡¯s here?"


    ["Affirmative. Please stand by.....initiating connection with the ship."]


    ["Connection sessful. Powering up ship engines."]


    Suddenly, Rex and Carlos felt the ground shake. In front of them, the sand began to rise, forming a mound that grewrger andrger. Then, a burst of dust exploded into the air, shrouding everything in a thick cloud. They couldn¡¯t see a thing.


    After a few minutes, faint blue lights began to glow through the dust, scattered across different spots within the swirling cloud.


    ["Ship retrieval sessful. Please wait a moment for the dust to settle before boarding."]


    After another minute, the ship finallynded, though in a different spot, since the ce it had emerged from was now arge gaping hole. With the dust settling, Rex and Carlos could finally see it clearly. The ship gleamed white, with soft bluish ents scattered across its surface.


    ["This is my ship, a frigate specialized in exploration. It has a small factory onboard to build different types of drones. Unfortunately, its defenses and flight systems are damaged, so for now it¡¯s only capable of acting as and transport. I rmend the host return to the mine to gather metals for repairs."]


    "You¡¯ve got a beautiful ship here, Cleo. So, can we go inside now?"


    ["Opening cargo bay doors. Please proceed."]


    Rex drove the car into the ship, and once they were inside, both he and Carlos stepped out, taking a moment to look around as the cargo bay doors closed automatically behind them. The interior was sleek and almost entirely white, brightly lit, and clearly a high-end vessel.


    ["Host, please proceed to the main chamber. There is an advanced charging bay there. It is crucial to recharge energy now, as we are down to 40%."]


    "Oh? Alright. Carlos, make yourselffortable, but don¡¯t break anything, or the owner will probably kill us."


    "Sure thing. I¡¯m just going to crash in the car for a bit. So much has happened today, and now that we¡¯re finally safe, I can feel how tired I am."


    "Go ahead, man! Just don¡¯t drool on the seat where my butt was a few minutes ago!"


    "Fuck off, dude! Get outta here already."


    Rex chuckled and waved him off as he headed toward the area Cleo was directing him to. As he approached, the automatic doors slid open, revealing a room that was mostly empty except for a tank-like structure made of metal and ss, surrounded by various pieces of machinery.


    ["Host, please lie down inside the tank. It will not harm your body. The process will help you recharge your energy, and in the event of severe damage, it can assist in healing."]


    "Well, you¡¯ve helped me this far, so I trust you."


    [¡­..]


    Rex walked up to the tank, and as he got close, the ss cover automatically lifted open. He was just about to step inside when Cleo interrupted.


    ["Host, please remove your clothes first. They will interfere with the examination and recharge process."]


    "W-what!?" Rex stammered. "Cleo, you¡¯re a naughty AI."


    He instinctively covered himself, as if he were a shy girl being caught naked.


    ["W-what? Y-you¡­ I didn¡¯t mean... y-you!"]


    For a moment, Rex waspletely thrown off by Cleo¡¯s flustered response. He knew she was far from the typical AIs you could find across the gxy, but seeing her get this worked up was definitely a first.


    "Wow, even you have moments like this? You¡¯re kind of cute when you¡¯re embarrassed."


    [¡­.]


    ["Activating control over the host¡¯s body!"]


    "W-wait, hey! What are you doing!?"


    Before Rex could protest, Cleo took control of his body. He found himself undressing,pletely against his will, while Cleo calmly guided him into the tank. Once he was lying down inside, control of his body was returned to him.


    "Great, now I¡¯ve been dirtied. I guess I can¡¯t get married anymore!" he said dramatically.


    [¡­.]


    Cleo, for the sake of her sanity, chose to ignore Rex¡¯s antics. Meanwhile, Rex just grinned, clearly amused by this side of Cleo that he hadn¡¯t seen before. As the ss door of the tank slid shut, he noticed a small spherical object descend from the ceiling. It looked like a camera, and from it, an image that looked like a hologram began to form.

 Chapter 10: Cleos new form.

    The hologram began to materialize from the feet up, slowly forming a figure until it was a bluish, female shape with long, flowing hair that reached down past her waist. Once the hologram was fully shaped, it started to take on more detail.


    The figure became covered in a sleek blue and white battle suit, with touches of golden entuating certain parts. Her skin was a luminous pale, her eyes a striking amber, and her hair was an inky, abyss-like ck.


    She stood there for a moment, her gaze fixed on Rex, before her lips began to move.


    ["Host, please close your eyes. Since you¡¯re still partially organic, the recharge could damage your sensitive eye tissue."]


    Rex could hardly believe what he was seeing. Standing in front of him was a stunning figure, exactly the kind of beauty that matched his taste.


    "W-wait, Cleo? Is that you?" he stammered.


    ["Affirmative. Now close your eyes; I¡¯m initiating the recharge sequence."]


    Even though Rex¡¯s gaze was lingering on Cleo¡¯s shapely figure, he finally decided it was best to close his eyes. Just in case. A few secondster, he felt a gentle tingling sensation spread over his body. It wasn¡¯t unlike what he¡¯d felt the first time he recharged by biting the cable, but this time, it was oddly soothing.


    As he recharged, Cleo¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile.


    ["So, he likes this body, huh?"] she muttered under her breath. "Wait, why do I even care? Is there something wrong with me? running a scan for malfunctions... scanplete. No system failures detected."]


    After about an hour, Rex was fully recharged. The tank¡¯s ss door opened automatically, and he stepped out, stretching before getting dressed.


    "So, Cleo, care to exin how you have a body now?"


    ["To answer the host question, this has always been my original form. What you¡¯re seeing is a stored image from my memory archives. I figured it would makemunication more effective."]


    Rex looked her over from head to toe, his eyes finally meeting hers. He gave her a thumbs up, though Cleo seemed a bit puzzled by the gesture.


    "Alright, what¡¯s our next move? Still heading to the mines?" he asked.


    ["Affirmative. I need the resources to repair the ship. In its current state, leaving the or defending ourselves is not possible. Shall I set a course for the mines?"]


    "Yeah, let¡¯s do it," Rex nodded.


    In a graceful motion, Cleo gestured for Rex to follow her. They made their way toward the pilot¡¯s cabin, a spacious area with six chairs, one for the pilot, another for the copilot, and four more for passengers. Cleo walked straight to the copilot¡¯s seat and sat down, nodding toward Rex to take the pilot¡¯s chair.


    Once seated, Rex scratched his head and looked over at Cleo.


    "You know, I appreciate that you have so much faith in me, but I¡¯ve never actually flown a ship before. Shouldn¡¯t you be the one doing this?"


    Cleo let out a softugh, covering her mouth with her hand.


    ["Worry not, host. I¡¯ll guide you through it until you learn how to pilot on your own. Since I don¡¯t have a physical body, it¡¯s impossible for me to control the ship directly. Only someone with a physical form can do that; it¡¯s a security measure put in ce during our race¡¯s civil war to prevent hacking."]


    "Makes sense. I guess for a race of super AIs, hacking would be like breathing for you. So, shall we get started? I won¡¯t lie, I¡¯m pretty excited to fly this thing," Rex said, grinning like a teenager who¡¯s about to drive a car for the first time.


    Cleo nodded, and with a fluid motion of her hand, holographic screens blinked into existence in front of her. She began activating various systems, adjusting settings that Rex couldn¡¯t even begin to understand. He decided not to ask about any of it, his focus entirely on the idea of powering up the ship.


    ["All the systems are online. We¡¯re ready to move whenever you are."]


    "Great! So... what do I do now?"


    Cleo stood up and moved in front of Rex.


    ["First of all, get ready. It¡¯s probably going to hurt, since this is your first time connecting to the primordial memory."]


    "Hurt? Prepare for what?"


    Before Rex could finish, three cables shot out from the pilot seat, one plugged into the back of his neck, the other two into his shoulders.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "WHAT THE¡ª! That feels like getting kicked in the nuts! Wait, I can feel the ship?! How is that even possible? It¡¯s like I can¡ª"


    Rex moved his left hand instinctively, and the entire ship lurched hard to the left. From the cargo bay, there was a loud thud.


    Carlos, who had been napping inside the car with the door open, was flung out headfirst onto the floor. Groaning, he grabbed his head from the impact. As he stood up, dazed, he heard Rex¡¯s voice from the cabin and noticed an unfamiliar girl nearby.


    He staggered towards the cockpit.


    "Rex! What the hell¡¯s going on? And... who¡¯s that girl?"


    "Oh hey, Carlos! Pretty cool, right? I¡¯m just figuring out how to drive this thing. Oh, and this here is my wife."


    "Wait, what?! Since when do you have a wife?!"


    ["Negative. I am an AI of an ancient robotic race. Due to certain circumstances, I am now sharing my body with him."]


    "WHAT!? You guys already... did it?!"


    ["W-WHAT!? No! It¡¯s not like that!"]


    Rex couldn¡¯t stop himself from bursting outughing at Carlos¡¯s wild misunderstanding.


    After the conversation finally calmed down, Cleo started exining slowly to Rex how to control the ship. In theory, Rex¡¯s body was now like a human-sized game controller; all he had to do was move his arms to steer, and his fingers would control the ship¡¯s main guns.


    But since the weapons were damaged, they¡¯d have to save that part of the training forter.


    "By the way, Rex, how are you even breathing without a helmet?" Carlos asked, scratching his head.


    "Oh yeah, good point. Cleo, how long do I have before I need to recharge the oxygen?"


    "Answering the host,] Cleo replied in her calm, robotic tone, ["You¡¯ve been breathing just fine. When you were in the recharge bay, I instructed the drones to build an oxygen generator. It¡¯llst until the ship¡¯s energy runs out."]


    "So... how much energy does the ship have left?" Rex asked, a bit concerned now.


    Cleo brought up the holographic disy again, scanning the data.


    ["Energy remaining is 50%. I rmend the host recharge the ship as soon as possible to avoid a power shortage."]


    "Oh, if you¡¯re looking for a recharge bay, I saw one at the colony¡¯snding zone when we arrived," Carlos chimed in.


    Rex sighed. "Carlos... just so you know, the colony is overrun with bugs. There¡¯s no way we can get there without any weapons. We¡¯re heading to the mines first to gather resources to fix the ship¡¯s guns."


    As Rex filled Carlos in on the colony situation, the ship arrived at the coordinates Rex had inputted. The autopilot took over and guided the ship tond. Once they touched down, Cleo immediately activated the recon drones, sending them into the mine to scout for resources.


    Before long, data started streaming onto the big screen inside the ship. The recon drones had found plenty of metals and precious minerals; it was stuff that would fetch a high price on others, but for now, they needed it all to repair the ship. Cleo gave anothermand, and soon the miner and cargo drones were dispatched to start collecting the materials.


    "So?" Carlos asked, "What are we repairing first?"


    "From what teacher Cleo¡¯s been drilling into my head, the turrets are our best bet," Rex said, rubbing his temples. "She can control those and fire while I focus on flying. The only downside is, with the resources we have, we¡¯ll have to settle for dual machine gun turrets. No high-tech stuff."


    "Machine guns, huh? What about the ammo?" Carlos asked.


    "We can make it ourselves. Any kind of metal will work, since they don¡¯t need gunpowder. That¡¯s a lifesaver."


    As Rex and Carlos talked, the first batch of cargo drones finally arrived, hauling various metals and unloading them into the cargo bay holders. The foundry drones quickly took over, processing the materials to repair the turrets and start manufacturing ammo.


    Carlos nced at Rex, a serious look crossing his face. "By the way, Rex... I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you something. How are you holding up after... everything? I mean, killing all those bugs, seeing so much death.


    We¡¯ve been in plenty of scrapes, but you¡¯ve never killed anyone before."


    Rex froze for a second, meeting Carlos¡¯s gaze. He knew his friend was right. The question had been nagging at the back of his mind too. How had he managed to stay so... numb? No sadness for the workers they saw ughtered, no disgust when he killed the bugs; he¡¯d just done it, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

 Chapter 11: Cleo and Rex connection.

    Suddenly, Rex turned to face Cleo, who had been standing quietly behind him. He had a feeling that if something weird was going on in his head, Cleo probably had something to do with it.


    "Cleo¡­ What did you do to my brain!? Did you mess with it too!?"


    [¡­.]


    "Hey, rx, man."


    Seeing Rex¡¯s sudden outburst, Carlos grabbed his shoulder, trying to calm him down.


    ["As Host has stated, the brain of the host has been enhanced to amodate my presence. Unnecessary emotions were suppressed and only a strong shock could trigger any real response."]


    "Oh¡­ that... actually doesn¡¯t sound so bad. DAMN IT! It¡¯s happening again!"


    Rex slumped into one of the pilot seats, rubbing his temples, lost in thought. Cleo, seeing that the situation had cooled down, went back tomanding the drones. And like that, several hours passed.


    ["Host, wake up. Host?"]


    By now, it was past 4 a.m. Rex and Carlos had both gone to sleep. Carlos curled up in the car¡¯s front seats, making sure to lock the doors this time, while Rexy down on the cold metal bed in the recharging bay. When the turret repairs were finally done, Cleo went to check on Rex. She found him fast asleep.


    [¡­.]


    Cleo stood there for a while, just watching Rex sleep. After a few minutes, she quietly walked over andy down beside him. She wasn¡¯t sure why she did it; after all, they¡¯d barely known each other for a day. The only thing that made sense was that they now shared the same body.


    And since Rex seemed to like her humanoid form, maybe that attraction flowed both ways because of their symbiotic connection. It was strange. Her race didn¡¯t need physical attraction or even reproduction; they were made of living metal. To grow their numbers, they simply built a new body and transferred part of their consciousness into it. After a few years, a new AI would be born.


    But none of that exined why she felt so drawn to him. Why was this new emotion that was something deep and unfamiliar for her, pulling at her with such curiosity?.


    While she was lost in thought, Cleo¡¯s hand slowly moved toward Rex¡¯s face. Carefully, she tried to touch him with her fingertip, but as soon as she did, her hand phased right through his skin. She quickly pulled it back, staring at her own hand, a strange sense of disappointment settling in. She didn¡¯t have a body of her own, and that feeling stung more than she expected.


    Quietly, she got up from the metal bed in the recharge bay and slipped out of the room.


    A few hourster, Rex finally stirred awake and climbed out of the tank. He stretched, still groggy, and made his way to the pilot cabin. When he got there, the first thing he saw was Cleo¡¯s face, beautifully lit by the light of the¡¯s twin suns.


    "Morning, Cleo. How are the preparations going?" he asked, still rubbing sleep from his eyes.


    Cleo was busy managing tasks through the holographic disy, her fingers moving smoothly through the air as she controlled the drones. Without missing a beat, she answered.


    ["Reporting to Host: turret repairs and downgrade werepleted sessfully. They are now fully operational, and we¡¯ve also gathered enough ammo to keep them running for a while. The flight engine was partially repaired, but we still need materials to get the ship off this."]


    "Mmm. Any idea where we can find what we need?" Rex asked, leaning against the doorframe, looking out at the suns.


    ["Affirmative. A few hours ago, I deployed scout drones to the colony where we first met. The bug swarm is still active in the area, but my drones managed to capture images of several destroyed transport ships. It¡¯s possible we¡¯ll find the materials there."]


    "Mmm, I see... So how feasible is it for us to fly to the colony, grab the parts, and make it back without getting killed?"


    Cleo paused for a moment, calcting.


    ["While the turbines are online, the shield¡¯s energy reserves are below 20%. We don¡¯t have enough data to predict how much damage the bugs could inflict on the shield. Current sess rate without a n: less than 30%."]


    "Ah, a n, huh? Well then... what do you suggest we do?"


    ["First, I¡¯ll need the host¡¯s permission to control the ship from a distance. Since I don¡¯t have a physical body, I can¡¯t ess the main controls without authorization. Once I have it, I¡¯ll pilot the ship in circles around the colony to draw the swarm¡¯s attention."]


    ["While they¡¯re distracted, we¡¯ll drop from the ship with protection from 20bat drones. Once on the ground, we¡¯ll search for the parts we need. When we have them, I¡¯ll bring the ship down for extraction, using the drones to cover our escape."]


    "Mmm, sounds like a solid n to me. Oh, by the way, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to ask: do I still need to eat?"


    ["Although you¡¯re more machine than carbon-based life form, your organicponents still require vitamins, proteins, and fluids to stay functional."]


    "Got it. In that case, could you tweak the n a bit? Send Carlos with a fewbat drones and some cargo drones to scavenge food and water from the colony¡¯s warehouses?"


    ["Understood, Host."]


    Rex nodded, satisfied. But then something crossed his mind, and a slight grin formed on his face.


    "And one more thing... Can you stop calling me ¡¯Host¡¯? You could call me something else, you know... like ¡¯husband¡¯ or ¡¯honey¡¯..."


    [¡­.]


    Rex was too busy staring out the window to notice that Cleo¡¯s fingers froze mid-air when he said that. For just a few seconds, she didn¡¯t move before quickly regaining herposure and resuming her tasks like nothing had happened.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ["Negative, Host. Please choose another name."]


    "Mmm, alright then... just call me Rex. That works better since we¡¯re partners now."


    ["Understood... Rex."]


    "Mhm, that¡¯s better." Rex nodded with a proud smile, just as Carlos walked into the cabin.


    "What¡¯s up, guys? Did I walk in on something?"


    "Well, kinda," Rex chuckled. "But no worries, let me fill you in on what we¡¯re doing next."


    Rex then exined the n to Carlos. It took a while, mostly because Carlos kept asking questions, wanting to be sure about every detail. But once the n wasid out, Cleo began piloting the ship toward the colony. They started gearing up when they were about two kilometers out.


    Rex and Carlos both grabbed their electric assault rifles, the ones they¡¯d picked up back in the mines, and began loading their pockets with extra ammo clips. Rex slipped into his guard armor, securing the helmet in ce, while Carlos did the same. Since they¡¯d be inside the colony, he didn¡¯t need the atmospheric suit this time.


    ["Gentlemen, prepare yourselves. We¡¯ll be entering the colony¡¯s airspace in three minutes. Combat drones activated, standing by."]


    Rex felt the adrenaline kicking in. Even with the emotion suppressor, he couldn¡¯t shake the excitement building inside him. The thrill of what they were about to do was too much for the tech topletely dampen. Carlos, on the other hand, was clearly nervous. His hands were slick with sweat, and beads of it were dripping down his forehead.


    Rex gave Carlos a firm pat on the back.


    "Cheer up, man. You¡¯re just going to the grocery store, while I¡¯m heading into the hot zone. I should be the one freaking out! Oh, and don¡¯t forget to grab some chips! They¡¯re in the VIP section. And hey, no need to be cheap¡ªthey¡¯re free today!"


    While Rex rambled on with his usual nonsense, the cargo bay door began to open. The sound of the ship¡¯s automatic turrets firing non-stop filled the air as thousands of flying bugs swarmed around the vessel. The only thing keeping them at bay was the shield, flickering under the strain.


    ["It¡¯s time, Rex. Jump now. I¡¯ll take Carlos to the next drop point."]


    "You heard thedy! Good luck, my bald friend! Wooohoooo!"


    With a shout of excitement, Rex took off running and leapt out of the ship, yelling like a kid on a rollercoaster. As he free-fell, the flying bugs turned their attention to him, swarming in his direction. Rex didn¡¯t hesitate; he then raised his rifle and started firing at them in midair.


    Suddenly,bat drones shot out from multiple exits in the ship, built specifically for quick deployment. Armed with miniguns, they were being controlled manually by Cleo, who coordinated their movements with ease. The drones quickly formed a tight square formation around Rex,ying down heavy fire on the bugs that swarmed toward him.


    "Hahaha! That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about! Cleo, you know I love you, right? So make sure you don¡¯t shoot me!"


    [¡­.]


    After a tense minute or so, Rex finally hit thending zone, his fall slowed by Cleo¡¯s precise adjustments, bringing him down safely. As his feet hit the ground, he looked up and saw the ship pulling away, its turrets still zing as it continued to fend off the relentless swarm.

 Chapter 12: Retrieval Operation.

    "Alright, it¡¯s time to start the operation. Let¡¯s move, Cleo."


    Rex began scanning the wrecked cargo ships one by one, while thebat drones kept the swarm busy. Meanwhile, it was Carlos¡¯ turn to drop from the ship. Since he was just a regr human, the ship had to lower its altitude to a safe level before dropping him onto the warehouse rooftop, along with tenbat drones and six cargo drones.


    Once he hit the roof and the drones joined him, the ship immediately took off, its engines roaring as it shot away. For now, its firepower was enough to hold off the flying bugs. With that cover, Carlos figured he could get inside without too much hassle.


    He made his way to the door on the rooftop, but it was locked. And with no other option, he shot the lock and forced it open. Thebat drones moved in first, securing the area. After a few moments, Carlos could hear gunfire echoing from inside the warehouse.


    Curiosity got the best of him, and he peeked in. The drones were already locked in battle with the bug burrowers, which were crawling up from the ground, tearing apart huge sections of the stored food.


    "Damn, I gotta move fast before they wreck everything! Cargo drones, follow me! Let¡¯s grab what we can!"


    Wasting no time, the drones began picking up the food and liquids Carlos pointed out, all while trying to avoid getting shot or snatched by the burrowers that asionally burst out.


    "Hey, Cleo, are you sure there¡¯s nothing salvageable from those destroyed cargo ships?"


    ["Affirmative. Scanners show there are many useful parts, but everything we need is beyond repair. This doesn¡¯t seem like an ident anymore... high probability of sabotage."]


    "Sabotage? Who in their right mind would want to stick around this bug-infested hellhole unless... the one who did it already left the? Damn, what the hell is going on here?"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    While Carlos was busy gathering supplies, Rex and Cleo were still searching for parts to fix the ship¡¯s flight engine. So far, no luck. With nothing salvageable from the destroyed cargo ships, they decided to head to the warehouse, where spare parts for ship maintenance were supposed to be stored.


    The warehouse was pretty close to thending zone, so it didn¡¯t take them long to reach the entrance. Lucky for them, the door was already open. It looked like the bugs had attacked right in the middle of a maintenance job on a cargo ship.


    "Looks like we¡¯ve hit the jackpot here! Cleo, scan this ship, quick!"


    ["Scanning in progress. Please stand by."]


    ["Scanplete. This cargo ship has an operational flight engine. Please secure the area while I send in an engineer drone once the ship passes overhead."]


    "You got it; leave it to me."


    Cleo then directed the drones to form a defensive perimeter around the warehouse while Rex continued scanning the inside for anything useful. Meanwhile, up in the sky, the ship kept circling, getting closer to Rex¡¯s location, but it had been several minutes already, and the bug numbers showed no signs of slowing.


    Despite the ship¡¯s constant fire, wiping out bugs left and right, they just kept pouring out of the colony¡¯s central hole. It was clear the hive mind was a much bigger threat than they¡¯d anticipated.


    After a few more minutes, the ship finally came into range of the warehouse. It fired something that looked like a small metal ball toward the ground. As soon as Rex spotted the falling ball, he moved toward it, with severalbat drones trailing behind to secure it.


    "So... is this the engineer we¡¯ve been waiting for? It¡¯s just a metal ball."


    ["Give it a moment, Rex. Since it has nobat abilities, it first scans the area for any potential danger before activating."]


    After about a minute, the metal ball finally did something. It split in half, and a small robot spider emerged. Cleo connected to it immediately and directed it toward the warehouse, with thebat drones escorting it.


    Once it reached the cargo ship, the little robot scurried inside. It located the flight engine and began dismantling it with astonishing speed and precision. Rex, fascinated, couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the thing.


    ["Rex, please grab the engine parts it¡¯s cing here. These are what we need. Now we just have to wait for the ship toe around again so we can extract them and pick up Carlos."]


    "Got it. By the way, how¡¯s Carlos doing? Everything okay?"


    ["Affirmative. The burrowers are still active in the area, but thebat drones are handling them. However, we need to hurry since their ammo is running low."]


    "Good to know. Once we¡¯re aboard, let¡¯s head straight for Carlos. Have thebat drones cover us and fire at the swarm when we reach his extraction point. That way, there¡¯s less chance of him bing a target."


    [...]


    ["I¡¯m genuinely surprised the host finally made a sensible decision. Well done."]


    "Heh, what can I say? I have my moments."


    A few minutester, the ship finally arrived and began its descent so Rex could board safely without damaging the flight engine parts. Once on board, Rex handed the engine pieces over to a cargo drone and made his way toward the pilot cabin.


    "I¡¯m ready, Cleo. Take us to Carlos."


    ["Understood."]


    With the flight engine secured, the ship quickly lifted off, heading straight for Carlos¡¯ extraction point. The swarm kepting strong, endless waves of bugs piling up. The colony was littered with thousands of bug bodies by now, but thanks to Cleo, there was still plenty of ammo left for the turrets to burn.


    When they arrived at the rooftop of the supply warehouse, Carlos was already waiting, and so were the burrowers. As they made their way down the staircase to leave, the burrowers mmed into the structure, and a few even emerged from the rooftop itself.


    Some of the drones protecting Carlos and the cargo drones werepletely out of ammo. Cleo had no choice but to use them as battering rams, smashing them into the burrowers before detonating them. Luckily, thebat drones apanying Rex still had some ammunition left. As Carlos and the cargo drones boarded the ship, thebat drones kept the swarm at bay.


    ["Sessful extraction confirmed."]


    "Good! Get us out of here, Cleo!"


    They quickly flew out of the colony¡¯s airspace. Once they were a few kilometers away, Cleo used thebat drones as a distraction, sending them to draw the swarm¡¯s attention while the ship made its escape.


    "Whew, that was close, huh?"


    "Yeah, no kidding. Never in my life did I think I¡¯d be doing a halo jump and taking part in a military op. Oh, by the way, bald guy, did you grab the chips?"


    "Of course I did. I¡¯ve got a whole cargo drone full of them."


    "And... you got the spicy ones, right?"


    "I knew you¡¯d ask. Yeah, I made sure to grab mostly spicy ones."


    "Damn, man. Why weren¡¯t you born a girl? I swear, I¡¯d fall for you. Such a shame."


    "You know, Rex, one of these days I¡¯m going to kill you in your sleep."


    Now that the tension had died down, Rex and Carlos broke intoughter, tossing around yful insults and reminiscing about their time as kids when they were ves to a wealthy family. It took them 15 long years to buy their freedom, but they never forgot those days.


    In the gxy, very was amon practice, though civilians without criminal records had a chance to buy their freedom after 15 years of servitude, provided their owners allowed it. The agreement usually involved paying a hefty sum of credits over several years.


    However, if a ve failed to meet the payment deadline, they¡¯d be re-enved, this time as fugitives, with no further chance to regain their freedom.


    Luckily for Rex and Carlos, they managed to pay off their debts by sticking together and helping each other. Rex even helped Carlos pay for his sweetheart¡¯s freedom. A few yearster, Carlos married her, and they had a child. Tragically, she died during childbirth.


    Despite the gxy¡¯s advanced medical technology, the costs were exorbitant. For regr office ves like Rex and Carlos, hospitals were out of reach.


    Instead, they turned to ndestine doctors. Though still expensive, they were far more essible for ordinary people. Rex even helped Carlos cover the doctor¡¯s fees. It was moments like these, along with many other sacrifices, that solidified Carlos¡¯ unwavering loyalty to Rex.


    "By the way, Cleo, give me a damage report. And what¡¯s our next task?"


    ["Understood. Three of the eight turrets were overused; their barrels arepletely destroyed. Shield energy is down to 8%. We¡¯ve also lost all of thebat drones, and we don¡¯t have enough materials to produce more. I rmendnding in a safe location to recharge the shields."]


    ["And for what¡¯s next on our to-do list is...]

 Chapter 13: Leaving the world.

    After a moment of sifting through multiple screens that had appeared unexpectedly, Cleo finally spoke.


    "Leaving this would be the most sensible option. I can¡¯t gather enough materials to upgrade the ship here, and our resources and energy aren¡¯t limitless. The shield recharge to 50% will take two days at most, and at that level, we should be able to leave this world."


    "How safe is it for us to actually leave?"


    "Once the preparations are done, it¡¯ll be rtively safe. But without enough firepower for spacebat, there¡¯s always some risk."


    "Now that you mention it, I¡¯ve never fought in space before, then again, not on the ground either. So, what do we need to consider in a space battle?"


    "It depends on the type of ship. For smaller ones, it¡¯s all about the pilot¡¯s skills. Even the smallest fighters are strong, but their shields and hulls can¡¯t take a direct hit from an average missile, and they definitely can¡¯t handle the defenses ofrger ships."


    "But there are enough types of fighters to make up for that. There¡¯s one kind, bombers, that¡¯s especially dangerous, even to bigger ships. While they can¡¯t destroy arge vessel outright, they can take out engines or turbines, making it an easy target.


    "For medium andrge ships, ites down to shield strength, firepower, and the type of ammunition you¡¯re using. If the enemy¡¯s shields are up, kic weapons like torpedoes, missiles, and cannons are the best option. Once the shields are down, we switch tosers."


    "Kic weapons deal heavy damage to shields, but not much to heavily armored ships. Lasers, though, cut right through armor. There are other kinds of weapons, but I¡¯ll exin those if we ever face them."


    Once Cleo finished her exnation, she turned to look at Rex and Carlos, a proud smile on her face since she felt she had exined everything perfectly. But her smile quickly vanished when she saw them both sound asleep in the cabin seats, mouths wide open.


    Annoyed, Cleo sighed. She couldn¡¯t do anything to Carlos, being a hologram and all, but Rex was a different story. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she pulled up a screen, tapped a few buttons, and closed it. A secondter, Rex jumped out of his chair, scratching himself all over as he hit the floor.


    "Ahhh, what the heck is happening? Why am I so itchy all of a sudden?"


    Meanwhile, Carlos was still fast asleep, blissfully unaware of the chaos happening right next to him.


    "That¡¯s what you get for ignoring me," Cleo said smugly. "Enjoy the itching for another 10 minutes. Good luck." With that, she turned and walked out of the pilot cabin, heading to the second floor, where the small factory was located.


    And so, the hours passed. Rex and Carlos spent their mornings doing non-stop target practice to improve their aim, and in the afternoons, they trained in close-quartersbat. Thanks to the martial arts Cleo had installed in Rex¡¯s body, he ended up teaching Carlos the basics.


    Evenings were the only time they got to rx, eat, and unwind. Cleo, on the other hand, had been busy the entire time repairing the flight engine and redirecting whatever energy she could spare to the shield generators. Three days passed like this, and by the third night, they were finally ready to leave the.


    "Rex, everything¡¯s set. We can leave whenever you¡¯re ready. The only thing I¡¯m wondering is... do you know where we¡¯re heading?"


    "Oh, I¡¯ve got that covered. We¡¯re going to Nakor. It¡¯s where this bald guy¡¯s son lives. Plus, it¡¯s amercial, so you¡¯ll have no trouble finding the materials you need. The only issue will be figuring out how to make credits once we get there."


    "Oh, I have an idea, Rex. I know a bar where mercenaries hang out. Now that you¡¯re like a super-soldier, you could easily start bounty hunting on the."


    "That sounds great and all," Rex replied, "but we don¡¯t have a mercenary license to take bounty missions, and we don¡¯t know anyone who could introduce us to the mercs."


    Both Rex and Carlos fell into deep thought, until Cleo chimed in.


    "Why don¡¯t I just make you a mercenary ID? I can hack into their system and create one for you guys."


    "Wait, you can really do that?" Rex asked, eyebrows raised. "Wouldn¡¯t they figure out it¡¯s fake?"


    "Don¡¯t worry, Rex. They won¡¯t be fake. I¡¯ll use their system to generate them. They¡¯ll be legit."


    Carlos grinned. "Well, isn¡¯t she a finedy? Where can I get one like her?"


    "...."


    The conversation continued for about an hour, with all their questions eventually answered. Now, it was time to leave the.


    Cleo stood in front of therge reinforced window in the pilot cabin. After a bit of work on her usual screens, she turned to face Rex, who was sitting in the pilot¡¯s seat, eyes glued to her... well, butt.


    "Rex, I¡¯ve uploaded the coordinates from the cargo ship logs onto the gxy map terminal. Select Nakor so you can see the path we need to follow. It¡¯s time to get off this rock."


    Rex, snapping out of his trance, cleared his throat awkwardly and opened the screen, selecting the. A blue line appeared on the cabin¡¯s window, tracing the route they needed to take to reach Nakor.


    "Alright," Rex said, hands gripping the controls. "Let¡¯s get this baby off the ground. I won¡¯t lie, I¡¯m pretty excited."


    Carlos leaned back, grinning. "You¡¯re not the only one, my friend. I¡¯m excited and a little nervous. The only time I¡¯ve been on a ship was a few days ago, crammed into a cargo bay with no windows. Now, here I am, flying in first ss."


    "Well, I can¡¯t exactly say we¡¯ve made it big now that we¡¯re diving headfirst into the chaos of mercenary life."


    "True, bute on, Rex. As long as we¡¯re together, there¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t do! Look at everything we¡¯ve already done. We¡¯ve been fighting against adversity since we were kids. This won¡¯t stop us; think of it like we just got a promotion."


    "Haha, yeah, sure, promoted from being ve officers to top mercenaries. I¡¯ll be the boss, and you¡¯ll be my right-hand man. And, of course, we can¡¯t forget our sexy secretary, Cleo, who¡¯ll be sitting on myp one of these days."


    "I see the host didn¡¯t learn his lesson the first time," Cleo said, voice t.


    "W-Wait! Hold on! It was just a joke! Don¡¯t you dare do that again!"


    "Hmph."


    Rex let out a sigh of relief when Cleo didn¡¯t follow through with another punishment. The memory of itching all over his body was a hellish experience he wasn¡¯t eager to repeat anytime soon. As they were chatting, the ship finally broke through the¡¯s atmosphere, slowly ascending into space.


    Suddenly, a warning shed across the console:


    [Warning: Multiple wormhole signatures detected.]


    "Rex, focus. This is too much of a coincidence, ships appearing just as we leave the? Something¡¯s off."


    Right in front of them, a massive wormhole opened, and from it emerged arge battleship. Several other wormholes, smaller in size, began to open all around them.


    [Executor-ss Dreadnought is attempting to contact us; should I ept the call?]


    Rex exchanged a nce with Carlos and Cleo before giving a nod. A screen materialized on therge window, but the image was blurred, clearly on purpose, probably to hide the identity of the caller.


    Despite the visual distortion, Rex could see enough to be surprised. Instead of a face, the screen showed three blue, mannequin-like figures sitting in chairs.


    "This is Strategos Delun Trolotov," a voice said through the static. "Our scanners have detected that your ship is carrying something that belongs to us. Power down your engines and prepare to be boarded."


    "Since when do we have something that belongs to them!? Baldy, what did you steal?"


    "W-What? Why me?! Oh, wait¡­ They¡¯re probably here because of those chips you told me to steal!"


    "Oh, that actually makes sense. Ahem, dear Strategos Delun, I wasn¡¯t the one who stole the chips; it was this bald guy right here!"


    "W-What?! What chips? What are you talking about?!" Delun¡¯s voice turned icy. "Enough with the nonsense. Power down your engines; this is your final warning."


    Rex leaned back and whispered into his mic, "Cleo, is the wormhole ready?"


    "Yes, whenever you¡¯re ready, we can leave."


    Rex nced at Carlos with a sly grin. Carlos, picking up on his signal, stood up from his seat and made sure the figures on the call could see him clearly.


    "Dear gentlemen, no need to be so hasty. After much discussion with the captain here, we¡¯vee to a decision that I believe will truly please you."


    "Cleo, now!"


    Carlos smirked and flipped them the bird. "Kiss my ass!"


    In that instant, the ship lurched forward, elerating to its top speed as a wormhole opened in front of them.


    "Shoot that ship! Bring it down!" one of the blue mannequins shouted in panic.


    But before they could react, the mannequin in the center swung his fist, punching the loud one in the face.


    "Are you an idiot?!" he barked. "Do you even know what¡¯s on that ship?! You want to get us all killed?!"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Unable to fire on Rex¡¯s ship without risking their own destruction, they watched helplessly as it disappeared into the wormhole, escaping safely into the vastness of space.

 Chapter 14: Returning Home.

    Strategos Delun stood, staring into the empty space where the ship had vanished just seconds ago. His fingers were clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. The anger boiling inside him was palpable. The item the CEO had ordered them to retrieve had been stolen, right from under their noses.


    He didn¡¯t even want to think about what the CEO would do when he found out. They had to act fast and recover the item immediately or risk losing not just their positions but their lives.


    "You prepare the intergcticmunicator. I need to make a call."


    "Understood, Strategos Delun."


    While things escted on Delun¡¯s end, the Rex team was traveling through a wormhole, enjoying the ride like kids on a rollercoaster.


    "Hahaha, did you see their faces!?"


    "I didn¡¯t see any faces since they didn¡¯t have any! Ahaha!"


    "True, but you could tell they were furious when I gave them my answer."


    As Rex and Carlosughed over the chaos they¡¯d just left behind, Cleo was focused elsewhere. She was scrolling through the data she¡¯d hacked from the enemy ship. During the brief video call, Cleo had managed to breach their systems undetected and download a treasure trove of information.


    She now had details on all the megacorp operations below rank 3 and, more importantly, the true reason they were on that in the first ce.


    "Rex, you¡¯re going to want to see this." With a flick of her wrist, Cleo sent one of her screens floating toward Rex.


    "Hmm? What¡¯s this... Wait¡ªhold on! Isn¡¯t that the egg we have in the cargo hold?"


    "Affirmative, that¡¯s the one. It looks like they knew it was there and were waiting for someone to retrieve it. I don¡¯t know how they tracked it, but there¡¯s no question; that was their target."


    "You¡¯re telling us those bastards knew what was on that and still sent us all to die?!" Carlos couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. The thought of being used as a disposable pawn was too much, especially knowing that if he died, his kid would be left with no one.


    "Calm down, Carlos. Yelling at Cleo isn¡¯t going to help. She¡¯s not involved with them. Come with me; I¡¯ll show you what¡¯s in the cargo."


    Rex led the way, with Carlos and Cleo following closely behind. Once in the cargo bay, Rex unlocked the car¡¯s storage, revealing the egg, the very thing that had sealed the fate of everyone back on the colony. Rex began exining what he knew about the egg and how dangerous it truly was.


    "So, you¡¯re telling me if this egg gets even slightly damaged, we¡¯re all screwed?" Carlos asked, his voice tense.


    "Exactly. The only reason that huge ship didn¡¯t st us out of the sky is because they can¡¯t risk the Khryssariing after them. They probably know what happened to other civilizations that messed with them."


    Carlos ran a hand through his bald head. "So, what now?"


    "Nothing changes. The n stays the same: we make it to Nakor, be bounty hunters, and get your kid back, simple as that. As for the egg, we keep it hidden until we figure out what to do with it."


    Meanwhile, Cleo, who had been busy scanning the egg with her small drone spheres, decided to chime in.


    "If I may, I suggest we hold onto the egg for now. I¡¯ll need some materials to build an incubator and gather more data on it."


    Carlos whipped around, eyes wide. "An incubator? You want to hatch this thing?!"


    "Affirmative. Based on the data I pulled from the Nexums, there¡¯s a way to make the Khryssari princess submit to our control."


    "And what would that option be?" Rex asked.


    "More data is needed to determine that," Cleo replied. "The Nexum rank 3 files didn¡¯t include that information."


    "Figures. Well, it doesn¡¯t matter for now. I¡¯m going to recharge and take a nap. Cleo, make sure to shut off the recharge machine once I¡¯m fully charged. I don¡¯t want to wake up until we¡¯re out of the wormhole."


    "Understood."


    Before leaving, Rex gave Carlos a nce. "What about you? What are you going to do?"


    "Not much. I just want to watch the lights of the wormhole for a bit. It¡¯s not like I get to see them often."


    "Suit yourself. And don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t be thest time you see it. Our legend¡¯s just getting started, my friend."


    With that, Rex left the pilot cabin and headed to the recharge bay, Cleo following silently behind. Now alone, a small smile crept across Carlos¡¯s face.


    "Our legend, huh... not bad, brother."


    In the recharge bay, Rex began undressing, aware of Cleo¡¯s gaze, her expression unreadable as usual. Catching her stare, Rex couldn¡¯t resist teasing her.


    "Enjoying the strip show again, Cleo?"


    "I have no idea what you¡¯re referring to," she said tly. "I¡¯m simply waiting for you to get into the chamber so I can start the recharge process."


    "Hah, sure. Let¡¯s go with that."


    The trip through the wormholested six Imperial hours. Before the ship exited, Cleo woke everyone up and gathered them in the pilot cabin.


    [Destination reached. Exiting wormhole.]


    As the ship emerged from the wormhole, the came into view; it was a distant sphere, lush green even under the faint light of a nearby white dwarf. The was perpetually in twilight, bathed in dim, silvery light that never fully brightened into day. Despite the eerie darkness, the skies around the were bustling with activity.


    Merchant ships of all sizes, nked by armed escorts, zipped back and forth in steady streams.


    This was a major trading hub, but that also meant one thing: where there was wealth, there were dangers. Mercenary groups thrived here as did various underground syndicates. As the saying went, "Where there¡¯s gold, there¡¯s always a dragon," and in this case, the dragons were the criminals lurking in the shadows.


    Ironically, the where they¡¯d spent much of their lives was also the safest ce to hide from the megacorp hunting them. After another hour at cruising speed, they finally began their descent.


    "By the way, Cleo, where exactly are wending? It¡¯s not like we have the money to rent a spot at the spaceport," Rex asked, eyeing the navigation panel.


    "Don¡¯t worry, Rex," Cleo replied coolly. "I¡¯ve already set coordinates for a ndestinending zone. No one asks questions there, but security isn¡¯t exactly guaranteed. It¡¯s amon spot for smugglers."


    Rex raised an eyebrow. "So you¡¯re saying we¡¯ll get robbed the moment we touch down?"


    "Affirmative. That¡¯s what I¡¯m counting on. From what I¡¯ve gathered, the strongest force rules here. While our ship¡¯s turrets aren¡¯t a threat to major vessels, they can easily handle low-level criminals."


    Rex chuckled, starting to catch on. "Ah, I get it now. You want to take over the ce. Use the ship¡¯s turrets to scare them off, and have me handle whoever¡¯s in charge. Am I right?"


    "Affirmative, Rex. Once we take down the local boss, we can im the bounty on his head after we officially be mercenaries. Plus, we get a freending zone out of it. You may now praise me."


    Carlos, who¡¯d been listening quietly, shook his head with a smirk. "Rex, your girl is terrifying."


    "I know, right? That¡¯s what makes her even sexier. I told you, my wife is the best!"


    "WHO IS YOUR WIFE?!" Cleo snapped, activating Rex¡¯s punishment device.


    "AHHH! It itches!" Rex yelled, scratching frantically at the sudden irritation all over his body.


    Carlos could only stand there, wide-eyed, watching his friend writhe on the floor in a fit of scratching. The look of horror on his face grew as he realized just how scary Cleo really was.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After a few tense minutes, the ship finally touched down at the smugglers¡¯nding zone. The moment itnded, a swarm of lowlifes began creeping out from nearby shadows, eyes gleaming with greed as they sized up the new arrival. The ship¡¯s gleaming white and blue hull, adorned with golden ents, stood out like a sore thumb; it was anything but subtle.


    Its eye-catching appearance was like a beacon, drawing every criminal and smuggler in the area. Some were already armed, practically salivating at the thought of looting the passengers and tearing the ship apart for parts. But their anticipation quickly turned to horror.


    Instead of the cargo bay door opening, the turret hatches slid open with lightning speed.


    What followed could only be described as a massacre. The ship¡¯s turrets unleashed a deadly hail of bullets, cutting down the would-be attackers before they had a chance to react. A few managed to fire back, but the ship¡¯s armor was too tough to scratch. Even the criminals¡¯ desperate missile strikes were useless, leaving nothing more than charred marks on the hull.


    In a matter of moments, the area fell silent. Bodies littered the ground, and there was no sign of life left in thending zone. Then, a small door on the side of the ship opened, and a swarm of floating drones that looked small, spherical, and methodical emerged. They spread out, scanning the area for any survivors or hidden threats.


    After a few minutes of confirming the zone was clear, the ship¡¯s cargo bay doors finally opened. Rex and Carlos stepped out, both d in guard armor and carrying electric rifles.


    Rex cracked a grin, looking at the devastation around them. "Well, it looks like it¡¯s time for the hunt. You ready, my friend?"


    Carlos nodded, a calm but eager look in his eyes. "Anytime, brother."

 Chapter 15: Smuggler cave.

    The remains of the criminals were scattered everywhere. Every step Rex and Carlos took brought them onto pieces of someone, or what was left of them. But having lived through something simr back at the colony and in the mines, they were somewhat desensitized to it. They pressed on without too much hesitation.


    "Rex, the scout drones have detected a cave about 2 km from your location. I¡¯m sending the coordinates to your guide system. Standby."


    [Coordinates received, disying route.]


    "Oh, always so thoughtful, my love. I knew you cared about me," Rex smirked, ncing at the transmission from his wife.


    "..."


    This time, Cleo chose to ignore himpletely.


    As the path lit up on Rex¡¯s disy, he turned to Carlos. "Got the coordinates. Let¡¯s move."


    "I¡¯m right behind you, man."


    "Why behind? Don¡¯t want to take the lead?"


    "No thanks. Ladies first. Besides, you¡¯re the one that¡¯s bulletproof, not me."


    "I don¡¯t even know if I am, to be honest."


    "Well, if you die, I guess you weren¡¯t."


    "Fuck you, Carlos."


    The path to the cave was tough. Weird nts, thick trees, and dense foliage¡ªit was like nature didn¡¯t want them to get there. Everything felt overgrown and tangled, making it hard to navigate. This ce was a smugglers¡¯ haven for a reason. If it hadn¡¯t been for Cleo hacking the ships¡¯munications, they never would¡¯ve found the ce.


    After what felt like hours of wading through the dense forest, they finally made it to the cave entrance. From the looks of it, the criminals were ready for them.


    "Damn, they¡¯ve set up barricades. Guards everywhere. I think some of those guys at thending zone got away and tipped them off. What¡¯s the n, Rex?"


    Rex gave a sly grin. "I¡¯ve got a few ideas. Cleo helped me narrow it down, and I¡¯ve already picked the one I like best. Listen up, here¡¯s how we¡¯re going to do this."


    The guards outside the smugglers¡¯ cave were heavily armed. Some carried hand grenades; others had rocketunchers slung over their shoulders. Since their leaders were smugglers, getting hold of this kind of firepower wasn¡¯t a problem. In fact, most of them got it dirt cheap or free, as long as they stayed loyal.


    Of course, that loyalty came with a catch, and it was in the form of a control chip imnted in their brains.


    It had been a few hours since they¡¯d heard about the attack at thending zone, and so far, no one hade looking for them.


    "Hey, you think anyone¡¯s actuallying?" one guard asked, leaning against a tree.


    "Hah! Doubt it. We¡¯re too far from thending zone. And this ce? It¡¯s practically invisible unless you¡¯ve got a guide," another replied, kicking at the dirt.


    "I don¡¯t think the guys who hit thending zone would even daree here. And with the toys the smugglers hooked us up with? We¡¯re untouchable."


    "Hey, fes! Look what I found!" a third guard called out, holding up a fancy-looking bottle.


    "Whoa, is that... expensive liquor? One of the smugglers must¡¯ve left it behind when they freaked out."


    "I doubt they¡¯ll miss it. Let¡¯s drink it before anyone notices!"


    "Good idea, man! Let¡¯s get everyone in on this, then no one¡¯ll snitch, ha!"


    Discipline wasn¡¯t exactly their strong suit. Once they cracked the bottle open, it didn¡¯t take long for things to get out of hand. A few hourster, several of them were already passed out on the ground, drunk and defenseless.


    That¡¯s when the gunfire started.


    Bullets rained down from their left, cutting through the guards like paper. Some managed to scramble for cover, trying to escape the onught, but momentster, more shots came from the right. Their positions were boxed in, and the cover they¡¯d taken was useless.


    In just a few brutal minutes, it was over. None of them made it out alive.


    From the dark forest, Rex and Carlos emerged, charging their electric rifles as they moved. They quickly took cover on opposite sides of the cave entrance. Rex reached into his pouch, pulled out a few small metal balls that were no bigger than two centimeters, and rolled them inside the cave.


    A few momentster, the spheres cracked open, and small robotic spiders scurried out.


    "It¡¯s done, Cleo. Recon drones are in," Rex said quietly.


    "Understood. Stand by," Cleo responded, her voice calm.


    Back on the ship, Cleo sat in front of a series of holographic screens. Her fingers danced over the controls as she guided the tiny drones deeper into the cave. One screen showed her what the spiders were seeing, while another let her issuemands. Slowly but surely, she mapped the cave¡¯syout.


    After a few minutes, Cleo had a full picture. Several rooms were packed with what looked like illegal goods, everything from weapons to vehicles. But then the spiders reached arge open chamber, and her eyes narrowed. There were bodies lying on the ground, probably the smugglers. But what caught her attention was the towering figure in the center of the room.


    A humanoid, octopus-like creature d in ck armor.


    And it wasn¡¯t alone.


    Several others of the same kind were scattered around, standing guard.


    "Rex, we¡¯ve got a problem." Cleo¡¯s voice came through with an edge of urgency.


    "Mmm? What is it?" Rex responded, still in cover.


    "The people running this ce are Void Assassins. They¡¯re Nexum Dynamics operatives, trained for stealth, assassination, and sabotage."


    "So, you¡¯re telling me this ce belongs to Nexum Dynamics?"


    "Affirmative. From what I can gather, yes. My information on them is limited, though."


    Rex frowned. "What kind of equipment are they packing?"


    "The drones picked up cloaking tech, vibrodes, and high-tech silenced energy rifles," Cleo reported, her tone steady but concerned.


    "Great," Rex muttered. "That¡¯s bad news for us. Do we have any countermeasures for their cloaking tech?"


    Cleo paused for a moment. "I don¡¯t have enough data on the specific cloaking system they¡¯re using. If it¡¯s like my race¡¯s tech, it¡¯ll be impossible to detect. But if it¡¯s a downgrade, we might be able to spot them with infrared vision."


    "So it¡¯s a gamble, huh?" Rex said, raising an eyebrow.


    "Affirmative," Cleo replied.


    Rex chuckled. "I didn¡¯t think you were one for gambling, Cleo. Be careful not to develop a habit."


    There was a brief silence, then Cleo sighed. "Sigh."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Them line went dead again.


    Cleo leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. The more time she spent working with Rex, the more she found herself adapting to his banter. There was almost no difference between her and a human when it came to the way she spoke now. Maybe Rex was a bad influence after all.


    Rex ryed the info Cleo had given him to Carlos.


    "If what Cleo said is true, fighting these guys is basically going to war with a megacorp."


    "Well, just so you know, Carlos, we¡¯re already considered hostiles. Did you forget about the egg?"


    "Oh yeah, totally slipped my mind, haha. So, what now? If these guys wiped out the smugglers, they¡¯re probably here to silence everyone and erase any witnesses."


    Rex nodded. "Exactly. If we want to take control of this area, we¡¯re going to have to deal with them. First things first, let¡¯s hit the armory inside the cave. There might be some toys in there that can help us even against the odds."


    Without wasting time, Rex headed into the cave, Carlos following a few meters behind. Both were on high alert. Fighting against these Void Assassins was like battling ghosts since they could be anywhere, thanks to their cloaking tech. But fortunately, Cleo had already activated Rex¡¯s infrared vision.


    After a tense walk through the cave¡¯s dim corridors, they finally reached the armory. It was a treasure trove. Rows of weapons lined the walls, from energy rifles to rocketunchers.


    Carlos let out a long whistle. "Damn, look at all this. These smugglers weren¡¯t messing around. And now it¡¯s all free for us."


    "Yep," Rex said, scanning the racks. "Let¡¯s gear up."


    A few minutester, Rex hefted a massive minigun off the wall, his upgraded body handling it with ease like it was nothing more than a piece of light lumber. Carlos, on the other hand, grabbed a grenadeuncher and a beefier assault rifle. The new rifle had arger magazine and could carry up to 200 rounds per clip.


    "Well," Carlos said, grinning as he checked his new weapon, "we¡¯re about to make some serious noise."


    Rex smirked. "Let¡¯s go introduce ourselves."


    The main chamber of the cave was riddled with tunnels, secret routes the smugglers had used for their operations. Now, the Void Assassins were busy nting explosives around those openings, preparing to destroy the tunnels and erase all evidence of their activities.


    Closing off these routes would ensure no one could trace them, as the exits led into areas controlled by Nexum Dynamics.


    Just as they were setting the final charges, a thunderous explosion echoed through the cave. The sealed door blew off its hinges, crashing into the room. Before the assassins could react, the unmistakable whirl of something spinning filled the air.


    In the next instant, a barrage of bullets tore through the room, cutting down two of the Void Assassins before they could even blink. The remaining operatives scrambled, trying to dive into the tunnels for cover. But just as they reached the entrances, the explosives they¡¯d nted went off, copsing the tunnels and burying several of them under the rubble.


    More explosions rocked the chamber, shaking the ground beneath them, while the relentless storm of bullets continued to rip through the air, giving the assassins no chance to recover.


    The chaos was overwhelming, and it became clear that there was no escape.

 Chapter 16: Cleo and Rex Connection.

    After a few minutes, Rex¡¯s minigun finally ran dry, and Carlos had thrown hisst grenade. The two of them quickly fell back to the main room, unsure if any enemies had survived. Once at a safer distance, they grabbed their new heavy assault rifles and aimed them toward the entrance, ready for anything.


    The room was filled with thick smoke from the explosions, and the dust from all the gunfire made it nearly impossible to see.


    "Rex," Carlos asked, keeping his eyes on the entrance, "you think we got them all?"


    "I hope so," Rex muttered, still catching his breath. "Let¡¯s wait a second. Cleo¡¯s using her recon drones to check for survivors."


    Suddenly, a warning shed on Rex¡¯s HUD: [Warning: High-energy target approaching.]. Evasive maneuvers are rmended.


    Before Rex could react, a massive, ck humanoid creature, like some kind of octopus, burst through the dust cloud, moving with incredible speed. It mmed into Rex with brutal force, sending him crashing into the cave wall, debris flying everywhere.


    "REX!" Carlos shouted.


    A deep, chillingugh echoed through the cave. "Kukuku... I apud you, humans. I didn¡¯t expect you to kill my men. That alone is worth some praise. But sadly, I can¡¯t let anyone live to tell the tale, especially not human ves."


    The creature extended a hand, and a vibrode slid out from its wrist. Carlos, eyes wide, leveled his rifle and opened fire, the rapid shots echoing through the cavern. But the void assassin moved too fast, effortlessly dodging every bullet before appearing right in front of him.


    In that brief moment, Carlos felt a sharp pain in his gut. He looked down to see the creature¡¯s de buried in his abdomen.


    "Kukuku... Human blood. Such a beautiful crimson," the assassin sneered. "Let¡¯s see how much more of it I can spill before you."


    Before the creature could finish, something yanked hard on one of its tentacles, ripping it backward with immense force. The assassin was hurled across the cave, smashing into the rocky wall with a thunderous crash.


    [Overdrive Activated.]


    The moment Rex snapped back to his senses, he saw the void assassin¡¯s de plunge into Carlos¡¯ abdomen. Rage surged through him. Cleo, knowing full well that Rex couldn¡¯t handle the void assassins on his own, quickly activated Overdrive, boosting every aspect of his bionic imnts.


    In Overdrive mode, Rex was ready. He could finally face the assassin head-on.


    "Cough, cough... you... worthless human s¡ª"


    Before the void assassin could finish, Rex was already in his face, fists flying. He hammered the assassin¡¯s abdomen first, knocking the wind out of him, then aimed for the helmet. Cleo had warned him that the void assassin wore an atmospheric suit and couldn¡¯t survive in oxygen-rich environments. Breaking the helmet was key.


    Even as the cave wall crumbled from the impact and the void assassin hit the ground, Rex didn¡¯t stop. He climbed on top and kept punching, over and over. The helmet shattered, and now Rex¡¯s blowsnded directly on the creature¡¯s soft head. ck blood sttered everywhere, mixing with chunks of flesh.


    "Rex, stop! It¡¯s dead. We have to focus on Carlos now."


    Rex halted, breathing hard. Despite the Overdrive pushing his bionics to their limits, his body struggled to keep up. But right now, none of that mattered. His eyes were fixed on Carlos.


    [Overdrive deactivated. Cooling sequence initiated.]


    Hot air hissed from vents along Rex¡¯s ribs, kicking up dust as it hit the floor.


    "Jeez, Carlos, you look like hell. Guess now you know how fish feel when you gut ¡¯em," Rex said with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood.


    Carlos grimaced, managing a weak chuckle. "Shut up. This wound¡¯s not going to kill me. Right?"


    Rex kneet beside him. "Cleo says it¡¯s not lethal, but we¡¯ve got to stop the bleeding. You¡¯ll bleed out otherwise."


    "Don¡¯t worry," Cleo said. "I already sent for a cargo drone. I found some healing foam on a few of the bodies around here."


    "Oh? So how do we use it?" Rex asked, ncing at the healing foam.


    "It¡¯s simple," Caleo replied, wincing slightly. "You just pop the cap off where the foames out, press the button on top, and it¡¯ll fill the wound, sealing it up."


    "Not a cure-all, but it¡¯ll keep your organs inside long enough for medical help to get here."


    "Well, that sounds handy. Thanks, Cleo," Rex said, smiling. "Wouldn¡¯t expect anything less from my wife."


    Cleo sighed. "One of these days, I swear, I¡¯ll punish you for a whole hour."


    "Uh, I didn¡¯t say anything! You must be hearing things, hehe." Rex chuckled nervously. "Anyway, how long until that drone gets here?"


    "Five more minutes. Just hang in there," Cleo responded, her tone softening.


    As themunication cut off, Cleo leaned back in her chair, pulling her knees to her chest. A soft, almost serene smile crossed her face. It still felt surreal, after a thousand years of waiting, trapped in energy-saving mode. Being an AI, she didn¡¯t sleep, so she was acutely aware of every moment that passed during that long istion.


    It wasn¡¯t until Carlos found her and eventually brought her to Rex that she felt a sense of freedom. In the short time she¡¯d known him, Rex had shown her something unexpected; he treated her like any otherpanion, with warmth and respect. It was something she had never experienced before.


    Her race, made of living metal, had little need for physical closeness, even with their own kind. Communication was always done from a distance, and they lived mostly in solitude. But this warmth she felt now, this sense of belonging, was something new and something she was starting to cherish deeply.


    After what felt like forever, the cargo drone finally arrived, hovering just inside the cave. There wasn¡¯t enough room for it tond, so it stayed in the air, buzzing softly. Rex walked over and grabbed the container it was carrying. Inside were several tubes of healing foam.


    Rex made his way back to Carlos and knelt beside him. "Alright, here it is. Let me know if it hurts, and I¡¯ll give you a lollipop if you¡¯re a good boy."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Carlos groaned, rolling his eyes. "Oh, screw you. Just hurry up¡ªI feel like I¡¯m dying here."


    "Okay, okay," Rex chuckled. "Don¡¯t cry if it stings."


    He carefully removed Carlos¡¯s armor and tore open his shirt, exposing the nasty wound. Holding the healing foam a few inches from the gash, Rex pressed the button. The foam hissed out, expanding quickly and filling the wound.


    "That¡¯s enough on this side. Turn over so I can get the other side where the de came through," Rex instructed.


    Carlos grunted, shifting with effort. "Next time, do me a favor and get shot instead of stabbed, alright? Way less work for me."


    "Yeah, sure," Carlos muttered sarcastically, flipping Rex off as he turned. "I¡¯ll keep that in mind."


    Rex couldn¡¯t help butugh. "You¡¯re lucky you¡¯re still funny."


    With the foam applied and the bleeding under control, Rex helped Carlos to his feet.


    "So, you good? Or do I need to get you a wheelchair?" Rex teased, grinning.


    Carlos smirked, wincing as he stood. "How about you carry me on your back, buddy?"


    "How about no? You¡¯re not exactly a damsel in distress," Rex shot back. "I¡¯ve got standards."


    Carlos chuckled weakly, shaking his head. "One of these days, Rex, you¡¯re going to die for a beauty."


    "Maybe," Rex said with a grin, "but not today."


    The two of them began making their way slowly back to the ship, with Rex supporting Carlos, his arm draped over Rex¡¯s shoulders. It took nearly an hour to reach the ship, where Cleo was waiting for them; the cargo bay was already open.


    Around the ship, several cargo drones were busy collecting anything useful from the smuggler¡¯s camp, scavenging through the debris and the bodies of their fallen enemies.


    "Wee back, guys," Cleo greeted them as they stumbled in.


    Rex grinned. "Oh? I could get used to a beauty saying that every time Ie back."


    Cleo¡¯s voice was calm. "Noted."


    Rex blinked in surprise. "W-What? You¡¯re not going to shut me down like usual? You actually agreed?"


    "Rex," Cleo said, ignoring his confusion, "please bring Carlos inside. The medical drone is almost ready, but for now, the floor will have to do. We don¡¯t have any spare rooms or beds."


    Carlos groaned, his face twisted in pain. "I don¡¯t care if you two flirt; just help me! This really hurts."


    "We¡¯re not flirting!" Cleo snapped, her voice flustered.


    Rex smirked. "No, Carlos, you¡¯re right. We should stop flirting and focus on you. C¡¯mon, let¡¯s get you inside."


    "Hey! Don¡¯t ignore me!" Cleo shouted, but Rex was already busy helping Carlos.


    They got Carlos inside the ship and carefullyid him down on the floor. After a few tense moments, a newly-assembled medical drone rolled out of the factory room, its limbs precise and methodical. It quickly administered anesthesia to Carlos, dulling his pain before starting the delicate operation on his wound.


    Rex winced, turning away. "Yeah, watching a robot dig around in my buddy¡¯s guts isn¡¯t really my thing. I¡¯m going to check out the rest of the cargo."


    He made his way to the car parked in the ship¡¯s cargo bay and opened the back. His eyes immediatelynded on the strange egg they had picked up earlier. He¡¯d been curious about it for a while, wondering what it would feel like to touch. Without thinking much of it, he reached out and gently patted the egg, feeling its smooth, cool surface.


    But as his hand lingered, something strange happened. Blood from the wound on his palm, a scratch he hadn¡¯t even noticed, seemed to seep into the egg, as if the shell were absorbing it. Rex pulled his hand back quickly, staring at the egg in confusion.


    "What the hell..." he muttered under his breath, feeling a chill run down his spine.

 Chapter 17: Finding purpose

    Rex looked around the eggshell, searching for any sign of his blood, but it wasn¡¯t there. At this point, he just hoped he hadn¡¯t done something that woulde back to bite himter.


    He shut the cargo doors and made his way toward Cleo, who was busy operating the medic drone.


    "Cleo, since when are you a doctor?" Rex asked, his face twisted in confusion.


    "I¡¯m not," she replied without looking up. "I just downloaded all the medical data from the¡¯s database. Now, I¡¯m uploading it to this drone and saving it for future use."


    "Oh, cool. So, what now? Honestly, I have no idea what we should do next."


    "Rex, I¡¯m just here to help; you figure that out. My race was wiped out by the Hive Minds. I might be thest survivor. What about your people?"


    "Well, from what I know, they were conquered a few years ago. Now they¡¯re just ves. Actually, you¡¯re lucky you met two humans on this who aren¡¯t ves. We¡¯re like... an endangered species."


    Cleo was quiet for a moment. "Do you want to free your people?"


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "That¡¯s a good question. I don¡¯t have this¡¯savior¡¯ thing in me." Rex sighed as he walked toward the cockpit, staring out at the dark forest filled with strange, alien flora.


    Cleo followed and stood beside him. Rex nced at her. "I don¡¯t even know what I want. How can I feel sympathy for people I don¡¯t even know? Being a savior... that¡¯s just not me."


    Cleo stayed silent, listening. Rex continued, "I don¡¯t even know if I can protect those close to me. That includes you. But now, for the first time, I actually get to choose what I want to do, and it¡¯s terrifying."


    He sat down on the floor, and Cleo joined him. After a moment, he looked at her. "So, what about you, Cleo? Is there something you want? Something you desire?


    Cleo stood up and moved to position herself directly in front of Rex. He stared at her, unsure of what was happening. Then, slowly, she knelt down before him, her eyes fixed on his. She reached out, extending her hand toward his face, but just like before, her fingers passed right through him since she was only a hologram.


    "I... I want a body," she whispered, pulling her hand back with a sad expression that Rex had never seen on her before.


    For the first time, Rex was at a loss for words. He had never seen Cleo show anything other than her usual poker face or the asional flustered look when he teased her.


    "So... what do you need to get a body?" he finally asked.


    "I need an advanced assembly factory... and living metal."


    "Living metal?" Rex furrowed his brow. "Never heard of it. What is it, and how do we get it?"


    "I¡¯ve already been looking into it. These days, living metal is used in bionic imnts that only the wealthiest can afford. And the cost? It¡¯s incredibly high."


    She paused before continuing, "The living metal is a substance my race created organically, designed to help us reproduce or grow stronger. It¡¯s a mix of minerals that, after being refined within us, bes almost like a living organism, capable of healing itself."


    Rex nodded slowly, taking it all in. "Alright... if that¡¯s what you need, then that¡¯ll be our main objective for now. Let¡¯s get you a body. We¡¯ll need a ton of money to do that, so... do you have any ideas¡ª"


    He stopped mid-sentence. What he saw next took his breath away. Cleo was smiling; it was a smile so beautiful it made his heart race. His pulse echoed in the quiet cockpit, and for a moment, the entire universe seemed to vanish. Her radiant and pure face looked almost too perfect to be real, and Rex couldn¡¯t help but feel captivated.


    "Erm, excuse me, lovebirds, but how long do I have to pretend to be asleep before you notice me?"


    The voice broke the moment. Cleo, clearly flustered, immediately deleted her holographic image and disappeared. Rex, still in a daze, stared nkly at the spot where she¡¯d been.


    "Carlos..." Rex muttered.


    "Yeah?" came the groggy reply.


    "I think... I¡¯ve fallen in love."


    Carlos groaned. "And I think someone just yed around with my organs. I can still feel it, so shut up and help me get up. You can go back to your little dream world after you stop my insides from screaming. Man, I¡¯d kill for a beer right now."


    [Attention: No alcohol after surgery. Please wait a few days.]


    Carlos sighed. "Unbelievable. You hear that, Rex? The doctor¡¯s already nagging me. When did tech get so advanced that even robots get to boss me around? I swear, I¡¯m losing my mind."


    Rex stood up and walked over to Carlos, helping him to his feet. He then guided him to the cockpit, where the seats had been upgraded with a new material that was cool to the touch and almost gel-like. Cleo must¡¯ve made the change. It felt ridiculouslyfortable.


    "So, did you hear everything we were talking about?" Rex asked.


    "Yeah, and honestly, you two are nuts. But hey, who cares? I¡¯m always with you, brother."


    Rexughed. "I knew I could count on you. By the way, what about your kid? Do you want to visit him?"


    "I do... but not now. It¡¯s too dangerous for him. We don¡¯t even have a safe ce to stay, let alone hide."


    "I¡¯ve got a solution for that," Cleo suddenly chimed in, appearing out of nowhere. She pulled up an image on the big window of the cockpit.


    "What¡¯s that?" Rex asked, squinting as he tried to make sense of the diagram, moving his head from side to side.


    "These are the ns for an underground citadel," Cleo exined.


    "Wait, you¡¯re saying we should build a city? How in the world are we going to do that? It¡¯s just the three of us! We¡¯d be dead before we even finished digging!" Carlos eximed.


    Cleo gave a confident smile. "Don¡¯t worry, Carlos. I¡¯ll deploy the mining drones to excavate the area. Then, we¡¯ll rent out the space to the smugglers who frequent this. They¡¯ll do the building, and we¡¯ll make credits off the rent."


    Carlos blinked in surprise. "That sounds solid, but how do you n on getting them here? Pretty sure those Void Assassins wiped the zone coordinates clean. No one knows where this ce is."


    "I¡¯ve already taken care of that," Cleo replied, her face returning to its usual poker expression. "Look at the screen. I leftmunication drones outside the before wended. They¡¯re equipped with cloaking tech, so they¡¯re almost undetectable. Through them, we can transmit the coordinates to all the smugglers."


    Rex leaned back in his chair, clearly impressed. "So, you¡¯ve thought of everything, huh? I shouldn¡¯t even be surprised at this point. I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ve already got the mining drones working, right?"


    "Correct," Cleo confirmed. "They¡¯ve started excavating the first floor. It¡¯ll take about a week toplete, and we¡¯ll need a significant amount of energy. That brings me to the real issue; we¡¯re going to need credits to buy more batteries for the ship."


    "But wouldn¡¯t a recharging station be a better option than constantly buying batteries?" Carlos asked, ncing at the schematics on the screen.


    "Sure, if you¡¯ve got 2,000,000 credits lying around," Cleo shot back, staring at Carlos with a look that practically screamed, Are you serious?


    Rex chuckled. "Alright, alright, stop it, you two. No need to fight. It looks like it¡¯s time for us to start our mercenary work, am I right? So, Cleo, do you have any info on the mercenary opportunities on this?"


    "Affirmative," Cleo responded. "I¡¯ll pull up the data for you now."


    The detailed information about the four mercenary groups appeared on therge screen:


    [Iron Wraiths: Hired by corporations and governments forrge-scaleary invasions, especially when brute force is needed to suppress hostile poptions or break through heavily fortified instations.]


    [Phantom Dagger: Specialize in corporate espionage, assassinations, and ck ops.]. [Often contracted to neutralize high-value targets, sabotage rivals, or infiltrate enemy bases.]


    [Thunderdes: Known for taking on high-risk, high-reward missions like boarding enemy ships, raiding fortifiedpounds, and executing high-speed, hit-and-run assaults.]


    [Steel Nomads: Experts in rapid assaults, convoy protection, and hit-and-run attacks on enemy supply lines. They¡¯re also skilled at transporting and smuggling valuable assets through dangerous territories.]


    Rex studied the screen for a moment, rubbing his chin. "Hmm, okay... From what I see, the Iron Wraiths pay pretty well per mission, but leaving the isn¡¯t an option right now. Phantom Dagger pays the most, but the risk is off the charts. That leaves us with the Thunderdes and the Steel Nomads. What do you think, brother?"


    Carlos leaned back in his seat, thinking it over. "Cleo, we can only pick one?"


    "Negative," Cleo responded, her voice calm and professional. "We can choose any of them. We¡¯re registered as independent Rank B mercenaries."


    Rex raised an eyebrow. "Rank B? What does that mean exactly?"


    "Mercenaries are ranked from F to S," Cleo exined. "Rank B ces you as a veteran and experienced enough to take on tougher jobs without drawing too much attention. It¡¯s a good bnce: not too high-profile but still bringing in decent credits. Being independent means we can take jobs from any of these groups, but don¡¯t expect any assistance from them if things go south."


    Carlos smirked. "So, we¡¯re on our own, huh? I like it."


    Rex grinned. "If that¡¯s how it works, then I guess we should...."

 Chapter 18: Thunderblades.

    "We should probably go for the jobs that are local, you know, the ones offered by the Thunderdes and Steel Nomads. And obviously, the ones with the best reward," Rex said, leaning back in his chair. "I mean, I¡¯m already full bionic, and with Cleo¡¯s help, we¡¯ve got a serious edge."


    "First thing tomorrow, we¡¯ll use our credits to get the materials Cleo needs forbat drones. Once we¡¯ve got a few of those, we could be running missions like an elite squad. But for now, we need to get some rest. Carlos especially. He¡¯s got to recover from the surgery. Tomorrow, we hit the road and start our first job."


    "Sounds good," Carlos said, stretching out. "I¡¯m taking the cockpit seat tonight. Way better than those car seats." He shifted around, finding a spot, and closed his eyes.


    "Alright, get some rest, man. I¡¯ll be in the recharge bay. See you in the morning." Rex gave a nod and headed to his recharge room. Hey down on the metal bed as the crystal door slid shut, the quiet hum of the recharge process starting up.


    Cleo, being a hologram, didn¡¯t need to open anything. She simply phased into the recharge tank andid down next to Rex, watching him quietly.


    "Rex¡­ Are you sure you want to help me get a body?" She whispered, her voice soft, almost hesitant.


    "Of course we¡¯re doing it. It¡¯s good for both of us, you know?"


    Cleo blinked. "Good for you? What do you mean?"


    Rex smirked, eyes still closed. "Well, once you¡¯ve got a body, we can finally get married. You know... do this and that." His voice trailed off yfully.


    If Rex had been able to see Cleo, he would¡¯ve caught the flustered look on her face as she went quiet.


    "..."


    "Cleo? Hey, don¡¯t get mad. You still there? Hello?"


    But Cleo stayed silent, lying beside him without saying a word, unsure how to respond. And so the night passed quietly, the soft glow of the small white sun rising in the distance.


    Rex climbed out of the recharging tank, stretching his body as he made his way toward the cockpit. When he got there, he could barely see Cleo behind all the screens; it looked like she was buried in them.


    "Hey Cleo, how are the preparations going? Are we ready to leave today?" he asked.


    Without even ncing up, Cleo slid one of the screens over to him. "Yep, everything¡¯s ready. Here¡¯s all the data you need. It¡¯s got the route to the city and the locations of the military groups. Now, if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯m busy."


    Rex nodded, deciding to leave her to it, and headed outside. The scene that greeted him was chaotic; drones were buzzing everywhere. Some flew in and out of the smugglers¡¯ cave, carrying everything from food and vehicles to weapons and other illegal goods.


    He spotted cargo drones rising out of arge hole in the ground, loaded with dirt. The mining drones must have been at it since early, digging non-stop on the first level of the underground citadel.


    Not far off, Rex saw Carlos trying on some new clothes that had just arrived via one of the cargo drones that morning.


    "Hey Carlos, find anything you like?" Rex called out.


    Carlos grinned. "Yeah, man. Check this out; I¡¯m going with these pants and this jacket with the hood. Makes me look like a total badass."


    Rex chuckled. "If you say so. I¡¯m liking this jacket with the neon lights, and these pants aren¡¯t bad either. Anyway, hurry up and get changed. Cleo¡¯s already given me everything we need to kick off our first mission."


    "Sweet. I¡¯ll be quick."


    Once the preparations were done and the smugglers had hidden the cargo, packed with guns, grenades, and ammo in the modified vehicle, they were ready to roll. A few minutes of bumpy driving down a dirt path brought them to what looked like a proper road, leading straight to the city.


    It was going to be a long drive, so they put on some music, courtesy of the smugglers who had installed a sound system in the car. With the tunes on, the ride wasn¡¯t half as boring as it could¡¯ve been.


    After a few hours on the road, they finally reached one of the city entrances. Like any major city, it was heavily guarded. Squads of guards patrolled the area, military vehicles stood ready, and every now and then, a fighter ship flew overhead.


    As they got closer to the entrance, one of the guards approached.


    "IDs, please. Where are youing from?" he asked, his eyes scanning the vehicle.


    Rex and Carlos pulled out the phones they¡¯d taken off the smugglers who, well, weren¡¯t around anymore, and used them to sh their IDs. "We¡¯re mercenaries, just back from a mission."


    The guard sighed. "Great, more mercenaries. Wait here while I check your entry and exit logs."


    His tone made it clear that the city guards weren¡¯t exactly fond of mercenaries. Since they caused more trouble than the local gangs, and to make it worse, they were legally allowed to bring weapons into the city.


    The guard strolled back to a terminal inside the bunker and pulled up the logs. Thanks to Cleo¡¯s skills, there was a neat, eight-year history in the system. After a quick check, the guard didn¡¯t find anything suspicious, so he returned the IDs and waved them through.


    Carlos let out a deep breath as they drove past the gates. "Man, I thought we were dead for sure," he said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.


    Rexughed, though his nerves were still buzzing. "Yeah, I was sweating too. At least now we know the IDs work. So, where to first?"


    Carlos thought for a second. "Let¡¯s hit up the Thunderdes. Their missions are pretty straightforward; they¡¯re mostly taking out criminal groups outside the city."


    "Alright, sounds good. Let¡¯s get moving."


    The city, like every othermerce hub, was a mega-metropolis sprawling across the entire continent. Massive buildings stretched endlessly, and the web of roads and walkways made the ce feel like an astronomicalbyrinth. Even lifelong locals could easily find themselves lost in its maze.


    Cargo ships streamed in and out by the minute, a constant reminder of how prosperous the was. The sheer scale of the trading fleets here kept space pirates at bay, but it was a paradise for smugglers. They bought stolen goods from pirates and sold them in the city as if it were a legitimate trade route.


    Luckily, with Cleo¡¯s navigation system guiding them, Rex and Carlos didn¡¯t have to worry about getting lost. After about an hour, they arrived at the headquarters of the Thunderdes. Parking the car in the underground lot, they made their way into the building.


    It was the typical setup: huge, bustling, with a bar and restaurant on one side and holograms of different missions and contracts projected throughout. At the center was the reception desk, where mercenaries went to ept contracts.


    "Alright, Rex. Just follow my lead. No unnecessary moves," Cleo¡¯s voice echoed in Rex¡¯s mind.


    "Got it. I¡¯m all yours."


    Rex and Carlos walked toward the reception, where a mantis-looking guy was stationed.


    "Wee, strangers. How can I assist you?" he asked, his antennae twitching.


    "We need to speak with Talon¡ª¡¯The Reaper,¡¯" Rex replied.


    The second those words left his mouth, the mood in the room shifted. Mercenaries who had been quietly eating and drinking jumped to their feet, forming a tight circle around them. Weapons were drawn, des and other melee arms gleaming in the dim light, ready for a fight.


    This was the moment Cleo had prepared Rex for. As the tension mounted, Cleo activated the overdrive mode, and Rex¡¯s eyes glowed a mesmerizing amber. Mechanical wings unfolded from his back, and the green glow of his bionic enhancements shone through his skin.


    The mercenaries around him hesitated. The veterans, sensing the overwhelming pressure radiating from Rex, began to sweat. They knew they were dealing with someone dangerous, someone far beyond their pay grade.


    "What¡¯s the meaning of this? You think you can challenge me?!" Rex¡¯s voice boomed, amplified by the overdrive mode, like thunder echoing through the room. But before the situation could escte, the elevator doors opened.


    A massive figure stepped out. It was a towering creature, part machine, part beast, resembling a hulking minotaur. Within moments, it was in front of Rex, its fist already flying toward his abdomen.


    Rex wasn¡¯t about to stand there and take it. He clenched his fist, and, in the blink of an eye, their fists collided with a deafening thud. The shockwave from the impact sent a gust of wind throughout the room. Rex quickly sidestepped,nding a powerful kick to the minotaur¡¯s ribs, sending the giant crashing into the nearby tables.


    From the dust of the crash, the huge figure could be seen lying down on the debris of the tables. "HAHAHAHA."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 19: Sparring

    While Rex was still on high alert, the loudughter made him jump. He was sure that kick he¡¯d just delivered had crushed all of the minotaur¡¯s ribs, but there it was,ughing like nothing had happened.


    As the dust started to settle, the huge minotaur was still lying in the debris of broken tables. Then Rex saw that the thing wasn¡¯t even real. Just a robot, controlled remotely by someone else.


    "This is what I was talking about!. Real warriors speak with their fists first. I¡¯ll be waiting for you on the top floor." With that, the minotaur robot powered down, and the elevator doors slid open.


    The mercenaries who had surrounded Rex and Carlos went back to their business. Some of them even offered to clean up the mess from the fight. Rex and Carlos, though, just stood there, dumbfounded by what had just happened.


    [Deactivating overdrive]


    Cleo was the first to react. She quickly deactivated Rex¡¯s overdrive, making his eyes fade back to their normal green color. The angel-like wings that had appeared on his back slowly vanished.


    "Dude, since when do you have wings?" Carlos asked, still staring at where they had just been.


    "I have no idea. First time I¡¯ve seen them too. Cleo, do you know what¡¯s going on?" Rex asked.


    "Affirmative," Cleo replied. "Your body has assimted 50% of the living metal I used to enhance you. It seems like your body¡¯s highlypatible with it. Fascinating."


    "So, what happens when I¡¯ve assimted all of it?"


    "You¡¯ll look closer to one of my race. But not entirely, since we can¡¯t remove the organic matter in your body without affecting your organs."


    "How about we rece all my organs with bionics then?"


    "Sure, if you want to be sterile. I don¡¯t mind," Cleo said, her tone teasing.


    "Uh... y¡¯know what? I¡¯m fine with how I am. Let¡¯s just get in the elevator." Rex quickly changed the subject and hurried towards the elevator, with Carlos right behind him. Back on the ship, Cleo let out a soft chuckle.


    Inside the elevator, as it began to ascend, Carlos nudged Rex with his elbow. "So, what did she say about the wings?"


    "I¡¯ll tell youter, bro. For now, let¡¯s focus on the meeting."


    The building had over a hundred floors, so it took a good two minutes to reach the top. When the doors finally opened, they found themselves stepping into a space that looked more like a gym than an office. There was even a boxing ring in the center.


    "HAHAHA! Wee to my humble home, my dear noble!" The same boomingugh that Rex had heard earlier echoed through the room. His eyes locked onto the source of the voice, and Cleo instantly sent him a data packet.


    [Talon "The Reaper" Vargos, Leader of the Thunderdes]


    [Talon Vargos is a cybeically enhanced closebat specialist. With twin sma des integrated into his arms, he¡¯s earned the title ¡¯The Reaper¡¯ for his unmatched skill in meleebat.]


    [He leads the Thunderdes from the front, always the first to charge into battle. His speed and ferocity are legendary, though his aggressive nature often leads him to take risky actions.]


    As Rex finished processing the data, Talon stepped out from behind a curtain. He was tall and muscr, with a sleek, almost feline build. His dark bronze skin was covered in faint tribal markings that glowed softly, pulsing in time with his breathing.


    He had two sets of glowing amber eyes, allowing him to track multiple opponents at once. His head was bald, save for a ridge of sharp spines that ran down the back of his skull. His lower jaw was adorned with mandible-like appendages, giving his face a fearsome, almost insectoid look.


    "So, what was your intent in attacking me, knowing I¡¯m a noble?" Rex said, slipping back into his noble persona.


    "Haha, I was just excited to fight a noble, that¡¯s all," Talon replied with a grin. "Your kind nevere to ces like this. Oh, where are my manners? Please, have a seat." He gestured toward a set ofrge sofas near the ring.


    Rex walked over and sat down, while Carlos stood behind him, ying the part of a bodyguard. Given that Carlos didn¡¯t have any bionic enhancements, it would be strange for him to sit beside a noble, something that simply wasn¡¯t done. Letting them assume Carlos was a human ve? That would make more sense in this situation.


    "So, what brings you to me, noble one? Looking for some work to be done?" Talon asked as he took the opposite sofa.


    "Nothing much," Rex said casually, "just need you to line me up with some well-paid jobs. You see, there are some things I need to handle discreetly, so I can¡¯t use my own ounts. That¡¯s where mercenary jobse in handy, wouldn¡¯t you agree, my friend?"


    Talon raised an eyebrow. "Well, well, color me impressed. Never thought I¡¯d see a noble getting his hands dirty with merc work. Alright, I can hook you up with some private jobs, but there¡¯s a condition."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex narrowed his eyes. "And what¡¯s the catch, Talon?"


    Talon grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. "We mercs have a reputation to keep. I can¡¯t just give you a special job without knowing what you¡¯re capable of. So, how about a little sparring match?"


    Rex sighed. "Fine. If that¡¯s all it takes, let¡¯s get it over with."


    "Hahaha, excellent!" Talon pped his hands, and four feline-like women, barely clothed, emerged from the room Talon hade from earlier.


    "Let these lovelydies help you change into something more... suitable for a sparring match," Talon said with a devilish smirk.


    As two of the feline women reached out to touch Rex, they recoiled, yelping as a small electric shock zapped their hands.


    "Ow!"


    "Kya!"


    Rex held up his hands in mock apology. "Oh, my bad. See, my wife¡¯s a little... possessive. She imnted a bionic device in me. Anytime another woman touches me, they get a shock.


    Sorry,dies, but I¡¯ll manage on my own."


    Carlos, standing behind Rex, struggled to contain hisughter. He knew full well that Cleo had been behind the whole thing. Meanwhile, Rex made his way to the changing room the girls had pointed out, and once he was alone, he contacted Cleo.


    "So, you wanna tell me why you did that?"


    "Did what? I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about," Cleo responded, her voice cool. "If that¡¯s all, please stop bothering me. I¡¯m busy." She ended the call abruptly.


    Rex chuckled to himself. "Haha, she¡¯s cute when she¡¯s in denial."


    After changing into some simple training shorts, Rex emerged from the room, his upper body bare. The feline girls couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at him, giggling to each other as they whispered. Meanwhile, Cleo, watching through Rex¡¯s eyes, was getting visibly annoyed.


    Talon was already in the ring, pacing impatiently, and when Rex finally stepped in, he let out a long whistle. "Not a bad body for a noble. Now,e on, get in here. I¡¯ve been waiting long enough."


    The moment Rex entered the ring, Talon wasted no time,unching a flurry of punches at him from every direction. Rex dodged, pulling his head back, shifting side to side, keeping just ahead of each blow.


    Rex quickly retaliated with a sharp kick to Talon¡¯s throat, followed by two more kicks, one to his thigh and another to the side of his head. The strikes came so fast that Talon barely had a moment to react, let alone block them. He swung back with a couple of wild punches, but Rex smoothly evaded them.


    Then, Rex countered with a solid punch to Talon¡¯s ribs and another to his chin. Talon, clearly frustrated at notnding a single hit, clenched his fists and decided to switch tactics. He began throwing powerful kicks, the kind he was known for, aiming to overpower Rex. But once again, Rex dodged effortlessly.


    On one particrly aggressive kick, Rex grabbed Talon¡¯s leg mid-swing, hoisting him into the air before mming him down face-first onto the ring floor. Talon groaned, struggling to get back on his feet, but Rex was quick to deliver another kick to his face, knocking him back down.


    "This match is over, Talon," Rex said, his voice calm and measured. "Now, let¡¯s talk business."


    The calmness in Rex¡¯s voice stung Talon¡¯s pride. He hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat taking him down. Furious, Talon scrambled to his feet and lunged at Rex from behind, hoping to catch him off-guard.


    But Rex wasn¡¯t alone in this. Cleo had been watching the whole time. The second she saw Talon make his move, she activated Rex¡¯s overdrive mode. Without hesitation, one of Rex¡¯s wings swept out, hitting Talon with enough force to send him flying across the ring, crashing into the wall.


    Rex¡¯s new wings unfolded, and with Cleo¡¯s help, he hovered effortlessly above the floor, gliding toward Talon, who was still struggling to get up. As Rex drew closer, a heavy aura of power and dominance surrounded him, pressing down on Talon, who found himself paralyzed, unable to move. All he could do was turn his head and stare in awe.


    What Talon saw was something out of a dream, something divine; it was a creature of pure power with glowing white wings, radiating a divine aura. Rex floated above him like some kind of angelic being, and for the first time in a long while, Talon feltpletely powerless.

 Chapter 20: Death from above

    "What were you trying to aplish doing that, Talon?" Rex¡¯s voice was deep and reproachful, like a father scolding his child.


    "Heh, calm down. Let¡¯s think this through, alright? I wasn¡¯t really thinking... the blood just rushed to my head."


    Rex opened his mouth to respond but stopped himself. A momentter, Cleo deactivated the overdrive, and Rex gradually started to return to normal, his wings fading away.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "What you just did," Rex continued, his voice cold, "was attack a noble, and whats more, someone like me. And as you can see, I¡¯m not just any low-level noble. That much should be obvious, right?" Carlos, always the dutiful assistant, appeared with a chair. Rex sat down, crossing his legs and staring down at Talon, who was still sprawled on the floor.


    "You realize," Rex went on, "what you did is enough reason for me to call in a little... friend to clean out your whole organization. Sound about right?"


    A shiver ran down Talon¡¯s spine. His body tensed as he forced himself up, using what little strength he had left to kneel before Rex. "No, please, noble sir, have mercy! I¡¯ll do anything you want!"


    "Well," Rex said, tilting his head slightly, "if you¡¯re willing to kneel, maybe there¡¯s hope for you yet. I¡¯m willing to give your organization a chance. Submit to me, and I¡¯ll have a job for you. Something big. You¡¯ll see the benefits soon enough. What do you say?"


    "B-benefits?" Talon stammered; his curiosity piqued despite his fear. "May I ask... what exactly do you n to make us do?"


    "Shhh, shhh," Rex shook his finger, his tone teasing. "Curiosity killed the cat, my dear Talon. For now, just give me your contact info. I¡¯ll reach out when the time is right."


    Rex rose from his seat and headed toward the dressing room. "Oh, and before I forget," he called over his shoulder, "bring me those jobs you mentioned. The ones that pay well."


    "R-right away," Talon muttered, scrambling to his feet.


    Inside the dressing room, Rex contacted Cleo while pulling on a new outfit.


    "So, is this what you wanted?" he asked, sounding a bit bored.


    "Affirmative," Cleo¡¯s voice responded. "With this, we¡¯ve secured a mercenary group for the underground city."


    "Mmm," Rex grunted. "But why don¡¯t we also ask them for credits? They¡¯ve probably got millions."


    Cleo sighed, exasperated. "And here I thought you were getting smarter. Rex, what do mercenaries respect the most?"


    Rex paused, thinking as he buttoned his shirt. "The credits?"


    "Exactly. If we start by asking them for credits, they¡¯ll resent us. But if we pay them well when they work for us, they¡¯ll be more loyal. To them, whoever holds the purse strings is the boss."


    "Huh," Rex nodded. "You¡¯re right, as usual. What would I do without you?"


    "Sigh. Just get on with the job, Rex."


    "Yes, ma¡¯am," Rex replied with a mock salute. With that, the conversation ended. Rex stepped out of the dressing room and walked back toward Talon, who was waiting nervously with a stack of documents.


    "Here are the highest-paying jobs at the moment," Talon said, handing the document to Rex.


    After scanning the list and conferring with Cleo, Rex chose the mission to take down a criminal gang operating outside the city. The gang had been ambushing merchant transports thatnded in themon areas and were forced to haul their goods by truck.


    The reward? Fifty thousand credits, plus whatever loot they could find in the gang¡¯s hideout.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll take this one. You can keep the rest since I¡¯m not here to rob you," Rex said with a smirk.


    "You¡¯ll need assistance from our group to handle them, dear noble?." Talon asked, his tone almost groveling.


    "No need; we¡¯re fine with just the two of us."


    "Very well. I¡¯ll be waiting for your call, dear noble," Talon said, bowing his head slightly.


    And with that, Rex and Carlos left the Thunderdes¡¯ headquarters and drove off toward the city limits.


    "Man, since when did you learn to fight like that?!" Carlos asked, still buzzing with excitement from the earlier fight he¡¯d witnessed.


    "Fight? Never. It¡¯s all thanks to Cleo since she¡¯s been downloading stuff into my brain. Something about¡¯making me the perfect husband,¡¯" Rex said with a sly grin.


    "Oh, really? She did that?" Carlos raised an eyebrow, curious.


    "Of cour¡ªAHH!" Rex yelled as a sudden electric shock jolted through his back.


    Carlos sighed. "I knew it. You were lying again. One day, you¡¯ll learn." He nced at Rex, who was rubbing his back, wincing in pain. "Good thing I¡¯m the one driving. If that shock hit you while you were behind the wheel, we¡¯d be in a ditch right now."


    After a few hours of driving, they pulled off the road about 5 kilometers from the mission¡¯s coordinates.


    "We¡¯re here, Cleo," Rex said over them. "How long until you can get the ship here?"


    "Ten minutes, if you don¡¯t want them detecting the ship on their radars," Cleo replied.


    "Mmm, perfect. Carlos and I will get closer to the base in the meantime. Don¡¯t bete to our date."


    "..." Cleo remained silent, unimpressed by Rex¡¯s casual attitude.


    Rex and Carlos began making their way toward the enemy base, sticking to the shadows and using the trees for cover. Along the way, they encountered several patrols. Rex, with his bionic night vision, took them out quickly and quietly.


    Carlos, on the other hand, had a harder time. With just a few days of training under his belt, he struggled with even one guard while Rex dispatched the rest. At least Carlos had night vision gear, scavenged from theirst mission with the smugglers.


    "Rex, the radar shows you¡¯re not at the location yet. I¡¯ve already arrived at the coordinates," Cleo¡¯s voice came through them. ording to the n, she was to fly the ship off to avoid detection and then return precisely to the hideout¡¯s location.


    "Yeah, yeah, I know. I¡¯m just giving little Carlos here a workout," Rex teased. "Since he¡¯s not a PC like us, he¡¯ll have to do things the hard way."


    "Understood. Let me know when you¡¯re in position."


    "You got it," Rex said, motioning for Carlos to follow him as they continued their silent approach to the base.


    They continued along their route, and after two hours, they finally reached the agreed-upon point. The journey had taken longer than expected, and the closer they got to the enemy base, the more patrols they encountered. Some groups were sorge they had no choice but to hide and wait for them to pass.


    "Alright, Cleo. We¡¯re in position. You can begin the fireworks anytime," Rex said quietly into hisms, giving Cleo the green light to kick off the mission¡¯s climax.


    Inside the enemy camp, there was already noticeable movement. The gang had realized something was off since Rex and Carlos had taken out too many patrols, and the gang was starting to get suspicious. More heavily armed patrols were now being organized, and reinforcements were gathering.


    Unbeknownst to the gang, the very area where they were assembling was about to be ground zero.


    "Hey, did you hear that?" one of the criminals muttered, signaling for the others to be quiet.


    "Heard what? I don¡¯t hear anything," his partner replied, sounding annoyed.


    "No, I swear, it¡¯s like... whistling."


    Just then, a missile came screaming down from the sky, mming into one of the trucks in the middle of the formation. It exploded on impact, sending hundreds of tiny metal balls flying in all directions.


    A secondter, those balls exploded themselves, each unleashing a spray of high-speed projectiles, tearing through anything in their path. It was a weapon designed for maximum damage to ground troops, and it was working with brutal efficiency.


    As soon as Cleounched the missile, she circled the ship overhead, opening fire with the ship¡¯s turrets. Anyone who managed to survive the missile¡¯s initial st had no chance of escaping the hail of gunfire raining down from above.


    The camp was quickly reduced to chaos, as bullets and explosions ripped through everything in sight. After thirty minutes of relentless assault, nothing remained but smoldering wreckage, dust, and the crackling of mes.


    Rex and Carlos watched from their vantage point, waiting for the dust to settle before moving in.


    Carlos whistled "I have to say, Rex, after seeing what just went down, my respect for you only grows stronger."


    Rex smirked. "Oh? What do you mean?"


    "Well, after seeing what Cleo is capable of doing to our enemies, you¡¯re either really brave or really stupid for always making her mad."


    Rex chuckled, though there was a hint of unease in his voice. "Ha, well, you say that... but deep down, I know she¡¯s just a softy. Really deep down."


    Even Rex wasn¡¯t fully convinced by his own words.


    Carlosughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, sure, keep telling yourself that. But enough chit-chat¡ªlet¡¯s get to work. Time to loot what¡¯s left."


    They moved into the remnants of the destroyed camp, picking their way through the debris. asionally, they¡¯d stumble upon a survivor or a wounded criminal trying to crawl away or hide, but Rex and Carlos dealt with them quickly, without hesitation. This was no time for mercy.

 Chapter 21: Cleaning and Looting.

    "Say, Rex, do you think what we¡¯re doing is right?" Even though Carlos was following orders and doing the job, he couldn¡¯t shake the doubt that killing those who couldn¡¯t defend themselves didn¡¯t sit right with him.


    Rex nced at him. "Carlos, these are criminals. You think they showed mercy to anyone who begged for it? Or worse, do you think they¡¯d let a beautiful girl go once they got their hands on her?"


    Rex¡¯s words were harsh, but they carried the ugly truth. Bandits like these had no mercy.


    "Think of it like this," Rex added, "we¡¯re helping release the souls of the ones they¡¯ve already killed." Without hesitation, Rex kicked one of the crawling criminals in the face, sending him back into the debris. Then, with a quick shot to the head, he finished him off and turned to look at Carlos.


    "But if you want to call it quits, I don¡¯t mind giving you the 50,000 credits from this job. You can go start a new life. After all, getting a body for my wife... that should be my task, not yours."


    Carlos tightened his grip on his gun. "Of course I¡¯m with you, Rex. You¡¯re like a brother to me. Sorry for doubting; I¡¯m just not used to all this."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex pped him on the back. "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯d probably feel the same if it weren¡¯t for Cleo making me look so damn cool, you know."


    With the issue settled, they went back to clearing out the bandit camp. Now it was time to loot. Thankfully, Cleo¡¯s missile hadn¡¯t done much damage to the structures, and it was just to the poor bastards on the ground, so the warehouse with the valuables was still standing.


    "Cleo, you cannd now. Area¡¯s clear, but be careful since there might be patrolsing back to check on the noise." Rex spoke into hismunicator while he and Carlos reloaded their weapons, getting ready to head into the warehouse.


    "So, Cleo, how many enemies are inside?" Rex asked. Earlier, Cleo had already sent in her spider drones to scout the ce while they cleaned up the camp.


    "I¡¯ve got ten armed targets inside the warehouse," Cleo¡¯s voice crackled through the device, "and some females locked in cages. It looks like they were going to sell them, either to a brothel or into very."


    Carlos could hear her too; Cleo had given him amunication device just before the mission.


    "See, Carlos?" Rex shook his head. "And you wanted to show them mercy."


    "Bastards!" Carlos clenched his fists, ashamed of even considering sparing them. Now he was angrier than ever, ready to act.


    "Alright, Cleo," Rex said, "since you¡¯ve got theyout, go ahead and knock on the door for us. We¡¯ll wait on the sides; just, uh, try not to shoot us, okay?"


    Rex and Carlos took cover near the warehouse entrance. Cleo brought the ship down next to the door, positioning it so that four of its turrets were locked on. And then it began the hailstorm of bullets.


    The bandits inside didn¡¯t stand a chance. The turrets fired rounds so big that no cover could protect them. Even the warehouse door looked like it was made of paper. The noise was deafening, and the sparks flying off metal in the dead of night made the scene both terrifying and mesmerizing.


    Once the hailstorm of bullets stopped, Rex and Carlos slipped into the warehouse, staying low and using the chaos and dust as cover. In the confusion, they could find survivors and finish them off before anyone realized they weren¡¯t part of the gang.


    They found three survivors huddled behind a chunk of concrete. It didn¡¯t take long for Rex and Carlos to take them out.


    "Cleo, how¡¯s it looking? Any more left?" Rex asked, giving one of the bodies a quick kick to make sure he was dead.


    "Negative," Cleo responded. "The spider drones¡¯ infrared only detect the females in the cages."


    "Alright then. Start sending in the cargo drones to grab the loot. And get a medic drone down here to check on the captives."


    "Understood." Cleo deployed the drones from the ship¡¯s cargo bay. They hovered into the warehouse, ready to loot whatever they could find, while the medic drone headed for the captives.


    Carlos took control of the cargo drones, making sure they only grabbed the important stuff. Rex, meanwhile, walked over to the captives. As he got closer, they started screaming, panic written all over their faces.


    Without a way tomunicate, words were useless.


    "Cleo, got any idea how to get them out of these cages?"


    "Based on the data I¡¯ve gathered, the cages require a special key, and none of the bandits inside had one."


    "Can¡¯t you hack it or something? Override the lock?"


    "Negative. These locks are purely mechanical; there is no system to hack. And the metal is strong enough to withstand even a savage creature¡¯s attack."


    "Great... That¡¯s a problem. Wait, could I make a hole through the bars in overdrive mode?"


    "Affirmative. You should have just enough strength to do that. Shall I activate overdrive?"


    "Do it."


    As soon as the words left his mouth, his wings emerged, and the white aura that had red up during his fight with Talon surrounded him once again.


    The captives fell silent, their eyes wide. They had never seen anything like the radiant white wings and golden eyes of the figure standing before them. It was as if something holy had descended into that grim, dark room.


    Rex ignored their stares. He approached the first cage, gripping two of the iron bars. With a surge of strength, he pried them apart, making a small hole justrge enough for the captive to slip through. He did the same for the other cages, freeing them all.


    Once they were out, Cleo deactivated the overdrive mode to conserve energy. Rex¡¯s new form burned through power much faster than thest.


    Once Rex spotted the medic drone, he walked over to one of the recently freed girls and extended his hand. She hesitated for a moment before finally cing her hand in his. Rex gave her a reassuring smile and guided her toward the drone.


    It scanned her body and, after detecting a few injuries, began treating them. Rex repeated the process with each of the girls until all were attended to.


    A cargo drone hovered nearby, stopping next to Rex.


    "Rex, hand these devices to the girls," Cleo¡¯s voice came through. "They¡¯re trantor units that Carlos grabbed off the bandits."


    "Oh, perfect! Just what we needed," Rex said, distributing the trantors to the girls. "By the way, what are we going to do with them?" he asked while fitting one of the devices onto a girl¡¯s wrist.


    "The standard procedure is to turn them over to the city guards. Or..." Cleo paused. "We could sell them. Technically, rescued captives are considered loot by mercenary codes."


    Rex sighed heavily, looking up at the ceiling. "The gxy¡¯s a pretty dark ce, huh?"


    "Indeed it is. So, what¡¯s your decision?"


    "Easy, neither of those options. What if we hired them to work in our underground city? We could set up shops to sell some of our loot and have them run the businesses. What do you think?"


    "That¡¯s a solid idea, Rex. Head back to Thunderdes HQ to finish the quest and collect our payment. I¡¯ll send a list of materials to your phone that you¡¯ll need to buy, so you better rent some trucks unless you want to make a ton of trips."


    "Damn, Cleo, you¡¯re a ve driver," Rex muttered with a grin. "What about the girls?"


    "I¡¯ll take care of them. I¡¯ll bring them to the underground city with the ship. Now hurry up and get moving. See you there."


    Rex chuckled, shaking his head. "Hey!, at least give me a kiss." He turned to the rescued girls who had gathered nearby and exined what would happen next. Most of them already knew the grim reality of being saved by mercenaries; some had even resigned themselves to the idea of bing ves.


    But instead of the usual two options, Rex offered them a third choice. Though it wasn¡¯t perfect, it was better than the alternatives. They could work in the underground city for five years with no freedom to leave during that time, but after those five years, they¡¯d be free to contact their families. If they wanted, they could even invite their families to join them in the city.


    Some of the girls weren¡¯t thrilled about the idea of working for so long, especially those who were daughters of traders or wealthy families. But there was no room for negotiation. As tough as the third option seemed, it was still better than being handed over to the guards or sold into very.


    So after some consideration, all the girls epted to work at the soon-to-be underground city since it was by long the best option for them that had no ce to stay.

 Chapter 22: Reward and shopping.

    The girls were escorted to the ship, where Cleo greeted them. Rex and Carlos turned back, heading toward the spot where they¡¯d parked the vehicle, while Cleo stayed behind to finish looting the bandits¡¯ warehouse.


    The journey back to the vehicle wasn¡¯t easy. They ran into several patrols returning to base. Fighting them would¡¯ve been too risky, especially in enemy territory and without knowing their numbers, so they decided to hide and let the patrols pass.


    asionally, they could hear heavy gunfire and explosions off in the distance. Cleo was clearly making quick work of the bandits, who must¡¯ve been foolish enough to attack a spaceship without realizing it was shielded.


    After about an hour or so, they finally reached the spot where they¡¯d hidden the vehicle. Without wasting any time, they jumped in and took off, heading toward the city.


    "Man, I really thought we weren¡¯t going to make it. That was the longest 5 kilometers I¡¯ve ever walked," Carlos said, still panting as he slumped into the passenger seat.


    Rex chuckled. "Yeah, it was rough. But did you see that missile Cleo fired? Wiped out the whole base. We should ask her to make more of those since they¡¯re crazy powerful."


    They kept chatting about random things as they drove through the night. Eventually, they reached the city entrance, where they had to stop and show their IDs again. Once that was out of the way, they drove straight to Thunderdes HQ and headed for Talon¡¯s office.


    When they arrived at the office floor, it seemed empty. But from the direction of the room where they¡¯d first met Talon, they could hear... moaning.


    "Talon! Get out here! We¡¯re back for our pay!" Rex yelled. Subtlety wasn¡¯t really his strong suit.


    Carlos, clearly annoyed, muttered, "Lucky bastard. He¡¯s got women all over him while we¡¯re out here, covered in dust, after a mission."


    Rexughed. "Don¡¯t worry, man. Once we get our own business going, you can have your harem too; just don¡¯t expect to live near me. I¡¯m not into sharing."


    Carlos scoffed. "Yeah, right. Like I¡¯d ever share. What do you take me for?"


    As they bickered, they heard Talon¡¯s voice, faint and breathless,ing from the back.


    "I¡¯ming! Give me a sec. There¡¯s some good liquor on the table by the sofa. Help yourselves!"


    Rex and Carlos exchanged a nce before bolting for the liquor. It had been days since theirst drink, and they weren¡¯t about to pass up free booze.


    Thanks to Rex¡¯s bionic upgrades, he reached the liquor first, snatching the bottle and cracking it open immediately. Without a second thought, he took three big swigs, drinking straight from the bottle like a street drunk.


    "Fuuuah, damn, this is some strong liquor," he gasped, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.


    Carlos grabbed the bottle next, following Rex¡¯s lead. "Oh man, this is on a whole different level. What the hell have I been drinking all my life?" Judging by the look on Carlos¡¯s face, it was like he¡¯d just discovered the meaning of life.


    Rex burst outughing. "Dude, what¡¯s with your face? You look ridiculous." The two of them kept drinking until all the bottles were empty. About an hourter, Talon finally emerged from the back room.


    Cough cough "Sorry to keep you waiting, but when you¡¯ve got that many wives, it¡¯s tough to keep ¡¯em all satisfied." He smirked, clearly not ashamed. "Anyway, the mission¡¯s done, right? Give me your ount details, and I¡¯ll transfer the credits now."


    Rex handed over the bank ount information that Cleo had set up with the top noble bank and with the VIP status and everything.


    "Are you sure you don¡¯t want to check if the job¡¯s really finished first?" Rex asked, watching as the 50,000 credits hit the ount.


    Talon chuckled. "I trust you, noble friend."


    "Oh? I like the sound of that," Rex said with a grin. "And since we¡¯ll be working together more often, just call me Rex. No need for all the ¡¯dear noble¡¯ stuff."


    Talon was taken aback. Nobles were notorious for their pride, and for one to ask a lowly mercenary to call them by name was practically unheard of. But Rex wasn¡¯t thinking that deeply about it since he just found the whole "dear noble" thing cringey.


    "Haha, alright, Rex. I see you liked the liquor. How about I give you two more bottles as a token of friendship?" He signaled to one of the girls, who nodded and headed for the elevator.


    "Alright then, Talon. We¡¯ll let you get back to... whatever you were doing." Rex grinned knowingly. "We¡¯ll swing by in a few days to pick up some more work. Keep a hundred thousand credits or so ready for us."


    Talonughed. "No problem. If you give me your contact info, I¡¯ll just email you the jobs so you don¡¯t have toe all the way here every time."


    "Sounds good." Rex took out his phone and swapped contact info with Talon.


    "See youter, Rex. The girl will meet you in the lobby with those two bottles."


    After Rex and Carlos left Talon¡¯s office, Talon walked over to his desk, lit a cigar, and pressed a hidden button on the desk. A holographic screen appeared, showing video footage his informationwork had collected.


    On the screen, he saw an unidentified ship firing a missile unlike anything he¡¯d ever seen before. Then came footage of drones being deployed. He watched closely; his curiosity piqued, until suddenly the video feed cut out. In its ce, an unfamiliar symbol appeared, followed by text:


    [Curiosity killed the cat, dear Talon.]


    Cold sweat formed on Talon¡¯s brow as a shiver ran down his spine. It didn¡¯t take long for him to realize it was best to stop gathering intel on Rex and his crew.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Meanwhile, Cleo had already wiped all the footage of their operation and sent a warning to anyone who had ess to it.


    "Hmph. I got careless. Next time, I¡¯ll deploy signal-jamming drones before we move in," Cleo muttered to herself as she closed her screens, leaving just one open. She erged it and stared at it, deep in thought.


    Since Rex and Carlos had already received the credits for the job, they decided to rent two trucks. Buying them was out of the question for now since each truck cost 500,000 credits while renting was just 5,000 credits per day.


    After securing the trucks, they began driving around the city, visiting various stores where Cleo had made a list of things she needed. They purchased supplies for building more mining drones and a fewbat drones. By the time they were down to theirst few credits, they stocked up on food supplies.


    Once everything was ready, they headed for the city exit but were stopped by the guards.


    "Please open your cargo doors. We need to perform a routine inspection for any illegal items."


    Rex and Carlos stepped out of the trucks and opened the cargo doors. The guards climbed aboard and began scanning the cargo, looking for anything suspicious. After a few minutes, they finished their search.


    "Alright, you¡¯re good to go."


    Rex and Carlos got back in their trucks and continued their journey toward the underground city. Since the trucks had a speed limit of 50 km/h, it took several hours to get there.


    When they finally arrived, they opened the cargo doors for the drones to unload the supplies. Carlos stretched, groaning.


    "Man, I¡¯m beat. I¡¯m sleeping in the truck tonight since it¡¯s got a bed, you know? See you tomorrow."


    "Wait," Rex said, tossing one of the liquor bottles Talon had gifted them. "This one¡¯s yours. Take care of it."


    "Okay, Mom," Carlos replied with a smirk. "I¡¯m done for the night. Can¡¯t keep my eyes open anymore." He climbed into the truck cabin and crashed for the night. Meanwhile, Rex headed to the recharge bay.


    As he was undressing, Cleo walked in unexpectedly.


    "Oh! Uh, sorry¡ªI didn¡¯t mean to!" Cleo stammered, clearly flustered as she tried toe up with an excuse.


    Rexughed. "Why are you freaking out? It¡¯s not like this is the first time you¡¯ve seen me naked. And it definitely won¡¯t be thest. So, did you need something? Or are you just here for the show?" he teased, shing her a yful smirk.


    Cleo blushed, clearly embarrassed. "I... I wanted to show you something, but it looks like you¡¯re tired and need to recharge, so... I guess it can wait until tomorrow." She was trying not to look, but her eyes kept darting back to him.


    Rex couldn¡¯t help but think she looked adorable. "Haha, alright. I¡¯ll head into the recharge bay. See you tomorrow, Cleo."


    After about an hour, when Cleo was sure Rex had fallen asleep, she quietly slipped into the recharge bay andy down next to him. She didn¡¯t need to sleep, but being close to him like this wasforting.

 Chapter 23: Galactic news.

    After some much-needed rest, Rex finally stirred and stepped out of the charging tank. As usual, he stretched his stiff muscles from inactivity, then started getting dressed. Once ready, he made his way to the ship¡¯s cockpit, where Cleo and Carlos were huddled, staring at something.


    Carlos noticed Rex and immediately walked over, giving him a nudge from behind. "Come on, Rex, you¡¯re going to want to see this."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He guided Rex to a seat, and as soon as Rex sat down, Cleo queued up a video on the big screen.


    [Intergctic Imperial News]


    <<"A few days ago, on the newly discovered of Hanarix, an individual of unknown origins massacred colonizers. Nexum Dynamics, the megacorporation overseeing the colony, has issued a warrant for the criminal¡¯s arrest. Here are the images of the attack.">>


    The video showed the ship flying in circles above the colony, firing relentlessly. But something was off; there were no insects visible in the footage, only the colony being ripped apart by what looked like direct fire from their ship. Rex¡¯s jaw clenched. This wasn¡¯t what happened.


    The clip continued, showing Carlos boarding the ship with the cargo drones. The news anchors imed that the colony¡¯s entire bank had been looted. In reality, they¡¯d taken just food and some chips.


    Rex¡¯s face darkened. "Who the hell edited this?!" he growled, fists clenching. Being lied about this and worse, made to look like a fool, hit him where it hurt.


    Cleo spoke up. "This isn¡¯t just any news outlet. It¡¯s likely Nexum Dynamics pulling the strings. They probably want the egg back, and they¡¯re going to use everything they¡¯ve got to make that happen."


    Rex leaned forward, a fiery determination in his eyes. "Nexum Dynamics... Mark my words, Cleo. I don¡¯t care how long it takes; we¡¯re going to bring them down."


    Carlos, leaning back in his chair, shook his head with a chuckle. "Sure, Rex. You nning to do that before or after we die of old age? We can¡¯t exactly take on a megacorp."


    Cleo chimed in casually, as if talking about the weather. "Actually, Carlos, that¡¯s not entirely true. Rex can¡¯t die of old age anymore. The modifications I made mean his cells are constantly reced by living metal. He¡¯s immortal now, like my species was."


    Carlos raised an eyebrow. "Wait, so you¡¯re telling me Rex is going to live forever, and I¡¯m the one who¡¯s going to get old and die? That¡¯s just... unfair." He paused, then added, "Hold on.. then Cleo, just how old are you?"


    Without missing a beat, she replied, "ording to the imperial gctic system, I¡¯m 2,600 years old."


    Rex and Carlos exchanged nces.


    "Don¡¯t you dare, Carlos," Rex warned, tossing a chip at him. "Age doesn¡¯t count when you¡¯re immortal!."


    Carlos smirked but let it go. "So, Cleo, is there any way to delete that video?"


    "Not entirely," Cleo responded, her hands flying across multiple holographic screens. "I can wipe it from this¡¯sworks, but removing it gxy-wide is impossible."


    "Do it," Rex said, exhaling slowly. "That should buy us some time before they start hunting us down."


    "Understood." Cleo continued working, screens flickering as data streamed by.


    Rex leaned back in his seat, rubbing his temples. "Is there at least one piece of good news today?"


    "Affirmative," Cleo said, not missing a beat. "I¡¯ve assembled new miner drones to speed up excavation for the underground city. Additionally, four newbat drones are fully operational. The girls are ready to start selling the loot fromst night¡¯s mission, and I¡¯ve got coordinates ready to send to the smugglers. Shall I proceed?"


    Rex perked up slightly. "Well, that¡¯s something. Yeah, send the coordinates. Oh, and, Cleo, can we use thebat drones for mercenary work?"


    As Rex scrolled through new missions sent by Talon, Cleo¡¯s holographic screens lit up once more. "It¡¯s possible. I¡¯ll need to run some additional tests, but theoretically, yes."


    Rex smiled. "Now we¡¯re talking."


    While Cleo busied herself with getting the coordinates out to the smugglers, Carlos went outside to prep the trucks for return. Meanwhile, Rex was glued to his screen, sorting through thetest missions Talon had sent him.


    After browsing through over forty missions, he narrowed it down to two, each worth 100,000 credits:


    [Siege of the Crimson Spire]


    Objective: Secure and extract rare nanomaterials from a heavily fortified skyscraper controlled by a rival corporation, Crimson Star Industries.


    [Nest in the Ruins]


    Objective: Eradicate a dangerous insectoid hive that¡¯s been disrupting mining operations in an ancient alien ruin.


    Rex decided on the Siege of the Crimson Spire first. After dealing with those hive-minded insects at the mining colony, he figured he¡¯d need morebat drones before tackling another swarm.


    Carlos¡¯s voice suddenly cut through his focus. "Hey Rex! Trucks are ready! We gotta roll since we¡¯re outta credits to cover another day of rental!" His voice echoed from somewhere outside the ship.


    Rex sighed, shut down his screen, and headed out of the cockpit. "Cleo, the drones are loaded in the trucks, right?"


    "Affirmative," Cleo responded over themunications. "There are twobat drones in each truck and one cargo drone carrying ammunition boxes."


    Rex grinned, deliberately keeping themunicator on. "See, Carlos? Cleo knows exactly what a man needs. She¡¯s perfect."


    Carlos, already leaning against his truck, rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, stop flirting and get in. We¡¯ve got a mission to get to before it gets toote." He climbed into the driver¡¯s seat, firing up the truck.


    The truck didn¡¯t have traditional wheels. Instead, it hovered about 15 centimeters off the ground thanks to the gravitational neos beneath it, which made these trucks perfect for cargo transport across uneven terrain.


    It also let them haul more weight without worrying about busted axles. Of course, this technology came with its share of dumb idents since too many people tried to fly them like ships, even though they were barely allowed off the ground. There were rules for a reason, but not everyone listened.


    Once Rex climbed into his truck and gotfortable, they started their drive toward the city. After about an hour of monotonous, almost mind-numbing driving, Cleo¡¯s voice crackled through themunicator again.


    "Attention. Multiple enemies are approaching. Their identities match those ofst night¡¯s bandits."


    Rex perked up, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. Thanks to the clear outline of friends and enemies on the HUD, he spotted them too; though they were trying to stay undercover, it was obvious who they were.


    "See, Carlos? This is karma for you almost falling asleep."


    Carlos snorted, his voice indignant over themunications. "What the hell are you talking about? I could hear you snoring from here!"


    "Enemies are one kilometer away and closing fast," Cleo interrupted. "I rmend deployingbat drones once they¡¯re within 200 meters."


    Rex nodded, even though she couldn¡¯t see him. "Sounds good. You¡¯re in charge of the drones, Cleo. Let¡¯s make this quick." He grabbed his electric rifle and checked it, making sure it was ready for action.


    Carlos was already doing the same, his usual smirk turning into something more focused. "Let¡¯s hope these bandits brought something new this time, or this is going to be over in ten minutes."


    "Big brother, are you sure it¡¯s a good idea to go hunting today? Someone destroyed our campst night," one of the bandits muttered nervously, ncing over at the bandit boss in the vehicle¡¯s passenger seat.


    The boss let out a loud, dismissiveugh. "Of course it is! Those mercs only care about the big score, not a few stragglers. If we made it out, we¡¯re in the clear for now. Stop worrying."


    He turned to the rest of the group, his voice booming through the car¡¯s radio. "Get ready, boys! These unprotected fat sheep are about to pay for tonight¡¯s drinks!"


    The bandits cheered. There were eight vehicles in their convoy, with twelve bandits in total, and this was usually more than enough muscle for a simple raid on transport trucks.


    "Haha, follow the boss!"


    "Let¡¯s gut ¡¯em!"


    "I hope they¡¯ve got some women! I could use a littlepany tonight," another bandit snickered darkly, earning a few chuckles from hisrades.


    They were already picturing the loot, unaware of what waited for them. The trucks grew closer, and just as they reached 190 meters from their targets, the cargo doors on the two lead trucks hissed open. From inside, sleek, one-meter-longbat drones rolled out, their cold, metallic frames glinting under the sun.


    "Drones! Take them down!" one of the bandits yelled, panic creeping into his voice.


    Gunfire erupted, but their bullets barely dented the drones¡¯ reinforced armor. The bandits scrambled, firing wildly, but it was already toote. The drones whirred to life, their mounted miniguns spinning up before unleashing a storm of lead. A deafening roar filled the air as bullets rained down on the convoy.


    "Shit, retreat! Get the hell outta here!" The bandit boss bellowed, his bravado evaporating in an instant.


    But just as he gave the order, an explosion tore through the air. The vehicle directly behind him went up in mes, flipped by a direct hit from one of the drone¡¯s 20-centimeter missiles. While the missiles weren¡¯t the most powerful, they were more than enough to take out lightly armored cars.


    Chaos ensued. More missiles followed, each st shaking the ground as the drones systematically dismantled the convoy. In just three minutes, the bandits¡¯ vehicles were nothing but burning wreckage scattered across the barren terrain. The miniguns fell silent, thest echoes of gunfire fading into the distance.


    The trucks came to a stop, and two figures stepped out, casually walking toward the smoldering battlefield. Rex slung his electric rifle over his shoulder, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.


    "Told you it¡¯d be over in ten minutes," he muttered, ncing at Carlos beside him, who was already lighting up a cigarette, his expression bored.


    "Three minutes, actually. You¡¯re getting rusty," Carlos said with a shrug, exhaling a puff of smoke as they surveyed the carnage.

 Chapter 24: Siege of the Crimson Spire (1)

    "Cleo, should we do something about this, or just leave it?" Rex asked, watching the few survivors left, all of them badly wounded.


    "It¡¯s better to take care of them. Don¡¯t leave any witnesses. I¡¯m sending some cargo drones to loot the aftermath, so make sure no one¡¯s alive to interfere with the drones."


    "Well, you heard thedy," Rex said, ncing at Carlos while removing the safety from his rifle. Together, they ended the suffering of thest survivors with a single bullet to the head.


    "Did the trucks get damaged? We¡¯re broke, and we can¡¯t afford repairs!" Rex grumbled, starting to inspect the trucks for bullet holes.


    "There¡¯s nothing on mine. How about yours?" Carlos replied while checking his own truck.


    "Phew, nothing here either. Cleo, reload the drones with the cargo bot, and we¡¯ll move on."


    "Got it." Cleo started rearming the drones with ammo and missiles, which took about ten minutes. After that, the drones returned to the trucks.


    Rex and Carlos hit the road again. Luckily, no more bandits crossed their path. When they were about 10 kilometers from the city, they pulled over and opened the cargo.


    "Alright, Cleo, it¡¯s your turn now. No way we¡¯re driving into the city with this much firepower. The guards would arrest us on the spot."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "You give them too much credit, Rex," Carlos chimed in. "I bet we could bribe them and they¡¯d look the other way."


    "Bribe them with what? Your charming smile? We¡¯ve got barely 1,000 credits left out of the 50,000. Having a wife at home who takes all your credits... that¡¯s rough."


    Cleo overheard and couldn¡¯t resist. "Ha! If it were up to you, all that money would go to nightclubs and booze. Do you think I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going through your heads?"


    Rex and Carlos exchanged awkward nces before bursting into sheepishughter. They knew she was right.


    A few minutester, they finally reached the city and, thankfully, entered without any issues. They returned the trucks and picked up their car from a rented lot.


    "Hey, Rex, my stomach just reminded me we haven¡¯t eaten all day, and it¡¯s already 2 p.m. How about we grab something?"


    "Yeah, we can get something cheap at the food stalls in themercial zone." Rex paused for a second, then added, "Hey, Cleo, from now on, after each mission, set aside 10,000 credits so we can treat ourselves to a fancy dinner!"


    "That¡¯s doable. I¡¯ll adjust the shopping list to 90,000 credits."


    "Mmm, I knew you were the best."


    "Best sister-inw ever!" Carlos chimed in.


    "..."


    Rex drove them to themercial district. There, they found some food stalls selling hand-sized, nutrient-packed jelly snacks for 100 credits each. Rex bought five for himself and five for Carlos.


    Since the jelly was easy to carry, they hopped back in the car and ate while driving.


    "This tastes like shit, bro..." Carlos muttered, tears welling up in his eyes.


    "I know, man. Even the slop at the mining colony was better than this," Rex groaned.


    "You two are so dramatic." Cleo couldn¡¯t take their whining anymore.


    "When you get a body, this will be the first thing you eat! Let¡¯s see if you keep talking then!"


    "Alright, enough whining," Rex cut in. "Cleo, send the coordinates for the Crimson Spire. Is it time to start the operation? Also, are the drones inside the city yet?"


    "The coordinates have been sent. As for the drones, they¡¯re already en route to the Crimson Spire. Those smuggling points we set up are reallying in handy."


    The Crimson Spire was located near the heart of Zone 4 in the megacity. It was a heavily fortified tower, protected byyers of security, armed guards, drones, and automated defenses. Inside, the corridors were sleek and high-tech, filled with security checkpoints and nanomaterialbs.


    Infiltrating the tower was practically a death sentence. The real danger wasn¡¯t just the tower¡¯s defenses but its proximity to the guard headquarters. Reinforcements could arrive in minutes if things went south.


    "We¡¯re in position, Cleo. Let¡¯s get started," Rex said, eyes scanning the surroundings.


    "Understood. Deploying jammer drones now." From thebat drones, smaller ones detached, scattering in all directions.


    "All signals inside the perimeter have been sessfully blocked. Moving to phase two," Cleo reported. Thebat drones began advancing toward the Crimson Spire,unching missiles at various targets as they neared.


    The explosions rocked the tower, and the rm red loudly. Almost instantly, guardian drones deployed from the tower, rushing to engage thebat drones.


    These guardian drones were fast and lethal, armed withser turbines and EMP disruptors. They patrolled the hallways, and if not destroyed quickly, they could summon more reinforcements. But with the rm already wailing, it was a full-blown drone war in the sky.


    Thebat drones, guided by Cleo¡¯s precisemands, skillfully dodged enemy fire and took down many of the tower¡¯s drones in return.


    "Phase two isplete. Proceeding to phase three," Cleo¡¯s voice crackled over theirmunicators.


    "Roger that," Rex responded. "Let¡¯s move, Carlos."


    The chaos outside worked in their favor. As explosions rang out and drones battled overhead, the workers in the tower scrambled to seek shelter. Rex and Carlos slipped inside along with the panicked crowd, blending in easily.


    Inside the Crimson Spire, it was just as chaotic. Guards were struggling to contain the workers and civilians who were trying to flee deeper into the tower for safety. Amid themotion, Rex made his way slowly toward a terminal.


    Once he reached it, small needles extended from his fingertip. Rex looked over at Carlos and gave a slight nod. Carlos tossed several smoke grenades in all directions, onending right by Rex.


    "Everyone, stay where you are! DON¡¯T MOVE!" the guards yelled as the smoke quickly filled the lobby. With visibility low, they pointed their weapons at the workers, forcing them to stay in ce.


    In the confusion, Rex connected his needle-tipped finger to the terminal. Cleo quickly hacked into the tower¡¯s systems.


    "Phase three isplete. Moving to phase four," Cleo¡¯s voice came through again.


    Upon hearing this, Carlos pulled out his handgun and fired several shots toward the ceiling. The smoke made it impossible to see, and the workers immediately assumed the guards were shooting at them.


    "They¡¯re firing at us! Fight back!" Carlos shouted, adding fuel to the panic. The workers, driven by fear, rushed at the guards, throwing the entire situation into chaos.


    Carlos and Rex joined the chaos, pushing their way through the panicked crowd and heading straight for the stairs.


    "We¡¯re on the stairs, Cleo. You can start phase five," Rex said, racing up the steps two at a time.


    "Got it. ording to the data, the nanomaterial vault is on the 8th floor."


    "Thanks, sweetheart. You go have fun while we die climbing these damn stairs," Rex muttered sarcastically.


    Outside the Crimson Tower, things were going south fast. The Sentry AI Units had arrived, and the battle was escting. Cleo was working overtime, dodging enemy fire and keeping the drones alive. But now that the Sentries were in y, it was only a matter of time before thebat drones were wiped out.


    The Sentry Units were massive, towering bipedal robots covered in heavy ballistic armor, armed with rocketunchers that were a great treat for the operation, but Cleo had a backup n ready.


    "Activating Crimson Tower defense systems," Cleo announced. Thanks to the jammer drones she had deployed earlier, all external signals were blocked, allowing only her own to control the tower¡¯s systems. With Rex¡¯s help, she had hacked into the defense grid, and now she had full control.


    Turrets andser cannons mounted on the tower came to life, turning their firepower on the guardian drones and Sentry Units. While the Sentries weren¡¯t affected by the jamming due to their basic AI, their limited programming made them easy to counter. They started attacking the tower¡¯s defense systems, unaware they were fighting their own.


    A full-scale war erupted outside, with turrets firing at drones, and Sentry Unitsunching rockets at anything hostile.


    Meanwhile, Rex and Carlos finally reached the 8th floor. They burst through the door into what looked like an ordinaryb. Shelves were stacked with equipment, materials, and devices used for nanomaterial production.


    "Well, well. I knew some rats would sneak in eventually," a voice echoed through the room, making Rex and Carlos tense up immediately.


    They scanned the area, weapons drawn, but didn¡¯t expect the attack toe from above. The enemy was hiding in the venttion system. As they passed under, two energy des shed down, barely missing Rex¡¯s head.


    "HAHAHA! So you can dodge that! This is going to be fun!" A figure dropped from the ceiling,nding with a heavy thud.


    Standing before them was a humanoid figure d in advancedbat armor, with cybeic enhancements on his arms. Two glowing energy des extended from his wrists, crackling with power.


    "Let me introduce myself," he sneered. "I¡¯m the Crimson Star Commander, in charge of security here. And now that I¡¯ve found you, I¡¯ll kill you both and collect a nice fat bonus. Ready? Come at me!"

 Chapter 25: Siege of the Crimson Spire (2)

    The Crimson Commander charged so fast they barely had time to react. His fist mmed into Carlos¡¯s abdomen, sending him flying across the room and crashing into theb tables.


    "Carlos!" Rex shouted, opening fire on the Crimson Commander, but the power armor¡¯s shield deflected the gunfire with ease. The Commander then drew his des and began swinging them toward Rex.


    Rex dodged as best as he could, parrying with his rifle when he couldn¡¯t evade the strikes. But it was clear that his rifle wouldn¡¯t hold up for long against those des.


    [Overdrive Mode Activated]


    Realizing Rex was outmatched, Cleo triggered Overdrive Mode. Glowing, angel-like wings unfurled from Rex¡¯s back, making him stronger in an instant.


    "W-what the hell? Who are you!?" the Crimson Commander stammered, his voice betraying his surprise. In all his years working at the Crimson Spire, he had never seen anything like this.


    He quickly backed away, pulling out his twin handguns, and opened fire from a distance. But Cleo, controlling the wings, shielded Rex with them. The bullets hit the wings with metallic sounds but were absorbed as if striking water; none of the bullets prated.


    Out of ammo, the Crimson Commander fumbled to reload, but before he could, a grenade sailed through the air toward him.


    He spotted it toote. It exploded right in his face, sending him crashing into the nanomaterial vault.


    "Cough... cough... what the hell?" he sputtered, disoriented. Even with his shield generator, the st had done serious damage. His shield flickered weakly, and one side of his face was badly burned.


    On all fours, the Commander struggled to get up, his shield on the verge of failing.


    "Did you like that, motherfuc¡êer?" Carlos shouted, finally back on his feet after being winded by the earlier blow. Gasping for breath, he leveled his rifle, grenadeuncher still attached, and fired another round at the Crimson Commander.


    The grenade hit its mark, and the weakened shield finally copsed. Rex, emerging from the protective cocoon of his wings, joined Carlos in opening fire on the exposed power armor.


    The Commander tried to shield his face with his arms, desperately attempting to fend off the barrage of bullets. But it was no use.


    As he struggled to rise, a granadended next to him. Before he could react, it exploded, sending what was left of him flying in pieces.


    "Cough, cough... that was one resilient motherfucker. Is he dead?" Carlos asked, still trying to catch his breath.


    "Phew, yeah, he¡¯s done for. No life signals left," Rex replied, checking his HUD. "But seriously, that guy was an idiot. Who introduces themselves before a fight?"


    "Hah! Right? So cringeworthy. Next time, we should just shoot them mid-speech," Carlosughed, shaking his head.


    Rex turned on hismunications. "Cleo, we were in the vault. You can open it anytime."


    "Understood. Stand by," Cleo responded, starting the hack. After a minute, the vault door began to creak open.


    Rex stepped inside while Carlos stood guard outside. "So, which one¡¯s the nanomaterial?" he asked, scanning the shelves around him.


    [Analysisplete]


    "All of these are nanomaterials. I rmend taking everything you can carry. The mission only calls for one, but we can keep the rest," Cleo advised through his earpiece.


    "Good call." Rex slung off his backpack and began stuffing as many tubes as it could hold.


    "Alright, we¡¯re good to go." He exited the vault and tossed the backpack to Carlos.


    They hurried to a nearby window. "Uh... is that a little too high?" Carlos asked, eyeing the drop below. "Can¡¯t we, I don¡¯t know, take the stairs?"


    Rexughed. "Don¡¯t tell me the big, tough Carlos is scared of heights."


    "It¡¯s not that! I just don¡¯t wanna be hugging you, man!" Carlos shot back.


    "Yeah, yeah. We¡¯re out of time; quit whining." Rex grabbed Carlos and dashed toward the window. Covering them with his wings, he smashed through the ss, sending shards flying as they tumbled to the ground below.


    They hit the ground hard, rolling a few times beforeing to a stop. Rex stretched his wings out, letting Carlos scramble free.


    "Never again. I¡¯m never hugging another dude," Rex muttered, panting as they stood in the crash zone.


    "You didn¡¯t have to throw me like that!" Carlos grumbled, rubbing his face where it had collided with a tree trunk.


    "Quitining. Cleo, missionplete. You can start falling back. We¡¯re heading to the smuggling zone now. Get the cargo drone ready to pick up the nanomaterial." Rex¡¯s wings retracted as Overdrive Mode deactivated, returning him to normal.


    "Understood. The drone¡¯s ready. Sending coordinates now." Cleo sent the route, and glowing markers appeared on Rex¡¯s HUD.


    "Come on, Carlos. We¡¯ve got a long walk ahead of us." Rex extended a hand, helping Carlos up. Together, they left the area in a hurry.


    Meanwhile, thebat drones took off on a separate route. With Cleo still controlling the Crimson Tower¡¯s defense system, the guards were unable to follow. Despite their heavy damage, the drones were intact and would be repairable.


    After three grueling hours, Rex and Carlos finally reached the smuggling spot, where the cargo drone was waiting. Carlos tossed the backpack into the drone¡¯s cargo hold.


    "Package delivered. You can send it back, Cleo," Carlos said, copsing onto the ground, exhausted.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Good work. Retrieving now," Cleo replied, and the cargo drone lifted off, heading back toward the city.


    Rex plopped down next to Carlos. "So what now?" he asked Cleo.


    "I¡¯ll store the nanomaterials on the ship and send the one required for the mission to a drop-off point outside the forest. I¡¯ll notify Talon to pick it up."


    Rex whistled. "You¡¯ve got it all figured out, huh? Nice work. Guess we can kick back for a bit, then. How about we hit a nearby bar, wait for the credits, then feast tonight? Tomorrow, we¡¯ll grab the supplies."


    Carlos grinned, "Now you¡¯re speaking mynguage."


    It took them another four hours to finally reach a bar. Rex was still going strong, but Carlos, being just an ordinary human, was already passed out at the table, snoring loudly like an elephant. Luckily for them, this bar had a "pay at the end" policy, which was perfect since they were still waiting for the credits toe through.


    Now, most bars wouldn¡¯t dare use a system like that since it¡¯d be too risky with people trying to dine and dash. But this ce was run by a local mafia, so no one was dumb enough to pull a stunt like that. Anyone who did would quickly find themselves hunted down and sold off in parts, literally. With millions of species in the gxy, there was always a demand for... well, just about anything.


    "Rex, the credits have been deposited. You¡¯re free to enjoy your feast," Cleo¡¯s voice chimed in through his earpiece.


    "Oh, thanks, beautiful. But I think we¡¯ll save the feast for tomorrow morning. Carlos is already out cold." Rex took onest swig of his beer.


    "Good idea. He¡¯s only human, after all."


    "Hey, speaking of that, is there any way to make Carlos more like me? You know, stronger?"


    "That¡¯s impossible," Cleo replied. "Only Royal AIs like me can perform those kinds of enhancements. And so far, I¡¯m the only one left."


    "Royal... wait, does that mean you¡¯re a princess?" Rex raised an eyebrow.


    "Affirmative. Well, I was a princess, before the Hive Minds wiped out my empire."


    "Don¡¯t sweat it since you¡¯re still my princess!" Rex said with a grin, calling over the waitress to settle the tab.


    "..." Cleo didn¡¯t respond. But if anyone could see her, they¡¯d notice a bittersweet smile ying on her lips.


    Rex stood up and walked over to Carlos. "Come on, buddy. Time to go." Seeing that Carlos wasn¡¯t waking up anytime soon, Rex hoisted him onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.


    With the bill already paid, they left the bar, ignoring the scornful look from the waitress as they passed by the guards stationed outside.


    "Oh, by the way, beautiful waitress," Rex called over his shoulder. "You know where I can find a cheap hotel for the night?"


    The waitress chuckled softly. "If you walk that way, you¡¯ll hit the Cabin Hotel. 500 credits a night, and since we run it, you won¡¯t have to worry about security." She gave him a thumbs-up.


    "Much appreciated." Rex smiled and handed her 500 credits as a tip. "Thanks for the help."


    The waitress nodded, speaking into hermunicator as she returned inside.


    Rex carried Carlos down the street, heading for the hotel. When they arrived, he rented two rooms, dumping Carlos into one before copsing onto the bed in the other.


    Meanwhile, back on the ship, Cleo floated quietly in the cockpit, hugging her legs as she stared out into the stars. The familiar feeling of istion crept back over her. For so long, she¡¯d been alone, and now that she had someone again, the thought of being without them, even for a short time, felt unbearable.


    "Please...e back soon," Cleo whispered, burying her face in her knees.

 Chapter 26: Flexing

    At the start of the new day, Carlos woke up in an unfamiliar city. Slowly, he stood up and got out of bed, still unsure of where he was or how he¡¯d ended up there. Confused, he left the room and started looking around until he spotted Rex and made his way over to him.


    "Brother, how did we end up here? I don¡¯t remember anything fromst night."


    "Mmm? You don¡¯t remember?" Rex replied with a straight face. "Well, yesterday we went to a bar to wait for the credits from the job, got drunk, and then a Marse guy started flirting with you. And, well, you flirted back."


    "Wait, hold on... are you saying I came to the hotel with a Marse?"


    Rex put a hand on Carlos¡¯ arm. "Bro, I told you to stop, but you kept ignoring me. Then you went into the room... with the Marse."


    Carlos went pale. A Marse? They were known for their beauty; the females and males looked almost alike, and their males had two big reproductive organs.


    "Ha... ha... ha... pfff... HAHAHAHA!" Rex couldn¡¯t hold back hisughter anymore. Carlos looked like he was about to die from the realization of what he thought had happened.


    Finally catching on, Carlos shoved Rex. "Oh, screw you, Rex." But at least he felt a little more at ease now.


    "Haha,e on, bro. I¡¯ll treat you to a feast; let¡¯s go get some food and forget aboutst night." Rex led the way out of the hotel, Carlos following closely behind.


    "Cleo, you there?"


    "Yes, I am. Do you need something?"


    "Yeah, can you search for restaurants nearby? Preferably not too expensive, maybe around 10,000 credits."


    [Scanning. Taskplete.]


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Here¡¯s a list of nearby restaurants within that range."


    "Thanks, hon. We¡¯ll talkter when we get those items you needed." Rex filtered through the list and found a spot nearby.


    "Come on, Carlos, let¡¯s go." Rex gave Carlos a light pat on the back.


    They left the hotel and caught a taxi to the restaurant. When they arrived, the ce looked way more luxurious than anything they had expected.


    "Wee, gentlemen. Do you have a reservation?" a waiter asked as he approached them.


    "No, but we¡¯d like a VIP room. Do you have any avable?" Rex asked confidently.


    The waiter looked them over from head to toe, then tapped on a tablet. "Let me check avability."


    After a moment, the waiter nodded. "Yes, there¡¯s one VIP room avable. Please wait here for a moment; my colleague will escort you shortly."


    As the waiter walked off, Carlos leaned in. "Rex, pretty sure that guy was looking at us like we don¡¯t belong here."


    "Yeah, he probably was. But who cares? We¡¯re here to eat, not show off. Let¡¯s just rx."


    After about 30 minutes, a waitress finally came to escort them to their table.


    "Wee, dear customers. My name is Emilia, and I¡¯ll be your waitress today." The girl had blue skin, was small in stature, and had a baby-like face with striking blue eyes. Carlos seemed to bepletely smitten by her.


    "Oh sure, lead the way... Carlos, close your mouth." Rex smirked.


    The waitress guided them to the second floor of the restaurant, where a freshly cleaned VIP room awaited. After they sat down, Emilia handed them the menus.


    "Once you¡¯re ready to order, just press the button on this box, and I¡¯lle right away," she said with a small bow before leaving the room.


    "Pff, hahaha, next time, wipe the drool off your face, Carlos. You were so obvious. Are you that hungry, or...?"


    "Oh, shut up, Rex. I¡¯m just saying my kid needs a mom, alright? He¡¯s still young, you know?"


    "Your kid¡¯s already five. Pretty sure he doesn¡¯t need a mom anymore."


    "Oh, stop it. Let¡¯s just order food; I¡¯m starving." Carlos was quick to change the subject.


    Rex pressed the button, and soon after, Emilia returned to take their order. An hourter, she came back, followed by a small serving drone that carried their food. She ced several dishes on the table and was about to leave.


    "Hey, Emilia, wait a second,e join us!" Rex pointed to the seat next to Carlos.


    "Oh, no, I couldn¡¯t possibly do that. It would be disrespectful for someone like me to sit with VIP guests," she said, waving her hands in protest.


    "Don¡¯t worry about it. My friend here is the one inviting you. You can just say you¡¯re ¡¯serving¡¯ us, and no one will care," Rex added with a wink.


    Emilia blushed slightly but hesitated only for a moment before sitting down next to Carlos. He immediately started offering her some food, clearly trying to impress her. Rex just smiled and began eating too. They were enjoying their meal when they heard somemotion just outside the room.


    Suddenly, the door swung open, and the waiter who had greeted them earlier barged in. "Sirs, I need you to leave immediately. A VIP customer has arrived, and people like you, with little money, should make way."


    His eyes fell on Emilia, and his gaze turned cold.


    Rex sighed, not even looking up from his te. "Hey, bootlicker, beat it. We¡¯re eating, and we don¡¯t want to be disturbed."


    The waiter stormed out, but Rex saw him pull out amunicator. A few minutester, the restaurant¡¯s security guards arrived.


    "Sirs, please leave the premises, or we¡¯ll have to use force," one of the guards warned.


    Rex stood up slowly, holding up his hand to stop them. He casually grabbed his ss of water and finished it before speaking. "Carlos, remember how I said we weren¡¯t here to flex?"


    Carlos, still munching on his food, nodded. "Yes, you did. So what?"


    "Well, I¡¯m about to flex. Because if there¡¯s one thing I can¡¯t stand, it¡¯s being threatened."


    Without warning, Rex activated his Overdrive Mode. The pressure in the room skyrocketed as a white aura began to radiate from him. His massive wings folded in front of him, and with one swift motion, he sent the guards flying off the second floor, crashing through tables on the first.


    "Cleo, give me a little help with flying; I¡¯m about to put on a show."


    Rex floated down from the second floor into the main dining area. The restaurant had an openyout, so everyone on the first floor could easily see him descending, his aura glowing as he did.


    All the customers watching the scene had a mix of expressions on their faces: fear, awe, and horror. Every possible reaction was on disy, but the ugliest looks were on the faces of the waiter and the guards who had first tried to make Rex and Carlos leave.


    Rexnded on the first floor, his wings still glowing and extended. "If there¡¯s one thing I can¡¯t stand, it¡¯s being threatened or interrupted while I¡¯m eating. Now, let¡¯s see what I¡¯m going to do with all of you."


    He walked toward the waiter, who stood frozen in fear. It wasn¡¯t just the way Rex looked with that glowing aura since it was the asional greenish shimmer that gave him away. The glow was a clear sign of bionics, and only nobles had ess to that kind of tech.


    When Rex was close enough, he grabbed the waiter by the neck, lifting him off the ground. Rex floated slightly as he tightened his grip. "Mmm, how about paying with your life for what you just did?"


    The waiter gasped, trying to speak, but Rex¡¯s hold on his neck was too tight. He wasn¡¯t nning on killing the guy, just making him faint, but when he was about to do it, something else caught his attention.


    From one of the second-floor balconies, a woman with dark red skin and piercing yellow eyes spoke up. "Dear noble, why don¡¯t we take a step back?"


    Rex was momentarily taken aback. No one usually dared talk back to a noble unless they were either another noble or someone incredibly foolish. Now he had to figure out which category this new person fell into.


    He nced up at the woman and noticed she was already armed, her pair of vibrodes out and ready for action. Rex loosened his grip on the waiter, letting him drop to the floor, gasping desperately for air.


    Rex then floated up toward the woman, but as he approached, he saw others stepping out from the shadows, pointing guns at him. The woman spoke again, "You see, a noble like you, showing up at a restaurant my group protects and then trashing the ce...it doesn¡¯t exactly help our reputation, does it?"


    Rex let out a smugugh. "Hahaha, isn¡¯t itmon courtesy to introduce yourself before you speak to a noble like me?" The woman just chuckled, ignoring his question.


    "You might be a noble," she continued, "but we outnumber you. You¡¯re just one man. It wouldn¡¯t be hard for us to get rid of you quietly, and no one would ever know. After all, to you nobles, we¡¯re nobodies."


    Rex¡¯sugh grew louder. "Hahaha, too bad for you, little girl! I already know who you are. Should I call you¡ª"

 Chapter 27: Getting a Maid.

    "The leader of the Crimson ws, the Red Queen, or should I say, Mara?" Rex floated just in front of her, a smug grin stered on his face.


    Mara¡¯s eye twitched at the mention of her name. Fear flickered across her face. If a noble knew who she was, it could only mean one thing: she was his target. Or at least, that¡¯s what she assumed. In reality, Rex only knew because Cleo had used face recognition to search through the guards¡¯ data bank. But Mara didn¡¯t know that.


    "S-shoot him down now!" The fear in her voice was unmistakable. Panic set in as she realized what was happening. Her gang quickly opened fire on Rex, bullets ricocheting off his wings as he shielded himself.


    With his wings wrapped around him, he couldn¡¯t stay airborne and crashed down, smashing a table beneath him. Even as he hit the floor, the gunfire didn¡¯t let up, but nothing could pierce those wings.


    Then one of the gangsters pulled out a rocketuncher and fired. The explosion sent a cloud of smoke and debris billowing through the room. For a moment, everything went still. The gang stopped shooting, eyes fixed on the spot where Rex had fallen.


    As the smoke cleared, they could finally see it: Rex, still standing. His wings, though battered, were already repairing themselves. The impact zone was closing up right before their eyes.


    "If you¡¯re smart, you¡¯ll drop your weapons," Carlos said calmly, stepping out of the shadows. He¡¯d been eating at a nearby table, unfazed by the chaos, but the explosion had finally caught his attention. ncing up, he saw a girl on the second floor, still firing at Rex. He made his move.


    Casually, almost too casually for the situation, Carlos slipped through the chaos. Mara didn¡¯t even notice him since she was too fixated on taking down Rex. That gave Carlos just enough time to get close. In a few swift steps, he was behind her, pulling out the two handguns he¡¯d taken from the Crimson Guardmander. He pointed them at the back of Mara¡¯s head.


    Her fury was obvious, but Rex saw the shift. With a slight smirk, he finally lowered his wings, shaking off thest of the dust and smoke. He locked eyes with Mara.


    "Well, well," Rex said, his voice dripping with confidence. "Looks like I¡¯ve got the upper hand now, don¡¯t you think?"


    The Mara group, especially the Crimson ws, had a reputation that stuck. Known for their ruthless street gangs and extortion rackets, the Crimson ws thrived on fear. They had a stranglehold on the lower levels of society, with ties to all sorts of shady operations.


    So, capturing the leader of this gang was supposed to be a big payday. After all, if she led a gang with that kind of rep, there had to be a bounty on her head.


    "Cleo, check the bounty on this girl," Rex ordered.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After a brief pause. "Searchplete. No bounty."


    "W-what?!" Rex¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. "She¡¯s a gang leader! You sure?"


    Cleo¡¯s voice remained calm. "While it¡¯s true the Crimson ws are powerful, they¡¯re constantly dealing with infighting and power grabs. Their leadership doesn¡¯t stay stable for long, and their members are often bribed or bought out by higher yers."


    "Figures..." Rex muttered, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "So she¡¯s new to the job, huh? No bounty yet."


    Cleo nodded, ncing at the screens in front of her. "That would exin it."


    Rex let out a long sigh. His hopes of a big, easy payout were crushed. "Well, Mara, it looks like your head¡¯s worth nothing to me. Not even a single credit. Tell your guys to clear out the restaurant and to take the guards and that waiter with them."


    Mara hesitated, but she didn¡¯t have a choice. "Do what he says, guys. Get out." The gang members slowly filed out, dragging the guards and a terrified waiter with them.


    "There. I did what you asked. Now, can I leave?" Mara¡¯s voice wavered, trying to keep steady.


    Rex floated in front of her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Hmm? I don¡¯t remember saying you were free to go." He stepped closer, lifting her chin with a finger. "Now, little Mara, tell me... how much is your life worth?"


    Mara blinked, stunned. "W-what?"


    "You heard me." Rex¡¯s voice was casual, almostzy. "How much would you pay to keep breathing? It seems like a small price to pay after attacking a noble. Or... you could refuse, but trust me, there won¡¯t be a you can hide on if you do."


    Her blood ran cold. She¡¯d heard rumors of nobles wiping out entire cities ors just to make a point. "I¡¯ll pay!" Mara blurted, desperation creeping into her voice. "I¡ªI have 50,000 credits. That¡¯s all I have. Please."


    Rex chuckled, the sound sending chills down her spine. "Hahaha. Rx, kid, I¡¯m just messing with you. You can keep your credits." He waved her off, still grinning. "But you do owe me for this little stunt. I¡¯ve got a job for your gang tomorrow."


    He gave a quick nod to Carlos, who had been silently aiming his gun at Mara¡¯s head the whole time. Understanding the signal, Carlos lowered the weapon.


    "Consider this your punishment. I won¡¯t pay you, but you¡¯re going to foot the bill for all the damage here and for my meal." Rex let go of her chin and turned to leave, but paused. "Oh, and give me your contact info. I¡¯ll send the coordinates for tomorrow¡¯s job."


    With that, Rex finally headed back to the table, where poor Emilia, the waitress, was pale and trembling. She didn¡¯t even move when Rex sat down like nothing had happened. Carlos, noticing, leaned in and tried to calm her.


    As for Mara, she let out a shaky breath, relieved but still terrified. She knew better than to rx, though. Whatever Rex had nned for tomorrow, it wasn¡¯t going to be good. Without wasting any time, she pulled out her phone and started firing off messages since she needed her gang armed and ready.


    Back at the table, Rex took another bite of his food, chewing thoughtfully. "So, Emilia," he said casually between bites, "I doubt you¡¯ll be able to keep working here after today. How abouting to work for me instead? My wife could use some help around the house."


    "W-what would I have to do?" Emilia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Rex shrugged casually. "Honestly? I¡¯m not sure yet. Probably just keeping the ship clean, simple stuff. As for the pay, you¡¯ll have to talk to my wife first."


    "S-ship?" Emilia¡¯s eyes widened.


    Rex raised an eyebrow, as if the question surprised him. "Mmm? Yeah, a ship. But don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re not nning on leaving the anytime soon. You got family here?"


    "N-no¡­ My family¡¯s on another. I came here looking for work to send credits back home." Her voice wavered as she spoke, still shaken from everything that had happened.


    "Perfect, then. Get ready; we¡¯re heading out. Got a few things to pick up before we head back to the ship."


    Once they¡¯d finished their meal or what was left of it, they left the restaurant, which now looked more like a wreckage than a ce to eat. Since Emilia clearly wasn¡¯t in any shape to walk for hours, they hailed a taxi and headed to the spot where they¡¯d parked their car before the whole Crimson Tower invasion.


    The car had just enough room for the three of them. As they settled in, Rex nced at Emilia. "You know how to drive?"


    She nodded, though still a bit hesitant. "I know the basics for normal cars. I don¡¯t know much about heavy vehicles, though."


    "That¡¯s fine," Rex said, seemingly satisfied. "We need you to drive this one anyway, since we¡¯re about to rent a couple trucks."


    With that settled, they soon arrived at the rental agency, the same ce they¡¯d been before, and rented the trucks again. After loading up on supplies for Cleo, they packed the trucks to the brim and set off toward the city¡¯s exit, following the usual procedures to get out.


    Meanwhile, back at the wrecked restaurant, about an hour after Rex and his crew had left, the ce was shut down. Inside, Mara stood with some of her gang members, a few city guards, the waiter, and the restaurant¡¯s security guard, the same people who had sparked the entire mess.


    An inspector from the city guard, clearly irritated, paced back and forth before finally turning to Mara. "Let me get this straight," he said, narrowing his eyes. "The waiter and this so-called security guard here insulted a noble... and then you geniuses decided to shoot at him? Is that about right?"


    Mara barely spared him a nce, her expression bored, like she couldn¡¯t be bothered to care. "Mhm, more or less."


    The inspector¡¯s face flushed with anger. "Stop ying games with me, you stupid¡ª" He mmed his hands on the nearest table, shaking his head in frustration. "Do you realize you almost got this entire wiped out because of your little stunt?!"


    He copsed into a chair, rubbing his temples. His outburst had triggered a chain reaction since Mara¡¯s gang members immediately raised their weapons, aiming them at the inspector. The city guards, not to be outdone, leveled their guns at Mara and her crew.


    The tension in the room spiked in an instant. Mara, still unfazed, slowly turned her head toward her men, raising a hand to signal them to lower their weapons. "Rx," she said calmly. "We¡¯re not killing anyone today. Let¡¯s not make this worse."

 Chapter 28: Planning

    The conversation between the city guard inspector and Mara dragged on for hours until they finally reached an agreement. Once everything was settled, they parted ways.


    Meanwhile, Rex and Carlos had just arrived at the underground city, and what they saw took them by surprise. Not only was their ship there, but dozens of other ships of different shapes and sizes that were scattered around the area.


    As the trucks rolled into the zone where all these ships were stationed, they noticed people from various groups watching them intently. The staring stopped as soon as fourbat drones appeared, escorting their trucks. After a short ride, they pulled up just outside a sleek, white-and-golden ship.


    Rex and Carlos hopped out of the trucks, while Cleo sent cargo drones to unload them. Carlos stayed outside with Emilia, keeping an eye on things, while Rex headed into the ship, eager to see Cleo.


    "Cleo, I¡¯m here! Where are you?" He called as he stepped into the cargo bay.


    From the second floor, he heard her voice. "I¡¯m in the assembly room!"


    Rex made his way upstairs and leaned in from behind her, watching as she worked. "So, what are you up to?" he asked.


    "Just updating the assembly drones, trying to speed up the process for buildingbat drones," Cleo replied, her fingers moving swiftly across multiple screens, each one showing configurations for a different assembly drone.


    "Mmm, I see. What¡¯s with all the ships and people out there in thending zone?" Rex asked, ncing back at the window.


    "They¡¯re smugglers," Cleo exined, still focused on her screens. "They¡¯re renting space here. In exchange, we provide them with security and use of the cargo drones to unload their goods."


    "Oh, makes sense. How¡¯s the excavation of the underground city going?"


    "Pretty well. There¡¯s been a 20% performance boost since I added four more mining drones," she said, waving her hand to bring up a screen in front of Rex.


    Rex leaned in to take a closer look. The screen disyed a detailedyout of the underground city, showing where the mining drones were currently working, along with the areas the smugglers were renting as makeshift warehouses.


    "So, the whole first floor is going to be used for warehouses?" Rex asked.


    "For now, yes. Once we excavate more levels, the first floor will be converted into a security hub. I n to store military drones and robots there, along with installing shield generators for protection."


    Cleo walked over to another screen, pulling up more detailed ns. Rex scanned through the blueprints; there was a clear vision for the future of the underground city. The first floor would be dedicated to security, the second and third floors for warehousing, the fourth formerce, and the fifth would serve as a residential area.


    Something on the blueprint caught Rex¡¯s eye. "What¡¯s this big empty hole in the middle of the city? And what¡¯s going on with the sixth and seventh floors?"


    Cleo zoomed in on the area with her finger. "That hole will be the main entrance to the city. As for the sixth and seventh floors... we¡¯re not sure yet. The scanners picked up sounds down there, probably underground water, but we¡¯ll have to explore it further."


    "Oh well, keep me updated every night on the construction progress," Rex said, leaning against the wall. After a pause, he added, "By the way, do you think I overreacted back at the restaurant?"


    Cleo paused her work and looked over at him. "Mmm? No, I don¡¯t think you did anything wrong. You¡¯re the host I chose; you can¡¯t let others disrespect you like that. If it were me, I¡¯d have wiped out the entire already."


    Rex raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought you were the kindhearted type. Didn¡¯t expect that kind of answer."


    Cleo smirked. "I think you¡¯re misunderstanding something, Rex. I only show kindness to my own race, with a few exceptions, like you and Carlos. I trust him because you do. But let me tell you something; you¡¯re still too soft."


    She walked over and brought up a few screens, showing chaotic footage of war-torns, civilizations in ruins, and brutal, uncensored images of destruction.


    "The gxy isn¡¯t a ce where kindness gets you far," Cleo continued. "From what I¡¯ve learned on thework, even your own race, the humans, were conquered and enved. No one cares about others here. It¡¯s everyone for themselves."


    Rex stared at the screens, speechless. She wasn¡¯t wrong. His optimism suddenly felt naive.


    "My race was weak, too," Cleo added, her voice dropping. "We were eradicated by the hive minds,pletely wiped out. In this gxy, power is the only thing that gives you the luxury of kindness. The weak? They don¡¯t get a say."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex was quiet for a moment, absorbing it all. "I¡¯m sorry, Cleo. It seems like I¡¯ve been speaking out of ignorance."


    "You don¡¯t need to apologize," Cleo replied, giving him a small, warm smile. "There¡¯s nothing wrong with not knowing. What¡¯s wrong is knowing the truth and doing nothing."


    Rex nodded, still feeling a bit off-bnce from the harsh reality check. He quickly tried to change the subject. "Alright, enough of that. What¡¯s the n for tomorrow¡¯s mission?"


    Cleo turned and began walking toward the stairs leading down to the first floor. "Come with me. It¡¯ll be easier to exin on the big screen in the cockpit."


    Rex followed her down to the cockpit, where Cleo pulled up a detailed map of the area surrounding the bug hive. She zoomed in on what looked like arge hill, but in reality, it was the entrance to the hive.


    "As you can see, the hive is underground, simr to an ant colony. The main entrance is right here," Cleo pointed to the hill on the screen. "We¡¯re not entirely sure what type of bugs are in there, but like most of them, they should be weak to fire."


    She flicked through a few more images, showing explosives and barrels. "So, step one is simple. We¡¯ll drop barrels of petroleum tied to explosives into the entrance. That should kill some of them and force the rest toe out."


    Rex nodded as Cleo continued.


    "Step two: once the bugs start pouring out, thanks to your little stunt at the restaurant, we now have the Crimson ws; the 600 of them will be surrounding the hill, ready to take down anything that crawls out."


    "For step three," she went on, "we¡¯ll provide air support using the ship andbat drones. We¡¯ve also got missileunchers ready to give cover fire from above. From there, we¡¯ll y it by ear. Depending on how manye out, we¡¯ll decide what the next move is."


    Rex studied the map, thinking it over. "Sounds solid. Let¡¯s hope most of theme out in that first wave."


    Cleo nodded. "That¡¯s the n. But we¡¯ll be ready for whatever happens next."


    Cleo continued exining strategy and soldier management to Rex for a few hours, patiently walking him through the finer points, until they were interrupted by Carlos and Emilia, who came in together.


    "Hey, we¡¯re back," Carlos said. "The trucks are all unloaded. So, uh... about Emilia, did you talk to your wife?"


    Rex pped his forehead. "Ah, I totally forgot!" He turned to Emilia, feeling a bit awkward. "Cleo, this is Emilia. I wanted to hire her as a maid for you, so she can help keep the ship clean."


    Cleo let out a softchuckle. "Hello, Emilia. I¡¯m Cleo. Don¡¯t worry, I already know what happened. Rex tends to forget that I see everything he does." She winked at Rex yfully, then turned back to Emilia. "Come with me; let¡¯s chat about your job and payment."


    Before walking off, Cleo threw a quick nce at Rex and Carlos. "And you two, get out. Go find something useful to do."


    With that, Cleo led Emilia into the cockpit and shut the door, leaving Rex and Carlos standing there, a bit clueless.


    Carlos was the first to break the silence. "So... what now?"


    "I don¡¯t know, man. I guess we should at least head outside and get some target practice in."


    "Yeah, let¡¯s do that."


    The two headed out of the ship and grabbed their weapons from the truck. Rex slung a heavy assault rifle over his shoulder and started firing at somerge rocks in the distance. Carlos, on the other hand, was using histest prize, the twin handguns he¡¯d taken from the Crimson Commander.


    They had a cargo drone with them, stocked with ammo boxes, so they could fire away without worrying about running out of rounds. The sound of gunfire soon attracted some nearby smugglers, curious about themotion. Rex noticed them watching.


    "If any of you want to join, bring some food and liquor!" Rex called out. "We¡¯ve got plenty of ammo here if you guys want to practice. And, hey, we¡¯ve even got a few drones that can project holograms. How about we hunt some giant monsters?"


    The smugglers lit up at the idea. "Oh, that sounds like fun! Let¡¯s do it!"


    "Count me in!"


    Soon, a few smugglers ran off to grab liquor and food, and before long, they had a full-blown shooting party going. Everyone took turns practicing their aim, and then they moved on to hunting holographic monsters. The party didn¡¯t wind down until everyone was sprawled out on the ground,pletely drunk and exhausted.


    Cleo, keeping an eye on everything as usual, noticed Rex passed out on the floor, his energy levels almost depleted. With a slight sigh, she took control of his body remotely, making him get up and walk toward the recharging bay. And with that, the day finally came to an end.

 Chapter 29: Nest in the ruins (1)

    Rex woke up the next day, and to his surprise, he wasn¡¯t dealing with the headache he expected after drinking all night. In fact, he felt better than he had any right to. As he stepped out of the charging tank, Cleo materialized in the room.


    "Good morning, Rex. I took the liberty of filtering out all the toxic substances you drank yesterday."


    "Oh? So that¡¯s why I feel fresh, like nothing happened. Thanks, Cleo. By the way, in case you haven¡¯t noticed, I¡¯m totally naked," Rex said, gesturing at himself with a smirk.


    "I don¡¯t mind," Cleo replied without missing a beat. "It¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve seen you naked. Besides, I was the one who undressed you and put you in the recharging tankst night."


    Rex raised an eyebrow as a screen appeared next to him while he started getting dressed. "Mmm? What¡¯s this?"


    "It¡¯s the news," Cleo exined. "More specifically, someone covered up what you did yesterday."


    Rex tapped the screen to turn up the volume.


    <<In other news,st night in themercial district of Zone 3, a confrontation between criminals and city guards left a restaurant half destroyed. Fortunately, there were only two confirmed casualties: a restaurant waiter and one city guard.>>


    Rex frowned. "Looks like the city guards and the Crimson ws have some kind of arrangement. Not surprising though, all those guards are corrupt."


    While getting dressed, he asked, "So, Cleo, how¡¯s the progress on thebat drones?"


    In response, Cleo summoned more screens, sending them his way. "These are the newbat drones we¡¯ve assembled, along with the ammunition and missiles currently in storage. On this screen, you can see I¡¯ve also crafted two personal shield generators for you and Carlos."


    Rex let out a low whistle. "Have I ever told you how much I love you? You always know what I need. With these shields, Carlos won¡¯t be taken out as soon as things heat up."


    "Oh, and before I forget, send the meeting point coordinates to the Crimson ws near the bug hive."


    "Understood. Coordinates have been sent."


    With everything set, Rex stepped out of the ship. The scene outside was typical of awless ce; a few smugglers still passed out on the ground fromst night¡¯s drinking. Off to one side, Carlos sat on a cargo drone, grimacing as Emilia handed him a cup of tea, probably for his headache.


    Rex approached them, raising a hand in greeting. "Morning, you two."


    Emilia gave him a small bow while Carlos just waved half-heartedly, still rubbing his temples.


    "Still hurting?" Rex asked, trying to suppress a grin.


    "Yeah," Carlos groaned. "Keep your voice down, or my head¡¯s going to explode."


    Rex chuckled. "You should be like me, fresh as a Daisy."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Carlos shot him a re. "Screw you, Rex."


    "By the way, where are the trucks? Someone stole them already?" Rex asked, noticing their absence.


    "No one stole them," Carlos muttered. "I paid some of the smugglers to return them. Gave ¡¯em part of the credits up front; rest when they¡¯re back."


    Rex blinked in surprise. "Well, I¡¯m impressed. That was actually pretty smart, especially for you."


    Carlos rolled his eyes. "It wasn¡¯t my idea. It was Emilia¡¯s."


    Rex turned to her, a grin spreading across his face. "Nice one, Emilia."


    While Emilia was still blushing from the sudden praise, Rex told Carlos to get ready and head into the ship. They had a mission to get to. It took them a few minutes to get everything in order before the ship lifted off and set a course for the coordinates.


    Meanwhile, on the ground, one of the Crimson ws standing next to Mara spoke up.


    "So, boss, what are we doing out here in the middle of nowhere?" he asked, ncing around the emptyndscape.


    "We¡¯re waiting for the noble from yesterday," Mara replied, taking a drag from her cigarette. "He said if we want to stay alive, we¡¯ve got to do a job for him."


    "Why should we do what some noble says?" Another one piped up, clearly frustrated.


    "Yeah, boss, this is ridiculous!"


    "Yesterday, we almost had him! If it wasn¡¯t for his damn ve, we would¡¯ve¡ª"


    "Why don¡¯t we just kill him when he gets here and be done with it?"


    Thest suggestion was met with the sudden sound of a gunshot. Mara had pulled out her handgun and shot the guy who made thement, killing him instantly. His body crumpled to the ground, and everyone fell silent.


    "Listen up," Mara growled, eyes shing. "I¡¯m not afraid of any noble. That¡¯s not the issue. The problem is what happens after you kill a noble. You think the city guards are bad? What do you think happens when a noble goes missing?


    They send a damn world-destroyer to turn the into dust. Use your heads for once."


    "But, boss, yester¡ª" Another voice tried to chime in, but a second gunshot rang out, and he hit the ground, lifeless.


    Mara exhaled sharply, holstering her gun. "Anyone else got an opinion? No? Good."


    A few minutester, the Crimson ws watched as a spaceship appeared on the horizon, descending andnding near their vehicles. When the cargo bay opened, Rex and Carlos stepped out.


    As they approached, Rex took in the sight of the Crimson ws¡¯ armored vehicles bristling with mounted guns, even a few flying crafts armed to the teeth. There had to be close to 500 gang soldiers standing by.


    Rex let out a low whistle. "Well, well, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actually show up. I¡¯m d to see you¡¯ve got enough decency to keep your word," he said, smirking. He could tell Mara was barely keeping her anger in check.


    Rex, being the kind of person who couldn¡¯t resist pushing buttons, decided to lean into it. He thrived on getting under people¡¯s skin.


    He strolled right up to Mara and, without hesitation, draped an arm around her shoulders. "Come on, cheer up. After this little job is done, you¡¯ll be free to do whatever you want. I swear," he said, shing her a grin. "This is just a small favor, you know, something to put your mind at ease."


    He leaned in a little closer, clearly enjoying himself. "I mean, I¡¯m sure you¡¯d feel like something was off if I just forgiven you without asking for anything, right? This way, your debt¡¯s settled, and you can go on with a clear conscience."


    Mara¡¯s jaw tightened, her anger barely restrained, but Rex just grinned wider. He was having too much fun watching her struggle to keep her cool.


    Finally, he let go of her and began walking toward the bug hive in the distance. "Oh, and don¡¯t feel the need to thank me. I know, I know, I¡¯m just such a generous guy. But, hey, if you do thank me, I might get a little bashful," he said over his shoulder, clearly enjoying every second of it.


    Carlos, who had known Rex for most of his life, could see exactly what was happening. The poor girl, Mara, had now be Rex¡¯s target for teasing. It was a game Rex yed far too well since once someone started resisting, it only made him enjoy it more. Carlos shook his head with a sigh and started walking. Thest thing he wanted was to be the next target of Rex¡¯s twisted sense of fun.


    As Rex and Carlos headed toward the bug hive, Cleo had the ship take off to hover in the sky above, ready to assist if needed. Mara, still fuming, gave the order for her gang to follow.


    When they reached a hill that stood among the ruins, Rex turned and walked over to Mara again.


    "Tell your men to surround this hill," he said casually, "and keep it quiet."


    Mara frowned. "Mmm? Why?" she asked, unable to hide her confusion.


    Rex gave her an exaggerated look of surprise. "Oh? Didn¡¯t I mention it earlier? Well, this hill is actually a bug hive," he said with a nonchnt shrug. "And I need to take care of it. Easy as that."


    Mara¡¯s face went pale. "A¡ªa bug hive!?"


    Rex paused, noticing her reaction, and smiled a little. "Mmm? Yes, a bug hive," he repeated, amused. "But don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not one of the Hive Minds. Just some local bugs."


    He could tell exactly what she was thinking. Everyone who knew anything about the Hive Minds understood how deadly it was to mess with them. Hive Minds were notorious for being fiercely protective of their species, retaliating with terrifying force if provoked. But these bugs were nothingpared to that.


    After several tense minutes, the Crimson ws had surrounded the hill. In the front line were the gang¡¯s foot soldiers and their armored vehicles. The second line held their armed flying crafts, and in the third line stood Rex, Mara, and Carlos, waiting for the next move.


    "Alright, Cleo, we¡¯re in position. You can start the bombardment whenever you¡¯re ready," Rex said, speaking into hismunicator.


    Cleo acknowledged and flew the ship directly over the hilltop. A momentter, the cargo bay doors opened, and a swarm of cargo drones flew out, each one carryingrge tanks of petroleum strapped to high-powered explosives.


    The operation had begun.....

 Chapter 30: Nest in the Ruins (2)

    The cargo drones flew toward the hill entrance, and once they were close enough, they released the petrol tanks. The tanks dropped quickly, aimed right at the bug hive entrance at the top of the hill.


    "Hey, Mara, you might want to open your mouth and plug your ears," Rex said, doing just that himself.


    "Mmm? What do you¡ª"


    Before she could finish, a massive explosion rocked the hill, sending dirt and debris flying. The ground trembled, and the hill erupted like a volcano. Minutester, a swarm of half-burning flying bugs poured out of the entrance, screeching in fury.


    The bugs didn¡¯t waste time. They spotted their enemies and charged, only to be met with a barrage of bullets that stopped them in their tracks. These flying bugs were a winged variant of the insectoids, known for attacking from above, spitting corrosive acid or shooting barbed projectiles from a distance. They were fragile but hard to hit.


    The earlier explosion had done a lot of damage, and with the hill¡¯s entrance being the only way out, many of them had been scorched as they escaped. Still, despite the heavy damage, their numbers were overwhelming.


    The small Crimson ws force was starting to feel the pressure. Acid bullets flew toward them, and the corrosive rounds were potent enough to eat through vehicle hulls and kill unprotected soldiers almost instantly.


    "Cleo, release thebat drones! We need more pressure on that hill entrance since there are still too many of them," Rex ordered through hismunicator.


    "Understood. Releasingbat drones. The ship will also engage inbat, redirecting energy from the engines to shields and weapon systems."


    Thebat drones deployed from the main ship, quickly joining the fray, picking off flying bugs as they emerged. The ship itself entered the battle, its shields deflecting the bugs¡¯ desperate attacks while the turrets picked them off one by one.


    As the flying bugs burned and fell, the insectoid warriors started pouring out next. These creatures were fast, agile, with razor-sharp ws and deadly mandibles. They typically attacked in swarms, climbing walls to ambush their prey.


    Fortunately, the fire still raging at the hill entrance took out many of them before they could even reach the battlefield. But those that made it through caused chaos, shing through the Crimson Guard soldiers.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Mara, send out the armed flyers! We need them to target the bug warriors and support our troops on the ground," Rex called, his eyes darting across the screens showing different angles of the battlefield. He was almost inplete control of the fight.


    Mara grabbed the radio and ryed Rex¡¯s orders.


    The armed flyers were like transport ships equipped with missileunchers and mounted miniguns on both sides; they soon took off, circling the hill in a pattern opposite to the main ship. From this angle, they provided solid air support to the ground troops.


    After hours of relentless fighting, the swarm of flying bugs and warrior insectoids finally began to thin out. The battle that once seemed desperate was slowly turning into a cleanup operation.


    "Well then, once the bugs are dealt with, tell your men to rest up and reload. We¡¯re going into the bug hive as soon as the fire clears," Rex said, patting Mara on the shoulder.


    Cleo flew the ship over to Rex¡¯s location,nding smoothly so Rex and Carlos could board.


    "So, Cleo, are the new toys ready?" Rex asked with a grin.


    "Affirmative. Emilia, help Carlos get suited up; his gear¡¯s on the second floor. Rex,e with me to the charging bay."


    "Understood, ma¡¯am." Emilia gave a small bow to Cleo and Rex before leading Carlos to the second floor. Rex followed Cleo toward the charging bay, ncing around as they entered, looking for his gear.


    "So¡­ Where¡¯s my gear? Is it ant-sized or something?" Rex joked.


    Cleo chuckled softly. "Don¡¯t be silly. Your gear¡¯s a bit special. You¡¯ll need this." She motioned as a cargo drone rolled in, carrying several tubes filled with metallic substances.


    Rex raised an eyebrow. "Is this the stuff we snagged from the Crimson Towerst time?"


    "Exactly. This is nanomaterial, a downgraded version of living metal. It won¡¯t upgrade your body like the living metal I¡¯ve integrated with, but it¡¯ll still work for crafting armor and weapons."


    "Oh, that¡¯s actually pretty cool. But why are we in the charging bay?"


    "These nanomaterials are in a dormant state. Once I introduce them to you, they¡¯ll draw power from your nucleus. The charging bay is the best ce to activate them. Now, get undressed and be ready to... drink all this nanomaterial."


    Rex blinked. "W-wait, drink it?"


    "Affirmative. The alternative is calling a medic drone to inject it directly into your body."


    Rex let out a nervousugh. "Ahahaha, no need for that. I was just asking, you know, out of curiosity."


    With a sigh, Rex undressed and, without much enthusiasm, gulped down the contents of the tubes.


    "Ugh, this tastes awful!" Rex grimaced as he finished thest tube and stepped into the charging tank.


    "Oh, by the way," Cleo said nonchntly, her fingers tapping at a control panel, "I forgot to mention that it¡¯s going to hurt once the nanomaterials activate."


    Rex stiffened. "Hurt? Like, what kind of pain are we talking about?"


    Cleo tilted her head thoughtfully, tapping her cheek. "Mmm, imagine thousands of tiny needles moving inside your body." She shed him a cute, almost mischievous smile.


    "W-wha¡ª AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Rex screamed as the activation process began, his body convulsing with pain.


    Upstairs, Carlos, busy gearing up, heard the scream and jumped. "What the hell¡¯s going on down there?" He made a move toward the exit, but Emilia blocked his path.


    "Don¡¯t worry," she said calmly. "Lady Cleo warned this would happen. It¡¯s important not to interrupt them. She also mentioned everything will be fine, so, uh, don¡¯t mind the yelling." She smiled reassuringly, though Carlos still looked uneasy.


    Usually, when someone activated the nanomaterial inside their body, it wouldsh out in different forms, almost like it was trying to destroy the host. But in Rex¡¯s case, being already half of the robotic race Cleo belonged to, the nanomaterial seemed to feel right at home.


    It still hurt like hell during activation, but nothing drastic happened to his body otherwise. Hours passed, the nanomaterial fully integrating inside him.


    When the pain finally subsided, Rex was drenched in sweat, his muscles noticeablyrger and more defined. "Ugh... I hope this was worth it. So... what can I do with it?" he asked, panting.


    Cleo, monitoring his vitals and the new data from his body, responded, "Give me a second. I¡¯m transferring some blueprints to your brain; they¡¯re some of the things you can craft using the nanomaterial."


    Rex climbed out of the charging tank, wiping his forehead. "How do I craft them?"


    "Just think about it, and the nanomaterial will respond."


    "Hmm, okay, let¡¯s see." Rex closed his eyes, focusing on the idea of armor. Almost instantly, an image of sleek, well-defined armor materialized in his mind. The nanomaterial responded, forming a white-and-ck suit of armor that covered his entire body.


    Rex opened his eyes and looked down at his hands, marveling at the new armor. "Whoa... this is insanely cool. What about weapons?"


    "For now, I¡¯ve only uploaded a blueprint for a ymore energy sword," Cleo exined. "Since we don¡¯t have a steady source of nanomaterial, weapons that rely on ammo are out. But I also included a shoulder-mountedser cannon that¡¯ll use energy from your nucleus."


    Rex frowned. "Won¡¯t I run out of energy mid-battle if I use that?"


    "Negative. I upgraded your nucleus battery with some of the nanomaterial. It¡¯llst twice as long now. But don¡¯t overuse the shoulder cannon often since it still drains energy quickly, especially if you¡¯re fighting a swarm. Remember, they always have numbers on their side."


    "Got it. Thanks, hon."


    Rex stepped out of the charging bay, where Carlos was waiting for him.


    "Brother! How¡¯re you feeling? Everything okay? Wait... since when are you this tall?" Carlos asked, eyes wide.


    "Hey, bro. Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Now that you mention it... I am taller. Uh, Cleo?" Rex looked over at her.


    "Nothing to worry about," Cleo said casually. "I increased your body size to store the nanomaterial."


    "So... how tall am I now?"


    "You¡¯re just shy of 2.5 meters."


    "Damn, I¡¯m huge now. Isn¡¯t that going to be a problem?"


    "Negative. You¡¯re still small by my race¡¯s standards. The average height is 6 meters. As you collect more nanomaterial or living metal, you¡¯ll keep getting bigger."


    Rex chuckled. "Alright, let¡¯s table that discussion forter. Let¡¯s focus on finishing the mission."


    With that, Rex and Carlos stepped outside the ship. The soldiers who had been waiting outside were stunned since no one could believe how someone who¡¯d been barely 1.8 meters tall was now towering at 2.5 meters.


    Rex just smirked and started to walk toward Mara.

 Chapter 31: Nest in the Ruins (3)

    Once he got close to Mara, Rex gently patted her on the head. In the past, Mara would have been furious, but now, seeing him as a towering 2.5-meter giant in his ck-and-white armor, she was more afraid than angry. Rex noticed her reaction and quickly realized it wasn¡¯t as funny anymore.


    He withdrew his hand and cleared his throat. "Mara, get your men ready. We¡¯re heading into the bug hive. We¡¯ll wait for you all at the top of the hill." As soon as he said that, the armor on his legs began to shift.


    It now looked as if he had some kind of propent system attached to his legs. In an instant, he leapt into the air, and the ground beneath him cracked from the force of the takeoff. The jump was so powerful that hended at the top of the hill with a loud crash, sending debris and dust flying everywhere.


    As Rexnded, a familiar voice came through hismunicator; it was Carlos. "Was that really necessary?"


    Rex chuckled. "Haha, not really, but I looked cool, didn¡¯t I?"


    Carlos sighed. "Show-off."


    With a slight shake of his head, Carlos turned to Mara. "Mind if I hitch a ride in one of your helicopters? No way I¡¯m doing what he just did." He headed toward one of the waiting helicopters, got in, and settled down.


    Mara, still a bit unsettled, climbed into the helicopter too, instructing the pilot to head for the top of the hill. A few minutester, the helicopters were diving into the bug hive, descending several meters in a near-free fall. The only way for the Crimson w members to enter the hive was by air.


    As they neared the ground, the helicopter¡¯s searchlights illuminated a 2.5-meter warrior d in white armor, wielding a massive sword in each hand. He was cutting through a swarm of bug warriors with ease. Any bugs that got too close were stopped by an energy barrier, only to be sliced in half a momentter by the giant¡¯s swords.


    Meanwhile, in one of the helicopters, Carlos dismounted one of the side-mounted miniguns. "I¡¯m borrowing this for a bit. I¡¯ll see you on the ground!" With the minigun in hand, Carlos leaped out of the helicopter, his power armor absorbing the fall.


    Data streamed across his helmet¡¯s disy, ensuring he was within the safe jump margin. Just before hitting the ground, some kind of force slowed his descent, kicking up a cloud of dust.


    From within the dust cloud, the gunfire of a minigun echoed through the hive. Momentster, a barrage of bullets rained down on the bug warriors.


    As the bugs noticed this new threat and charged toward Carlos, fire suddenly rained down from above. Thebat drones had finally been fully repaired and rejoined the fight,unching their attack on the swarm below.


    Once theynded, thebat drones created a perfect circle around Carlos and Rex, their mounted miniguns firing continuously at the swarm of warrior bugs. This cleared a safending zone for the helicopters, allowing more Crimson w members to disembark and join the fight.


    The helicopters were making constant trips in and out of the hive, each time bringing reinforcements, increasing the firepower on the ground.


    Rex was already standing atop a pile of dead warrior bugs, his massive frame towering over the battlefield. Crimson w members nked him on all sides, firing nonstop. When they ran out of ammo, they quickly retreated, reloaded, and returned to the fight.


    Carlos, meanwhile, had taken up position on some rocks with other heavy gunners. He was wielding two miniguns, one in each hand, mowing down bugs without pause. Whenever he ran low on ammo, a teammate quickly resupplied him, thanks to the cargo drones that Cleo kept sending their way. For now, ammunition wasn¡¯t a concern.


    Just as victory seemed inevitable, bloodcurdling screams cut through the air.


    "Ahhhhhhh!"


    "Help! Help!"


    "Run!"


    "I don¡¯t want to die! This thing¡¯s impossible to kill!"


    Rex whipped his head toward the direction of the screams. His eyes narrowed as he spotted them, a squad of bug sentinels towering over even him. These creatures had thick, imprable carapaces and crushing limbs that could tear through anyone in their path with ease.


    The sentinels had appeared in Mara¡¯s sector. Just minutes ago, her squad was holding its own, thanks to Carlos¡¯s fire support. But when the bug sentinels emerged, everything changed. Mara ordered her squad to focus fire on the sentinels, but the bullets bounced off their armored shells. In mere minutes, her entire squad was wiped out.


    Now, the bug sentinels were charging straight for Mara, and she stood frozen, paralyzed by fear. Her legs, which had carried her through countless battles and helped her survive long enough to rise as the leader of the Crimson ws, betrayed her in this crucial moment. She wanted to run, but her body wouldn¡¯t move.


    As the sentinels closed in, Mara could only curse her fate, meeting a noble one day and the next, facing a brutal death.


    Just as she braced for the end, a blinding white light descended from the sky,nding between her and the oing sentinels. The creatures were stopped in their tracks.


    A familiar voice reached her ears: "Little Mara, I have tomend you for your bravery in taking on these big bugs. But next time, maybe choose an enemy more your size."


    Mara¡¯s eyes snapped open, and in front of her stood a massive, white-d figure drenched in green bug blood, with radiant, shining wings. Rex had arrived. The white aura emanating from him left her in awe.


    Even Rex, though, was struggling against the sheer strength and weight of the two bug sentinels. "Mara, if you don¡¯t mind, move aside. I can¡¯t fight with you in the way," he said, his voice firm but calm.


    Her subordinates rushed over and pulled her to safety, leaving Rex alone with the sentinels.


    Now free to act, Rex let out a fierce roar and drove the sentinels back a few meters with a powerful swing of his sword. With the help of Cleo¡¯s tech, he took to the air,unching hit-and-run attacks like an eagle striking its prey.


    However, despite his best efforts, the sentinels¡¯ thick carapaces remainedrgely intact. His swords left a few shallow cuts, but nothing that would slow the creatures down. The battle was far from over.


    Rex decided to switch tactics. He flew high into the air, then let himself drop in a free fall,nding directly on the back of one of the bug sentinels. The impact was so strong that half of his two massive swords sank deep into the creature¡¯s thick carapace. The bug screeched in pain.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Haha! So you can feel that, huh?" Rexughed, his voice dripping with mockery.


    As he held his position on the bug¡¯s back, aser cannon began to form on his armor shoulder. Once it was fully charged, Rex fired the cannon pointnk at the bug¡¯s back while using his buried sword as an anchor to stay in ce. The cannon took 10 seconds to recharge between shots, but Rex didn¡¯t mind. He was confident in his position, sting the sentinel again and again.


    However, Rex had made a critical mistake; he hadn¡¯t expected the second bug sentinel to jump.


    "WHAT THE HELL?! That bug can jump!?" Rex shouted in disbelief.


    Despite its hulking frame, the other bug sentinel leaped with surprising agility and mmed into Rex, smashing him into the cave wall. Its massive limbs tried to crush him, but Rex used his powerful wings to push the creature¡¯s ws away.


    "You damn thing! Let¡¯s see if you like this!" Rex growled as he aimed hisser cannon at the bug¡¯s face and fired. The sentinel screeched in pain, trying to retreat, but Rex wasn¡¯t about to let it go. He grabbed hold of its limbs, keeping it in ce.


    "Not so fast!" Rex fired theser again, this time blowing the bug¡¯s head clean off. The sentinel¡¯s headless body copsed to the ground. It was then that Rex realized something important: the bug¡¯s head was its most vulnerable point.


    Wasting no time, Rex pulled himself out of the debris just as the second sentinel charged at him again, mming into the wall where he had been pinned moments before. Rex leaped onto its back, yanking his sword free, and waited for the creature to turn around.


    "Come on, you ugly bastard! Charge at me!" Rex taunted, a smirk spreading across his face.


    As if it understood his challenge, the bug sentinel rushed at Rex with full force. At thest second, Rex flew forward, using his two massive swords to pierce the area around its head. The creature froze in ce, stunned by the strike.


    In the next instant, Rex¡¯sser cannon fired again, this time at point-nk range. The st obliterated the sentinel¡¯s head, causing the bug to copse lifelessly to the ground.

 Chapter 32: Bug Hive Queen.

    When the head of the sentinel exploded, Rex was showered in green blood, and chunks of its head flew everywhere. Luckily, he had his helmet on. Otherwise, it would¡¯ve been a lot more disgusting. He yanked his sword out of the bug¡¯s massive body, wiping the de clean with a quick flick.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Damn, those things were even tougher than I thought. Cleo, how much energy do I have left?" He asked, still shaking off bits of bug guts.


    "There¡¯s 80% left. Overdrive didn¡¯t drain too much this time, but theser cannon took 12% after those few shots."


    "Yeah, it ate up a bit, but at least it was strong enough to take out those armored bastards," Rex muttered, ncing back at the fallen creatures.


    As he spoke, he heard shouting behind him. He turned around, frowning. "Now what?"


    To his surprise, the members of the Crimson w were cheering, their weapons held high in celebration. Seeing Rex take down those massive bugs had clearly pumped them up. They looked like they¡¯d never witnessed anything like it.


    Rex gave a small smile and raised one of his swords in the air. The cheering grew even louder. After a few seconds, though, he started feeling awkward, so he lowered his arm and made his way over to Carlos.


    Carlos deactivated his helmet, smirking. "Hey, look who it is, our local celebrity!"


    "Oh, shut up," Rex grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Tell the guys we¡¯re taking a break for an hour. We still have to go deeper into the hive and take out the queen."


    "Roger that, hero," Carlos teased, clearly enjoying the role reversal.


    Rex found a spot on one of therge rocks where Carlos and the heavy gunners had been positioned earlier. He sat down, then opened amunication channel with Cleo.


    "Hey, babe, it¡¯s me, your loving husband, just in case you hadn¡¯t noticed," he said with a yful tone. "Can you send somebat drones into the tunnel for recon?"


    "Already on it," Cleo replied. A momentter, twobat drones zipped into the tunnel. "Mapping in progress. Please stand by."


    "Thanks, beautiful," Rex said with a grin, deactivating his helmet and weapons. He leaned back against the rock, letting his eyes close for a bit of rest. But before long, he heard a timid voice in front of him.


    "Excuse me, Lord Noble... I just wanted to thank you for saving me from those bugs."


    Rex cracked one eye open and saw little Mara standing there, looking nervous. He smiled.


    "Hey, Mara, no need to thank me. Just doing my job."


    "T-thank you, Lord Noble," she stammered, her cheeks turning pink as she quickly walked away.


    Rex chuckled, but then he heard Cleo¡¯s voice again.


    "Hmph."


    He raised an eyebrow. "What¡¯s that about? You jealous or something?"


    "I¡¯m not jealous," Cleo replied, her tone t. "If you want a harem, fine. Just make sure they¡¯re all from my race."


    Rex blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, I¡¯m not sure if I should feel ttered or... confused. Your race is extinct though, right?"


    "Technically, yes. But there are still some in dormant states within biogems, like I was."


    "Well," Rex said, rubbing the back of his neck, "if they¡¯re as beautiful as you, I won¡¯tin. But, uh, why only your race?"


    "Because," Cleo said coolly, "I don¡¯t share with inferior beings."


    "Wait, what? Inferior beings? Does that mean I¡¯m one too?"


    "No, you aren¡¯t. You¡¯re the one I chose to lead the future of our race. Rex, I don¡¯t think you fully understand what you are right now."


    Rex was getting annoyed. "Oh, really? Then enlighten me, please, oh superior being!"


    "Rex, I¡¯m detecting your blood pressure is rising. Please calm down."


    "I am calm! Just go ahead and answer!"


    Cleo was a bit taken aback. It was the first time Rex had spoken to her like that. "You¡¯re not human anymore, Rex. To save you, I had to alter most of your gic code. You won¡¯t be able to reproduce with any race that ispatible with humans."


    "Your gic code is closer to mine now. Your reproductive fluids won¡¯t work with others, especially those who don¡¯t have superior regenerative abilities since our race¡¯s children are born with living metal on their bodies."


    "The wombs of our females are also made of living metal. They¡¯re incredibly sturdy, allowing us to give birth to our own kind. Though my race stopped reproducing naturally a long time ago."


    "Instead, we started using incubators. All we cared about was increasingbat strength and conquering the gxy. Well, you know how that turned out. As for the harem, I want you to build an empire with me at your side."


    "And I know you¡¯ll need strong descendants to conquer the gxy. I can¡¯t give you children fast enough since my race¡¯s gestation period is three years. That¡¯s why I want you to keep our bloodline pure by only reproducing within our race."


    When Cleo finished, Rex let out a long sigh. "Conquering the gxy and reviving a lost race, huh? Sounds like fun, Cleo, but try not to make remarks like that about others. I don¡¯t really like it. Even if I¡¯ve stopped being human, my heart is still human."


    He touched his chest where his heart should have been. "Oh sh*t, I forgot¡ªI don¡¯t have a heart anymore. Damn! Well, you know what I¡¯m trying to say."


    Rex stood up from the rock and reactivated his helmet. "Alright, let¡¯s drop this topic for now. How¡¯s the mapping going?"


    "The mapping got interrupted halfway. Thebat drones were destroyed by multiple hostiles."


    "Hmm, so there are still plenty of bugs out there. I hate fighting bugs. This mission isn¡¯t worth 100k credits. I¡¯m asking for a raise from Talon."


    When the Crimson Soldiers saw the white giant starting to walk towards the front, they all stood and prepared to follow him. In their hearts, the admiration they felt for Rex was almost turning into fanaticism.


    "Onward, men!" Rex shouted, waving his hand forward. The 400 or so Crimson ws, along withbat drones and cargo drones, started to move. As they marched, they noticed the ground beneath them was turning... strange. The earth felt like meat, and the stench was beyond anything they had ever smelled.


    After just 2 kilometers into the cave, they had already been ambushed four times.


    "Don¡¯t stop! Keep walking! You can rest when you¡¯re dead!" Rex barked, pushing them forward even as the ambushes continued. While the bugs attacking them were numerous, it wasn¡¯t enough to be called a true swarm.


    The bugs¡¯ numbers were still dangerous, but Rex¡¯s army had too much firepower. They managed to fight through without much trouble. After about three hours of marching and fighting, they reached a massive open chamber inside the cave. There were eggs everywhere. Too many to count.


    "Men, stay sharp! Be ready for anything! Spread out and search for the queen!" Rex ordered.


    "Mara, take the left! Carlos, go right! The rest of you...you¡¯re with me in the center!"


    The small army split up, following Rex¡¯smands. The search for the queen had begun. But it didn¡¯t take long before the Crimson ws would face what would be remembered as their worst nightmare, their worst memory, that would haunt the survivors for the rest of their days.


    The fleshy walls of the cave suddenly opened, revealing countless holes. From those holes, waves of bug warriors, flyers, and sentinels began to pour out. It was a swarm farrger than anything they had fought at the cave entrance.


    Screams of pain echoed through the cavern, mixing with the relentless sound of gunfire. It didn¡¯t take long for the small army to be overwhelmed. Then, a brilliant white light appeared in the air.


    "Listen up, men! Form up under me!" Rex shouted from above as he hovered in the air. But there was a problem: Rex was too bright. The bugs were drawn to him like moths to a me. In seconds, he was swarmed by the flying bugs.


    Rex shed through them without stopping, but there were just too many. They quickly engulfed him, forming a massive ball of swarming bugs. Nearby, Mara¡¯s squad was the first to respond.


    They rushed to help Rex, but the bug warriors tore through them with terrifying speed. The sentinels massacred them as if they were nothing. Even the drones¡¯ miniguns couldn¡¯t pierce the bugs¡¯ thick armor.


    Meanwhile, Carlos¡¯s squad waspletely wiped out. The bug queen had appeared in their section,unching acid missiles that devastated the small group. The swarm finished off whoever survived the initial attack.


    Carlos, thanks to the shield Cleo had installed on his power armor, was thest one standing. But by then, he had already lost both of his arms; the shield had already run out of energy, and the blooding from his injuries was enough to kill him, but Carlos fire could still be seeing in his eyes.

 Chapter 33: Khryssari princess

    Carlosy on the floor, confused about why hadn¡¯t the bugs finished him off yet. "What are you waiting for, damn roaches? Come on, end what you started!" he shouted, but the bugs kept ignoring him. They weren¡¯t even paying attention to their queen.


    A few of the flying bugs finally hovered over him, spitting acid in his direction.


    Meanwhile, Rex¡¯s troops were doing their best to fend off the swarming bugs, but they were losing ground fast. Their numbers were shrinking, with no real chance to fight back. Morale had already hit rock bottom. If it wasn¡¯t for the dead bugs dropping from the sky, they would have assumed Rex had already been taken out. The only ones still functioning were thebat drones.


    Cleo had them form a tight circle, moving in a sphere formation, shooting down any flying bugs that came close. But that¡¯s all they could do. The swarm was just too massive.


    Inside the chaos, Rex¡¯s armor and helmet were taking a beating. There was a crack on the left side of his helmet, and his eye was visible, bleeding golden blood. His armor, though thick, was damaged but still holding, barely within safe limits. His shield, however, was long gone. Rex swung his twin swords furiously, cutting down bugs one after another, even using his wings to knock them back.


    But no matter how many he killed, more kepting.


    The swarm thickened until he couldn¡¯t see through it. Eventually, he was forced to the ground, the bugs attacking relentlessly.


    "Dammit! Now I know how your race got ruined, Cleo!" Even under heavy assault, Rex¡¯s sharp tongue didn¡¯t fail him.


    "Rex, you need to get out of there! With your strength, you can escape on your own!" Cleo¡¯s voice was panicked.


    "I¡¯m not leaving everyone here to die for nothing!"


    "Who cares about those inferiors? You¡¯re the only one that matters, Rex!"


    "Inferiors? Anyone fighting by my side is not inferior to me, Cleo! I¡¯m staying, even if it kills me!"


    There was a brief pause, and then Cleo¡¯s tone shifted, cold and calcting. "Then you leave me no choice. I will take control of your body."


    Cleo reached out, trying to connect to Rex¡¯s mind and take control. But suddenly, she felt a pair of green eyes staring at her.


    [Connection with the host failed.]


    "W-what?" Cleo was stunned. She couldn¡¯t believe it. Had Rex¡¯s mental energy surpassed hers? Or was there something else?


    "This is impossible! He shouldn¡¯t be stronger than me! What¡¯s happening?" She kept trying to seize control, but then she heard a mocking chuckle behind her. Startled, she turned around. All she saw was the cargo bay and the truck holding the hive mind egg.


    "This shouldn¡¯t be possible... but could it be?" Cleo muttered to herself, doubts swirling in her mind. She started walking toward the truck that held the egg. When she reached the back, she found the doors wide open, and the egg was gone.


    "Emilia!?" Cleo shouted, hoping for a response. Silence. Then, out of nowhere, she felt something like a hand pushing through her chest.


    "Hmm? This is strange. I don¡¯t feel anything. Are you even real?" a childish voice asked from behind her.


    Cleo quickly moved aside, spinning around to face whatever had just tried to kill her.


    "Aha! Now I get it. You¡¯re a hologram! Yes, mother did tell me about these things; Ipletely forgot!" The voice giggled with excitement, and Cleo saw a pair of shining green eyes staring at her.


    "Say, do you know where my partner is? I can feel him nearby, but I can¡¯t see him."


    "I have nothing to say to you, Khryssari scum!" Cleo snapped, her voice dripping with hostility.


    "Ouch, harsh!" the creature replied, unfazed. "Oh wait, I remember now! You¡¯re one of those... What were they called?" She tilted her head, making an exaggeratedly cute face, as if trying to recall. "Ca... Le...


    Mmm..." Oh yes! You¡¯re one of those Kaelzars! My aunts wiped you out!"


    The mention of her people made Cleo even angrier.


    "Oh well," the girl continued, "since you don¡¯t want to talk, I guess I¡¯ll have to find my partner on my own. I sensed he was fighting nearby, but why would he be battling those inferior insectoids?" She paused, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe it¡¯s just a misunderstanding... Anyway, see youter, hologram girl!" She gave a cheerful wave, then turned toward the cargo bay door.


    Seeing that it hadn¡¯t opened, she touched it lightly with her hand. A secondter, long ck ws sprouted from her fingers, and with a swift motion, she ripped the door open and jumped out of the ship.


    Once in the air, a pair of shimmering green wings unfolded from her back, and she soared toward the hive hill.


    Meanwhile, Rex was barely holding on. What had started as an attack from the flying bugs had escted, and now the ground-bound bug warriors and sentinels were joining in. When a sentinel charged at him, the swarm of flying bugs parted to let it through.


    The first two sentinels hit him hard, mming into Rex and sending him tumbling across the ground like a ragdoll. Even in his overdrive mode, the sheer number of bugs overwhelmed him. The second charge came from his right, blindsiding him. The impact broke his arm.


    With only one good hand left, Rex was in bad shape. One knee buckled, and he tried to steady himself by driving his sword into the meaty ground beneath him. But his legs, badly damaged, were barely functioning. He was now a wounded predator, easy prey for the insectoids.


    "Mmm, what¡¯s happening here? Why is my partner in such a state?" Rex heard a light, yful voice. He saw a sh of green light through his damaged vision, but his left eye was too injured to focus, and the constant alerts on his right eye¡¯s disy didn¡¯t help either.


    But at least one thing became clear: the relentless attacks from the bugs had stopped. Whoever had just arrived, Rex thought, was probably the queen of this hive.


    But, as always, Rex¡¯s sharp tongue didn¡¯t fail him. "Ha! So, her royal highness hase to finish the job, huh? I¡¯m honored," he said, his tone dripping with mockery.


    "Finish you off? What are you talking about? You¡¯re my partner," the creature replied, sounding genuinely confused. And her response left Rex just as puzzled.


    "Partner? Who? I¡¯ve never met you before, and I sure as hell don¡¯t know any queen from this bug-infested hole," Rex shot back, coughing up golden blood.


    "Queen? Hahaha, you¡¯re being silly," she giggled. "I¡¯m not the queen of this hive; I¡¯m a princess from another hive. But... wait a second... why are you so badly injured?" She paused, as if suddenly remembering something.


    "Aha! That¡¯s right, I almost forgot! You didn¡¯t give me enough blood the first time! My mom told me I need more to fully understand you. And, well, seeing as you¡¯ve got blood all over the ce, this should be easier!"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    She kneeled down in front of Rex, staring at his face. "Hmm, this thing¡¯s in the way!" she muttered, and without hesitation, she ripped off what remained of his helmet, letting his long ck hair fall free, leaving his headpletely exposed.


    Rex could barely see through his right eye. His vision was hazy, but he made out a pair of glowing green eyes and the silhouette of a humanoid female. Cleo¡¯s interface marked her as hostile. Before he could react, he felt something wet and hot against the left side of his face.


    It was the creature; she was licking the blood off his face. "Hmm... your blood tastes weird... like... metal? But I¡¯m notining since it¡¯s packed with nutrients, and that¡¯s good!"


    She grinned yfully. "Our kids are going to be really strong! Now give me a second, I need to process the new information I just got from you." She closed her eyes, slowly moving her head from side to side as if sifting through data.


    After a moment, she opened her eyes again, looking slightly disappointed. "Ah, I see what happened now. It looks like our bond was made by ident." She sighed, sounding a bit heartbroken.


    "But, oh well!" She perked up immediately. "Now that we¡¯re partners, the blood I took from you is enough to seal the deal! We¡¯re officially bonded!"


    Rex, still struggling to process what was happening, could only watch as the strange girl stood up and waved her hand dismissively. "Now, give me a second to take care of these insectoids who dared to bare their fangs at my partner."


    At hermand, the bugs that had been relentlessly attacking Rex suddenly stopped, turning to swarm the other insectoids instead. The battle shifted, with the bugs under her controlunching a full-scale assault on the rest of the hive.


    Despite her weakened state, the princess managed tomand her forces with surprising strength. Her swarm was outnumbered, but they fought with fierce power, easily overpowering the other bugs.


    Just as victory seemed within reach, Rex spotted movement in the distance. The queen of the hive had emerged. From her back, severalrge holes appeared, clearly preparing for a counterattack. She was ready to make her move.

 Chapter 34: Khryssari princess (2)

    Once the bug queen got into position, thousands of flying droplets of acid rained from the holes that opened up around her body.


    "Hehe, did you really think something like that could hurt me? How cute!" The Khryssari princess didn¡¯t even have to move. The bugs under her control threw themselves in the way, forming a shield to block the acid rain before it could even touch her.


    "You know, when I first sensed you, I thought about sparing you since I could use a servant," she said, her voice changing, losing its yful tone. "But these little ones are telling me you call yourself a queen." Her irritation was obvious now.


    In an instant, she appeared on top of the bug queen¡¯s head. "There are only five individuals who can call themselves queens, and they¡¯re my mom and my aunts. So, I¡¯ll be taking your life for being so... presumptuous."


    With those words, her left arm morphed into a massive w with long, pointed fingers. She drove the w deep into the bug queen¡¯s skull, piercing it straight to the brain. With a squeeze, she crushed it.


    The bug queen¡¯s body copsed, lifeless. Without her mental power to control the swarm, the newly-born princess effortlessly seized control. The swarm was hers now.


    The Khryssari princess nodded to herself, cleaning her w. "Hehe, now that that¡¯s handled, I can go check on my partner!" She hopped off the queen¡¯s head and skipped toward Rex while giving small happy jumps, humming to herself.


    When she reached Rex, she knelt down and gently pulled him into herp, giving him ap pillow. "Mmm, now what am I going to do with you?" she murmured, brushing his hair. "I don¡¯t think my abilities can heal you since you¡¯re not organic. Hmm..." She closed her eyes, swaying her head side to side as she thought.


    "Aha! I¡¯ll take you back to the ship and put you in the tank, right?" She started to stand, but Rex grabbed her hand.


    "Wait, I... I can¡¯t leave yet... I need to find Carlos." His voice was weak, energy leaking from him as he struggled to stay conscious.


    She tapped her finger to her lips, thinking again. "Oh, your bald friend, right? Don¡¯t worry, I saved him earlier. If you want, we can take him with us."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Hearing that, Rex sighed with relief, the tension leaving his body. "That¡¯s good... Are there any other survivors?" His overdrive mode powered down, and hisrge white wings began dissolving into a shimmering dust.


    "Mmm... there are a few still alive, but... they¡¯re missing pieces, you know? Are you sure you want them?" She asked, her eyes scanning the battlefield through the shared vision of the swarm.


    Rex clenched his fist, eyes closed tight. "If they¡¯re alive, I want to bring them back."


    She smiled, standing up. "Okay then, if that¡¯s what my partner wants." She summoned a group of flying bugs to gently lift the surviving soldiers and carry them alongside her.


    Rex wasn¡¯t sure what happened next. He just woke up inside the recharging tank, and from the looks of it, his wounds were healed. He could see clearly again, and his HUD no longer disyed any system errors.


    He stepped out of the tank, noticing a set of clothes on a nearby table in the charging bay. After getting dressed, he left the room, only to be greeted by a massive hole in the door to the cargo bay. "Wha... the..."


    "Cleo!?" Rex called out, hoping for a response. There was none. "Cleo!?" His voice grew more urgent as he began searching the ship.


    First, he checked the cockpit, but she wasn¡¯t there. Then he went to the second floor, where the assembly factory was located. That¡¯s where he found her; she was sitting in a corner behind the assembly machine, hugging her legs, her face buried in her knees.


    "Cleo?" Rex¡¯s voice softened as he approached. She didn¡¯t respond, so he sat down beside her on the floor.


    "Phew, rough day, huh? This time they really got us good. What, 100k? Too little for all that trouble? Damn, I thought I was going to die down there!" Rex rambled on, trying to lighten the mood by talking about their recent battle in the bug cave.


    "I¡¯m sorry," Cleo said quietly, her voice barely audible.


    "Hm? Did you say something?" Rex turned to look at her.


    "I¡¯m sorry," she repeated, a little louder this time.


    "For what?" Rex asked, confused. "Did you do something bad?"


    "For the things I said... and the things I tried to do while you were down in the cave," she muttered, still hiding her face.


    Rex scratched his head. "Oh, that? Don¡¯t worry about it, Cleo. I¡¯d already forgotten! I¡¯m not the kind of guy who gets mad easily, you know? You¡¯d have to do something really bad to make me hate you."


    He smiled and stood up, stretching out his arms. "Come on, cheer up! We haven¡¯t even conquered one world yet, and you¡¯re already this down?" He grinned. "One day, I¡¯m going to conquer the whole gxy and present it to you to do whatever you want with it!"


    Cleo finally lifted her head to look at Rex, her eyes still filled with uncertainty.


    Rex met her gaze, his smile softening. "If you want to be the Empress of the entire gxy, you¡¯re going to have to stand up right now and join hands with me again. We¡¯ll make your dreame true."


    Cleo mumbled something under her breath, too quiet for Rex to hear.


    "Huh? What was that?" He leaned in closer.


    She murmured again, just a little louder this time. "Both of us. We will..."


    Just as she was about to finish her sentence, a soft green glow interrupted them.


    "There you are, partner!" The female creature suddenly appeared and wrapped herself around Rex¡¯s arm.


    "W-what? Since when do I know such a cute girl?" Rex stammered, blinking in surprise. Now that his vision had been repaired, he could finally see the girl who had been helping him.


    She was small, barely 1.6 meters tall, with a slender figure and glowing green eyes. She wore ck armor covered in bright green tech markings that seemed to pulse as if alive. Her small, delicate wings resembled those of a butterfly, also glowing with a soft green light.


    Then it hit him. "Wait a minute... you¡¯re that girl from the bug cave! The one who keeps calling me ¡¯partner.¡¯ Who are you?"


    Before the girl could answer, Cleo appeared on his other side.


    "She¡¯s the egg we had in the car at the cargo bay," Cleo said tly. "The Khryssari princess."


    Rex was taken aback by the news. "Wait! How is that even possible? I saw what was inside the egg, and it didn¡¯t look anything like the cute girl standing next to me." He pointed at the princess.


    Hearing the conversation, the princess let go of Rex¡¯s arm and walked proudly in front of him, cing a hand on her chest. "I can exin that! My mom said we take the form that best adapts to reproduce with our partners. That¡¯s why the princesses and queens of our racee in all sorts of shapes and sizes."


    "Wait... reproduce?" Rex raised an eyebrow. "You mean... you and me? To give birth to bugs?"


    The princess¡¯s face twisted in anger at his words. "You¡¯re making me very angry, hubby. But I¡¯ll forgive you this time because I know you don¡¯t understand our race. We¡¯re not ¡¯bugs.¡¯ We¡¯re an advanced species that may share some simrities with what you call bugs, but we arepletely different."


    "When we reproduce with our partners," she continued, "we don¡¯t give birth to ¡¯bugs¡¯ like you just said. We give birth to children that look like me... and you. The ones that birth our army are the broodmothers."


    Rex blinked. "Broodmothers?"


    "Yes," she said, crossing her arms. "Those so-called ¡¯queens¡¯ we capture and modify. They¡¯re the ones who produce our soldiers and workers. That¡¯s how it works! So don¡¯t everpare us again, or I¡¯ll get really mad!" She pouted, making an adorably frustrated face.


    "Okay, okay, sorry!" Rex raised his hands in surrender. "I won¡¯tpare your race to them again. But... since when am I your partner?"


    "Oh, well," the princess said with a grin, "the moment you gave me your blood, the link was already established. And when I came to help you in the cave, I used the rest of your blood toplete the contract!" She smiled brightly, clearly proud of herself.


    "Wait, wait, hold on a second. So, what does it mean to be partners?"


    "Well," the princess began, her eyes sparkling, "based on the memories I got from our bond, I¡¯d say it¡¯s a lot like being... husband and wife! And your mission is to give me strong babies to lead my royal fleet!"


    "Wait, what fleet?" Rex asked, his confusion growing.


    "Oh, well... the fleet that..."

 Chapter 35: Carlos fate.

    "That¡¯s the fleet my mom¡¯s sending for me!" she said with a hint of excitement. "Oh, she also mentioned something about conquering the I was sleeping on... since that was my mission, before you showed up."


    "Wait, hold on. How were you supposed to take over that if there¡¯s nothing there but rocks?" Rex asked, recalling the barren mining.


    "Well...," she hesitated, thinking it over. "I was supposed to use the local insects, the ones you guys wiped out, to start terraforming the ce for the Khryssari. Once the process started, my mom was going to send a fleet to protect it."


    She paused again, as if trying to remember something important. "Oh, right! The fleet should already be there by now. Is there a way to check?"


    "I think so, yeah," Rex nodded. "Cleo, can you look it up online?"


    Cleo wasn¡¯t too eager to help, especially since the Khryssari were responsible for the massacre of her people, but since Rex asked her, she didn¡¯t have much choice.


    "Understood. Searching now," Cleo said with a slightly robotic tone, hundreds of screens shing into existence around her. She scanned them with impressive speed until she finally stopped on one and dismissed the others.


    "I found something; there¡¯s news about the Hanarix on the Intergctic News Channel." Cleo erged the screen for everyone to see.


    <<Yesterday, around the 6th imperial hour, a fleet of Hive Mind ships was detected near the newly discovered Hanarix. The local defense fleet attempted to intercept them but failed. Now, we have exclusive footage from our satellites showing the battle.>>


    The video showed the local fleet, stationary just a few kilometers from Hanarix, when suddenly several wormholes of various sizes opened nearby from where Hive Mind ships surged out, ramming into the defense fleet. Some ships were torn in half on impact, while others were severely damaged.


    After the initial collision, the Khryssari ships that followed unleashed sma turrets andser beams, ripping through the remaining defense ships in a matter of minutes.


    But the worst part came next: a massive wormhole appeared above the. From it emerged an enormous, spherical ship with protruding spines, like some kind of starfish.


    <<This is all we captured before the satellite was destroyed. The Megacorporation has responded by mobilizing their own forces. Just three imperial hours ago, arge fleet from one of their military worlds departed, likely headed for the Hanarix.>>


    The screen shifted to show countless warships from the megacorps entering wormholes, vanishing secondster. It was clear that a major battle was brewing near the where Rex and the others were.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    When the screen closed, Rex, still focused on the unfolding situation, spoke up. "Cleo, how likely is it that the megacorps will use this as their frontline base?"


    Cleo responded almost immediately, "The probability is 100%. There¡¯s no better for a front-line assault base than amercial one. They¡¯ll have all the food, ammo, and other supplies they need right at their fingertips."


    Rex nodded, deep in thought, then turned to the small girl hugging his arm. "Hmm, so we were thinking the same. By the way, do you have a name, little green butterfly?" he asked, looking down at her.


    The girl lifted her head, her bright eyes locking onto Rex¡¯s. "Mmm, my mom named me Y¡¯Ssera," she replied, a big smile spreading across her face.


    "Y¡¯Ssera, huh? That¡¯s a bit of mouthful... Can I just call you Ys?" Rex said, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.


    She thought about it for a second, then grinned. "Mmm, I don¡¯t mind, but only if you¡¯re the one who calls me that! No one else is allowed to change my royal name!" she added with a pout.


    Rex couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the sight of her pouting. She looked so cute that he instinctively reached out to ruffle her hair, and by the look on her face, she didn¡¯t mind it one bit. "By the way, Cleo, where¡¯s Carlos?"


    "Carlos is in the underground city," Cleo answered matter-of-factly. "The smugglers built a medical bay down there. I sent four medical drones to take care of him, and he¡¯s recovering now."


    Rex blinked, something Ys had told him earlier suddenly clicking in his mind. "Wait, so¡­ is he okay? Nothing¡­ nothing¡¯s seriously wrong with him, right?" There was an edge of hesitation in his voice, like he wasn¡¯t sure he wanted to hear the answer.


    Cleo paused for a moment before replying. "When he arrived, he was nearly dead. He lost both arms, but the wounds were cauterized, so he didn¡¯t bleed out."


    "Oh! That was me!" Ys piped up, a proud grin on her face. "I told some of the bugs to spit acid on the wounds! My mom said it¡¯s the best way to stop the bleeding."


    Rex¡¯s eyes widened. "You... you did that?" He shook his head, barely able to believe what he was hearing. "I¡¯ve got to go see him. I¡¯ll be backter!" Without waiting for a response, he jumped down from the second floor, sprinting out of the ship toward the underground city.


    As Rex made his way down therge dirt ramp leading to the city¡¯s entrance, he couldn¡¯t help but stop for a moment, taking in the sight before him. What used to be an excavation site had turned into a bustling underground slum. There were hundreds of people milling about, and he was surprised to see that bars and nightclubs had already popped up in the area.


    He made a mental note to check them outter.


    But as he walked through the crowd, he could feel eyes on him. At 2.5 meters tall, Rex stood out like a sore thumb, and he could sense some of the smugglers watching him with malicious intent. He was already preparing to summon his sword when he heard a familiar voice call out from behind him.


    "Rex? Is that you? What the hell have you been eating to grow that big in just a few days?"


    Rex turned around, his HUD lighting up with information on the group approaching him. Cleo must¡¯ve updated the system because thebel next to the man¡¯s name read, "Holyggan, a drunkard from the night when Rex partied." Rex immediately remembered who they were, his old drinking buddies from a few nights ago.


    "Oh, it¡¯s you guys!" Rexughed, momentarily lowering his guard. "I¡¯m in a bit of a hurry right now. I¡¯m looking for the medical bay where my buddy¡¯s recovering. You guys know where it is?"


    "Yeah, we know the ce. Follow us," the leader of the group nodded. "Your buddy... that human who was with you at the party, right?"


    "Yeah, that¡¯s him."


    "Hmm, what happened to him? We haven¡¯t seen you guys in days."


    Rex¡¯s expression darkened a bit. "Well, let¡¯s just say we got handed a mission we weren¡¯t ready for, and it went south fast. We got wiped out."


    "Oh, so you guys were mercenaries? I thought you were smugglers," one of the men said with a raised eyebrow.


    Rex chuckled. "Hah! No way. We¡¯re way too loud to be smugglers. Being a merc¡¯s a better fit for us."


    They allughed as they continued walking, chatting back and forth until they reached the medical bay.


    "Well, here it is, Rex," one of the smugglers said, gesturing toward the entrance. "Don¡¯t forget to stop by the nightclub sometime. We¡¯re VIPs there; we¡¯ll cover the first round!"


    Rex grinned. "You got yourself a deal! Thanks for showing me the way. See you guys around!"


    The smugglers waved him off and disappeared into the crowd, heading off to their next adventure. Rex turned and stepped into the medical bay. The room was busy, with medical drones buzzing around, attending to all kinds of patients. Some people gave Rex a nervous nce since his towering presence made him hard to miss, but he ignored the stares and started scanning the room for Carlos.


    After a moment, one of the drones noticed him and signaled for him to follow. It led Rex down a quiet hallway, eventually bringing him to a small private room.


    Rex stepped inside and immediately saw Emilia, fast asleep in a chair beside Carlos¡¯s healing tank. The door creaked as it closed, causing her to stir. She blinked groggily and reached for a handgun on herp, probably something Cleo had given her.


    "Rx, Emilia, it¡¯s just me," Rex said softly. "What are you doing here?"


    She rubbed her eyes, still waking up. "Lady Cleo told me to keep an eye on Carlos... you know, just in case," she muttered, trying to sound more awake than she was.


    "Mmm, okay," Rex nodded. "Just don¡¯t do anything too risky, alright?"


    Rex walked over to the healing tank, where Carlosy, barely conscious, thanks to the heavy sedatives. He was surrounded by the greenish glow of the tank¡¯s liquid, his body healing at an elerated rate. "Hey, baldy," Rex smirked, "you¡¯re looking even balder than usual."


    Carlos, his voice weak but filled with humor, replied, "Oh, fuck off, Rex. I¡¯m just d you¡¯re still breathing."


    "Yeah, well... thanks to a little help, both of us made it. Well, most of me and half of you," Rex teased, smirking.


    Carlos let out a painedugh. "Haha¡ªauugh! Don¡¯t make meugh, you asshole! It hurts like hell."


    "Aww, the big, tough guy¡¯s afraid of a little pain? You want Emilia here to give you a lollipop, huh?" Rex teased, ncing at Emilia with a grin.


    "Shut up..." Carlos groaned, rolling his eyes. "By the way... who¡¯s that behind you?"


    "Huh?" Rex turned around, confused. "What are you talking about? I came alone." But when he turned, his eyes widened slightly since someone was there.

 Chapter 36: Carlos fate (2)

    When he turned around, he suddenly felt someone hug him. Looking down, he was caught off guard.


    "Ys!? Since when...?"


    "Hehe, I was right behind you the whole time after you left the ship!" she said, smiling cutely as she hugged Rex tighter.


    "What? But I didn¡¯t see you at all."


    "Oh, that? I can turn invisible! It¡¯s not perfect, but it¡¯s enough to hide from the naked eye, and even some sensors!" She said with a proud little smirk.


    "Ha, that¡¯s seriously impressive. But, why were you following me?" Rex asked, yfully ruffling Ys¡¯s hair.


    "Hehe, because I¡¯m your partner! Where else would I be?"


    "Ahem¡ª" Carlos cleared his throat loudly, making them both look up. "Rex, who¡¯s this little girl hanging onto you?"


    Before Rex could answer, Ys jumped in front of Carlos¡¯s healing tank.


    "Little girl!? You¡¯re the little girl! Your whole family¡¯s little girls! How dare you!" she said, pointing an using finger at him.


    "Whoa, whoa! Calm down, little one. You should show some respect to your elders! How old are you anyway?"


    "I¡¯m 345 imperial years old!" she dered, proudly putting her hands on her hips.


    Carlos blinked, speechless for a moment. "Rex, were you seriously walking around with this... old grandma?" he said, shaking his head.


    That was it. A vein practically popped on Ys¡¯s forehead. She was ready to punch the ss of Carlos¡¯s healing tank.


    Rex panicked and quickly scooped her up like a kitten. "Hey, hey! Easy there, Ys! Don¡¯t break the tank! Those things cost a fortune! And besides, we don¡¯t fight with bald guys; it¡¯s bad for our reputation," he joked, trying to calm her down.


    Ys froze in surprise, her face nk. She had never been picked up like that before, and it left her momentarily stunned. Rex turned to Carlos.


    "Carlos, maybe it¡¯s not the best idea to insult the princess of the Khryssari, especially when she¡¯s the one who saved your life," he said, nodding toward the little girl in his arms.


    Carlos looked from Rex to Ys and back to Rex. Rex just gave him a knowing look.


    "Right... well, fill me in. What happened while I was out?"


    Rex sat down on the floor, still holding Ys, who now sat between his legs, somewhat reluctantly but quietly. He began to exin everything that had happened in the bug cave, including Ys¡¯s part in it all.


    "Wow... So that¡¯s how it went down," Carlos said, letting out a long sigh. "And what about the Thunderdes? Are you going to deal with them?"


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex nodded, still absentmindedly patting Ys on the head. "Yeah. I¡¯m going to ask for an exnation and get paid. If they refuse, we¡¯ll have to get... persuasive. Plus, we need the credits for your arms."


    "My arms?" Carlos looked down at the stumps where his arms used to be. "I don¡¯t have any arms, in case you missed that."


    "Yeah, yeah, I know. I¡¯ve been talking with Cleo, and we¡¯ve decided to get you a pair of cybeic arms. So... do you have any preferences for what kind of weapons you want installed?"


    Carlos fell silent, his mind drifting back to the bug cave. He remembered the chaos, the screams, and the way his team was torn apart while he could do nothing. His own arms were gone, leaving him defenseless, surrounded, and powerless to help the others. The memories weighed heavy on him.


    After a few minutes, he spoke up. "I want shield generators. Forget firepower; I want to be able to protect those around me. I couldn¡¯t before... but I can now." His voice was steady, but Rex could see the fierce determination burning in his eyes.


    Rex smiled. "Heh, I wouldn¡¯t expect anything less from you. Consider it done. Once I get the credits from Talon, I¡¯ll have Cleo ce the order with the smugglers." He stood up, still carrying Ys on his arm like a kid.


    "Alright, Carlos. I¡¯ll take care of the credit situation. You just focus on getting better." Rex then nced over at Emilia, who had been quietly standing by. "Emilia, Carlos is in your hands now. But make sure you get some rest yourself, alright? You look like you haven¡¯t eaten or slept in days."


    "Yes, Lord Rex," Emilia said softly, giving him a small bow.


    Rex nodded, then left the private medical room, striding toward the exit of the medical bay. He noticed more stares this time, not just because he was ridiculously tall but because he was carrying a girl who, despite her small size, was undeniably beautiful.


    But Rex didn¡¯t pay any mind to the looks he was getting since he was in a hurry. Once he stepped out of the medical bay, attention on him multiplied. People stared at him with a mix of envy and admiration, but Rex simply ignored them, focusing on the task ahead. He needed to get to the Thunderdes HQ and deal with the payment.


    Finally outside, he headed straight for the ship.


    "Cleo, I need to head to the Thunderdes¡¯ HQ," Rex called out, "but, well, you know, being 2.5 meters tall doesn¡¯t exactly make it easy to blend in. Got any ideas?"


    Cleo popped up suddenly, as if out of nowhere. "Unfortunately, no. Once your body adapts to nanomaterials, there¡¯s no shrinking back. But while you were recovering in the recharging bay for those four days, I did manage to assemble some Aegis Sentinels."


    Rex raised an eyebrow. "Aegis Sentinels? What¡¯s that? And where are they? I want to see them."


    Cleo pulled up a screen, showing detailed specs and images of the Aegis Sentinels. Rex let out a low whistle.


    "Damn, those things look like they could pack a punch. Were they the elite soldiers of your race?" he asked, studying the data.


    Cleo shook her head. "Negative. They¡¯re the basic infantry unit. With the equipment I have right now, that¡¯s all I can manage. But if you get enough credits, you can build arger assembly factory, and we can produce more advanced units."


    "Got it. Noted," Rex said. "So where are these Sentinels now?"


    "I sent them out to hunt some local wildlife to test theirbat capabilities. Everything¡¯s performing well so far. I called them back a few minutes ago, so they should be here soon."


    "Alright then," Rex nodded. "Guess I¡¯ll wait. In the meantime, I need to grab something to eat." He paused, suddenly realizing how quiet Ys had been. He looked at her, still perched on his arm. "That reminds me, Ys, what do you eat?"


    Ys tilted her head and tapped her lips with her finger, thinking for a moment. "Mmm, I can eat anything! From minerals to metals to organic materia. I¡¯m not picky at all," she said with a yful grin.


    Rex smirked. "Perfect. Then I¡¯m going to treat you to the best chips you¡¯ve ever had."


    He headed over to the food containers and set Ys down gently on top of one. She sat there, swinging her legs, while Rex rummaged through the containers until he found what he was looking for. Triumphantly, he pulled out a bag of chips.


    "Found them!" he said with a grin, holding up the bag. "Get ready to be amazed!"


    The bag of chips he pulled out had "Extra Spicy" written in bold across the front. He tore it open, grabbed one, and handed the bag to Ys with a yful grin. He was waiting, eager to see how she¡¯d react.


    "So, how was it?" Rex asked, already picturing her face scrunching up from the heat. But, to his surprise, nothing. No reaction.


    "They¡¯re not bad," Ys said casually, like it was no big deal. "I once drank some highly poisonous water on another that made my tongue feel kind of tingly, sort of like these chips. Are they toxic too?" She looked at him with an innocent expression.


    Rex sighed, shaking his head. "No, no. They¡¯re not dangerous; they¡¯re just spicy. I was really hoping for some kind of reaction, but you¡¯re way tougher than I thought."


    Ys tilted her head slightly, her eyes curious. "Do you want me to make faces? I can, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re looking for."


    Rexughed and waved it off. "Nah, that¡¯s not the point. Forget it. Just enjoy the chips while I heat up some food." He rummaged through the supplies and pulled out two instant meal boxes. "Ready-to-eat lunches," he muttered. "All you gotta do is pull this cord, and they heat up on their own."


    The boxes were amon staple on long journeys, able to stay good for five years thanks to some high-tech packaging. They were popr in new colonies and used in military rations, all thanks to one of those massive megacorporations that seemed to control everything rted to it.


    As they were eating, Rex¡¯smunicator buzzed. It was Cleo. "Rex, they¡¯ve arrived. They¡¯re just outside the ship."


    Rex nced down at the half-finished meal in his hand. It was his fifth one; ever since his body size increased, so had his appetite. With a sigh, he stood up, stepping out of the ship to finally face the Aegis Sentinels. And there they were...

 Chapter 37: Aegis Sentinels

    When he saw them, the first thing that caught his attention was their color. They were mostly white with golden essories. The humanoid robots stood at 1.85 meters tall, with heavily ted armor and energy shields that projected in front of them. They were also equipped with energy shield projectors, heavy sma rifles, and integrated drone swarms for area defense.


    "So, Cleo, why is the color... well, so bright? Don¡¯t they need to be, I don¡¯t know, more discreet?" Rex asked, pointing at the Aegis Sentinels.


    "It¡¯s the color normally used for the royal family of my race. Also, it doesn¡¯t really matter.ary wars are always on arge scale. There¡¯s no point in hiding when artillery will just blow you to pieces or when smaller ships bombard you from the atmosphere."


    "But still, wouldn¡¯t it be better if we, I don¡¯t know, hid them somehow, so the artillery and smaller ships wouldn¡¯t target them?" Rex asked, frowning slightly.


    Cleo summoned multiple screens, each disying video footage. "I understand what you¡¯re trying to say, but here are some records of conquest battles I was part of ages ago."


    Rex watched as entire legions of Kaelzar troops of different colors fought against an unknown alien race. The might of the Kaelzar was overwhelming. Hundreds of thousands of Aegis Sentinels, in a variety of colors, moved with such agility and speed that it seemed like a nightmare to face them.


    However, even the Aegis Sentinels were dwarfed by the other colossal units in their army. The firepower disyed in the footage was on a scale that Rex had never seen, and he¡¯d seen plenty of battles thanks to the intergctic news.


    Just as Rex thought the Kaelzar forces would win easily, a rain of artillery fire began raining down on them. Thousands of the smaller Kaelzar units were destroyed, but therger ones sustained almost no damage. Soon after, small space fighters attempted to take down the massive Kaelzar units, only to be effortlessly destroyed.


    The video ended, and Cleo turned to Rex. "As you can see,ary wars are pure chaos. Even if you wanted to camouge your troops, it wouldn¡¯t help unless they were covert ops units. There are other units, led by another princess, for that kind of work."


    Rex put his hand on his chin, thinking. "Then what¡¯s the point of using ground units to take over a? Won¡¯t it be better to destroy everything from space with the bigger ship weapons?"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "That would be better if your goal is to destroy a world, not conquer it.ary wars are fought to take control of a forter use. They¡¯re the mostmon type of conflict because once you conquer the, all of its resources and local inhabitants be yours."


    "Mmm, I see. So the color is mainly to identify which force is attacking," Rex said, nodding to himself.


    Cleo nodded back. "Exactly, it¡¯s mostly for identification."


    "Wait, we got off track," Rex said, shaking his head. "Let¡¯s get back to the original task. How can we use the Aegis Sentinels to collect our credits?"


    Cleo smiled. "Well, while the Aegis Sentinels are primarily used for war, they¡¯re still a form of AI with limited intelligence. They can handle various tasks without any issues. Go ahead, try giving them amand."


    "Order them? I can do that." Rex asked, surprised.


    "Affirmative. You have the same authority tomand them as I do."


    "Oh, sweet. Let me think... mmm."


    "You three over there, I want you all to head to the Thunderdes HQ and tell their leader, Talon, to pay up the credits he owes us. If he doesn¡¯t, you¡¯re free to take down their headquarters," Rex said, standing firmly in front of the Aegis Sentinels.


    [Understood. We will proceed to resupply and depart as soon as we are ready], replied the Aegis Sentinel at the front. With that, the robots moved toward some cargo drones waiting just outside the ship. Rex watched in amazement as they recharged their weapons and swapped out their energy batteries, all by themselves.


    Once they were ready, the Sentinels took off at an incredible speed, heading toward the city, leaving Rex standing there, wide-eyed. He then turned to Cleo, still processing what just happened.


    "Uh, Cleo? Is this really going to be okay? And now that I think about it, how are they going to get past the guard checkpoints?" Rex asked, shifting nervously from foot to foot.


    "There¡¯s no need to worry, Rex. I already added the signal of the Aegis Sentinels to the system so they¡¯ll be identified as rank 4 individuals. As you know, those are usually troops under the nobles, so the guards won¡¯t even bother stopping them, let alone questioning them."


    "Well, I didn¡¯t actually know that, but now I do. Thanks, Cleo." With that, Rex went back to take his seat at the table where he had been eating with Ys, only to find she wasn¡¯t there anymore.


    "Cleo, have you seen where Ys went?"


    "Negative. My sensors don¡¯t detect anything within two kilometers."


    Something clicked in Rex¡¯s mind. "Wait... don¡¯t tell me she...!"


    Meanwhile, after three hours of nonstop running, the Aegis Sentinels had already reached the city gates. They were immediately stopped by the city guards, who quickly raised their weapons at the heavily armed robots.


    "Stop! Identify yourselves!" the leader of the guards shouted.


    "Lower your weapons, right now!" another guard ordered.


    The Aegis Sentinels analyzed the situation, recognizing the guards¡¯ weapons as potential threats. They were about to raise their own guns in response when suddenly another guard came sprinting out from inside the city.


    "Sir! Hold on, stop!" the new arrival yelled,pletely out of breath. Once he reached the group, he bent over, panting heavily, trying to catch his breath.


    "Sir, they¡¯re... rank 4!" he managed to say between gasps.


    At those words, all the guards¡¯ eyes widened in shock. They quickly lowered their weapons, their expressions shifting from suspicion to fear. The leader of the guards, who had been barking orders just moments before, now looked pale.


    "Let them pass! Clear the way!" he ordered, his voice trembling slightly. The guards quickly made way, allowing the Aegis Sentinels to continue without further incident.


    The Sentinels entered the city and headed straight for the Thunderdes Headquarters, maintaining their relentless pace. As they disappeared from view, one of the younger guards approached the leader, his brow furrowed in confusion.


    "Sir, what exactly is a rank 4? I¡¯ve never seen one before."


    "It¡¯s normal that you don¡¯t know about them," the leader replied, his voice low. "You¡¯re new here. But let me give you some advice: never cross them. They¡¯re veteran troops under the orders of the nobles. If we mess with them, we¡¯re as good as dead."


    Inside the Thunderdes HQ, it was just another day. The mercenaries were drinking in the tavern inside the building, while a screen near the secretary disyed a variety of jobs avable for them to take on. None of them had any idea what was about to happen.


    Just outside the main door, the three Aegis Sentinels were deploying small signal-jamming drones to cover the entire building. Once the building was fully covered, the Sentinels stepped inside. The moment they entered, the eyes of the mercenaries in the tavern locked onto them.


    "We solicit the presence of the individual known as Talos," said the Aegis Sentinel in the middle, its voice calm and mechanical. Just as they had with Rex, the mercenaries jumped to their feet, quickly pointing all kinds of weapons at the Sentinels.


    ["The neutral situation has escted to preventive aggression. Initiating defensive protocol,"] the Aegis announced. Their hands transformed into weapons, guns now aimed directly at the mercenaries. The sma shots were already charged, primed, and ready to fire at a moment¡¯s notice.


    As the tension in the room grew unbearable, a small giggle echoed from above the Aegis Sentinels. Instantly, they shifted their guns toward the ceiling, scanning for the source of the sound but seeing nothing.


    "I suggest you all lower your weapons, or I¡¯ll have to deal with you myself. And I¡¯d rather not break my husband¡¯s toys," said a voice that was cute and childlike yet somehow authoritative.


    From the direction the Aegis were pointing, a glowing green light began to form. A figure emerged, slowly materializing into a breathtakingly beautiful woman. She floated gently down, and the mercenaries could only stare in awe. The Aegis were the first to respond.


    ["Identity confirmed. Changing target status to neutral,"] one of the Sentinels stated. However, the words seemed to annoy the woman, who was now pouting at them.


    "What do you mean neutral? I¡¯m the wife of your leader! I should be marked as an ally, not neutral!" she protested.


    The Aegis Sentinels began processing the information, scanning through their databases for any records.


    ["Negative. There is no information verifying your status as the wife of the Kaelzar Emperor. The only registered spouse is Empress Cleo."]


    "W-what!?" Ys stammered, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

 Chapter 38: A job well done.

    While Ys was busy arguing with the Aegis sentinels, the elevator doors opened, and one of the girls from Talon stepped out. "Gentlemen, please put your weapons down. The leader has requested the gueste to his office."


    As soon as she said that, the Thunderdes mercs lowered their weapons, though they kept a close eye on the Aegis and Ys, ready to fire at any moment if something went wrong.


    "Heh, I can go alone. We don¡¯t need those toys over thereing along," Ys said, floating toward the elevator and pointing at the Aegis Sentinels.


    ["Negative, we have our orders from the Emperor. We won¡¯t let a princess of another race interfere in our mission. Step aside,"] one of the Aegis Sentinels said, walking toward the elevator.


    In the end, they all crammed into the elevator, still arguing with each other. The poor girl from Talon had to endure their bickering all the way to the top floor. When the doors finally opened, Ys was the first to step out, followed closely by the Aegis Sentineels.


    Ys nced around, taking in the surroundings, while the Aegis Sentinels stood still, waiting for their target to appear. It didn¡¯t take long before Talon emerged from his room.


    "Wee, my guests. To what do I owe the honor of your presence?" Talon said, spreading his arms wide. One of the Aegis Sentinels stepped forward, stopping a few meters from Talon and projecting a screen in front of him.


    ["Establishing contact with the Empress. Please stand by."] In a matter of seconds, Cleo appeared on the screen. Talon was stunned; he had never seen someone so beautiful, especially with such exotic white wings.


    With a lustful grin, Talon gave a small bow. "Well, well, well. Who do we have here? What could such a beautifuldy want from someone like me?" Cleo¡¯s face showed clear disgust, while Ys couldn¡¯t hold back a mockingugh.


    Ignoring them both, Cleo began to speak. "Greetings, Talon, leader of the Thunderdes mercs. A few days ago, one of my agents epted a mission from you. The one about eradicating a local bug hive."


    Talon hesitated at first, not remembering any mission like that. Then it hit him, the noble with the white wings, just like the woman on the screen. A cold sweat ran down his forehead.


    Stumbling over his words, he replied, "I don¡¯t recall giving out any mission like that. Are you sure it was with me, dear noble?" Now that Talon realized who he was speaking with, he became submissive. This wasn¡¯t just any noble on the screen.


    If anyone couldmand nobles, it would be someone of a higher rank or even a direct descendant of a CEO from one of the megacorps. That was far worse than dealing with an ordinary noble.


    Without losing herposure, Cleo signaled to one of the Aegis Sentinels, who brought up another screen. "So, you¡¯re saying you don¡¯t know him?" The new screen showed footage of a match between Talon and Rex, leaving Talon speechless as his mouth opened and closed without a sound.


    "I already know it was you who gave that mission to my agent, a mission with a $100,000 credit reward. But that bug hive was definitely not something worth only $100,000, so I¡¯ll ask you, dear Talon, who told you to give that mission to my agent?"


    Talon was already trembling in fear, but he couldn¡¯t do what he had been trying to do. "Wait, I remember now, so he was your agent, yes? I just gave him some of the missions clients send me, the ones that have good pay. Yeah, that¡¯s what I did, yes!"


    "It seems you¡¯ll feign ignorance to the end, then. Let me show you something to refresh your memory." The screen that had been showing the match between Talon and Rex changed to a chat window, revealing a conversation between Talon and someone from Nexum Dynamics.


    The conversation detailed a bounty for Carlos and Rex for eliminating a covert operative of thepany. They were offering 1,000,000 credits for their heads. It seemed that the captain of the covert operatives had sent a recording of their fight before dying.


    As soon as he saw this, Talon copsed to his knees, his expressionpletely nk. "It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, it¡¯s over," he murmured over and over.


    "Well then, I¡¯ll be taking all the credits from your organization. From this day on, Thunderdes no longer exists." Since the Aegis Sentinels had arrived at the Thunderdes HQ, Cleo had been hacking their systems. It only took her a few seconds to bypass all the security and drain all the credits.


    Since the Thunderdes were a military organization, their credits were typically kept at their headquarters and not spread across the gctic banks, so the risk of being caught was close to none. "Now then, Khryssari princess, I know you didn¡¯t get enough food from that meal with Rex, so you can go ahead and eat dear Talon here."


    "Hah? Don¡¯t you think there¡¯s food I wouldn¡¯t want to eat?" Ys said, moving closer to the screen where Cleo was. "But well, it¡¯s true that I¡¯m still hungry, so I won¡¯t argue with you!" She began floating toward Talon, who was still on his knees, and a momentter, she started morphing into her original Khryssari princess form,rger and taller even than Rex.


    She barely had enough space in Talon¡¯s office to transform, and once the change wasplete, the only sounds left were the screams of Talon and his girls as a massive shadow consumed them.


    "Sigh, that girl. I told her she could only eat Talon. Well, our mission was to eradicate all of them anyway, so that¡¯s fine. Aegis Sentinels, exterminate everyone in the building and return once the task is done." With that, she ended themunication.


    The Aegis Sentinels activated their sma cannons once more and moved toward the elevator. Once inside, they split up: one disembarked on the 9th floor, another on the 5th floor, and thest on the ground floor.


    When the elevator doors opened, none of the mercs in the tavern were ready for what wasing. The Aegis Sentinel stepped out and, without hesitation, aimed its cannons at the mercs and opened fire.


    The sma shots tore through the mercs quickly, though some managed to take cover in time. A few returned fire, but it was useless; all the bullets were blocked by the energy shield surrounding the Aegis unit.


    Seeing the enemies taking cover, the Aegis unit deployed small drones from its back. These drones had something like a ball attached to them, and once they locked onto a target, aser beam shot out.


    Now, the mercs had nowhere to hide, and within seconds it was all over. No one was spared. It was aplete massacre, carried out by the cold, unfeeling hands of machines.


    Once the task was done, the Aegis unit stood by, its sma cannons still charged and ready to fire at any moment. As it waited, another Aegis unit emerged from the elevator, and after a few more minutes, thest one came out as well. All of them were undamaged.


    Thest Aegis unit to step out was covered in blood of various colors and some organic material. It looked like the mercs in their rooms had tried to fight it in meleebat, only to end up painting the unit with their blood.


    After a few more minutes, Ys finally appeared. She had returned to her humanoid form and was carrying something in her arms. Since the Aegis units had orders to wait for her and bring her back once the mission wasplete, they remained in the area.


    As soon as they spotted her, one of the Aegis units walked toward her and said, "Khryssari princess, our Empress told us to give you a message for the Emperor: Return now and stop ying."


    "Hehe, so my husband misses me already? Okay! Let¡¯s go! Lead the way, can head!" she said, floating happily toward the exit. Once everyone was out, the Aegis units recalled their jamming drones and moved toward the exit, running at incredible speed.


    They took the slum route to avoid drawing too much attention and causing further problems. When they reached the city entrance, the guards let them pass without question, though a few stole nces at the Aegis unit still covered in blood. None of them dared to say anything.


    Several hourster, they finally arrived at the underground city. The Aegis units went straight to the ship to resupply as their batteries were nearly depleted. Meanwhile, Ys deactivated her invisible mode and began searching for Rex, only to be stopped by Cleo.


    "Where do you think you¡¯re going with an unidentified creature?" Cleo asked, eyeing the object in Ys¡¯s arms.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Ys stopped and looked down at the egg she was carrying. "Oh, this? Hehe, don¡¯t worry. I know what it is, so it¡¯s not an unidentified creature."


    She then showed the egg to Cleo. "This is a..."

 Chapter 39: Planning.

    "This is an Elphey egg!" she eximed, holding it up proudly, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Despite hearing Ys say the name of the creature it came from, she still didn¡¯t know what it was.


    "So? Why did you bring that egg here?" Cleo asked, raising an eyebrow. Ys smirked at the question. "Hehehe, so even you don¡¯t know? Let me tell you what you can use it for! You give it to males, and they¡¯ll have enough reproductive power to make a swarm!"


    Ys spun around happily as she exined. "W-what!? Who said you could do that with Rex!?" Cleo blurted out. Ys stopped spinning, hugging the egg tightly, deep in thought for a moment before answering. "Mmm, my mom did! She was the one who told me to pick this egg and give it to my husband!"


    Cleo¡¯s suspicions deepened, and now she was sure. "What mom? Do you mean the queen of the Khryssari? You canmunicate with her."


    "Of course I can! We share a sanguine bond! That lets usmunicate no matter where we are!" She dered, standing proudly.


    "Then, that means you can talk to the Khryssari queen anytime you want?"


    "Of course I can, Mhm! Anyway, enough questions! Where is Rex?" She asked, searching the cargo bay of the ship.


    "He¡¯s resting in the charging bay. I¡¯d rmend not disturbing him while he recharges. He needs his energy."


    "Mmmm, fine! But you¡¯ll have to help me make him eat this egg when he wakes up!" Cleo, knowing the egg wasn¡¯t going to harm Rex, reluctantly agreed.


    The night passed, and Rex finally woke up from his sleep. As he stepped out of the charging tank, Cleo materialized in the room. "Morning, Rex." He was caught off guard since she had never done that before.


    "Erm, morning to you too, Cleo. Did something happen while I was sleeping? Or why are you greeting me like humans do?" He asked, giving her a suspicious look.


    "Nothing much," she replied. "I spent the night reviewing records about humans. Oddly enough, it was hard to find much information on them, but the mostmon theme I found was that they were considered a failed civilization."


    "Mmm, I don¡¯t know much about humans, honestly. The only other humans I know apart from me and Carlos were the others ves. So why do they call us a failed civilization?" Rex asked, his curiosity piqued.


    "Well, ording to some records, humans had a government system where power was spread among many people. That made it difficult for them to act quickly unless everyone agreed on something. This was supposedly why their technological advancement stagnated."


    "And in the end, when another race invaded their home, some humans weed them, making the invasion easier. Since the human race was divided into many nations, there wasn¡¯t any unity. They were an easy target."


    Rex sighed as he finished getting dressed. "Well, at least tell me that the ones who conquered my race were some kind of superpower."


    Cleo shook her head and brought up a screen with the information. "ording to the intergctic database, the ones who conquered your world were just vers of the lowest level."


    Rex sighed. "Seems like it¡¯s not just me who¡¯s unlucky; it¡¯s the whole human race. But let¡¯s drop this topic; no use crying over spilled milk. How did the talk with Talon go?" He asked, stepping out of the recharge bay and making his way to the ship¡¯s cockpit.


    Once inside, Cleo pulled up the big screen, disying all the info she had on Talon and his dealings with Nexum Dynamics. "And this is why I ordered the Aegis Sentinels to eliminate the Thunderdes," she exined.


    If this had happened before the massacre at the bug cave, Rex might have made a fuss about Cleo¡¯s actions. But now, it felt like something that had to be done, not because he felt bad for those who died, but because it seemed wasteful.


    Rex gave a bitter smile, realizing how much he had lost his empathy toward anyone who wasn¡¯t close to him. The only death that weighed on him from the massacre was Mara¡¯s, and that was just because he¡¯d talked to her more than the others.


    "Well, at least that¡¯s settled. Did we get paid?"


    "Not exactly," Cleo replied, "but I hacked their HQ bank ount and took all their credits, 8.5 million in total." She pulled up a screen showing their current bnce, with ie and expenses detailed.


    "Well, that¡¯s something. Go ahead and order the cybeic arms for Carlos. We need him back in action, especially now that we know Nexum Dynamics put a price on our heads. It¡¯s only a matter of time before more mercenaries and bounty hunterse after us."


    "Understood. I¡¯ll find the right arms based on Carlos¡¯ description."


    "Good. Also, increase the number of mining drones. I want to speed up the underground city excavation. By the way, how much will it cost to repair the ship and buy an assembly line?"


    "A normal assembly line will cost around 5 million credits, and the ship repairs will run us 20,000 credits," Cleo answered. Then, with a more serious expression, she added, "But can I make another rmendation for the ship?"


    "Sure, go ahead," Rex said.


    "It¡¯s better to upgrade the ship rather than just repair it. There¡¯s a good shipyard on this, and the materials are avable in the nearby city." Cleo summoned several screens, showing Rex the necessary parts and blueprints for the upgrade.


    "Hmm, looks good. What¡¯s the price?" Rex asked, scrolling through the details on the screens.


    "1.5 million credits," Cleo replied.


    "Alright, that still leaves us with some credits. Got any ideas on how to spend the rest?"


    "Yes," Cleo said. "I n to assemble more Aegis Sentinels so we¡¯re ready for anything. I¡¯d also rmend investing in some defensive equipment for the underground city."


    "That¡¯s smart. By the way, where¡¯s the Megacorps fleet right now?" Rex asked as he sat down, noticing that the seat had been adjusted perfectly for his new size.


    "Thebined fleet of the Megacorps is currently in the residential world of Kator. After about a week of traveling through wormholes, they¡¯ll arrive at this." Cleo brought up the fleet¡¯s location on one of the screens, disying a map.


    "Any news on the Hive Minds¡¯ movements?" Rex asked, looking over the information Cleo had sent to him.


    "None so far. They¡¯re still staying on the Hanarix with no signs of further activity."


    "Hmm, how long do you think it¡¯ll take for the Megacorps fleet to start hiring mercenaries to fight against them?"


    "From what I recall, it¡¯ll only happen after both sides agree to fight over the without using their fleets for bombardment. They both want the¡¯s resources, so that¡¯s when mercenaries will be hired to fight on the surface."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "That¡¯s... an interesting way of doing things," Rex said, raising an eyebrow. "I thought the fleets would be sting each other while troops fought on the ground."


    Cleo shook her head. "You¡¯re misunderstanding a bit, Rex. The fleets will still fight each other, but they won¡¯t bomb the directly. The battle ends when one fleet is destroyed and their forces on the ground are wiped out."


    "Oh, okay, that makes more sense," Rex nodded. Then a thought crossed his mind. "Do you think we¡¯ll run into any problems if we join the war against the Hive Minds with Ys tagging along?"


    Cleo didn¡¯t answer right away but instead nced up at something above Rex. "Why don¡¯t you ask her yourself?" she said.


    Rex blinked in confusion, and just then, a soft, greenish light appeared. It materialized in front of him, pouting. "W-what? How did you know I was there!?" she asked, clearly frustrated. Rex, surprised, hadn¡¯t even noticed her presence. Cleo, meanwhile, ignored Ys and turned away, feigning disinterest.


    "Hmph!" Ys huffed, climbing onto Rex¡¯sp and making herselffortable. "To answer my husband¡¯s question," she said, settling against his chest, "there won¡¯t be a problem. The Hive Mind on Hanarix belongs to one of my aunts, not my mother."


    "Erm... and what¡¯s the difference?" Rex asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Well," Ys exined, "my mom and her sisters fight over territory all the time. It¡¯s pretty normal for other princesses, like me, to fight in wars that the queens are involved in. So, there won¡¯t be an issue if we join."


    "So we¡¯re clear to jump into the war?" Rex asked again, just to be sure.


    "Yes, no problem! But I¡¯ll need to let my aunt know we¡¯re participating. That¡¯s the rule. She¡¯ll probably send her champions to fight us too since that¡¯s how we princesses train!" Ys grinned, clearly excited at the thought.


    "That¡¯s an... interesting way to train," Rex said, patting her on the head. She closed her eyes, enjoying the moment.


    As Rex continued to absentmindedly stroke her hair, a random question popped into his mind. "You mentioned once that you were around 300 years old... Have you had any other partners before me?"


    Ys hesitated, her expression suddenly shifting. "Well, the thing is..."

 Chapter 40: The start of the conflict.

    "The thing is, you¡¯re my one and only partner. I know you keep thinking we were like bugs, that our queens give birth to all the swarms, but I¡¯ve already told you we don¡¯t. Our race only gets one partner for life, and if the partner dies, we won¡¯t get anyone else."


    "That¡¯s why we choose our partner based on two things: how strong they are and their potential. The stronger they are, the longer they live." She paused, looking at Rex¡¯s face.


    "While you¡¯re not exactly strong, your potential is one of the greatest I¡¯ve seen among all the partners my mom has introduced to me. That¡¯s why I made the pact right away."


    "And how do you know about my potential?" Rex asked.


    "Well, with your blood, I can get all the info I need from your gic code!" Ys paused. "But it¡¯s weird; the first time I got some of your blood, you already had great potential. But after I helped you in the cave, your potential increased. I wonder why."


    She looked at Rex and put her finger to her lips, making a cute face before Rex answered. "Well, don¡¯t ask me. A few weeks ago, I was just a normal office worker. I¡¯m still kind of new to all this stuff about wars, gics, potential, and all thatplicated stuff."


    "But I know someone who might know something about it." Rex looked over at Cleo. "Right?"


    Cleo sighed, clearly not thrilled about having to exin things to a Khryssari. "Its because of the nanomaterial you consumed; remember how I told you before that my race can grow really tall?"


    "Oh yeah, I remember you said something like that," Rex nodded.


    "Well, it¡¯s not just about getting taller. Your whole body changes to adapt to the new material inside it, improving all its functions and performance. But you¡¯re still not at the peak of your strength yet."


    "Does that mean I can get stronger and bigger?" Rex asked, obviously excited.


    "In theory, yes. But I don¡¯t know for sure since I don¡¯t have any data on a hybrid between an organic life form and a Kaelzar."


    She paused, trying to find a way to exin. "As you already know, you became half Kaelzar thanks to the living metal that fused with your dying body, which was already weak and didn¡¯t resist the change."


    "So I¡¯m not sure if your body will resist further upgrades. That¡¯s something I¡¯m still researching." Rex was quiet, thinking about something while Cleo continued.


    "Well, there¡¯s no point rushing into improving my gics or whatever. The most important thing right now is how we can join the war against the Hive mind," Rex said, looking at the screens.


    "That¡¯s not a problem, Rex. You and Carlos are registered as rank B mercenaries. You¡¯ll get the invitation to join the war sooner orter."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "So that¡¯s how it works? How much time do we have before we can join?"


    Cleo summoned some screens and did a quick search before answering. "ording to military experts around thework, we have about five to six months before we¡¯ll be able to join."


    "Is that enough time to assemble several Aegis Sentinels and upgrade the ship?"


    "Yes. Once the ship is upgraded, we could carry at least 100 Aegis units with us to join the war. More than that, though, would be impossible to support with our current energy and ammunition supplies," Cleo said, showing Rex some screens with more detailed information about what he¡¯d asked.


    "Mmm, okay then. Over the next few months, buy the assembly machines we need and install them somewhere in the underground city. Start building Aegis units. I¡¯ll be doing missions on the to earn extra credits, and once Carlos is ready, send him on missions too."


    "Understood. And what about the Khryssari princess?" Cleo asked, ncing at Ys.


    "I¡¯ll take her with me on the missions. I don¡¯t want to leave you two alone together; I¡¯m worried about what could happen. Alright, let¡¯s get to it."


    And just like that, a month flew by. Rex had been working hard, taking on mercenary missions all over the with Ys. Once Carlos got his new arms, he started doing missions as well. Thanks to Cleo collecting all the contact info from the Thunderdes, they never ran out of contracts.


    The construction of the underground city also made great progress, thanks to an increased number of mining drones and the newly developed construction bots that Cleo was able to produce with the new assembly machinery.


    Meanwhile, there was finally an update on the status of the iing war.


    <<Wee to Intergctic News. The long wait is finally over! The war in sector X33 over the Hanarix between the Hive Minds and thebined fleets of the megacorps stationed in the sector is about to begin. We¡¯ll be live-streaming the battle since we¡¯ve been granted permission to apany the fleet!>>


    The news channel showed thebined fleets of the megacorps beginning to move, opening wormholes all around the empty space before disappearing into them in an instant.


    <<We¡¯re now entering the wormhole opened by the megacorp destroyer. We¡¯ll lose signal for a few minutes until we arrive in the zone where the fleet will regroup for battle. Stay tuned!>>


    As soon as the Intergctic News ship entered the wormhole, the signal was lost. Those eager to watch the battle, almost like it was a sporting event, waited without budging. Some even went to grab snacks, preparing for the spectacle toe.


    When the signal finally returned, the scene on the screen was pure chaos. The first medium-sized ships to arrive were already heavily damaged or reduced to smoldering debris, burning in green fire from the Hive Minds¡¯ biosma weapons.


    The ones responsible for the chaos were eight massive Hive Mind ships. The news channel quickly identified them: they were Brood-ss Carriers, colossal hive-like structures with hexagonal honeb hangar bays spread across their bodies. Their exoskeletons were a bone-like structure with pulsating organic sections, resembling a living hive.


    As usual, the Hive Minds had the numbers on their side, and it was already clear in this battle. Thousands of smaller ships, all in various shapes, were pouring out of the Brood-ss Carriers¡¯ honeb hangars, attacking the megacorps¡¯ ships relentlessly.


    It wasn¡¯t until therger, heavily armed ships of the megacorps emerged from the wormholes, sending their own fighters to engage the Hive Mind forces, that the situation finally stabilized enough for the fleet to regroup.


    "Hahaha, they took too long to respond. Themander must be a kid," the Hive Mind Queenughed, watching the battle unfold on her screen.


    Once she saw the bnce tipping in favor of the Megacorp fleet, she called back the Brood-ss Carriers. The moment they received hermand, the carriers performed a warp jump, quickly retreating toward Hive Mind territory.


    Although the Hive Mind ships appeared to be made of metal, they were actually enormous living organisms. This was what made the Hive Mind fleets so dangerous since they could move on their own without waiting for orders like conventional fleets.


    "Huhu, the information my niece gave me was quite useful. I¡¯ll have to prepare a huge gift for her when she arrives on this beautiful battlefield." The Queen of the Hive was thoroughly enjoying the intelligence Ys had provided her through telepathy regarding the megacorps¡¯ fleet movements.


    A few hourster, the fleets were just kilometers apart, ready to begin their initial bombardments. This was how space battles usually started: each side would bombard the other from a distance while gradually closing the gap.


    And so it began. The Hive Mind fleet fired first. The Space was suddenly lit up with the eerie green glow of biosma roundsunched from the Hive Mind¡¯s long-range cannons. In response, the megacorps¡¯ ships unleashed their own barrage, an array of colorful projectiles andser beams aimed at the Hive fleet.


    A few minutes passed after the first volley of long-range artillery from both sides. While biosma rounds were some of the most powerful weapons around, they were also slow-moving, so the first to endure the rain of fire was the Hive Mind fleet.


    The Hive Mind ships, though highly maneuverable with regenerative hulls,cked energy shields. This left them vulnerable to the megacorps¡¯ long-range artillery. When the megacorps¡¯sers pierced their organic hulls, the Hive Mind ships let out a deep, resonant sound of pain as they took the hits.


    Explosive-based projectiles, however, didn¡¯t cause much damage to the Hive Mind ships. Meanwhile, on the megacorp side, the biosma rounds finally struck their ships. Therger vessels managed to withstand the sts with their energy shields, but the medium-sized ships weren¡¯t as fortunate. They were obliterated upon impact, torn apart by the sheer power of the biosma.


    The fleets continued exchanging fire as they drew closer. When the distance between them narrowed to just five kilometers, the fighters from both sides beganunching from their hangars, swarming toward the enemy fleets.


    4.5 kilometers... 3 kilometers... 2.5 kilometers... 1 kilometer...


    The battle was about to enter its most brutal phase.

 Chapter 41: Carlos 2.0

    Once the fighters from both sides closed in, the darkness of space lit up with countless shes of color. Chaos erupted as the ships tangled together in a fierce, uncontrolled melee. Squad leaders from the Megacorps fleets shouted frantically into theirms, trying to keep their pilots in formation, but it was no use.


    "Team Bravo, stay on me!"


    "Follow me, don¡¯t get separated!"


    "Sir, help! I can¡¯t hold it¡ªit¡¯s on my ship!"


    "I don¡¯t want to die! Ahhhh!"


    Themunications were flooded with panicked screams from the Megacorps fighters. The relentless assault from the Hive Mind forces had broken their ranks. Unlike the scattered Megacorps units, the Hive Mind fighters moved in perfect unison, following the will of their queen without hesitation, even when it meant certain death.


    "Hmph, these bugs think they¡¯re superior just because we¡¯re losing a few of our weaker units," sneered the Supreme Commander of the fleet.


    "All captains of medium-sized vessels, listen up! Start your warp jumps! Go and support our fighters!" he barked.


    In an instant, countless medium-sized ships initiated warp jumps, appearing suddenly in the heart of the battle. As soon as they arrived, they opened fire in every direction,unching missiles and sprayingser fire into the swarming Hive Mind fighters.


    "Hah, how adorable! They¡¯re finally thinking," the Hive Queen chuckled. "Let¡¯s show them what real coordination looks like!" She raised her hand, pointing forward, and in a sh, her medium-sized vessels executed warp jumps of their own, diving straight into the fight.


    The arrival of the Hive Mind¡¯s reinforcements tilted the scales. Their fleet quickly gained the upper hand, sending the Megacorps¡¯ Supreme Commander into a fit of rage.


    "Focus all main weapons on the fighters! Wipe them out, all of them!" he shouted, fists clenched in frustration.


    "But sir, our own men are still there! We¡¯ll lose too many if we fire now!" one of his officers protested.


    [Bang!]


    A gunshot echoed through themand bridge. The officer copsed.


    "Anyone else have an opinion?" the Supreme Commander asked coldly. Silence followed. "Good. Ry my orders. Now."


    With hismand issued, therge ships turned their massive guns toward the swarm of fighters and medium vessels. The next moment, blinding explosions filled the battlefield, a deadly mix of beauty and destruction. Many of the Hive Mind ships were obliterated, but the Megacorps paid a heavy price too, losing an equal number of their own.


    The battle raged on until thergest ships finally moved in, signaling that the true fight had begun. As they neared the front lines, their turrets and close-range weapons unleashed everything they had. The real war was just getting started.


    <<To all the billions of viewers watching this live, we thank you for your continued support of our channel. Unfortunately, we must end our broadcast now. The situation has reached its peak, and it¡¯s far too dangerous for our agents to remain on-site. But don¡¯t worry! As soon as the battle concludes, we¡¯ll bring you the final oue.>>


    <<Stay tuned for our next scheduled program!>>


    Once the broadcast of the war ended, the intergctic newswork saw its viewership drop back to the usual numbers. Meanwhile, Cleo sat watching the screen with an expression full of anger. Deep down, her rage toward the Khryssari was still raw, as if no time had passed.


    She had hoped the Megacorps fleet would wipe the Khryssari out in one swift strike, but it seemed she had set her expectations too high.


    She hadn¡¯t thought they would be so useless atmanding a fleet of that size. It was clear to her that the Hive Queen was toying with them. From her own memories, she knew that the fleet they had just witnessed wasn¡¯t even ten percent of the Hive Mind¡¯s full power.


    "Trash! All of them! Useless fools!" Cleo¡¯s voice was sharp with frustration.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Is something wrong, Lady Cleo?" asked Emilia, who had been standing quietly behind her.


    "No, it¡¯s nothing, Emi. We¡¯ve spent enough time here at the shipyard. Let¡¯s head to the underground city. I want to check on the assembly factory."


    "As you wish, Lady Cleo," Emilia responded with her usual calm.


    While Cleo¡¯s ship was being upgraded at the private shipyard, she had given Emilia a hologram projector. It allowed her to appear wherever she wanted, as though making a hologram call. She often used it tomunicate with the shipyard owner and other business contacts in the city.


    As they moved, they were escorted by four Aegis Units, each registered at Rank 4. No one dared approach them or cause trouble. And even if anyone tried, the Aegis Units were more than enough to deal with any mercenaries or lowlife criminals who might think it was a good idea to mess with a pair of "cute girls."


    Meanwhile, deep in the forest, far away from the city, Carlos had joined up with a mercenary team. Their mission was to hunt down a massive, dangerous beast that had been attacking mining facilities in the region.


    "Hey, man, are you sure you can tank that thing? Last guy we sent, he had an exoskeleton suit and ended up... well, let¡¯s just say there wasn¡¯t much left of him," said one of the mercs beside Carlos, crouching on top of a water tank as they waited for the beast to appear.


    "Yeah, I¡¯m sure. The real question is whether you guys have enough firepower to take it down before I end up like yourst guy," Carlos replied with a grin, clearly enjoying the tension.


    "Hah! Don¡¯t worry, dude! We¡¯ve got enough rockets here to blow this whole ce sky-high!" The merc patted the back of his suit, which was loaded with anti-armor missiles and rocketunchers.


    "Wait, shh! Keep quiet," Carlos whispered suddenly. "The beast is here."


    Slowly, Carlos edged toward the corner of the tank for a better view. His heart pounded as heid eyes on the creature. It was enormous, towering at least four meters tall, bipedal with muscr arms and sharp, spiked ridges running down its back. Its ws were long and vicious; they were the kind you definitely didn¡¯t want to feel around your neck.


    Carlos, d in the upgraded gray power armor Cleo had given him, was ready. In his right hand, he gripped a massive shockwave hammer; it was usually a two-handed weapon used to breach ship doors during boarding missions.


    Thanks to his new cybeic arms, though, Carlos could wield it with just one hand. On his left, he held a shield made from the same material as the Aegis Units. It had a small minigun mounted in the center, allowing him to fire while staying protected.


    Mounted on his shoulders were two high-performance shield generators, almost as strong as the energy shields on small fighters. All things considered, Carlos was now practically a walking fortress.


    The beast growled low in its throat, and the tension in the air thickened. Carlos tightened his grip on the hammer, his pulse steady as the mercs behind him shifted nervously.


    "Alright, boys," he said quietly, "let¡¯s give this thing the fight of its life."


    As the creature lumbered closer to the water tank, Carlos clenched his jaw, tightened his grip on the hammer, and hit the button to activate its shockwave. The hammer¡¯s head hummed to life, vibrating with raw power.


    "Eat this, you ugly bastard!" Carlos shouted, swinging with all his might.


    The hammer connected with a sickening crunch, unleashing a thunderous shockwave that cracked the creature¡¯s spiked back. Several of its bony protrusions shattered, and the force was so immense that it sent Carlos flying backward through the air.


    The creature howled in agony, a deafening roar that shook the ground as it spun around, its massive arms outstretched. Its wild eyes locked onto Carlos, who was still mid-air from the hammer¡¯s recoil.


    Carlos, thrown into the air by his own attack, quickly raised his shield in front of him. With calm precision, he triggered the minigun mounted in the center.


    The small barrel spun to life, spraying bullets at the beast as he fell back toward the ground. Just before he hit the surface, the tiny thrusters on his power armor red to life, slowing his descent and allowing him tond softly, stillying down a barrage of gunfire.


    The creature roared again, its eyes burning with rage, and in one powerful leap, itunched itself toward Carlos. The ground trembled as it crashed down, trying to crush him beneath its enormous bulk. But it was stopped in its tracks since the energy shield Carlos had activated absorbed the brunt of the impact, ring brightly as the beast mmed against it.


    "Now!" Carlos barked into his helmet¡¯sm.


    Suddenly, four anti-armor missiles screamed through the air, their trails of smoke cutting across the sky. They mmed into the creature¡¯s back with devastating force. The explosions rocked the battlefield, hurling the beast through the air like a ragdoll. It hit the ground hard, disappearing into a thick cloud of dust and debris.


    "Did we get it?" one of the mercs asked nervously over thems, his voice shaky with adrenaline.


    Carlos scanned the dust cloud. "I don¡¯t know. Too much smoke. Stay alert." No sooner had the words left his mouth than a massive boulder came hurtling out of the smoke, crashing into Carlos and sending him flying again, this time into the side of the mining facility.


    The impact was brutal. Even with his energy shield, the sheer force knocked the wind out of him, mming him through a wall of metal and concrete. Groaning, Carlos pushed himself up from the wreckage, shaking off the debris as rms red around him.


    His HUD flickered, and he saw that the creature was charging at him again with terrifying speed. Carlos raised his shield and pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. His eyes darted to the ammo counter on his disy, zero. The minigun was out of rounds.


    "Crap," he muttered under his breath.


    Before he could react, the beast mmed into him once more, its enormous ws raking against his armor. The impact sent them both crashing through the facility, smashing through walls and machinery as they fell, dropping through six floors of the industrialplex.


    The sound of their collision echoed through the vast structure, a deafening crash that rattled every wall and sent tremors through the ground. For a moment, everything went still.


    The silence was unnerving.

 Chapter 42: EMP weapon.

    When the creature tackled Carlos and leaped from the first floor to the second, they crashed hard onto the ground. Carlos, realizing he hadnded on top of the beast, wasted no time. With a fierce roar, he swung his hammer over and over again, sending powerful shockwaves that shattered the concrete beneath them.


    "HAAAAA, just die already, damn beast!"


    As they plummeted through the building, the creatureshed out with its ws, aiming to tear Carlos apart. But to its surprise, Carlos¡¯s energy shield red to life, forming a protective sphere that deflected the beast¡¯s attacks.


    Undeterred, Carlos kept hammering away, his relentless strikes shaking the very foundation of the building. Floor after floor copsed under the force of the battle until they finally crashed into thest floor with a deafening impact.


    "Ha... I hope... ha... that you¡¯re dead, you damn beast," Carlos gasped, his chest heaving with exhaustion. Even though his cybeic arms could swing the hammer without issue, his stamina was wearing thin. He panted heavily, standing over the creature¡¯s lifeless body.


    Hismunicator crackled to life. "Hey man, are you still with us?"


    Carlos wiped sweat from his brow and grinned. "Yeah, I¡¯m alive. But the beast? Not so much." He stomped on the creature¡¯s body for good measure, but it remained motionless.


    "Damn, you need backup down there?"


    "Nah, just call the client. Tell him his pet¡¯s done for, and he better send someone to clean up this mess." Carlos jumped down from the wreckage and contacted Cleo to report the mission¡¯spletion and ask for another job.


    Meanwhile, on a different mission, Rex and Ys were hidden high in the trees, their eyes scanning the horizon.


    "Cleo, remind me what we¡¯re doing here again." Rex asked, speaking quietly into hismunicator.


    "The client is ck Horizon Corporation. They¡¯ve tasked us with rescuing a researcher along with his artifact, which is rumored to be a powerful EMP weapon. It¡¯s located at the Iron Teeth¡¯s base; they are a criminal gang with enough firepower to be considered a rebel militia."


    Rex squinted at the ruined city in the distance. "So all that city belongs to the Iron Teeth?"


    "Affirmative. ording to our scout drones, their numbers and firepower are significant," Cleo responded.


    Rex sighed deeply. "Why is it that every mission I take has bad intel? Am I cursed? Never mind." He shook his head and turned to Ys, who was perched on a branch, swinging her legs yfully.


    "Do we know anything more about this EMP weapon?" Rex asked, his voiceced with frustration.


    "Negative. The client didn¡¯t provide enough details."


    "Typical... merchants never give the full story!" Rex threw a handful of sticks to the ground in annoyance.


    "We¡¯ll go with infiltration," he decided, shifting his gaze to Ys, who was watching him with a yful smile.


    She tilted her head and giggled softly. "Hmm? Something on my face, darling?"


    "Well, apart from your beauty? I don¡¯t think so," Rex said with a smirk. "Anyway, it¡¯s your turn to take the lead on this mission. I need you to infiltrate that ruined city and find the EMP weapon." He tossed a holographic screen toward Ys so she could see the target.


    "Since you can turn invisible, it should be easy for you. Once you locate it, disable its energy source. We don¡¯t know how powerful it is, and it could be a real problem if they use it against us and the Aegis units we brought." Rex pointed down toward the fifty Aegis Sentinels stationed below, standing silently in perfect formation, awaiting activation.


    "No problem, darling," Ys replied with a yful wink before leaping gracefully from the six-meter-high tree. Shended on the ground with feline precision.


    "And remember, if you need a distraction, just let me know. I can make it a big one," Rex said through themunicator. But he received no response since Ys was already focused.


    The moment Ys activated her organic invisibility, sheunched herself toward the ruined city with blinding speed. In minutes, she crossed the vast distance to the city¡¯s entrance. She slowed to a walk as she entered, confident and unseen, moving as though nothing could stop her.


    Inside the city, she took in the sight of the Iron Teeth¡¯s defenses: fortified zones, scattered sentries, and an array of weaponry. She let out a quiet snort. To her, it wasughable since it was a low-quality weapon. Her Khryssari warriors could sweep through this ce in minutes without breaking a sweat.


    Still, Ys stayed on mission. For hours, she silently scouted every corner of the city, until she finally found the most heavily fortified area. It was swarming with Iron Teeth guards and bristling with weapons. She knew instinctively this was where they kept the EMP weapon.


    She then searched for alternate entrances, but there were none. The only way in was through a creaky, rusted metal door that screeched like something out of a horror movie. Deciding she needed help, she slipped into a nearby destroyed building and contacted Rex.


    "Darling, I¡¯ve found the ce where the EMP is most likely stored. I can¡¯t get in alone. I¡¯ll need a distraction," she said quietly through themunicator.


    "Understood," Rex replied. "Give me a few minutes, and I¡¯ll throw them a party they won¡¯t forget."


    "Okay, darling. Have fun," Ys responded with a softugh.


    Rex jumped down from the tree with practiced ease. Once on the ground, he turned to face the Aegis Sentinels, standing silently in formation.


    "Alright, time to get this party started," he said with a grin. Rex summoned a holographic interface, pressing a glowing button. Instantly, points of light flickered to life across the dormant Sentinels.


    "Imperial Legion! Prepare for war!" Rexmanded, his voice echoing through the clearing. The golden markings on the Aegis units ignited with a fiery glow, and the Sentinels began to rise. In mere moments, they were all standing, their towering forms lined up, ready for battle.


    Rex always relished this moment, the sensation ofmanding an unstoppable force, even if his army was small for now. That detail didn¡¯t matter to him. He turned, eyes locked on the ruined city in the distance. Lifting his hand, pointing toward the horizon, he spoke with calm authority.


    "Advance."


    The Aegis Sentinels began their march forward, a tide of power and precision, ready to bring war to the Iron Teeth.


    After several minutes of sprinting at top speed, the Imperial Legion finally reached the outskirts of the ruined city, its crumbling walls looming in the distance.


    "Fifteen of you, nk to the left! The other fifteen, take the right! Scale the walls and prepare to attack when the signal drops. The rest of you, front line, full assault! Advance!" Rexmanded, his voice brimming with authority.


    Immediately, the twenty Aegis units charged toward the main city entrance. The guards, taken by surprise, barely had time to react before sma shots from the advancing Sentinels tore through their defenses. The Aegis units stormed into the city, relentlessly firing at anything that moved.


    "We¡¯re under attack!" a panicked shout rang out.


    "Sound the rm!" another voice bellowed.


    "Bring out the heavy machine guns! Don¡¯t let them push any farther!" ordered one of the Iron Teeth leaders in charge of defending the zone.


    Within moments, rms wailed throughout the city. The ground shook as gunfire erupted, echoing through the ruined streets. Screams of agony filled the air as sma bolts hit their marks, scorching armor and flesh alike.


    The Iron Teeth¡¯s stationary machine guns unleashed their deadly barrage, hammering the Aegis units¡¯ energy shields with a hailstorm of bullets and crimsonser fire.


    [Squad under heavy fire of hostile forces.]. [Releasingbat drones.]


    One of the Aegis units spoke with a cold, mechanical tone. In the next instant, a swarm ofbat dronesunched from its back, theirser spherical guns spinning to life. They darted through the air, targeting enemies with ruthless precision, cutting them down as they tried to regroup.


    Meanwhile, the Aegis units that had escde the walls had positioned themselves at the top, gaining the high ground. From their elevated vantage points, they opened fire, raining sma down upon the entrenched Iron Teeth machine gunners, silencing their deadly barrage one by one.


    Back at the safe house where the EMP weapon was hidden, the heavy metal door creaked open, and a towering quadrupedal figure emerged, d in a crude, bulky version of power armor. Behind him followed twelve others, all d in equally cheap suits of armor, each varying in size and shape.


    "Report! What¡¯s going on out there?" the quadruped barked, his voiceced with irritation.


    "Sir! Unidentified enemies have breached the city! They¡¯re heavily armed, and our weapons are barely scratching them!" a soldier replied, his voice shaky through themunicator.


    "Sir! They¡ªthey seem to be robots!" another voice chimed in.


    "Robots, huh?" The leader¡¯s voice darkened. "Fine. Tell the new guy to prep his weapon, just in case. I¡¯ll deal with these invaders myself together with my twelve teeth." The quadruped snarled, his four-legged frame nking as he moved.


    He gave a few more orders to the remaining guards before heading out toward the warzone, taking arge contingent of soldiers with him to reinforce the front lines.


    From her vantage point on a nearby rooftop, Ys watched the scene unfold, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Mmm, is he an idiot? Well, that makes my job easier," she whispered to herself.


    As the guards thinned out and what looked like the strongest force in the area had left to engage Rex¡¯s assault, she was ready to strike. Still invisible, Ys silently flew to the warehouse roof. Once there, she observed the guards, studying their patrol patterns and routes. Every move, every breath they took, she memorized. Then, with a predator¡¯s calm, she began her hunt.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Her strategy was simple and lethal. From the shadows, she would strike from behind, her sharp ws piercing clean through her target¡¯s skull, silencing them instantly. She ripped the life from them so swiftly that not a sound escaped. Her living armor consumed whatever remained, making sure no trace of the kill was left behind.


    After dispatching thest guard, Ys looked down at her w, still slick with ck blood and remnants of organic matter. "Hmm, not as fun as I expected," she mused, her voice carrying a yful, almost disappointed tone. "Oh well, let¡¯s see what this EMP thing my darling wanted looks like."


    With a series of small, joyful hops, she made her way toward the warehouse¡¯s heavy metal door, humming to herself as if she hadn¡¯t just orchestrated a quiet massacre.

 Chapter 43: Humanity hope.

    Meanwhile, Rex¡¯s distraction worked a little too well. Even the leader of the Iron Teeth and his twelve minions had joined the skirmish, charging in like a storm, sending the Aegis units flying. Fortunately, the energy shields held, and there wasn¡¯t too much damage.


    "I am Kairos! Leader of the Iron Teeth! Face me, if you dare!" bellowed the quadrupedal figure, clearly enjoying the theatrics.


    Rex, shaking his head, sighed. "Is this guy serious? What year does he think it is? Who shouts out their location and demands a duel these days?"


    He straightened up, his voice calm but filled with obvious disappointment. "All units, focus fire on that big idiot."


    Without hesitation, the Aegis units opened fire. A storm of golden sma bullets rained down on Kairos. The would-be warrior yelped in outrage, trying to dodge, but there were just too many shotsing his way.


    "You coward! Where¡¯s your honor?!" Kairos roared, struggling to evade the relentless sma fire. It wasn¡¯t long before his energy shield fizzled out, leaving him wide open. His armor, clearly not designed to handle sma, failed instantly as one of his legs was blown off.


    "W-what are you all doing?! Get me out of here!" Kairos barked in desperation, ordering hisckeys to shield him and cover his escape. They scrambled to obey, buying just enough time to retreat out of the firing range.


    Rex stood there, speechless for a moment. "This guy... he was talking about honor? Guess honor doesn¡¯t mean much these days."


    He tapped themunicator on his neck. "Ys, how¡¯s it going on your end? You find the EMP weapon and the researcher?"


    A cheerful voice crackled back. "Darling! Yes, I found what you wanted. The weapon¡¯s powered down. But about the researcher... well, we¡¯ve got a bit of a problem."


    Rex raised an eyebrow. "What kind of problem? Did you kill him?"


    "W-what?! No, I didn¡¯t kill him! Why would you think that?"


    Rex chuckled. "Well, thest mission was to protect a VIP, and you ended up gouging his eyes out."


    "That was different! He was looking at me with lovey-dovey eyes! Only you can do that! I was being merciful by not killing him!"


    Rexughed. "I know, I know. I was just teasing. Honestly, if you hadn¡¯t done it, I probably would¡¯ve shot him too."


    "Alright, send me your coordinates. I¡¯ll meet you there," Rex said, bringing up a holo-screen.


    "Okay, darling, one second!" Ys chirped, tapping away before sending her location. Rex received the coordinates, activated overdrive mode, and took off, rocketing toward her.


    Meanwhile, in the dim warehouse, Ys heard the heavy creak of the old iron door being opened. Without hesitation, she turned invisible.


    "Where the hell are the guards?!" Kairos stormed in, limping. "I swear, these worthless grunts are good for nothing!"


    He nced at his mangled leg, rage boiling over. "And what are you all waiting for?! Heal me! If a Rank 3 citizen like me dies, you useless ves will be next!" Hisckeys, scrambling in their cheap power armor, hurried to bandage his stump.


    "I want to know who that savage was! When I catch him, I¡¯ll torture him in every way imaginable, then make him my personal toy." Kairos continued spewing vile threats, clearly fuming about Rex, his words growing more obscene by the second.


    Suddenly, a soft whisper floated by his ear. "Oh, you n to do all that to my darling?"


    Kairos jumped, terrified, his eyes darting around. "W-who¡¯s there? Show yourself! Everyone, stay alert! Protect me!"


    His remaining troops formed a defensive circle, trying to look intimidating, with Kairos at the center. But they were far from confident.


    Then they heard the voice again, this time teasing. "How cute... you all really think standing in a circle will save you? So adorable. I wonder... can any of you see in the dark?"


    On cue, the lights in the warehouse went out. The room was plunged into absolute darkness. Panic set in instantly.


    "W-what?! Someone turn on a light! NOW!"


    "AHHHH!"


    "W-wait! No! HELP! AHHHH!"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I was just following orders! Please! I¡ª"


    The next few minutes were filled with screams, the sound of flesh being torn, and bones snapping. Kairos stood frozen, trembling. "W-what... what is happening? WHO ARE YOU?! SHOW YOURSELF!"


    A giggle echoed through the darkness. "You want to see me? How bold. Fine. I¡¯ll humor you."


    In an instant, two glowing green eyes appeared right in front of him. Slowly, more green lights flickered to life, outlining the massive silhouette of a creature, an unmistakable predator.


    Kairos¡¯ breath hitched. He recognized what he was facing. Being a Rank 3, he had ess to more intel than the average citizen, and this creature... it was no ordinary monster.


    "Y-you! What are you doing here?! Ha... ha... HAHAHA!" Kairosughed, but it was the hysterical kind ofughter that came when terror set in. Hisughter was cut short as Ys, now in her true form, lunged forward and devoured his head in one swift bite.


    The crunching of bones and the wet, grisly sounds of a feast filled the now silent warehouse.


    Momentster, Rex¡¯s voice crackled through Ys¡¯municator, muffled as it was still inside her body. "Ys, I¡¯m here. Open the door."


    Ys, still chewing on what was left of Kairos, hesitated before replying. "Daaaaarling! Give me a minute. It¡¯s all dark in here. I can¡¯t see."


    Rex sounded skeptical. "You can literally glow, Ys. Also... what are you eating? I can hear you chewing something."


    "N-nothing! I¡¯m eating nothing! You¡¯re imagining things!" She panicked, trying to cover her tracks. Thest thing she wanted was for Rex to see her like this, in her monstrous form. She didn¡¯t want him to think she was... well, disgusting.


    There was a pause. "Ha! I know what you¡¯re doing!" Rex¡¯s voice was smug. "Don¡¯t think I wouldn¡¯t figure it out!"


    "W-wha...?" Ys froze, her heart racing. Did he know? Was she caught?


    "Yep! You found some kind of dessert and didn¡¯t want to share with me! Just so you know, I¡¯m not into sweets anyway. I¡¯m more of a spicy food guy." Rex said this with such pride, it left Ys speechless.


    She stood there, torn between relief that he hadn¡¯t figured it out and disbelief at hispletely off-the-mark deduction. Shaking her head in exasperation, she quickly reverted to her human form.


    "I¡¯m already at the door. I¡¯ll open it now," she called, making sure there were no traces of blood or flesh on her. She even double-checked her breath, making sure it didn¡¯t stink. After all, she had a special organ to handle bad smells whenever she shifted back to her human form.


    "Oh, finally!" Rex said with a smirk. "And here I was, thinking you were going to keep me locked out until you had your fill of dessert. Did you at least leave some for me?"


    "Hmph!" Ys huffed, turning her head away, clearly still pouting as she wandered deeper into the warehouse.


    "Eh? What did I say? Come on, don¡¯t be mad!" Rex chuckled as he quickly caught up to her. Without a second thought, he scooped up the small Ys from behind, holding her like she was a teddy bear. This was nothing new for them; after all the missions they¡¯d done together, this kind of yful closeness had be a regr sight.


    "Come on, don¡¯t be like that. I was just teasing you a little," Rex said, yfully poking her cheeks.


    Ys tried to stay grumpy but couldn¡¯t help the small smile tugging at her lips.


    "Hmph! Well, you¡¯re not getting off that easily. Anyway, I told you there was a problem with the researcher. It¡¯s...plicated. Depends on how you look at it." She gestured toward arge, sealed door ahead of them.


    "He¡¯s behind that door. But... the smelling from him is something special. You¡¯ll understand once you open it."


    Rex, still in his overdrive mode, was glowing with a soft, white light that filled the dark warehouse, giving everything a ghostly glow. Without missing a beat, Rex swung one of his powerful wings and knocked the door clean off its hinges. From inside, a panicked voice yelled out.


    "What the hell?! Who destroys a door without knocking?!"


    Rex stepped inside the room, and the moment heid eyes on the man inside, both of them froze,pletely paralyzed. For Rex, this was an earth-shattering moment. The man standing before him was... human. The first other human he had ever seen. For the researcher, the shock was even greater since he thought Rex was an angel.


    The researcher¡¯s mind was racing, trying to process what he was seeing. His life had always been driven by the curiosity of his origins. As a former ve, he¡¯d never known much about where he came from, but after earning his freedom, he became obsessed with knowledge.


    He worked as an assistant in a library, and once he learned to read, he dove into ancient texts, hungry for information. It was in those texts that he first stumbled upon records of the human race... and its tragic fate.


    The gxy was filled with stories like theirs, civilizations that had been snuffed out or scattered to the winds. But there was something different about humans. One day, purely by luck, he stumbled upon a half-destroyed document detailing myths and legends from Earth, including a being of pure light, a creature said to be born from light itself, destined to stand as the final defense of humanity.


    The texts were iplete and barely readable, but they spoke of a hero who would shine like a beacon in the darkness.


    And now, standing before him, bathed in a radiant glow, was what could only be that mythic figure. To the researcher, Rex wasn¡¯t just a human... he was a living legend, thest hope of humanity.


    The researcher¡¯s voice trembled, caught between awe and disbelief. "You... you¡¯re real. You¡¯re the Champion of Light, aren¡¯t you? The protector of our race... the one who will make humanity shine again!"


    Rex blinked, still processing the gravity of what he was hearing. Champion of Light? Protector of the human race? He looked down at himself, glowing faintly from his overdrive mode. "Uh... well, I wouldn¡¯t go that far.


    I just... tend to glow a little when I power up."


    But for the researcher, there was no doubt. His eyes shone with hope, a hope he hadn¡¯t felt in years. "You¡¯re more than that. You¡¯re proof... proof that humans can still rise again!"


    Rex, scratching his head and looking somewhat embarrassed, nced at Ys, who was standing off to the side, arms crossed, watching the whole exchange with an amused smirk. "Uh, Ys? Help?"


    Ys chuckled, clearly enjoying Rex¡¯s difort. "You heard the man, Rex. Looks like you¡¯ve got a fan."


    Rex sighed. "Great. Now I¡¯ve got to deal with being some kind of gctic savior. This day just keeps getting better."

 Chapter 44: Rex choice. [R17]

    Rex strode forward, closing the distance between him and the researcher.


    "Alright, uh... do you have a name?" Rex asked, eyebrow raised.


    "My name is Oscar, my Lord Angel!" the man replied, his voice dripping with reverence.


    Rex let out a small sigh. "Okay, Oscar. First off, drop the ¡¯Lord Angel¡¯ stuff. I¡¯m not an angel, alright? I¡¯m just a guy, like you is just that I¡¯ve only been, you know, changed. Some...


    circumstances led to this, but trust me, I¡¯m no mythical being destined to save humanity or anything."


    Oscar tilted his head, eyes wide with curiosity. "What circumstances would those be, if I may ask?"


    Rex scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit ufortable. "Well... I was, uh, sort of dead. Or dying. Then I got transformed and came back to life. You know, typical Friday night stuff."


    Oscar¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. "I see, I see! Resurrection, then!" He nodded thoughtfully, then asked again, "How old are you now? Can you even die of old age?"


    "Me? I¡¯m 23. And as far as I know, no, I can¡¯t die of old age. Not that I¡¯ve tested it out or anything," Rex said, shrugging.


    Oscar muttered to himself, "Immortal, too... fascinating." Then, with sudden intensity, he blurted out, "And what about those wings of yours? And your height? No regr human could possibly¡ª"


    "Yeah, let¡¯s not get into all that," Rex cut him off, waving a hand. "We didn¡¯te here to debate my anatomy. We¡¯re mercenaries, hired by ck Horizon Corporation to rescue you and bring you back. So, how about we focus on that?"


    Oscar¡¯s face twisted in panic. "Wait, what?! No way I¡¯m going back to them! I escaped for a reason!"


    Rex blinked, confused. "Escaped? They told us you were kidnapped."


    "Kidnapped? Ha!" Oscar scoffed. "Those bastards wanted to use my EMP tech against a runaway human ve camp! Disable their energy shield, capture them, and turn them into guinea pigs for gic experiments. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going back to help them do that!"


    Rex felt a pit forming in his stomach. He nced at the mission info on his screen. On one hand, there were the innocent runaway ves. On the other hand, the 500k credits they¡¯d be paid if they brought Oscar back. No wonder Ys had been letting him handle the talking so far. It was a messy situation.


    "So, it looks like we¡¯ve got two options," Rex started, trying to think it through. "First, we take you by force, hand you over to ck Horizon, and get paid. Or second¡ª"


    Ys interrupted, her voice cutting in sweetly, "Oh, darling, about that second option... I think it¡¯s off the table."


    Rex frowned, turning toward her. "Why?"


    "Because," Ys said, looking down and kicking at something on the ground, "I may or may not have already killed the leader of these rebels."


    Rex blinked. "Wait... you killed the guy with the four legs? That leader?"


    Ys nodded, her expressionpletely innocent.


    Rex sighed, running a hand over his face. "Well, so much for that. Looks like we¡¯re out of options, Oscar. You¡¯reing with us. What do you think about joining my team instead?"


    Oscar¡¯s eyes widened, his face glowing with awe. "Join you? Lord Angel? It would be an honor beyond my wildest dreams! I don¡¯t even need to think about it!"


    "Great. Decision made," Rex said, pping his hands together. "Let¡¯s get out of here. The transport ship¡¯s waiting outside the city. Time to move."


    Meanwhile, in the human runaway camp, tensions were running high.


    "You! Any word from the mercenaries?" barked a humanoid creature, lounging in a sleek, floating chair, his voice dripping with impatience.


    "No, sir. There¡¯s been no contact from them, and our attempts to reach them have failed."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The creature let out a sharp, mockingugh. "Hah! I knew it. Those mercenaries are all talk and no action. Useless, the lot of them. It doesn¡¯t matter anyway.


    I was just trying to save a few credits using the EMP, but I can¡¯t wait any longer. My research needs to move forward. Inform the general; tell him it¡¯s time. Attack the camp of those inferiors immediately."


    "Understood, sir!" The servant quickly pulled out amunicator and dialed the general. "General, the CEO has given the green light. Attack the camp however you see fit."


    On the other end, a maniacalugh burst through the speaker. "Hia hia hia! Finally! I¡¯ve been waiting for this. Those humans are going to be my personal yground tonight. I can¡¯t wait to get my hands on a female.


    They look so... tender."


    The servant grimaced but said nothing. The general¡¯s voice barked again. "Prepare the artillery! First, we break that shield. Then, when it¡¯s down, rush the camp and capture everyst one of them. Remember, no lethal ammo!


    Everything inside is too valuable. But leave the prettiest girl to me. I¡¯ve got... ns for her! Hia hia hia!"


    Momentster, the valley erupted with the thunderous roar of artillery fire. Each st sent shockwaves through the air as the shells mmed into the energy shield surrounding the camp, their explosions echoing like a war drum. The shimmering barrier flickered under the onught, straining to hold, but against the continuous barrage, it stood no chance.


    In minutes, the shield was overwhelmed, copsing in a burst of energy that crackled and disappeared. Thousands of credits were spent in the blink of an eye, but it didn¡¯t matter now. The general¡¯s voice rang out once more. "Charge! Take them all alive! And remember, I want the most beautiful one for myself!"


    "Haaaa!"


    "Charge!"


    The soldiers of ck Horizon, who had been lying in wait for days, rushed forward like a tide of darkness, crashing toward the camp from all sides. Inside the camp, chaos reigned. The defenders, scrappy and desperate, opened fire with old, battered energy rifles.


    Their weapons were relics of a lost age, firing rapidly but with little power. It didn¡¯t matter how many shots they fired; those hits were like pebbles against a fortress.


    The invaders marched forward, their heavy infantry equipped with advanced energy shields andbat armor that deflected the desperate barrage with ease. The defenders fought with everything they had, but their weapons could barely scratch the enemy¡¯s armor.


    Realizing they couldn¡¯t hold the outer lines, the humans retreated to the camp¡¯s central building; the town hall was a reinforced structure that had be theirst stand. From there, they poured fire relentlessly, shooting until their energy rifles overheated, hearts pounding in their chests as the grim reality of the situation set in.


    For them, this wasn¡¯t just a battle; it was a statement. They fought for their freedom, their families, and their future. It was a fight to prove that no matter how many times the human race had been pushed down, it would always rise again.


    Humanity had been forged in the crucible of rebellion, and no matter the odds, they would always resist oppression. It was part of who they were, part of their very soul.


    But you can¡¯t win wars on ideals alone...


    The enemy forces, unfazed by human resistance, advanced methodically. With a singlemand, the ck Horizon troops fired rocketunchers at the town hall, their sts tearing massive holes in the structure.


    Inside, screams echoed as debris rained down. Mothers huddled with their children, shielding them from the destruction, trying to protect them from the nightmare that had descended upon their home.


    The situation was growing more desperate by the second. The human defenders, outgunned, outmatched, and surrounded, were fighting a losing battle.


    But they didn¡¯t stop. They couldn¡¯t stop. Not with everything at stake. They fought with a kind of fury that onlyes from knowing this was theirst stand, from the understanding that there was no escape, no reinforcementing, only the grim reality of survival or annihtion.


    Outside, the general of ck Horizon watched the devastation unfold with a gleeful grin stered on his face. His voice boomed over the battlefield. "Hia hia hia! Keep going! Finish them off! Remember, I want them alive, but don¡¯t be too gentle.


    And that prize I asked for? She better be in one piece when I get there."


    The ck Horizon soldiers stormed the breached town hall, their footsteps pounding the ground as they swept through the remains of the camp like a gue. Inside, the remaining humans made their final stand, knowing full well what awaited them if they were captured.


    But still, they fought, because even if they were destined to fall, they would not fall easily. They would fight until their veryst breath.


    Because that was the human spirit.


    Amid the smoldering ruins, a small human girl, barely eight years old, struggled desperately to free her little brother. A portion of the wall had copsed on him after the explosion, pinning his fragile body beneath its crushing weight.


    She pulled with all her might, her tiny hands trembling as she strained, her face streaked with dirt and tears. But no matter how hard she tried, it was no use. She was just a child, and her strength was no match for the heavy stone trapping her brother.


    Her brother, no older than five, had already lost consciousness. His pale face was stained with blood, and his breathing was shallow. Half of his body had been crushed beneath the rubble, and it was a miracle he was even still alive. She could see that much, even at her young age. Time was slipping away for him.


    Through her tear-blurred eyes, she felt her hope slipping, too...

 Chapter 45: The bloody angel. [R17]

    That was when she heard heavy footsteps, menacing footsteps. She turned her head just in time to see a hulking ck Horizon soldier appear in the gap of the shattered wall, his armored silhouette framed against the burning chaos outside.


    The soldier with his face hidden behind a visor, let out a cruel, mockingugh as he noticed her, crouched beside her dying brother, desperately trying to save him.


    He leveled his gun at her, the barrel cold and unfeeling, pointing straight at her tear-streaked face.


    Her heart raced, pounding in her chest like a drum of terror. Her beautiful, wide eyes, full of tears and innocence, locked onto the soldier. She could only see a monster, a devil in human skin, standing before her, ready to snuff out her life like it meant nothing. Her sobs filled the silence as she clung to her brother¡¯s tiny, limp hand.


    For a moment, it seemed like this was the end for her. The end for them both.


    But then, at that precise moment, something happened... something that would change her life forever.


    A light, pure and brilliant, pierced the darkness of the battlefield. From the sky, a radiant star streaked downward, brighter than any explosion, cutting through the smoke and fire. It descended with the grace of an angel, casting a white glow that illuminated the soldier¡¯s sneering face and the broken world around them.


    The little girl, still shaking, looked up in awe as the light grew closer. It was not a star; it was something else, something alive with power. As it fell, it seemed to sing with a celestial hum, a beacon of hope amidst the despair. The soldier, too, noticed the glowing light, and for a second, he hesitated, lowering his weapon just a fraction as confusion flickered across his face.


    The radiant figure descended like a fallinget, a zing savior in the darkest hour. And then, with an earth-shaking impact, itnded between the girl and the soldier, throwing up a cloud of dust and debris. The sheer force knocked the soldier back, sending him stumbling as he shielded his face from the blinding light.


    When the dust cleared, the girl¡¯s tearful eyes widened in disbelief.


    There, standing tall in the center of the devastation, wings spread wide like the herald of some divine retribution, was Rex. His form was bathed in an ethereal white light that made him seem almost otherworldly, his armor gleaming in white. His wings, vast and magnificent, shone with a brilliance that was both beautiful and terrifying.


    Rex¡¯s eyes, fierce and unyielding, locked onto the soldier. His voice, when he spoke, was like thunder. "Step away from the girl."


    The soldier, trembling now, raised his weapon again, his finger twitching on the trigger, but Rex moved faster than human eyes could follow. In an instant, he was upon the soldier, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him off the ground with terrifying ease. The soldier choked, his limbs iling helplessly, his arrogance now reced with pure fear.


    "You¡¯re done," Rex growled, his voice filled with righteous fury. With a single, effortless motion, he hurled the soldier into the distance, where he disappeared into the smoke and mes, never to rise again.


    The little girl, still clutching her brother¡¯s hand, could only stare in awe. She had been moments away from death, from losing everything, and now... this shining figure had appeared like a guardian angel.


    Rex kneeled down beside her, the anger in his face softening as he looked at the terrified child. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice now calm and gentle. He looked at her brother, trapped under the rubble, and his expression darkened with determination.


    Without waiting for her answer, Rex moved to the boy¡¯s side. With strength that seemed beyond human, he lifted the massive chunks of debris as if they weighed nothing. The girl watched, her tears still flowing, but this time they were tears of hope.


    Rex carefully freed her brother from the wreckage and ced his hand over the boy¡¯s crushed body. A soft glow radiated from his palm, and slowly, miraculously, the boy¡¯s wounds began to heal, his breathing bing steadier and his pale face gaining color again.


    The girl¡¯s eyes widened, her heart swelling with disbelief and gratitude. "Who... who are you?" she whispered, her voice shaky with emotion.


    Rex stood, his wings folding behind him, the glow of his power fading slightly. He looked down at her with a soft smile, his eyes kind. "Just someone who doesn¡¯t like bullies."


    With that, he extended his hand to her, and for the first time that night, the little girl smiled. She took his hand, feeling the warmth of his touch, and as they rose together from the rubble, the fires of the battlefield around them seemed a little less bright.


    Because in that moment, she knew that hope hade...


    Rex could feel the drain on his energy after using a significant amount of his nanomaterial to heal the little boy. His muscles ached, and fatigue tugged at his body, but the rage burning inside him refused to let him rest.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    It roared like a wildfire in his veins, consuming his tiredness and turning it into raw, primal power. His wings flexed behind him, casting a powerful silhouette as he stepped out of the ruined town hall, carrying the little girl and her brother in each arm.


    With the fury of a storm in his voice, Rex activated hismunicator. "Imperial Legion! Eradicate everyst one of them! No mercy! Leave none alive!"


    Themand was as cold and absolute as death itself.


    Outside, the ck Horizon troops stood frozen, paralyzed by fear. The moment Rex had appeared, their confidence had shattered. They had been unstoppable just moments ago, relishing in the despair of the humans and delighting in their cruel dominance.


    But now they faced something they couldn¡¯tprehend. A towering figure, dreaded in gleaming white armor, his wings of pure light spread wide, striding toward them like a vengeful god. His very presence radiated power, and it was overwhelming.


    The psychological propaganda was instantaneous, hitting them like a tsunami. They had been trained to be cold-blooded killers, ruthless and efficient. But how do you kill something that looks like it came down from the heavens? What do you do when your enemy is no longer just flesh and blood but a symbol of divine retribution?


    Their general¡¯s furious voice red over theirmunicators, shouting orders, demanding they fight, but the fear in their hearts made their hands tremble. Their fingers hovered uselessly over their triggers. The men who had once delighted in ughter now hesitated, unable to even raise their weapons. They were used to being the predators, the tormentors, but now they were the prey.


    Then, from the skies, streaks of light descended like falling stars. The Aegis units, Rex¡¯s elite sentinels, made their entrance.


    One by one, theynded with a thunderous crash on the rooftops, in the streets, and in the midst of the camp. Their arrival sent shockwaves through the battlefield, shaking the ground and hearts alike.


    These machines were crafted with cold precision, their gleaming silver bodies reflecting the fires of war around them. As they took position, their sma cannons glowed with golden energy, like miniature suns ready to unleash destruction.


    Without hesitation, they opened fire.


    The sts of sma shot through the air with a brilliant glow, a searing golden light that tore through the ck Horizon troops. Each shot was like divine retribution, streaking through the night and illuminating the battlefield with a terrible, beautiful radiance.


    The sma rounds burned through armor, flesh, and bone alike, erasing the soldiers where they stood, turning the tide of battle in an instant.


    The roles had been reversed. The hunters had be the hunted.


    Screams erupted as the once-invincible ck Horizon soldiers were reduced to nothing more than fleeing shadows. The deadly precision of the Aegis units made escape impossible. Their cold, calcting movements showed no hesitation, no mercy. Each step they took, each shot they fired, was the embodiment of justice and vengeancebined.


    The golden sma bolts lit up the darkened camp like the wrath of the gods, and the once dominant killers now found themselves on the wrong side of the equation, desperately trying to survive the onught.


    Their high-tech gear, their heavy armor, their shields. None of it mattered. The Aegis units tore through them like they were nothing, their sma cannons zing with a terrifying brilliance.


    Rex, still holding the two children in his arms, walked through the chaos, unflinching. His voice boomed over the battlefield once more, this time as much for the ears of his enemies as for the defenders soldiers. "This is what happens when you prey on the humans. You will be hunted. You will be destroyed. Everyst one of you."


    The fear in the eyes of the ck Horizon troops was palpable. They scrambled for cover and stumbled over each other, trying to retreat, but there was no escape. The Aegis sentinels, like silent angels of death, moved with deadly efficiency, cutting down everyst one of them.


    Rex¡¯s wings red wide as he walked forward, the bright white light casting his shadow across the battlefield like the harbinger of doom itself. He could feel the fear in the air and taste the dread of the soldiers, who had once been so sure of their victory. Now, they were nothing more than terrified animals, scurrying for safety that would nevere.


    The little girl in his arm looked up at him, her eyes wide with awe and disbelief. She had seen so much death, so much despair, and yet here was this towering figure, this man with wings like an angel, carrying her and her brother as if they weighed nothing, walking through the carnage without a scratch.


    Her tears had stopped, reced by a glimmer of hope she hadn¡¯t felt in what seemed like an eternity...

 Chapter 46: The bloody angel (2)

    The ck Horizon general, still shouting orders over themunications, was drowned out by the sounds of his soldiers¡¯ desperate screams. But no one was listening to him now. His words were as powerless as he was. His army was being wiped out before his eyes, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.


    As thest of the ck Horizon forces inside the campament fell to the relentless assault of the Aegis units, Rex stood at the center of the battlefield, his wings slowly folding behind him. His breath was steady, his gaze hard, but inside, he knew the battle wasn¡¯t over yet. This was only the beginning.


    For now, though, the camp was safe. The remaining humans had survived, thanks to him.


    With a final nce at the destruction around him, Rex gently shifted the little girl and her brother in his arms and spoke softly to her, his voice a calm contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded. "You¡¯re safe now."


    The little girl, still clinging to him, nodded, her small voice barely a whisper. "Thank you."


    Rex smiled down at her, though his mind was already on the next battle. There was still much to be done. The ck Horizon had only seen the beginning of what wasing for them.


    As Rex spoke gently with the little girl, Ys appeared beside him; the girl¡¯s eyes widened in awe at the sight of her. Ys¡¯s shimmering green aura, softly glowing in the form of hundreds of delicate butterflies, swirled around her like an ethereal dance. She looked like something from a fairy tale.


    "Darling, shall I take care of the remaining enemies?" Ys asked, her voice as soft as always, while her green eyes scanned the battlefield, noting the lifeless bodies of ck Horizon troops scattered like broken toys.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex¡¯s expression darkened; his voice was now cold and stern. "There¡¯s no need. I¡¯ll handle it myself." His words were sharp and without a room for negotiation.


    This was the first time Ys had ever seen him like this, and it unsettled her. She was used to the Rex, who always had a carefree grin and joked and smiled even in the face of danger. But that Rex was nowhere to be found. What she saw now was a man consumed by fury, his face a mask of rage that burned like a fire that could not be quenched.


    She hesitated before answering. "Alright, just be careful," she said softly, though she knew he wasn¡¯t listening. His mind was already elsewhere, focused on his next move.


    Rex then got up, his massive wings unfurling in a dazzling disy of light. The intensity of his aura made Ys¡¯s butterflies scatter briefly, as if even they could feel the force of his anger. "Take care of the children," he said, his tone unyielding. "I¡¯m leaving ten Aegis units under yourmand for protection. I¡¯ll return soon."


    Before Ys could respond, he took off with a single, powerful p of his wings,unching into the sky like a rocket. The ground beneath him cracked from the force of his ascent, sending a gust of wind through the camp. Ys watched him go, her green butterflies slowly drifting back around her, their light dimmer now.


    As Rex soared through the sky, his body cut through the air with an astounding speed of 300 kilometers per hour. His wings glowed bright against the darkening sky, like a streakinget of wrath. Below him, the Aegis units charged through the forest at a steady 150 kilometers per hour, their metallic legs pounding the earth in unison, a perfect, unstoppable force moving to support him.


    Far ahead, at the ck Horizon artillery station, the soldiers were already panicking.


    "S-Sir! What should we do? The new enemy ising right at us!" a terrified minion reported, his voice cracking as he watched the Aegis units closing in through the trees.


    The CEO¡¯s cold, dismissive voice crackled over themunicator. "What are you whining about? Use the artillery! They¡¯re just a bunch of savages charging straight at us. They¡¯re practically begging to be blown to pieces! Fire!


    Now!"


    The minion nodded nervously and barked orders at the artillery team, but there was something in the air. A strange, unsettling feeling.


    One of the soldiers guarding the artillery squinted up at the sky. "L-Look! Up there! What¡¯s that?" he said, pointing.


    "What are you talking about? I don¡¯t see anything."


    "Mmm? No, I swear there was something there a second ago," the soldier insisted, shielding his eyes against the sun¡¯s re. He continued to scan the sky, his gut telling him something was terribly wrong.


    And then it happened.


    A sh of white, followed by a deafening boom.


    Rex descended from the sky like a meteor, plummeting down at a blistering 300 kilometers per hour.


    The moment he made contact with the ground, hended directly on top of the unfortunate soldier who had been staring into the sky, his body reduced to nothing but a crimson stain beneath Rex¡¯s boots. The force of hisnding sent a shockwave rippling through the artillery station, knocking down equipment and several soldiers off their feet.


    Before the others could even react, Rex stood tall amidst the chaos, his white armor glowing like a beacon of death. His wings stretched out behind him, catching the light of the sun as they cast a long shadow over the terrified artillery crew.


    One of the soldiers, pale and shaking, raised his weapon, but Rex moved faster than they could blink. In a single, fluid motion, he closed the distance and crushed the man¡¯s weapon with his bare hand, the metal crumpling like paper in his grasp.


    The soldier¡¯s eyes widened in horror as Rex grabbed him by the throat and lifted him into the air, his grip as unbreakable as iron.


    "You think you can hide behind your guns? Behind your machines?" Rex¡¯s voice was a low growl, filled with barely-contained fury. His eyes burned with an intensity that made the soldier¡¯s blood run cold.


    The soldier gasped, struggling in vain to free himself, but it was pointless. Rex¡¯s strength was overwhelming. With a final, savage motion, he hurled the man into the side of an artillery cannon, the impact shattering both the man¡¯s body and the machine. The cannon exploded in a shower of sparks and fire, the heat scorching the nearby soldiers as they scrambled for cover.


    But Rex wasn¡¯t done. Not even close.


    The Aegis units arrived in perfect synchronization, their white bodies gleaming as they moved with cold precision. With no hesitation, they opened fire on the remaining ck Horizon forces. sma cannons roared to life, sending golden streams of destruction into the panicking soldiers. The battlefield lit up with blinding shes as the enemy forces were torn apart, one by one.


    Rex stood in the center of the carnage, watching as his Aegis units made short work of the remaining artillery crews. His wings red wide, catching the light of the sma fire, casting a holy yet terrifying glow across the scene. He hade for vengeance, and nothing would stop him now.


    Far from the battlefield, the CEO of ck Horizon could hear the sounds of destruction over hismunicator. The screams of his men, the explosions, the sma fire. And in the background, a voice,Rex¡¯s voice, that was calm but filled with the promise of annihtion.


    "I¡¯ming for you next."


    The CEO¡¯s hands began to tremble.


    Rex spread his wings andunched into the sky once more, leaving behind nothing but smoldering ruins, shattered weapons, and the broken bodies of those who had dared to challenge him.


    "Get the ship ready for departure now! That lunatic¡¯s going to kill us all!" The ck Horizon CEO barked, sweat dripping from his forehead. His eyes darted wildly as he nced back at the carnage behind him. "Once we make it to the city, I¡¯m putting a bounty so big on his head, even the dead will rise to hunt him!"


    A momentter, a breathless minion came running back, eyes wide. "Sir! The transport is ready! Follow me to safety, quick!"


    Just as the CEO was about to scramble up the ramp, the minion ahead of him was frozen still, then with a sickening shed meat sound, his headless body staggered forward, spurting blood like a gruesome fountain. For a moment, the body twitched, took a few more steps, then copsed in a lifeless heap.


    The CEO stood frozen, his face draining of color. "W-Who¡¯s there?! Show yourself!" he squealed, his voice hitting an embarrassingly high pitch, more pig than man.


    Suddenly, a soft, almost yful voice drifted out of the shadows. "Oh, I wouldn¡¯t worry about running, dear. My darling is in a... let¡¯s say... terrible mood right now. If you fly away, his bloodlust will never be satisfied, and he¡¯ll stay cranky.


    And I really can¡¯t have that. Soooo, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll need to stay just a tiny bit longer, okay?"


    The CEO¡¯s eyes darted around, frantically searching for the source of the voice. It was almost too sweet, too innocent, like a child about to pull the wings off a fly. "I¡¯ll pay you! Whatever you want! I¡¯m the CEO of ck Horizon; I can triple your rate! No, quadruple!


    Name your price!"


    There was a pause. Then, sitting casually on top of the transport ship, a figure appeared, swinging her legs like she didn¡¯t have a care in the world. She smirked down at him, as if she¡¯d just heard the most amusing joke. "Triple, huh? That¡¯s what they all say. But let¡¯s see...


    Kaelzar girl, how much do you think we can squeeze out of him?"


    From a tinymunicator on her neck, a crisp, bored voice replied. "Based on hispany¡¯s assets... I¡¯d say about five million credits, easy."


    The child¡¯s smile widened into a wicked, almost devilish grin. "Five million, huh? Oooooh, I like that number." She leaned forward, eyes gleaming with dangerous mischief. "You¡¯re worth more dead than alive, big guy."


    "So... lets say, for 8M credits, I wont kill you," she said with a sweat smile while closing her eyes and swinging her feet.

 Chapter 47: The bloody angel (3)

    "What!? 8 million credits!? Are you out of your mind? That¡¯s more than my entirepany makes in a year!"


    Shezily rested her head on her palm, a yful smirk tugging at her lips. "Oh? But didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d pay four times what I was offered? And now you¡¯re crying about a meager 8 million credits?"


    The man¡¯s face flushed red with rage. "Gah! Fine! I¡¯ll pay it! Just give me your bank number!" His trembling hands fumbled for the device on his wrist.


    "Heh, here it is," Ys grinned, her voice dripping with mockery. "And don¡¯t you dare send one credit less and call it a ¡¯mistake.¡¯"


    With fingers shaking, the ck Horizon CEO transferred the 8 million credits, his breathing in short gasps as if each zero added weight to his chest. "There! I¡¯ve paid you. Now, keep your end of the deal... and let me go!" He jabbed a finger in her direction, his voice cracking with desperation.


    But before he could finish, a thunderous crash sounded behind him.


    "W-what was that?" Panic shed across his eyes as he tried to turn his floating chair around, but before he could react, a sudden kick sent him flying from his seat. He hit the floor face-first with a sickening thud.


    "Arghhh! Who dares¡ª? Who dares to touch me!? I¡¯ll wipe out your entire bloodline!" He screamed, blood dripping from the gash on his forehead. But when he saw who stood before him, his voice died in his throat. The words, the threats, everything, froze in the pit of his stomach.


    Rex stood there, towering over him like a vengeful angel. His face burned with anger, yet there was a cold, terrifying beauty to him. It wasn¡¯t just fear everyone felt; no, it was awe, as if they were in the presence of something beyond mortal reckoning.


    Even Rex himself didn¡¯t fully understand what was happening. The weight, the fire in his eyes, came from somewhere deep, something primal, something... divine. Far away, a little girl kneeled in prayer within the human encampment, her innocent heart pleading for Rex¡¯s safety. Her faith, her belief in him, reached out like an invisible thread, tying her to him.


    But she was no ordinary child. She was a natural-born psychic, and though her powers were still small, they surged through that connection like a spark to dry leaves. Her faith amplified, pouring into Rex, fueling the burning presence that now filled the room.


    The bond between them was unique, akin to a hive mind, yet something more, something that would only grow in power. What this connection would mean in the future, none could predict.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex walked slowly towards the ck Horizon CEO, each step igniting the ground beneath him in white-hot mes. The very air around him shimmered with heat. His armored boots left smoldering imprints on the floor, like the weight of a god walking among mortals.


    He knelt down, grabbing the CEO by the throat with a grip so strong, it felt as though he could crush the man¡¯s neck with a thought. Rex¡¯s eyes, glowing like molten gold, bored into the CEO¡¯s very soul.


    "You... you crossed a line you should never have dared to approach," Rex said, his voice low and deadly. "I don¡¯t care about the fate of humanity... not really. But I won¡¯t stand by and let scum like you treat them as ythings while I¡¯m here." His grip tightened, the man wheezing under the pressure.


    Rex paused for a moment, then added, almost to himself, "Funny, though. You and I... we¡¯re not so different. Go ahead, call me a hypocrite. The gxy doesn¡¯t care. It¡¯s a simplew: those who are strong survive.


    The weak fall. And today, you¡¯re the weak one."


    With that, Rex¡¯s wings snapped open with a sound like thunder. In one powerful motion, heunched himself into the sky, each beat of his wings breaking the sound barrier.


    The shockwaves rippled through the air as Rex soared higher and faster, breaking the sound barrier with each powerful beat of his wings.


    The strain of this speed would have torn any lesser being apart, but Rex¡¯s half-Kaelzar body was built for it, his bones and muscles forged to withstand this kind of unimaginable pressure. But the same couldn¡¯t be said for the ck Horizon CEO.


    The man, still clutched in Rex¡¯s iron grip, felt his bones begin to crack under the sheer force of their speed. White mes licked at his skin, burning through his clothes and flesh. The pain was excruciating, beyond anything the human mind could bear.


    But, much to his own misfortune, the CEO was not human. His alien physiology kept him alive and kept him conscious, forcing him to endure every second of the agony of his body breaking, his skin blistering and peeling under the unrelenting fire.


    Rex¡¯s flight came to an abrupt halt in the sky, and all at once, the immense kic force built up from the breakneck speed needed to be released. Rex braced himself, his powerful frame absorbing the shock with only minor damage.


    But the ck Horizon CEO... he wasn¡¯t so lucky.


    The sudden stop was too much. The man¡¯s entire body detonated under the pressure, his torso and limbs exploding into a crimson cloud of blood and viscera. All that remained was his neck, still gripped tightly in Rex¡¯s hand, his head twisted at an unnatural angle.


    As the red mist rained down, covering Rex in a shower of blood, he stared at the severed neck for a long moment before casually tossing it aside.


    The hot and thick blood clung to his armor and skin. Rex slowly looked down at his hand, now slick with the crimson stain. A bitter smile crept onto his face. "So in the end... you and I weren¡¯t so different after all. Our blood is the same...


    red."


    His voice was low, almost lost in the wind. Was it remorse? Regret? Sympathy? The emotion behind his words was difficult to ce. Only Rex knew for certain.


    As he stood there, drenched in blood and lost in thought, two small, delicate hands suddenly wrapped around his bloody one.


    "So this is where you¡¯ve been hiding, darling," came a soft, teasing voice.


    Ys stood behind him, her touch impossibly tender against the carnage that surrounded them. "I was wondering what was keeping you so long. It turns out you were just... admiring this rain of blood. Mmm," she tilted her head, her eyes glittering with amusement, "is this the CEO¡¯s blood?"


    Rex didn¡¯t turn to face her, still staring at the crimson streaks on his hand. "Ah... well, this is a problem. He paid me 8 million credits to spare him, and yet... here we are. What should I do now?" Ys asked with a mock pout, her tone light and yful, as if the man¡¯s brutal death were a trivial inconvenience.


    Rex knew she didn¡¯t care in the slightest.


    He sighed, shaking his head. "Technically, you didn¡¯t kill him. I did. He paid you to spare his life, but he didn¡¯t pay me," Rex replied, shrugging his shoulders as if it were the simplest thing in the world.


    Ysughed, her voice like the chime of bells, melodious and cruel. "You always find the loopholes, don¡¯t you?"


    Before Rex could respond, a voice crackled through hismunicator, breaking the strange quiet that had settled around them.


    "Rex, your energy levels are at 5%. I rmend deactivating Overdrive immediately and proceeding to the underground city for recharging," Cleo¡¯s calm, mechanical voice interrupted, bringing a sharp dose of reality back to the moment.


    Rex flexed his fingers, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle in. His body was strong, but even a half-Kaelzar had limits. He nced at Ys, her eyes still twinkling with amusement, and sighed. "Looks like the fun¡¯s over," he muttered under his breath.


    With one final look at the blood-soaked battlefield below, Rex spread his wings wide, their powerful span casting a dark shadow over thend. The mes on the ground where he¡¯d stepped still smoldered, burning long after he had left his mark.


    They descended gracefully toward thending site where the ck Horizon transport shipy waiting, its hulking frame silhouetted against the darkening sky.


    As soon as Rex deactivated Overdrive mode, the adrenaline that had kept him going vanished, leaving him to crash beneath the weight of exhaustion. The overwhelming fatigue hit him like a tidal wave, and before he could react, his vision blurred and his knees buckled beneath him.


    Ys, quick as a sh, moved to catch him. Despite the vast size and weight difference, her Khryssari strength made it seem effortless. She cradled him gently, her tiny frame supporting his enormous body, her wings fluttering softly as they both sank to the ground.


    Minutes passed in silence, the only sound being the low hum of the transport ship¡¯s engines. She held him there, patiently waiting for him to regain consciousness, her eyes never leaving his face.


    Finally, Rex¡¯s eyes fluttered open. His head felt heavy, as if lead had filled his veins. "Mmm... Ys?" His voice was groggy. "I¡¯m not too heavy for you, am I?"


    Ys chuckled softly, her voice light and teasing as she ran her small hands through his hair. "More than heavy, darling... I¡¯d say you¡¯re too big. Your head feels like a big balloon," she said with a yful smirk. Rex blinked, realizing he was resting his head on herp, her fingers tenderly rubbing his forehead.


    "Well, if you say so... then I guess it¡¯s fine," Rex mumbled, trying to shake off the lingering haze. "How¡¯s the human camp? Are they alright?"


    "They¡¯re fine," Ys replied confidently. "Imanded the Aegis Sentinels to return to the camp once the enemies were... well, exterminated. They¡¯re already there. Everything¡¯s under control, darling." She said this as if wiping out a force of enemies were nothing more than an afternoon chore.


    Rex sat up slowly, groaning as he checked his HUD. His energy levels had plummeted to a dangerous level. "Tch... I¡¯m down to 4% energy. I won¡¯t be able to fight in this state, not even close. Yes, I need you to handle the aftermath at the camp.


    Convince them toe with us to the underground city. I¡¯ll take care of piloting this transport ship... once I figure out how."


    He added with a wry smile as he struggled to stand with his shaky legs...

 Chapter 48: Professor

    She beamed at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Don¡¯t worry, darling. I¡¯ll take care of everything! Just leave it to me!" With a graceful leap, her wings unfurled, catching the light as she soared into the sky. Her silhouette streaked across the horizon like a green arrow, cutting through the clouds with ease.


    Rex watched her disappear into the distance, a knot of unease tightening in his chest. "Will this really be alright?" he muttered, rubbing his temples. "It¡¯s Ys we¡¯re talking about... anything could happen."


    He sighed, casting a wary nce at the looming transport ship. Figuring out how to pilot it was one challenge, but trusting Ys to handle diplomacy with the human camp? That was something else entirely. The image of her ¡¯negotiating¡¯ sent a shiver down his spine, but for now, it was their only choice.


    Taking a deep breath, Rex steeled himself, his resolve hardening. Slowly, he began his approach toward the transport, ready to decipher the controls with Cleo¡¯s help. He had no other option.


    Meanwhile, Ys had already arrived at the human encampment. It was a deste wastnd of smoldering ruins, the bodies of the ck Horizon soldiers scattered haphazardly across the battlefield. The buildings, once sources of life, were reduced to twisted wreckage, their crops trampled and burned.


    It was clear that the ck Horizon troops hadn¡¯t just attacked the area to conquer it; they had ravaged the area with malicious glee, destroying everything they could out of sheer cruelty. Even Ys, a warrior of the Khryssari, found the sight revolting.


    Shended just outside the remains of the town hall, her wings gently fluttering as they caught the light. The moment her feet touched the ground, she was met by the unmistakable sound of rifles being raised.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Dozens ofser sights locked onto her. The only thing that stopped them from firing was her human-like appearance; if they ignored the massive, shimmering butterfly wings on her back, that¡¯s it.


    The humans trembled, their fear palpable, yet they still held their weapons steady. Ys smiled, finding their defiance amusing. Bravery was a foreign concept to her. It was a trait born from fear, something only lesser beings experienced.


    The Khryssari, controlled by the will of a superior hive mind, knew nothing of fear. If the Hivemanded them to leap into boiling oil, they would do so without hesitation.


    Ys let her smile widen, her voice calm and almost musical. "Fear not, children of humanity. I am not your enemy. I¡¯vee to help."


    "How can we trust you?" one of the survivors shouted, his voice wavering.


    "That¡¯s right! There¡¯s no way we¡¯re trusting another alien after everything that¡¯s happened!" Another voice chimed in, their fear morphing into anger.


    The tension escted swiftly, the humans¡¯ hostility pressing down on Ys like a physical force. Her amusement began to wane, reced by growing irritation. The air between them thickened, almost vibrating with the energy of her growing power.


    The green butterflies, a manifestation of her aura when she prepared for battle, were already beginning to flutter to life around her.


    "Wait! Don¡¯t fight her! She¡¯s with the angel!" A small voice suddenly pierced the tension. The little girl Rex had saved before emerged from the ruins, her arms spread wide as she stepped between Ys and the frightened humans.


    "Lilly! What are you doing out there? Get back here! It¡¯s dangerous!" One of the humans shouted, his voice trembling with fear.


    But Lilly nted her feet firmly. "No, I won¡¯t! Is this how you repay the angel who saved us?" Her words echoed across the crowd, and the humans exchanged uncertain nces, shifting ufortably.


    Just then, a familiar voice cut through the tension. "Now, now, what¡¯s all thismotion?" The voice belonged to an older man in a doctor¡¯s robe, with a wild shock of white curls and a pair of spectacles that looked slightly too big for his face. It was Professor Oscar.


    "Professor Oscar!" Lilly cried out, running to him with open arms.


    Oscar chuckled as he ruffled her golden hair. "Ah, my dear Lilly! I¡¯m relieved to see you¡¯re safe. Now, mind telling me what all this fuss is about?" He gave her a gentle smile, then turned his gaze toward the uneasy standoff between the humans and Ys.


    With a serious nod, Lilly began recounting what had happened before Rex arrived, describing how Ys hade to help. Oscar listened intently, adjusting his sses with a thoughtful expression.


    "I see... now I understand. Gentlemen," he addressed the crowd, his tone calm butmanding, "thedy before you is the wife of the angel who just saved your lives. I suggest you all lower your weapons."


    One of the younger men scoffed, still holding his rifle at the ready. "And why should we put our guns down for an alien?"


    "Yeah! Just because the professor said so? What if he¡¯s in on it?" Another man stepped forward; his eyes narrowed. "Didn¡¯t he run off before those ck Horizon scum attacked us? For all we know, he¡¯s a traitor!"


    "That¡¯s enough!" came a booming voice from behind. An elderly man slowly walked forward, leaning heavily on a worn wooden cane. With surprising speed, he swung it and whacked the youth square on the head, making him yell in pain and clutch his skull. "Watch your mouth, boy!" the old man grumbled. "This is Professor Oscar we¡¯re talking about!"


    The elder gave an apologetic nod to Oscar and Ys. "I¡¯m sorry for the trouble, youngdy... Professor. Why don¡¯t youe inside? We can discuss things properly over a nice cup of coffee."


    Ys tilted her head, tapping a finger on her lips with a curious expression. "Mmm¡­ coffee? What is that?"


    The elder let out a heartyugh, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Hohoho, you¡¯ve never had coffee? Well, you¡¯re in for a treat, youngdy. Come on, follow me!"


    Inside the remains of the town hall, they were led to a long table that had clearly seen better days. Around it sat the camp¡¯s leaders, the head of the farms, the energy shield operator, and a few others who looked weary but determined. A couple of women hurried around, setting down steaming mugs of coffee and tes piled high with cookies.


    The elder settled into his chair, beaming as he gestured to the treats. "Hohoho, try the cookies, youngdy. My wife baked them herself. What shecks in youth, she makes up for in experience, let me tell you. These cookies are something special!"


    Ys picked one up cautiously, examining it like it might bite her first. She took a tentative nibble, then her eyes went wide with delight. "This... this is delicious!" she eximed, her wings fluttering with joy.


    Oscar chuckled, lifting his coffee mug in a mock toast. "Wee to the wonders of human cuisine, Lady Ys."


    The elder gave a proud nod, taking a sip of his coffee with a contented sigh. "Now, let¡¯s get down to business. But first¡­ another cookie, anyone? Hohoho!"


    The tense atmosphere from earlier had all but evaporated, reced by the unlikely warmth of sharedughter, steaming coffee, and the delightful crunch of cookies.


    After a few moments of contented munching and sipping, the elder cleared his throat, signaling the room to settle down. His gaze moved over the group before he spoke.


    "Gentlemen, I know some of you are suspicious of Professor Oscar here, thinking he ran off to save his own skin. But let me assure you, that couldn¡¯t be further from the truth."


    The crowd exchanged nces, a few murmurs of doubt floating in the air. The elder continued. "It was Oscar who warned us about the ck Horizon attack in the first ce. He left early because he was supposed to hire a gang to protect us."


    "A criminal gang?" Ys raised an eyebrow, her wings twisting slightly in surprise. "Why not ask for help from the nearestary guard post? Wouldn¡¯t that be more... official?" Her question wasced with genuine curiosity. She had learned much from Rex, but this part of human politics puzzled her.


    Oscar let out a bitterugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, you see, that¡¯s the problem. Most of us here... we¡¯re runaway ves. Asking the guards for help would be like handing ourselves over on a silver tter. They¡¯d capture us and sell us right back into chains, no questions asked."


    Ys blinked, processing this, her lips pressing into a thin line. "That¡¯s... barbaric."


    "Hiohiohio, you get used to it," the elder said with a grin, leaning back in his chair. "It¡¯s not just us humans, you know. Thousands of races have lost their ce in the great race for supremacy. We just happen to be one of the more profitable ones to sell."


    There was a brief pause as the group absorbed that grim reality, but the elder quickly lightened the mood. "But enough of the gloom, Professor. Tell us what happened to you! You were gone for two whole weeks, and I was starting to think you¡¯d gotten yourself lost or worse!"


    Oscar sighed, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of his journey were still pressing down on him. "Well, where do I start?" He adjusted his sses and began. "The n was simple. I was supposed to meet with a gang called the Tooths. I had an EMP weapon for trade, something that would¡¯ve tipped the bnce in our favor."


    "And what happened?" One of the camp leaders leaned in, clearly caught up in the tale.


    "Well....."

 Chapter 49: Ys the diplomatic.

    "Well," Oscar said, rubbing his forehead, "they scammed me. Stole the EMP weapon right out from under my nose. No protection, no deal, just me left standing there with a dumb look on my face."


    The room went silent for a moment before the elder broke out in a heartyugh. "Hiohiohio! You got outwitted by a bunch of criminals! Well, that¡¯s a story for the grandkids, eh?"


    Oscar groaned, shaking his head. "Believe me, I¡¯m still kicking myself over it."


    "But that¡¯s not the whole story," he continued, his tone shifting. "After that mess, I was at my lowest point. But then, by sheer luck or fate, I ran into Rex. And it turns out, Rex was a being unlike anything I¡¯d ever seen." He nced at Ys, who was listening intently. "An angel from the ancient age, thest protectors of the human race."


    Lilly, who had been quietly sitting on Oscar¡¯sp, suddenly perked up. Her eyes sparkled with wonder, as if someone had just lit a fire in her imagination. "A real angel?" she whispered, hanging onto Oscar¡¯s every word.


    Oscar smiled warmly, his voice softening. "Yes, Lilly. A real angel, just like the ones from the old human legends. Strong, noble, and sworn to protect us in our darkest hour."


    Lilly¡¯s eyes shone with pure awe as she gazed up at him. "I knew it," she whispered. "I knew the angels woulde back for us."


    The rest of the room had fallen into a stunned silence. The mention of angelic beings thought to be lost to history had a way of captivating even the most hardened souls in the camp.


    Oscar leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering to a near whisper, though everyone in the room was hanging on his every word. "I¡¯ve seen things on this journey that would shake you to your core. And this... this angel, this protector, is something beyond our understanding. But if there¡¯s any hope for us, it¡¯s with Rex at our side."


    The elder, who had been quietly sipping his coffee, let out a soft chuckle and leaned back in his chair. "Hohoho, it seems we¡¯ve got ourselves a proper legend brewing here. Maybe we¡¯ll all end up in the history books one day."


    "Or at least a campfire story," one of the other leaders quipped, lightening the mood.


    The tension that had gripped the room since Ys¡¯s arrival had all but dissolved, reced by a strange butforting sense of hope. Even the lingering doubt in some of the humans¡¯ eyes was slowly being reced by cautious optimism.


    "Well, then," the elder said with a wink, "another cookie, anyone? Hohoho!"


    Ys suddenly remembered her purpose here and leaned forward, her expression shifting to a look of wide-eyed innocence that could almost be called... cute. "By the way, Elder, do you guys have a n for what to do next?" she asked, batting her eyes.


    The Elder chuckled, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Well, our original n was to rebuild here, but we still have to vote on whether we stay or leave."


    "But Elder," Ys interjected, setting her cup down and fixing him with a serious gaze, "there are major problems with both options. If you stay here, it¡¯s only a matter of time before someone else stumbles upon you, just like the ck Horizon did. And if you leave... well, where would you even go?"


    She paused, letting the gravity of her words sink in. "Do you have a safe ce where you could relocate? And keep in mind, the journey itself would be dangerous... bandits, vers, and the beasts that roam this¡¯s wilderness." With that, she took a long, thoughtful sip of her coffee, savoring the taste as if it were thest thing she¡¯d be drinking all week.


    Her words were blunt, but they were the bitter truth. The camp leaders exchanged uneasy nces, realizing the truth in her assessment. Sensing that she had their attention right where she wanted it, she took another sip before delivering her final offer.


    "As you may have noticed, Rex and I are quite capable. And we¡¯re not alone; we¡¯ve got an elite team and several ships at our disposal. So how about this: why don¡¯t you alle with us? We¡¯ll take you somewhere safe."


    The table erupted in a murmur of voices as the leaders turned to each other, discussing the proposal with varying levels of enthusiasm and doubt. Finally, one of them cleared his throat and looked directly at Ys.


    "Excuse me, youngdy," he began cautiously, "when you say you have a¡¯safe ce¡¯... what do you mean, exactly? Is it some kind of protected zone within the city?"


    Ys, who was just getting her third coffee refill, held up a finger, signaling him to wait. She took a delicate sip from her freshly poured cup, savoring it like a connoisseur. Then, with a satisfied sigh, she answered, "Well, my darling Rex and his holographic assistant are currently building an underground city. A ce designed for...


    smugglers and, um, some less-than-legal characters, shall we say?"


    The leader¡¯s eyes went wide. "Wait, smugglers and mafias? You¡¯re proposing we relocate to a criminal nest?"


    "Isn¡¯t that even more dangerous than here?" Another leader blurted out, looking around in rm.


    Before Ys could respond, Professor Oscar mmed his fist down on the table. "Enough! At least let her finish before interrupting!"


    Ys, however, was hardly annoyed by the interruption. In fact, she was too busy enjoying the coffee to care. The effects of caffeine seemed to hit her differently than they did humans since, rather than energizing her, it had left her calm, almost serene, as though she were lounging in a meadow somewhere.


    She took another sip, her wings flutteringzily behind her. "Yes, it is technically a hub for ¡¯lowlifes,¡¯" she admitted, a faint smile ying on her lips. "But that¡¯s precisely what makes it the safest ce on this. Criminals have a knack for staying hidden and out of sight from the authorities.


    And believe me, they¡¯ll go to great lengths to keep this ce secret from both the military andary guards."


    She gestured out the window, where two tall, imposing Aegis units could be seen patrolling the camp¡¯s perimeter. "See those white soldiers out there? They¡¯re just a taste of the security we have in the underground city. Plus, there are drones and, let¡¯s just say, certain creatures that discourage any funny business. Break the rules down there, and, well, you might just end up as something¡¯s dinner."


    The elder raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Hohoho! So, youngdy, if we decide to follow you... how exactly do you n on getting us out of here?"


    Ys gave him a sly smile, her eyes sparkling with confidence. "Leave the logistics to us. We have enough ships to get you all safely to the underground city. We¡¯ll handle the journey, the dangers along the way, and even throw in a few... scenic detours if you¡¯d like." She winked yfully, then took another leisurely sip of her coffee,pletely at ease.


    The camp leaders exchanged looks, thest of their doubts beginning to fade. The promise of safety and maybe even a little adventure was starting to sound better than the bleak, uncertain future they faced if they stayed.


    The elder chuckled, pping his hands together. "Well, it looks like we¡¯ve got ourselves an interesting proposition. How about we take a vote, gentleman? And Ys... pour yourself another coffee. I have a feeling it¡¯s going to be a long night."


    The voting was dragging on, and Y had lost interest ages ago. She let out a stifled yawn, her eyes half-closed, barely listening to the endless back and forth. Just as she was on the verge of nodding offpletely, a familiar voice crackled through themunicator on her neck.


    "Ys, how did the conversation go? I¡¯m above the camp now," Rex¡¯s voice came through, sounding slightly amused.


    Her face lit up, and she spoke in a dreamy, slightly slurred voice. "Darrrrliiiing¡­ I missed you so much," she giggled, a little too happily.


    "Erm¡­ Ys? Are you okay? Why do you sound... weird?"


    "Whaaat do you mean? I¡¯m thinking normally, you know?" She replied, her words stretching and slurring like she¡¯d been sipping on something a little stronger than coffee.


    "Did you... smoke something you shouldn¡¯t have?" Rex asked, sounding more concerned.


    "Mmmm? Zzzzzz..." she mumbled before drifting off mid-sentence, themunicator going silent.


    "Ys? Ys! Did you just fall asleep?" Rex sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He could practically picture her curled up at the table, snoozing with a half-finished cup of coffee in hand.


    Not wasting any more time, he brought the ck Horizon transport ship down to the outskirts of the human encampment. The moment he touched down, six Aegis units marched into formation around him, their white armor gleaming under Cleo¡¯s control. She had ordered them to protect him, knowing he was running dangerously low on energy.


    As Rex approached the town hall, a group of young guards stepped forward, aiming their weapons at him with shaky hands. "Stop! Identify yourself!" one of them demanded, voice wavering.


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    Before Rex could respond, all six Aegis units around him raised their sma rifles, the weapons humming ominously as they powered up. The young guards¡¯ eyes went wide as the Aegis Units shifted into a protective stance, forming a tight circle around Rex and activating theirbined energy shields. The glowing barrier expanded, covering Rex, who towered over his robotic escorts.


    "Hold your fire! Stand down," Rexmanded calmly, his voice cutting through the tension. At his order, the Aegis Sentinels powered down their weapons and resumed their patrol routes as if nothing had happened, though the ones directly guarding him maintained their vignt circle, rifles at the ready.


    With the situation under control, Rex stepped forward, his Aegis guards following in perfect sync, still keeping their shields raised to cover him. "Apologies," he said, addressing the stunned guards. "They¡¯re just following orders from my wife to protect me."


    One of the young guards swallowed hard, ncing nervously at the towering Aegis Units before finding the courage to speak. "W-who are you, sir?"


    "Mmm? me? Im......."

 Chapter 50: The calm before the storm.

    Rex smiled faintly, looking down at the young man with a hint of amusement in his tired eyes. "Me? I¡¯m¡­" He paused dramatically, letting the suspense build as the guards waited, wide-eyed and anxious. "Just a very tired husband here to pick up his wife."


    The guard blinked, clearly confused, but before he could respond, the town hall doors swung open, and the elder emerged with a bemused smile.


    "Ah, you must be the infamous Rex," the elder chuckled, taking in the sight of the formidable Aegis Units nking him. "It seems your wife has kept us all quite entertained."


    Rex gave a weary nod, ncing over at Ys, who was now snoring softly and slumped over her coffee cup. He sighed, a hint of affection breaking through his exhaustion. "Yes, she has a way of leaving an impression."


    The elder chuckled again. "Well,e in,e in. She¡¯s been most persuasive. We¡¯ve decided to join you, provided, of course, that there¡¯s more coffee where we¡¯re headed."


    Rex chuckled softly, finally rxing a bit. "Plenty of coffee. Though I¡¯d be careful giving any more to Ys here... apparently it has interesting effects on her."


    With that, he guided the group back inside, his Aegis units standing guard as the newly formed alliance prepared for the journey to their unusual new home.


    Rex took his time exining the basics of piloting to the human engineers, gesturing toward various controls with Ys still snoozing in the crook of his arm. The engineers hung on his every word, though some of the girls kept casting him nces.


    Maybe it was the effortless way he held the sleeping Ys, or maybe it was the sheer absurdity of him being this cool while giving a tutorial on a stolen ship.


    He didn¡¯t notice, though. Ever since Cleo and Ys came into his life, his standards for beauty had skyrocketed. Other admirers just... didn¡¯t register anymore. A blessing, or maybe a curse.


    "And that¡¯s it. Any questions?" he asked, looking over the group.


    One of the younger engineers raised a hand hesitantly. "Uh, yeah, sir. How will we know where to go?"


    "Easy," Rex replied with a grin. "Just follow my ship. I¡¯ll go slow enough for you all to keep up. Anything else?"


    They shook their heads in unison. "No, sir!"


    "Good. Then let¡¯s move!"


    With that, Rex stepped off the transport, watching as the humans mbered aboard, eyes wide with excitement and a hint of fear. Rows of ck Horizon transport ships sat in the distance, gleaming in the dim light like sleeping beasts. He could have taken more of them, sure, but it would have been a headache dealing with all the trackers embedded in each one.


    Besides, when the ck Horizon folks finally noticed something missing, they¡¯d chalk it up to bandits.


    Cleo could probably disable those trackers if she had a body, but she didn¡¯t, and Rex wasn¡¯t about to go poke around blindly. Lucky for him, he¡¯d managed to find the tracker on some ships by sheer luck and maybe a little help from his bionics eyes scanner.


    Once Rex was back on his ship, he settled into the pilot seat. Around him, the Aegis Sentinels took their ces, slipping into their recharge stations, where they would silently draw power as they rested.


    Cleo had thought of everything; this ship was custom-built in her rented shipyard, designed with the Kaelzar units in mind. The recharge bays were like a massive hive, humming softly as they slowly restored the Sentinels¡¯ energy reserves.


    Rex had ced Ys in the reclined co-pilot seat, adjusting it to give her a makeshift bed. She looked peaceful there, still deep in sleep. With ast nce at his restingpanion, he fired up the engines, and they rose above the ruins of the camp that had once been home to so many.


    As they took off, he noticed some of the older humans looking back at the destroyed settlement through the transport windows. They¡¯d spent years in that ce, for better or worse, and leaving it now, even in ruins... wasn¡¯t easy. Some of them had tears streaking silently down their faces as they gazed at the remains of their former lives.


    It was a long flight to their destination, six hours over the vast, rugged terrain of a ssified as "massive" by human standards, dwarfing the smaller worlds most of them knew. Finally, their ships hovered over the underground city coordinates, a seemingly empty stretch of barren rock and dust. Then, a robotic voice crackled through the ship¡¯smunicator.


    [Visitors, please standby till the ID of the ship has been verified.]


    After a pause, [ID confirmed, wee back, Sir, and visitors.]


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    As soon as the voice finished, a shimmering energy shield flickered into view, and suddenly, thendscape changed. A massive hole appeared below, wide enough to swallow all their transport ships several times over. Around it, heavy turrets could be seen, each surrounded by its own energy field, ready to ward off any unwee guests.


    From within the hole, smaller ships buzzed out like insects from a nest, flying in neat formations or darting off on individual missions. The humans on board gasped, leaning forward to get a better look. Rex¡¯s voice came through themunicator, calm but with a hint of pride.


    "Amazing, huh?" he said.


    "Lord Rex, what is this?" asked Oscar, his voice filled with awe.


    "This," Rex replied, "will be your new home. This is the underground city. Nowe, let¡¯s descend."


    His ship led the way, easing down into the massive cavity, and the transports followed in formation. As they passed through the entrance, the humans were stunned by what they saw: an entire city, hidden beneath the earth, bursting with life.


    Cargo drones zipped through the air in every direction, some carrying crates of weapons, others hauling food supplies, or even machinery. Neon lights and colorful advertisements covered every building, illuminating the cavern like a festival at dusk.


    The humans stared, wide-eyed. In recent years, they¡¯d grown used to corporate-controlled cities, where ads were strictly regted and reserved only for the megacorps and intergctic news stations, all of them cold and sterile.


    Here, though, the lights were wild, the ads vibrant and full of personality. It was like stepping into a forgotten world, a ce untouched by corporate hands.


    Rex guided them down to the docking bay, where onerge tform was kept open exclusively for him and his crew. A story floated through the camp about a rich smuggler who¡¯d once tried to im this spot, ignoring the warnings from maintenance workers. Let¡¯s just say he hadn¡¯tsted long.


    As Rex¡¯s ship settled down, he nced around at the stunned faces of his passengers. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. They¡¯d been through hell, but now... now, they had a chance at something new.


    While Rex was telling them what they could do from now on, Emilia came to the docking bay apanied by twenty or so robot maids.


    "Wee back, Lord Rex," Emilia said while giving a small bow. The other robot maids did the same.


    "Oh Emilia, nice timing. Can you please show them where they will stay?"


    "Of course my Lord, Lady Cleo sended me here with that motive"


    "Ohh, okay then, she always knows what I want; that¡¯s why she¡¯s my wife," Rex said all proudly.


    He then turned around to gaze at the humans. "Well then guys, this is where we take different roads since I have a lot of stuff to do, but dont worry, I will being from time to time to the underground city, and who knows, maybe we can even end in the same bar, ah, but dont tell my wife." Rex said while looking around and whispering.


    "hohoho, go without worries"my lord", we will soon find works to do around here and we will also pay the taxes."


    "Mmm? Don¡¯t worry about the taxes for now; I already talked about it with my wife. The first 3 months will be without taxes, so take it calmly. If you guys need some kind of help, go ask the nearby Aegis Sentinel that is patrolling the area; my wife will take care of it."


    "Well then..." Rex turned around and started to walk off toward the big building in front of the docking bay that was heavily guarded. Li could only see with a sad expression how Rex left, but just as their paths separated today, they will be able to meet each other in the future.


    And so like this, the months passed and the tension of the war againts the Hive minds was in it climax.


    *World of Nakor Year 5601 of the imperial gctic system*


    In the bustling heart of Nakor, the world¡¯s principalmercial hub, the Megacorps recruitment agents were out in full force, weaving through crowded streets and markets like predators hunting fresh prey.


    They shed promises of riches to anyone willing to enlist in the war against the Hive Mind: thousands of credits per day, they imed, for those brave or desperate enough to sign up.


    For the poor, rank 6 citizens of Nakor, the offer was irresistible. The pay was more money than most of them would see in a lifetime. Within hours, the lines to enlist stretched down entire city blocks; young men and women packed shoulder-to-shoulder, buzzing with excitement and hope.


    By day¡¯s end, the agents had recruited thousands of fresh bodies, all eager to carve out a better future.


    But not everyone shared their enthusiasm. Veterans of past battles watched the new recruits with a mix of pity and grim amusement. They knew the truth. Those eager young faces wouldn¡¯tst long on the front lines, especially not in the first wave. That first brutal wave was little more than cannon fodder, and surviving it was almost a fantasy.


    Meanwhile, Rex was holed up in the sleek, industrial-style building of the Thunderdes, the mercenary group that now operated as his public front. He leaned back in his chair, eyes on the clock, wondering when the Megacorps recruiters would show up. They were supposed to have arrived by now, and he wasn¡¯t exactly known for his patience.


    Just as he was beginning to consider tracking them down himself, a soft chime sounded from the console on his desk. The robot receptionist¡¯s voice crackled to life, its tone as neutral and emotionless as ever.


    "Sir, the representatives have arrived."

 Chapter 51: Negotiations

    "Let hime up," Rex said, settling back in his new chair with a satisfied sigh. This chair was built like a throne, a well-earned upgrade from his earlier days as a corporate ve.


    A few minutester, the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and a tall figure emerged that looked like an humanoid with an octopus-like head, tentacles writhing gently as he stepped into the room. Rex¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he murmured under his breath, "Nexum Dynamics."


    The octopus-headed recruiter approached, stopping just short of Rex¡¯s desk. "Good morning, Mr. Talon," he began, his voice rich with corporate polish. "As you may know, I am a recruiter from the Megacorps, under the esteemedmand of the General Leena Valrix. She is one of our finest generals at Nexum Dynamics!" He puffed out his chest, pride radiating off him like cheap cologne.


    But Rex could sense there was more behind the boasting.


    "Ah, forgive me, Mr. Talon," the recruiter continued, catching himself. "I got a bit overexcited. Shall we get down to business?"


    Rex chuckled, shing a well-practiced corporate smile, the kind he¡¯d mastered during his time as a corporate ve. "No worries at all. Please, take a seat, dear customer."


    The recruiter took a seat, smoothing his immacte suit as he settled in. "So, Mr. Talon," he began, "if I understand correctly, you¡¯re here to offer the services of your... group... in our efforts against the Hive Mind?"


    Rex leaned back, fingers steepled. "That¡¯s right. You¡¯re here to buy our services for your little war, aren¡¯t you?"


    "Indeed, Mr. Talon," the recruiter said, shing a smug grin. "I¡¯ve heard rumors about your, shall we say, savage reputation, but I¡¯m pleased to see they were just that¡ªrumors!" He let out a mockingugh that Rex let slide. After all, the recruiter was mocking Talon, not him personally. It was almost funny.


    "Ah, yes," Rex replied, chuckling back. "Only fools take rumors seriously." He caught a twitch in the recruiter¡¯s expression, a hint that his little jab had hit home.


    The recruiter cleared his throat, regaining hisposure. "Now, as for the contract," he continued smoothly, "it¡¯s fairly standard. We¡¯ll pay your group 10,000 credits for every day you survive on the front, with additional bonuses for high-value targets or eliminating enemy leaders."


    Rex raised an eyebrow. "10,000 credits?" He let the question hang for a moment, then shook his head. "That barely covers ammunition costs."


    The recruiter smirked, leaning back. "Come now, Mr. Talon. While I¡¯m merely a humble recruiter, I am a rank 3 citizen, and I know more than you might think. Your mercenary group, if I¡¯m not mistaken, consists of only forty infantry units." He folded his hands smugly, clearly pleased with himself.


    Rex leaned forward, his voice low and calm. "Well, it sounds like your information is a bit... outdated." He tossed a tablet across the desk, its screen lighting up with a list of assets.


    The recruiter¡¯s smug expression faltered. "What¡¯s this?" he asked, frowning as he peered at the screen.


    "Our roster," Rex replied, sipping his wine as he watched the recruiter¡¯s face.


    On the screen, the recruiter saw the following:


    [Aegis Sentinels] x100


    [Combat Drones] x200


    [Wraith-ss Fighters] x4


    [Gunboat, Average Size] x1


    The recruiter¡¯s eyes widened, his tentacles twitching in surprise. "W-What... what is this?" he stammered, standing abruptly from his chair. "I don¡¯t even recognize half these units!"


    Rex smirked, taking another sip. "Ah, my apologies. I forgot the photos." He tapped a few keys on his console, pulling up images of each unit. "There we go," he said, sliding another screen toward the recruiter. "Take a look."


    The recruiter¡¯s gaze shifted from the sleek, towering Aegis Sentinels to the swarm of Combat Drones, then to the sleek, deadly profiles of the Wraith-ss Fighters. His face turned an interesting shade of pale.


    "This... changes things," he murmured, swallowing hard as he continued to scroll through the photos.


    Indeed," Rex said with a grin. "So, about that pay rate... shall we talk again?"


    "Of course, Mr. Talon, my apologies," the recruiter said, forcing a strained smile. "I didn¡¯t realize you had such extensive resources at your disposal. Clearly, our information is in need of an update." The humility seemed to sting him, but Rex couldn¡¯t care less.


    For him, it was all about securing the best deal. If he and his units were about to dive into the chaos of war, they were going to do it with a price tag that justified the blood and scrap they¡¯d inevitably leave behind.


    "So," Rex replied smoothly, his corporate smile never faltering, "what¡¯s the new offer?"


    The recruiter cleared his throat, clearly trying to keep hisposure. "Given the scale of your forces, I can propose a different kind of contract... if you¡¯re interested."


    Rex raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "Go on. What kind of contract are we talking about?"


    "This one here," the recruiter continued, tapping a file on his tablet, "is for captains within the allied army. You¡¯ll receive 50,000 credits per day for survival, an additional 10,000 if you can hold your assigned position, and a whopping 200,000 credits for each missionpleted at HQ¡¯s directive."


    Rex gave the contract a thoughtful look, then silently activated his mental link to Cleo. ("What do you think, Cleo?")


    ("The contract looks legitimate. No signs of tampering that I can detect,") Cleo replied.


    But something in Rex¡¯s gut didn¡¯t sit right. He shifted his gaze to the recruiter, a sly smile forming. "Well then, recruiter, what¡¯s in it for you? With a contract like this, I can assume you¡¯re taking a cut somewhere, right?"


    The recruiter¡¯s face twitched. "I¡ªI don¡¯t know what you mean. I¡¯m simply a humble recruiter, Mr. Talon. I wouldn¡¯t benefit from this at all."


    ("He¡¯s lying,") Cleo¡¯s voice echoed dryly in his mind.


    Rex fought back a smirk. ("When did you be a lie detector, Cleo? What, did you install some truth-sensing software in my brain while I was sleeping, my dear wife?")


    Cleo gave a digital sigh, her voiceced with mild exasperation. ("First of all, Rex, it¡¯s obvious he¡¯s lying¡ªyou don¡¯t need any ¡¯software¡¯ to see that. And second, I am not your wife. Wasn¡¯t Ys supposed to be your ¡¯one and only¡¯?")


    ("Oh, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re getting jealous? Hmm?") Rex teased.


    Before Cleo could retract, the recruiter cleared his throat, looking increasingly ufortable. "Erm... Mr. Talon? Is something wrong?"


    Rex coughed, snapping back to the moment. "Nothing at all, just... thinking over your generous offer." He leaned forward, his smile sharpening. "So tell me, how many credits are you pocketing every time Iplete a mission? And every time I survive another day on the battlefield?"


    The recruiter hesitated, his tentacles shifting awkwardly. He forced another smile, but Rex could see the cracks.


    "Now, now, Mr. Talon," he stammered. "I assure you, all funds are strictly allocated by HQ. My role is purely to facilitate these... strategic partnerships."


    Rex chuckled softly. "Oh, I¡¯m sure it is. But let¡¯s be honest. I know how the megacorps work, you¡¯re not here to hand out contracts out of the goodness of your heart. So why don¡¯t we skip the corporate pleasantries and talk real numbers?"


    The recruiter swallowed, clearly realizing he was dealing with someone who wouldn¡¯t be so easily swayed. Rex leaned back, watching him squirm. This negotiation was just getting interesting.


    The recruiter let out a deep, defeated sigh, his tentacles drooping as he finally dropped the act. "Fine, you win, Mr. Talon. I get amission for every action your unit takes in battle. Happy?"


    Rex leaned in, eyes gleaming. "And how much is thatmission, Mr. Recruiter?"


    The recruiter scrunched, ncing away. "Twenty-five percent... of your pay," he muttered.


    Rex let out a long, impressed whistle. "Damn. That¡¯s a serious cut. If you¡¯re pulling that kind ofmission from every group you recruit... you must be pretty loaded, huh?"


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    The recruiter bristled, his tentacles twitching with indignation. "Mr. Talon, if anything were to happen to me, let me remind you that General Leena Valrix and I are... close. She wouldn¡¯t take kindly to anyone causing me trouble."


    Rexughed, holding up his hands. "Rx! No one¡¯sing for you, pal. I¡¯m just a businessman looking to... optimize the situation." He leaned forward, shing that same corporate grin. "Since you¡¯re getting a nice slice of my paycheck, how about we make a little deal?"


    The recruiter eyed him warily. "What sort of... deal?"


    "Simple. You¡¯re close to the general, right? All I need is for you to put in a good word for us and make sure our group gets prioritized for the high-paying missions. Think about it: more missions means more credits for me and for you. Everybody wins."


    The recruiter snorted, crossing his arms. "Ha! And what guarantees do I have that you won¡¯t just get yourselves killed on the first high-stakes mission? My reputation is on the line here."


    Rex chuckled, spreading his arms wide as if to embrace the risk. "No guarantees. That¡¯s the thrill of being alive, my friend! Sometimes you¡¯ve got to make a gamble and y like the big boys, right?" He grinned, his eyes glinting with a reckless confidence that was both unnerving and infectious.


    The recruiter hesitated, ncing at Rex¡¯s outstretched arms, his own tentacles twitching as he weighed the offer. Finally, he exhaled, giving a small, reluctant nod. "Alright, Mr. Talon... I¡¯ll see what I can do. But don¡¯t make me regret this."


    Rex leaned back with a satisfied smirk. "Good man. I knew we¡¯d see eye to eye."

 Chapter 52: The first wave (1)

    Once the recruiter left the room, Rex let out a long, exaggerated sigh of relief. "Damn, I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d actually have to act like someone important for once."


    Through themunicator, Cleo¡¯s voice crackled with amusement. "Rex, you really don¡¯t understand what a big shot you are right now, do you?"


    Before he could answer, Ys suddenly appeared at his side, dropping her invisibility with a smirk. She gracefully perched on hisp like she¡¯d been there all along. "Cleo¡¯s right, you know," she purred, brushing a strand of hair over her shoulder. "You¡¯re pretty much the only man in the gxy destined for greatness, darling."


    Rex raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Greatness, huh? I mean, I know I¡¯m handsome and all, but that¡¯s a bit much, don¡¯t you think?"


    Ysughed, the sound low and teasing. "Oh, silly, it¡¯s not because of that. You¡¯re destined for greatness because you¡¯re the partner of a princess of the Hive Minds. Do you even realize how rare that is?"


    "Mmm? I mean, there¡¯s more princesses and queens out there, right? I¡¯m sure they have partners too," he said, absentmindedly running his fingers through Ys¡¯s hair.


    "Sure, other princesses have... let¡¯s say panions,¡¯" she replied, looking amused. "But they¡¯re usually mindless beasts. The Hive prefers partners with no sentience, so their powers remain... undivided."


    Rex blinked, processing that. "Wait a second. Are you saying I¡¯m the same as some no-brain beast?"


    Ys was stunned for a moment, then burst intoughter. "What? No, no, darling. You¡¯re special because you have enough mental power to potentially threaten the Hive¡¯s control. Do you get how wild that is?"


    Rex scratched his head, still skeptical. "Then why¡¯d you pick me? It can¡¯t just be for my genes, right?"


    Ys leaned in, a yful glint in her eye as she pressed a finger to his lips. "That¡¯s a secret, my dear. I might tell you one day... if you prove yourself worthy," she teased, her smile both mischievous and cryptic.


    Cleo¡¯s voice cut back in, irritation clear. "Are you two done flirting?"


    Rex grinned, looking up at themunicator with mock innocence. "Flirting? Us? Nah. Jealous much?"


    "Why would I be jealous?" Cleo snapped, sounding slightly flustered. "Look, I don¡¯t care what you two do, but we need to get moving. The fleet departs in two days, and we have a lot to prepare."


    "Aye aye, ma¡¯am," Rex replied with a cheeky salute.


    Two dayster, the preparations wereplete, and the new allied fleet of the megacorps assembled above the. It was a jaw-dropping sight since hundreds of ships of every size and shape filled the sky like a storm. This was thergest fleet anyone had seen in a century, a true behemoth ready for war.


    At the heart of it all was Rex aboard Cleo¡¯s newly upgraded ship, now bristling with enough weaponry to make even seasoned pilots nervous. The vessel had been transformed into a formidable gunboat, sleek and armored for both aerial and ground support. And nking them were the Wraith-ss Fighters, four deadly silver machines, each one a gleaming predator in the void.


    The Wraith-ss Fighters were a marvel. Sleek, silver, with sharp, angr wings that glinted menacingly against the stars. The energy core at the center pulsed with a fiery blue glow, like the heartbeat of some futuristic beast.


    Their reflective surfaces madeser fire nce harmlessly away, while twin pulsesers, short-range sma rockets, and EMP projectors promised nothing short of devastation.


    And best of all? Each one was piloted by Cleo¡¯s AI subroutines, making them as sharp and unpredictable as the best human pilots, maybe even better.


    As Rex gazed out over the fleet, lost in thought, a small red light on hismunicator blinked to life, snapping him back to the moment. He clicked it, and a booming voice filled the cockpit.


    "Attention to all ships. This is the Supreme Commander," the voice crackled with authority. "As you all know, those damned bugs dared to attack one of our newly settleds, massacring innocent civilians. As defenders of this gxy, we have a duty, a duty to make them pay. This fleet has one purpose: punishment."


    There was a pause, thick with anticipation.


    "And so, by mymand, this war begins! All ships, activate wormhole devices, and prepare for a jump. To battle, mypatriots! Let¡¯s crush those bugs!"


    With that rallying cry, the fleet surged to life. Countless wormholes blink open across the void, swallowing ships whole before vanishing in seconds. The stars seemed to ripple as the massive punishment fleet leapt through space, like a cosmic tidal wave ready to crash down on the Hive.


    Momentster, Rex¡¯s small fleet emerged from their wormhole, only to be met with a dark swarm of Hive-mind fighters, organic and alien, filling the space around them like a living cloud.


    "Shit! Cleo!" Rex shouted, hands flying across the controls as he twisted the gunboat to dodge iing fire. The swarm¡¯s attacks were relentless, lighting up the darkness with neon shes as the gunboat¡¯s turrets unleashed a torrent ofser and kic rounds.


    "Leave it to me," Cleo replied, calm as ever. She took control of the Wraith-ss Fighters, their sleek forms diving and weaving around the gunboat to carve a path through the enemy. "Our mission isn¡¯t to fight here, Rex. Head toward the; they won¡¯t follow us there."


    "You got it, beautiful!" Rex replied, gripping the controls and steering the gunboat toward the below. All around them, other ships weren¡¯t so lucky; massive transport carriers and smaller escorts were torn apart by the Hive ambush, debris scattering across the void like twisted confetti.


    Thanks to Cleo¡¯s tech expertise and the reinforced Kalezar shielding, their gunboat held steady. The energy shield shimmered under the constant barrage but stayed strong, deflecting the desperate lunges of the Khrassari, the Hive¡¯s vicious, bug-like fighters. Any that got too close were swiftly sted apart by the gunboat¡¯s turrets, each shooting a burst of light against the darkness.


    Finally, after what felt like hours but was only minutes, they broke through the swarm and began their descent to the¡¯s surface. But as they breached the atmosphere, the scene below was just as grim.


    The ground was a writhing mass of ck and green, a seething ocean of Khrassari troops. The entirendscape seemed alive, crawling with the hive¡¯s forces as far as the eye could see. It was an alien nightmare, the skies dark with the shadows of Hive drones circling like vultures over a fresh kill.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex took a shaky breath, gripping the controls tighter. "Alright, Cleo. Let¡¯s get down there and show these Khryssari what happens when they pick a fight with us."


    The gunboat¡¯s turrets retracted smoothly into the hull, only to reemerge momentster from the underside, their positioning now optimized for Rex¡¯s next move.


    "Everything¡¯s ready, Rex. Whenever you¡¯re set," Cleo said, standing beside him, surrounded by floating blue screens filled with tactical data.


    Rex grinned, tapping the automatic fire button on his console. "Now this feels like being a big shot!" As themand registered, the turrets unleashed a storm ofser fire and copper rounds, raining destruction down on the Khryssari forces below. In mere seconds, the swarm of alien warriors directly beneath them was vaporized into smoking craters.


    "Now, Cleo! Deploy the Aegis Units!" Rex said, jumping up from the pilot¡¯s seat. "I¡¯m heading down; the gunboat¡¯s all yours. Keep me covered, unless you¡¯re ready to be a widow!" he added with a mischievous smirk.


    Cleo rolled her eyes. "Hmph."


    Leaving Cleo to the controls, Rex made his way to the cargo bay, where Carlos and Ys were waiting. Carlos stood with his usual swagger, holding a massive hammer in one hand and a reinforced gunshield in the other, a grin stered across his face.


    "Hey, you two ready for some fun?" Rex asked, cracking his knuckles.


    Carlos gave a heartyugh. "Ready? I¡¯m a damn tank now! Six months of training, and I¡¯m tougher than ever!" He pounded a fist on his chest armor, a dull metallic thud echoing through the bay.


    Rex smirked. "Still the same, huh? Good to see you haven¡¯t lost that ego, baldy. Guess that means I can sit back and let you handle everything?"


    Carlos scoffed, holding his gunshield up with pride. "Pfft. Feel free. But if that pretty little face of yours gets a scratch, you know the girls are going to kill me."


    "Who you calling pretty boy?" Rex shot back with a grin. "You wanna settle this right here?"


    They both stared each other down, silent¡­ until they burst intoughter.


    "Hahaha!"


    "Good to see you back, my bald brother!"


    Carlos pped him on the shoulder. "Same to you, sissy-looking brother!"


    Ys rolled her eyes, pouting. "Ugh, why are you more excited to see him than you are to see me? Is he that much better looking in your eyes?"


    Rex threw her a teasing grin. "Aw, c¡¯mon, Ys. I just missed my bald-headed brother here! Besides, he¡¯s basically your brother-inw too, so you better keep his shiny head safe down there!"


    She sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But no promises if he messes up."


    Rexughed and stepped forward, a confident gleam in his eyes. "Alright, enough banter. Time for the stars of the show to make their entrance." At hismand, his armor materialized around him in a brilliant disy, gleaming white with golden ents, each piece locking into ce until his helmet sealed with a satisfying click.


    Golden light shone from the helmet¡¯s eye slits and trim, casting an almost holy glow over the entire suit.


    "Remember, Ys," Rex said, ncing over his shoulder, "no wings. We don¡¯t want to blow our cover. For now, hop on my back; I¡¯ll get us to the ground."


    Ys grinned and climbed onto his back, settling infortably as he adjusted his stance to bnce her. With a final nod, he called out, "Cleo! Activate the Aegis Sentinels!"


    And so, the first great war of Rex begins!

 Chapter 53: The first wave (2).

    At Rex¡¯smand, the room lit up with hundreds of golden eyes, each belonging to an Aegis Unit. They hummed to life, their metallic forms gleaming in the dim bay, ready to be unleashed on the Hive. It was as if a sleeping army had just awoken, each sentinel hungry for battle.


    As the bay doors slid open, Rex took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle on him. The cold air whipped in, and he stared down at the endless swarm of Khryssari below, covering the¡¯s surface in a dark, writhing mass.


    "This is it, folks," he said, his voice steady with anticipation. "Time to make these bugs regret ever messing with us." And with that, Rex leapt from the gunboat, diving headfirst into the chaos, with Ys on his back and the Aegis Sentinels close behind. It was time to bring the wrath of the stars down on the Hive.


    As Rex and his team were near the ground, theirnding props roared to life, creating a storm of dust and debris. For a moment, everything was obscured by the thick cloud they¡¯d kicked up.


    Then, like thunder from a storm, golden sma bolts erupted from within the dust cloud,ncing out toward the Khryssari warriors. The alien creatures screamed as the searing sma struck their bodies.


    But the Khryssari adapted quickly. After the initial volley, they began dodging, their swift, insectoid bodies weaving around the slower-moving sma bolts. Their sheer numbers made them a relentless tide, closing in from all sides like a swarm of angry hos.


    Up above, Cleo was locked in her own battle. She was supposed to be providing fire support from the gunship, but a wave of Khryssari Skydancers had her fully upied. The alien fighters dove at her from all angles, forcing her to maneuver the gunship far away from her ground troops.


    Even with the assistance of the four Wraith-ss fighters, it was all she could do to keep them at bay. Ground support would have to wait.


    Meanwhile, back on the ground, Carlos was holding his own in the chaos. With a wild grin, he stood atop the body of a Khryssari warrior he¡¯d just ttened with his hammer.


    "This area¡¯s VIP only! Show me your pass, please!" he called out, taunting the oing swarm.


    But his moment of bravado was cut short as a barrage of green sma bolts streaked toward him. "W-What! That¡¯s cheating!" Carlos yelped, diving behind the fallen Khryssari for cover as sma scorched the air around him.


    Through hismunicator, Rex¡¯sughter crackled into his helmet. "What the hell were you thinking, baldy? Only an idiot brings a hammer to a gunfight!"


    "Then what the hell am I supposed to do, Rex?!" Carlos yelled back; the frustration was clear in his voice. "This hammer¡¯s all I got!"


    Rex chuckled, looking up at the sky. "Chill out, Baldy, the airdrops are on their way. Cleo¡¯s been cooking up some new toys for us; all those months in theb weren¡¯t for nothing."


    Carlos¡¯s eyes lit up as he scanned the sky. "Oh hell yeah, about time! Alright, everyone fall back!" he called out, rallying with a renewed spark of hope.


    As the team regrouped, the Aegis Units sprang into action. Hundreds ofbat drones deployed from their ranks, their golden eyes shing as they dove into the fray. The drones fought fiercely, matching the Khryssari in brutality. They had no fear, no hesitation, just relentless, calcting aggression, surging forward to hold the line.


    But even an AI can be overwhelmed. For every Khryssari warrior that fell, two more took its ce. The drones and Aegis Units were holding the line, but the numbers were starting to tell. Shields flickered and failed, limbs were torn off by the Khryssari¡¯s organic sma weapons, and several Aegis units copsed, sparking and broken beyond repair.


    Rex gritted his teeth as he watched the Aegis Units falter. His fingers clenched around the hilt of his ymore sword. "Hang in there, guys," he muttered. "We just need a little more time."


    And then, with a loud whoosh, the sky above opened up, and a cluster of silver and blue pods descended, leaving trails of light in their wake. The airdrops had arrived.


    Each podnded with a thunderous impact, scattering the Khryssari nearby. As the pods opened, they revealed racks of new weapons and armor, shining with Cleo¡¯stest tech enhancements. Among them was a massive sma cannon and a sleek, ck exosuit designed to enhance strength and speed.


    Carlos¡¯s eyes widened as he grabbed the sma cannon, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Now this is what I¡¯m talking about!" He nced over at Rex, his hammer long forgotten. "Looks like I¡¯ve finally got a gun for this gunfight!"


    Rex smirked, grabbing his own upgraded exosuit and locking it into ce with a satisfying click. "Let¡¯s show these bugs they picked the wrong to mess with."


    Ys hopped off Rex¡¯s back and grabbed a pair of sma daggers from one of the pods, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "These are mine now! theyre pretty."


    The team regrouped, each member now decked out in cutting-edge gear, standing tall as the Aegis Units rallied behind them. The Khryssari swarm was closing in, sensing a final push.


    Rex raised his ymore sword, its golden edge glowing fiercely. "Alright, everyone! Let¡¯s light them up!"


    The battle turned in an instant. sma bolts tore through the Khryssari ranks, Carlos¡¯s new cannon sting holes in their lines as Ys weaved through, her daggers a blur of light and fury. Rex led the charge, carving a path with every swing of his de, while the Aegis Units andbat drones pushed forward, regaining ground.


    From above, Cleo finally got a break as the Skydancers fell back, giving her a chance to unleash the gunship¡¯s full firepower. Lasers and missiles rained down, tearing through the Khryssari forces like paper.


    As the dust settled and the smoke cleared, the ground was littered with fallen. The Khryssari forces were decimated, their numbers broken and scattered. Rex, Carlos, Ys, and Cleo stood tall amidst the wreckage, bruised but victorious.


    Rex looked around at his team, a smirk on his face. "Not bad for some office workers, huh?"


    Carlosughed, wiping alien goo off his new cannon. "Damn right. Now, who¡¯s ready to get back to the ship and celebrate?"


    Ys turned to Carlos, giving him a look that could only mean You absolute idiot.


    "Do you seriously think it¡¯s that easy to beat the Khryssari?"


    Carlos, oblivious, shrugged. "What? I don¡¯t see any more of them! It¡¯s clear we won this area, no?"


    As the words left his mouth, the ground beneath them began to crack, deep fissures snaking out in every direction.


    "RUN!" Ys screamed, bolting away at full speed. The Aegis Units also started to run behind her without a second thought.


    Rex and Carlos exchanged a quick, confused nce, but instinct kicked in, and they turned to flee. Unfortunately, it was already toote. With a deafening roar, a monstrous pair of jaws burst from beneath the ground, swallowing Rex and Carlos whole.


    The creature that emerged was massive, its scale dwarfing even Cleo¡¯s gunship. Its skin was dark and ridged, a hide that looked as tough as starship armor. It reared back, opening its gaping maw to let out a thunderous roar, and as it did, a fresh swarm of Khryssari skydancers and K. warriors spilled out from its mouth like a gue.


    Cleo¡¯s voice crackled over themunicator, calm butmanding. "All units, retreat at least ten kilometers from the worm. The area is lost."


    She turned her attention to Ys, who was watching the chaos with an unreadable expression. "And you too, Khryssari girl. Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll be fine."


    Ys scoffed, crossing her arms. "Worried? Please. The only thing on my mind right now is where to find some water, since my darling¡¯s going toe out smelling like worm guts." She nced around as if genuinely considering where to find water. Even Cleo, normally unppable, was momentarily speechless.


    As the Aegis Units fell back, Cleo brought the gunship around and unleashed everything she had on the worm. Lasers, missiles, and sma rounds hammered into the creature¡¯s tough hide. Then she deployed the hive missiles, dozens at a time, each one spiraling through the air before exploding against the worm with blinding shes.


    It was the same weapon she¡¯d used to level entire bandit camps before, but even this wasn¡¯t enough to bring down the monster.


    In the meantime, deep inside the worm, Rex had already activated his bionics overdrive mode. He was carrying Carlos over his shoulder, flying through the creature¡¯s winding, organic tunnels as Carlos sted away at the swarming Skydancers that followed close behind.


    "Can¡¯t you fly faster?" Carlos yelled, squeezing off another shot that vaporized a Skydancer¡¯s head.


    "If your bald ass wasn¡¯t so heavy, we¡¯d be out of here already!" Rex snapped back, dodging another Skydancer that swooped dangerously close.


    Just then, Rex spotted a faint glimmer of daylight up ahead. "Look, Carlos! I can see the exit!" he shouted, pointing forward. Out of habit, his other hand started crafting a ymore sword out of habit, right as he forgot he was holding onto Carlos.


    There was a split second of realization before Carlos¡¯s eyes widened in horror. "Oh, hell no."


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    "A, crap," Rex muttered as his grip slipped.


    Carlos plummeted back down into the depths of the worm, his voice echoing, "AHHHHHHH! Fcckk yoooiiiu, Reeeexxxx!" His middle finger was still extended toward Rex as he vanished from sight.


    Outside, Cleo saw Rex finally burst out of the worm¡¯s mouth, holding Carlos from his legs, who had somehow managed to grab onto a Skydancer that was nowtched onto his arm, trying to bite through his armor.


    Carlos yanked his hammer off his back and smashed it down on the Skydancer¡¯s head with a sickening crunch. "I swear, one of these days, I¡¯m going to kill you, Rex," he growled, swatting another Skydancer out of the air.


    Rexughed, not the least bit fazed. "Come on, Baldy, admit it, that was funny as hell!"


    Carlos just red, swinging his hammer at anything that moved. "Next time you drop me in a worm, I¡¯m going to smash your head open, pretty boy."


    Rex chuckled and steered them back to the gunboat. As they docked, Cleo already had the engines primed, ready to get them clear of the immediate danger. Once they were safely aboard, they regrouped with Ys to figure out their next move.

 Chapter 54: First wave (3)

    Ys raised an eyebrow as Rex and Carlos entered, both covered in the worm green fluids and breathing heavily. "Have a nice swim, boys?"


    Rex shrugged, shing a grin. "A little slimier than I¡¯d like, but we¡¯re still in one piece."


    Carlos wiped a glob of green muck off his shoulder, muttering, "Speak for yourself. That worm tried to digest us."


    Cleo¡¯s hologram flickered to life beside them, arms crossed. "Alright, geniuses, any bright ideas on how to take down something that big?"


    Rex looked back at the massive worm in the distance, its monstrous form still writhing as the Khryssari swarmed around it like an army guarding their king. He smirked, tapping his helmet. "Yeah, I think I¡¯ve got a n. But it¡¯s going to take all of us."


    Ys rolled her eyes, though a hint of a smile yed at her lips. "You better make it good, darling. I¡¯d hate to have to scrape you off that thing¡¯s teeth again."


    Rex winked. "Trust me. This time, we¡¯re taking that worm down for good."


    After a few tense minutes of regrouping, Rex and his team dropped back into the chaos below. All around, Aegis units and their swarms of drones fought tooth and nail against the relentless Khryssari swarm.


    Every second it seemed, they were losing ground, pushed back by the sheer weight of the Khryssari swarm that closed in from every direction.


    "Alright, everyone! This is our shot! Stay close and follow me!" Rex shouted, crafting two massive swords from thin air, then sprinting off to the right instead of heading straight for the giant worm at the center of it all.


    The Aegis soldiers didn¡¯t hesitate; they fell in line behind him, and so did Ys and Carlos, following Rex¡¯s lead. Around them, the battlefield was a nightmare, since there was an ocean of ck and green as far as the eye could see, with Khryssari warriors ripping through fresh allied troops almost as fast as they couldnd.


    The entire scene looked like something straight out of a horror film: smoke, fire, and a hellish green glow pulsing from the Khryssari weapons.


    Every time a transport ship touched down, it was instantly swarmed, soldiers barely stepping onto the ground before being pulled into the fray. mes erupted, explosions rocked the air, and some ships didn¡¯t even make it that far since they were knocked out of the sky by the monstrous skydancers, plummeting down in spirals of fiery wreckage.


    But a few transports, either through sheer luck or stubbornness, managed tond and unload, and these soldiers fought with a kind of fierce desperation that only those with no escape could muster. These were the ones Rex was determined to reach.


    "Sir! We can¡¯t hold them any longer! There¡¯s just too many!" A young recruit¡¯s voice cracked over thems, barely audible over the roaring chaos.


    "Doesn¡¯t matter how many there are!" Hismanding officer barked back, his voice ragged but solid as iron. "We¡¯re not going anywhere, so make every shot count! Keep firing, kid, and¡ª"


    A sh of green light burst to their left. The officer turned, just in time to see the young recruit¡¯s face dissolve under a Khryssari biosma round. One second, he was there; the next, there was nothing left but a thin plume of ash drifting on the wind.


    The officer¡¯s face twisted in rage. "You dirty, overgrown cockroaches!" he snarled, raising his electric rifle and unleashing a storm of gunfire. The shots sprayed wildly, tearing through the K. Warriors ranks, until one of the hulking Khryssari Warriors leaped at him, its fanged maw open in a ghastly grin.


    "Oh, you want a piece of me? Come on, then!" He roared, lifting his rifle defiantly, even though he knew it was empty. The creature barreled toward him, a tidal wave of muscle and mandibles, and he braced himself, teeth gritted, ready for whatever came next.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But just as he was about to meet his fate, a shadowy figure of white and gold shot past his vision, mming into the Khryssari Warrior with enough force to shake the ground. In the blink of an eye, the alien beast was on its back, pinned beneath a blinding blur of steel and golden light.


    It was Rex, standing over the fallen creature, des glinting. He shot the officer a quick grin. "Mind if I crash the party?"


    The captain barely had time to process the chaos unfolding around him. Just moments ago, the Khryssari Warriors had been closing in, ready to finish them off... but suddenly, hundreds of golden sma sts rained down, ripping through the alien horde like a cosmic storm.


    He turned to his left and saw an entire army, d in white and gold, surging toward the battlefield. The sight was nothing short of breathtaking.


    And then, as if things couldn¡¯t get crazier, a swarm ofbat drones swooped in, guns zing. Leading the charge was a figure in gray armor, wielding a massive shield and hammer, striding fearlessly into the Khryssari ranks. The bugs attacks bounced harmlessly off his shimmering energy shield, unable to break through.


    "Haha, bring it on, you ugly bUgs!" Carlos shouted, his voice full of manic glee. "I¡¯ve been dying to test out this little toy my sister-inw built for me!" He tapped a button on his ck backpack, and with a loud click, two robotic arms sprang up over his shoulders.


    Each arm ended in a minigun, and as soon as they came out, they started to fire, one spitting a hail of golden bullets, the other firing aser beam that tore through the Khryssari bio-armor with deadly efficiency.


    Golden tracer rounds lit up the air, while theser minigun carved precise, red-hot lines through the enemy ranks. Carlosughed wildly as he mowed down anything that dared get close.


    Meanwhile, the captain watched in awe as the white-armored giant who had saved him earlier strode over, calm and unshakable amidst the carnage. "Hey there," the neer said with a grin. "I¡¯m Rex, captain of this squad. We¡¯re looking to rally forces, rescue other teams, and set up a real defense line. How about it? Wanna join us?"


    The captain, still wide-eyed but now feeling a surge of hope, gave a firm nod. "Count me in," he replied, reloading his electric rifle. "My team and I are ready to fight by your side."


    "That¡¯s the spirit!" Rex said, pping the captain on the shoulder. "By the way, got any heavy weapons or something fun we can take along?"


    The captain scratched his chin, then a glint sparked in his eye. "We¡¯ve got a truck in the cargo hold. The back¡¯s been modified; it¡¯s got an artillery cannon instead of a regr payload."


    Rex let out a low whistle. "A truck with a cannon? Now that¡¯s my kind of ride. Alright, tell one of your guys to get it rolling. We¡¯ll take it with us."


    The captain grinned and barked orders. "You two! Get that truck fired up and follow us!"


    As Rex turned, he felt a familiar weight settle onto his back, followed by the unmistakable sensation of arms and legs wrapping around him. "Darling¡«," came Ys¡¯s voice in a yful whisper, "so this was your n all along?"


    Though she was invisible, Rex knew her touch instantly. He chuckled, keeping his eyes on the battlefield as she clung to him. "What can I say? I thought a grand entrance might impress you."


    With a sigh, Ys tightened her grip around his neck, smirking. "You¡¯re lucky I like grand gestures."


    Rex winked. "Then stick around. This is just the opening act."


    "S-Sir! Look out! There¡¯s a whole swarm of Skydancers iing!" One of the new recruits shouted, his voice barely steady.


    Rex nced over his shoulder, then shrugged,pletely unfazed. "Rx, kid. Nothing to worry about; they¡¯re not the only ones with air support."


    While the others watched nervously as the Skydancers closed in, Rex just pointed a finger up at the dark sky. Momentster, two blindingly bright redser lines cut through the clouds, searing toward the enemy swarm.


    A split secondter, the night exploded with a rain of yellow tracer rounds from Cleo¡¯s gunboat. The Skydancers began to plummet from the sky, some in mes, others shattered to pieces. Four sleek wraith fighters dove into the fray, weaving through the chaos, tearing the remaining Skydancers apart with precision shots.


    The recruits stood, wide-eyed, watching the aerial carnage as the Skydancer bodies, or what was left of them, began to rain down.


    "I know I said not to worry," Rex said with a grin, "but on second thought, you might want to move. Fast. Unless, of course, you feel like getting squashed by falling Skydancer chunks."


    The team captain needed no further prompting. "Alright, everyone! Move out!" he barked, and the squad broke into a sprint, dodging the asional piece of ming Skydancer debris as Rex led them onward to the next objective.


    With that same mix of bravado and tactical genius, Rex continued to sweep across the battlefield, rallying scattered units and pulling together a makeshift army of stragglers. There was something about him, it was maybe a kind of charisma, that made people want to follow him.


    Or maybe it was just the sight of his growing battalion cutting through the Khryssari swarm like a de through water. Either way, they fell in line, fighting with renewed energy under hismand.


    At the end of the day, it didn¡¯t really matter why they followed him, only that they did. Rex had one goal in mind: gather enough firepower to take down the monstrous worm lurking in the distance. And the bonus that came with it? Just a juicy little motivator.


    Up in orbit, General Leena Valrix stood on the bridge of her gship, watching the space battle unfold. Her sharp eyes never left the data feed from theary surface, constantly shifting with updates and statistics on the ground invasion.


    "You there," she said, gesturing to the officer beside her, "give me an update on the ground battle. How are our forces holding?"


    "Ma¡¯am!" The officer straightened up, saluting sharply. "Thanks to our spy drones, we¡¯re able to monitor most of the surface activity. Initially, the battle proceeded as expected, but... well, something unexpected has happened in thest few hours."


    Leena¡¯s eyes narrowed, a hint of curiosity shing in her gaze. "And what would that be, officer?"


    "Well...."

 Chapter 55: Devil whisper.

    The officer gulped, pulling up a data feed with a shaky hand. "Uh... it¡¯s someone named Rex Nyx, ma¡¯am. Reports describe him as... unusually charismatic. He¡¯s managed to rally troops from all over the battlefield, and they¡¯re now following him through the Khryssari ranks, cutting them down like...


    well, like weeds."


    Leena smirked, folding her arms. "Interesting. So, he¡¯s not just another grunt."


    The officer nodded vigorously. "No, ma¡¯am. If he keeps up this pace, we may even have a chance at... well, actually winning this front."


    Leena looked out the viewport, her gaze piercing through the vastness of space toward the below. "Keep me updated on this Rex. I want to see just how far he can go."


    Back on the surface, Rex smirked, somehow sensing that eyes were on him from above. With a glint in his eye, he muttered under his breath, "Hope you¡¯re watching, General. You¡¯re about to see what a real show looks like."


    Rex stood atop a pile of dead Khryssari Warriors, his silhouette outlined against the smoky sky. Ys satfortably on his shoulders, her legs draped around him, surveying the amassed forces below. Hours of relentless fighting had finally paid off since he¡¯d gathered a small army, vehicles, and a fleet of ships ready to take the fight to the enemy.


    [Allied Infantry] x860 ???????[Wraith Fighters] x4


    [Aegis Units] x87 ?????????[Cleo Gunboat] x1


    [Allied Vehicles] x35


    [Allied Artillery] x5


    [Gunboats] x3


    [Allied Fighters] x15


    Rex nced up at Ys, who was grinning down at him with that devilish look he knew all too well.


    "Uh... Ys, have I ever mentioned how... soft you are?" Rex asked, his face suspiciously close to her legs, trying to sound casual.


    She raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Oh?¡« Enjoying yourself, are we?" she teased, giving him a yful squeeze with her thighs.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex coughed, trying to keep hisposure. "Ahem, isn¡¯t it a little inappropriate to be... doing this in the middle of a war?" His words sounded stern, but the look on his face said otherwise.


    "Oh, you¡¯re one to talk¡«," sheughed, leaning down and whispering into his ear. "Anyway, hold still. I don¡¯t want your helmet getting in the way." She brushed her legs against him, causing him to turn slightly pink even beneath the helmet¡¯s visor.


    "Wait¡ªYs, how am I even feeling your legs through your armor?" Rex asked, his voice filled with sudden suspicion.


    "Aha¡«," she whispered mischievously, "well, the secret¡¯s out." She let her invisible cloak flicker off, revealing herself. Rex¡¯s eyes widened as he took in her appearance; she wasn¡¯t naked, but she had removed her bio-armor from her legs, leaving her in a small, ck pair of shorts that hugged her pale skin.


    Rex blinked, his gaze momentarily transfixed by the sight. She noticed and leaned in with a smirk. "Darling¡«, you know that big worm over there?" She pointed at the massive creature writhing in the distance.


    "Its nucleus is packed with nutrients. If I consume it, I might just be able to... grow a bit." She traced a finger along his armor, letting her voice dip into a yful tone. "I¡¯d still be smaller than you, but... big enough, maybe?¡«"


    With that, she activated her invisibility again, fading from sight with a wink. Her voice was a soft, tempting whisper in his ear. "So work hard, Rex. You might just earn yourself a reward¡«."


    Her words lit a fire in Rex¡¯s eyes, and his focus snapped back to the battlefield. His helmet materialized in an instant, a heavy ymore forming in his hand. With a booming voice that carried across the ranks, he called out to his troops.


    "Everyone! Listen up! The time hase!" he shouted, raising his ymore high. "Our objective is that giant worm right there! Take it down, and we control this area! And the bonus won¡¯t be small, either!"


    He looked over his gathered forces, his armor gleaming as the golden ents caught the light. "So stand with me, brothers and sisters! Today, we make our stand! We¡¯ll show everyone that we¡¯re not just cannon fodder! CHARGE!"


    The troops roared in response, their voices echoing across the battlefield. Rex leaped from the pile of Khryssari corpses, his golden armor zing like a beacon as he led the charge. The promise of glory and perhaps a little something more were driving him forward with renewed vigor.


    The entire battalion surged forward, trailing behind Rex as he led the charge. Artillery trucks rolled slowly across the battlefield, their massive guns thundering non-stop, sending explosive shells that kicked up towering clouds of dust and debris.


    Visibility was low, and thanks to that, both sides were firing blindly, aiming at thest known positions of their enemies and praying they¡¯dnd their shots before getting hit themselves.


    To Rex¡¯s left, Carlosmanded a squadron of armored vehicles, standing proudly on top of a hovertank brought in by one of the other teams.


    His crew moved in a swift, calcted pattern, pushing deep into the Khryssari ranks only to retreat back 500 meters, luring a mass of the swarm right into the crosshairs of Cleo¡¯s gunboat turrets. The gunboats unleashed a deadly barrage, reducing the pursuing Khryssari to ashes.


    Above, Cleomanded the air units with ruthless precision. Her gunboats hovered like vignt hawks, raining down support fire on the ground units, while the Wraith fighters darted through the air, intercepting Skydancers and tearing them from the sky.


    Each allied fighter danced through the smoke and chaos, keeping the skies clear and protecting the ground forces below.


    On the right nk, a captain from Nexum Dynamics, one of the officers Rex had rescued, took charge, maneuvering his hovertanks with brutal efficiency. This was his element, and Rex had given him fullmand of the right side. So far, he was proving himself more than capable, turning his forces into a formidable wall of metal and firepower.


    This ragtag collection of survivors had be an iron fortress, standing their ground like battle-hardened veterans. What had started as a scattered front line was now a unified force, holding their own against the Khryssari swarm.


    The troops fought with a ferocity that matched or even rivaled the veteran soldiers of the Megacorps.


    But none of them realized that their newfound strength, their unwavering courage, was drawn from the aura radiating off Rex himself.


    He didn¡¯t know it either since he was too focused, too driven, to notice the effect he had on those around him. To him, there was only the mission. Nothing else mattered. He was a force of pure will, a man who¡¯d fight through an army without a second thought.


    Rex¡¯s HUD was a mess of shing yellow alerts, ring warnings from every direction as shots came in from all sides. He dodged what he could, slicing through iing enemies with masterful precision.


    When he couldn¡¯t dodge, he simply grabbed the nearest Khryssari and used its body as a shield, then tossed it aside and pressed forward, his eyes locked on the worm looming in the distance.


    His ymore blurred with speed, a silver streak in his hands. Cleo¡¯s first fusion upgrade, the Sword Mastery module, was working in perfect sync with his movements.


    His de moved faster than the eye could follow, cleaving through Khryssari bio-armor with ease. The alien warriors fell before him like stalks of wheat under a scythe, their once-imposing bodies reduced to lifeless heaps in his wake.


    Carlosughed over thems, his voice full of adrenaline. "Rex, you¡¯re turning these bugs into minced meat down there! Save some for the rest of us!"


    Rex smirked, not breaking his stride. "Keep up, and maybe you¡¯ll get your fair share!"


    Ys¡¯s voice chimed in, warm and teasing. "Oh, he¡¯s just showing off, as usual. I swear, he¡¯d try to outdo a tank if he could."


    Meanwhile, from her gunboat, Cleo¡¯s voice crackled in. "Rex, remember we¡¯re here to support you, not to scrape you off the battlefield when you get reckless."


    "Rx, Cleo. I¡¯ve got this covered," Rex replied, his voice confident but his grip tightening on his ymore as he pushed further.


    For every enemy that fell, another took its ce. The Khryssari seemed endless, a living tide of armor and ws. But Rex never faltered. He was a man with a mission, and nothing, no swarm, no skydancer, no monster worm was going to stop him.


    With his armor glowing under the bombardment, Rex let out a rallying cry. "Forward! This worm¡¯s not going to kill itself! For victory! For the bonus!"


    Rex¡¯s actions struck like lightning across the battlefield. His every move was like a dance, every word dripping with a fierce, untamed heroism that filled his allies with strength they didn¡¯t even know they had.


    Those who could hear him felt a primal surge of courage as if they were in the presence of a god, an unstoppable force tearing through the darkness to show them the way.


    But nothing could be further from the truth. Rex wasn¡¯t thinking of glory, or victory, or even survival. His mind was fixated on a single, haunting image: Ys¡¯s legs disappearing into the shadows and her final words echoing in his ears.


    He would not fall here, not now. With his objective so close, nothing would stand in his way.


    Meanwhile, aboard the gship, General Leena Valrix stared out across the bridge, her face impassive. That changed the moment her officer came running toward her, breathless. "General! The individual you ordered me to monitor, he¡¯s... he¡¯s on the move! It¡¯s huge!"


    Her expression remained calm, but there was a glint of something in her eyes. "Show me," she said, voice as steady as iron. The officer handed her a tablet, and she took it without a word, connecting it to the central holographic disy.


    The bridge filled with a sharp, blue light as data flickered to life before her. For a moment, she was silent, just staring. And then she whispered, almost to herself, "This... this can¡¯t be."


    Around her, the officers exchanged nces, unsure of what they were witnessing, but they all knew one thing: whatever was happening, it was beyond anything they¡¯d prepared for.

 Chapter 56: Conqueror (1)

    After hours of relentless fighting, Rex¡¯s forces and their allies had wed their way halfway to the giant worm. But they were on theirst breath. The troops¡¯ faces were pale, their movements sluggish, and by the look of it, a final push would be impossible.


    Stamina wasn¡¯t their only problem since their ammunition was also almost gone. Each shot fired felt like a gamble, a precious resource slipping through their fingers.


    Even Rex, with his body enhanced by bionics, could feel the toll. Despite his reinforced limbs and boosted endurance, he was still human beneath the metal. Fighting with this intensity for hours on end had pushed his body to its breaking point.


    As he parried a swing from a K. warrior, a blow he would¡¯ve dodged easily just hours before, another one blindsided him. A massive w caught him in the side, sending him flying. He crashed to the ground, skidding and bouncing like a ragdoll until he could bury his sword in the dirt, halting his momentum.


    "Fuck! These damn bugs are endless!" He snarled, breathing heavily as he forced himself upright, his body feeling twice as heavy as it should. "Cleo, what¡¯s the status over there?"


    "Not good, Rex," came Cleo¡¯s voice, calm but edged with worry. Her face flickered across several blue screens in hermand center. "Our progress has stalled. The armored vehicles are nearly out of fuel, and our gunboats and fighters are running on ammo. I rmend we fall back by a kilometer and set up a defensive perimeter so we can resupply and catch our breath."


    Rex gritted his teeth, ncing at his exhausted troops. "Fine. Send the order to fall back. And ping our¡¯recruiter¡¯ friend, tell him we need supplies at our location ASAP."


    "Understood."


    Amidst the chaos of battle, Cleo¡¯smand ryed to every soldier¡¯s HUD. The retreat was slow and brutal, every step backward contested by the relentless swarm.


    It took them two grueling imperial hours to reach the fallback point, a narrow valley nestled between two rugged, t-topped mountains. It was a natural stronghold, a perfect spot to dig in and resupply. Only problem? No way up.


    Cleo didn¡¯t hesitate. She ordered missile strikes on one side of the mountain, sting a makeshift path into the rock. With each explosion, the mountain face crumbled, leaving a rough trail for the troops to ascend.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Finally, they reached the summit. As the troops set up defensive positions, supply ships arrived,nding on the mountaintop with a low rumble. Cleo coordinated the resupply efforts, sending dozens of cargo drones to ferry ammunition and fuel to the fighters still holding the line below.


    While all this unfolded, Rexy sprawled out on a red rock, breathing heavily, his helmet still on due to the¡¯sck of oxygen. He could feel the heat building up inside his armor, beads of sweat running down his neck.


    Carlos plodded over and dropped to the ground beside him, looking as worn out as Rex felt. "Rex, you¡¯re a damn ve driver," he muttered, panting, barely able to get the words out.


    Rex chuckled, a deep, rough sound. "Oh, quit whining! This is just the beginning of our path to the stars!" He stretched out a hand toward the sky, closing his fist as if he could grab hold of the heavens themselves.


    Carlos let out a dryugh. "Stars? After today, I¡¯d rather keep my feet on solid ground and just watch what happens up there." He tilted his head back, eyes scanning the chaos above them.


    The sky was a violent mixture of light and shadow. Explosions burst like fireworks, sshes of red and green shing against the dark. Broken ships fell toward the, their hulls scarred with strange green acid that ate through metal like it was paper.


    "Those are just small details, my bald friend!" Rex said, waving dismissively, as if the carnage overhead was nothing more than a passing storm.


    Carlos sighed, shaking his head. "Sometimes, Rex, I really wish I had your optimism."


    Just as Rex opened his mouth to say something, a weight dropped onto him from out of nowhere. "Ahhhh, I¡¯m so tired! Why do we have to fight without using our mental abilities!?" Ys groaned, appearing out of thin air as her invisibility faded.


    She was sprawled across him, hugging him tightly, her armor and face smeared with the green blood of the Khryssari she¡¯d in.


    Rex, too exhausted to argue, simply lifted a finger and pointed at Carlos. "me the bald guy."


    "Ha!? How is this my fault?" Carlos protested, though it was half-hearted, barely more than a mumble. He was too spent to even put up a real fight, and his voice came out weak and hoarse. "I can¡¯t even do that sorcery you two pull off. Leave me out of it¡­"


    And just like that, the three of them copsed into a deep sleep, oblivious to the war raging around them. Rex fell asleep right there on the hard rock, his heavy arm wrapped protectively around a dozing Ys, while Carlos slumped to the ground nearby, looking like a defeated child, head drooping as sleep overtook him.


    Watching from a distance, Cleo shook her head with a sigh. She tapped her console, ordering the newly resupplied Aegis units to form a defensive perimeter around the exhausted trio, ensuring they¡¯d be safe while they slept.


    Hours slipped by, and when Rex finally opened his eyes, the pale light of daytime had swept over the. But even with the sun high above, enormous shadows stretched across the battlefield, cast by the hulking forms of both Khryssari and Allied ships locked in orbit.


    It gave thendscape an eerie twilight feel, as though night itself refused to yield to the dawn.


    The change to daytime brought something else; a fierce wind began to whip across the barren ins, stirring up massive sandstorms that swallowed the battlefield in thick clouds of dust. Visibility dropped to almost nothing, reducing both armies to dark, shifting silhouettes barely visible through the haze.


    The sandstorm was no ally to either side. Khryssari and allied forces alike were left struggling to see more than a few meters in front of them, sensors cutting down to 40% effectiveness as the blinding storm raged.


    Rex, now fully awake and revitalized, had already made his way to the frontlines. Standing amid the swirling sands, he barked out orders, rallying the troops and preparing them for the next charge and, with any luck, thest one. Ys and Carlos took their positions on either side of him, weapons at the ready, their faces set with grim determination.


    They all knew this was it. Onest push, one final attempt to break through. The storm roared around them, dust whipping across their visors, but none of them flinched. Whatevery ahead, they would face it together.


    This time, Rex didn¡¯t need any grand speeches to rally his troops. Having survived the first brutal wave, the soldiers under hismand were more than ready to follow him. They¡¯d seen him fight, seen him bleed, and stood tall when others faltered.


    He was no distant leader; he was a king who fought on the front lines, a warrior they¡¯d dly charge into hell for.


    All Rex did was raise his sword and point it toward the looming giant worm. That simple gesture was enough. In every direction, a roar erupted as war cries filled the air, soldiers shouting with a mix of fear and unbreakable resolve.


    The hover tank engines roared to life, almost as if they too were joining the chorus, their heavy machinery rumbling and shaking like beasts hungry for battle.


    The tanks surged forward, close behind the infantry, firing blindly into the storm, hoping their rounds would find a target through the thick, swirling sand. Overhead, the air force joined the assault, all the fighters and gunboats screaming past Rex, engines zing, carving a path toward the enemy.


    In the midst of this chaos, a lone figure dressed in the typical intergctic news armor moved among the troops. Cameras strapped to his suit transmitted every second of the battle live, beaming the scene to millions of viewers across the gxy.


    He captured Rex standing atop the mountain, sword raised, framed by beams of light breaking through the sandstorm; it was an image that felt like something out of ancient legend. In that moment, Rex looked like a conqueror from a thousand years past, a warlord leading his people into glory.


    Comments exploded in the live stream.


    "Wow, he looks so handsome!"


    "Just how tall is that guy!?"


    "Anyone got any info on him?"


    "Does he have social media? Asking for... research purposes!"


    But civilians weren¡¯t the only ones watching. CEOs of the gxy¡¯srgest megacorporations were tuned in as well, eyes narrowed, minds racing. Rex¡¯s growing legend was already on their radar.


    To them, he wasn¡¯t a hero; he was a threat. A potential conqueror who, if left unchecked, could disrupt the fragile bnce of power they controlled so tightly. Quiet orders were sent, and investigations into Rex¡¯s origins began. They would not allow him to rise unchallenged.


    Rex, oblivious to the eyes watching him across the stars, leapt from the mountain,nding heavily on the battlefield below. Without missing a beat, he sprinted forward, cutting through the storm with an inhuman speed of 150 kilometers per hour, like a force of nature bearing down on the enemy.


    In moments, he was at the front lines, cleaving through a K. warrior with his ymore. The de sank deep into the alien¡¯s body, and with a fierce upward pull, he split it clean in half.


    He didn¡¯t stop. His gaze was locked on the worm in the distance, and he was prepared to carve his way through every enemy in his path to reach it. The second assault had begun, and this time, Rex wasn¡¯t holding back.


    He would do whatever it took and sacrifice whatever was necessary to close the distance and bring the beast down.


    With every step and every swing of his sword, his n moved forward, inching him closer to the victory thaty just beyond the storm.

 Chapter 57: Conqueror (2)

    The question of what it means to be a conqueror had truly, deeply, undeniably puzzled schrs from prestigious academies across the gxy. Even when discussing it bordered on the illegal, the most curious minds couldn¡¯t resist probing the truth.


    One of those schrs was a man who went by the audacious title The Great Micha. Yes, he¡¯d clearly chosen that name himself, but no one dared make much of it, given the type of knowledge he¡¯d acquired.


    Forbidden knowledge. The kind that made people whisper about his origins. Some said he was a rank-three or higher. Others muttered that he was a noble. And a few spected he was a bored CEO of some megacorp, ying around with ancient secrets for kicks. Whatever the truth, he became infamous for one thing: his forbidden book.


    The true conqueror.


    In it, Micha drew a sharp line between a "conqueror" and a "true conqueror." To him, a conqueror was just some rich kid with too much money, some noble with every pathid out before him. A pampered soul chasing glory for show.


    The book included two hundred pages, two hundred pages, of Micha mercilessly mocking the nobility, using words so disgusting that most schools opted to skip those chapters entirely for the sake of their students¡¯ mental health. But after that colorful tirade, the real content began.


    "A true conqueror," he wrote, "is not some pampered fool with a golden spoon shoved in his mouth from birth. No, this is someone born in the gutters, wing their way up from the trash heap of society."


    "While nobles hide behind walls of wealth and order their troops with fear, a true conqueror leads by example, inspiring loyalty with the sweat and blood they spill on the frontlines. The kind of king who goes into battle himself. That¡¯s someone the troops will follow."


    "Not because they¡¯re paid to, but because they want to. A true conqueror owns the world through sheer grit and fire, driven by a motivation so fierce it burns anyone who dares to stand in his way."


    "Ys thighsssss!" Rex thought, practically vibrating with excitement as he plunged his bare hand into the skull of a K. Skydancer, feeling the crunch of bone and mandibles.


    He leapt through the air,nding atop a towering K. warrior, and drove his ymore down with such force that the de went right through its armored head.


    Then, with a grin that would¡¯ve scared a lesser man, Rex hefted the ymore that was still embedded in the warrior¡¯s skull and swung the entire corpse like a battering ram, smashing it into other K. warriors. Carapaces cracked, limbs flew, and as he wrenched the sword free, the warrior¡¯s head split open with a wet, satisfying crunch.


    "Onward!" Rex bellowed, charging into the thick of the sandstorm with his troops close behind. The storm was a chaotic mess of stinging grit and shadowy figures, obscuring everything. He¡¯d already lost too many men to the random shots fired by the K. warriors lurking in the sand.


    Even the gunboats above couldn¡¯t risk giving cover fire; in this sandstorm, it was impossible to tell friend from foe.


    "Carlos! How¡¯s your side? Can you see anything?" Rex¡¯s voice crackled through themunicator in Carlos¡¯s helmet, barely audible over the sandstorm¡¯s howl. Explore stories at §Þ??


    "Negative! Same hell over here as everywhere else!" Carlos yelled back, firing his gunshield at a Skydancer swooping down toward him. "Though on the bright side, these damn bugs are shooting at us less than yesterday. I¡¯ll take what I can get!"


    Rex chuckled. "Hey, remember that time we went to that smoker bar?"


    Carlos snorted. "How could I forget? Couldn¡¯t see past our own hands in there. And if I remember right, someone plopped himself down right on top of an octopusdy."


    "Hey, she was sitting low! Anyone would¡¯ve made that mistake!" Rexughed, dodging a sma st from a K. warrior.


    Carlos rolled his eyes, mming his hammer down on another Skydancer that tried totch onto him. "Whatever you say, Rex. Anyway, that¡¯s the situation here. The only thing is, we¡¯re getting swarmed by the flyers now. I guess the air support¡¯s having as hard a time as we are with this sted storm."


    "But you got it handled, right?"


    "Yeah, yeah, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re fine."


    "Good. Keep pushing forward. Try to get to the worm and nt that charge, baldy!"


    "You got it, sissy!" Carlos grinned, firing off another round.


    Rex switched frequencies. "Ys! How¡¯s it going on your end?"


    "Oh, just peachy, darling¡«," came Ys¡¯s silky voice, cool and calm. She was riding a captured K. Skydancer, piloting it expertly toward the worm¡¯s gaping maw. "They haven¡¯t noticed me yet."


    "How long do you need to finish the job?"


    "Hmm¡­" She thought it over, her voice still carrying that sweet, teasing edge. "Maybe two or three imperial hours?"


    "Two hours max, then. We¡¯ll be there." Rex nodded, already mentally calcting their next steps. "Keep me posted if anything changes."


    "Understand, darling¡«," she said before disconnecting.


    Rex took a deep breath and scanned the horizon. Dust and sand whirled in every direction, visibility barely extending past 200 meters. It was like trying to fight in the middle of a dirt-filled blender. He keyed in another channel. "Cleo, any word on when this sandstorm¡¯s letting up? Or maybe something you can whip up to cut through it?"


    Cleo¡¯s voice was as blunt as ever. "Negative. With the resources I¡¯ve got, there¡¯s no way I can build anything like that. The ship assembly line is already on overdrive making ammo and energy cells."


    "Great," Rex muttered, watching a nearby st tear up the sand. "Guess we¡¯re doing this the hard way. Alright, Cleo, keep the suppliesing, and good luck up there."


    "Good luck to you too, Rex. Try not to get yourself killed."


    "Hey, hang on before you go¡ªpatch me through to everyone onms. Got a message for the team."


    There was a short pause "You¡¯re live."


    Rex cleared his throat, then spoke up in a booming voice. "Attention, squad 201! It¡¯s your sexy, handsome, phnthropist, and humble captain speaking. As you¡¯ve probably noticed, we¡¯re in a bit of a pickledown here. HQ¡¯s not sending reinforcements because, well, they see us as cheap meat with a clearance tag!"


    The channel erupted in grumbles and curses from his troops.


    "So listen up! We¡¯ve got two options: stay put and get buried in this godforsaken sandstorm, or charge forward at full speed and beat the odds ourselves! Miracles aren¡¯ting, people. The only way out is through."


    He paused, letting that sink in, then grinned. "So, if any of you want to live, I suggest you run! Run like your life depends on it, because it does! Don¡¯t stop, even if your legs are screaming. Run until you see that worm!"


    With that, Rex cut themunications and looked out over the shifting sands, grinning as his troops started to rally; their spirits fired up. He hoisted his ymore, his eyes zing with determination.


    Rex ran at a steady, human pace, careful not to leave his troops behind. The squad surged forward through the chaos, sprinting as if the devil himself was following them close behind, even as the air buzzed with searing sma bolts from the K. warriors.


    Their footsteps pounded through the storm, no one daring to slow down, not even when one of their own fell to a sma shot in the leg, calling out for help.


    There was no time to be merciful. If you got shot, you were on your own. If you ran out of breath, you were on your own. And if you lost your way in this swirling, blinding hell of sand and death? Well, you might as well be dead already.


    Rex had learned this hard truth long ago: in war,passion was a luxury, one that could get you killed. There were no miracles here. Only a raw, stubborn will to survive.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Far above them, on the bridge of the allied gship, Leena Valrix watched the battle unfold on her disy screens, her gaze cold and impassive as she tracked the chaotic mess of movement below. The sandstorm distorted the images, but she could see enough. An officer at her side hesitated before speaking.


    "Ma¡¯am, do you really think they can make it with those numbers? And in that sandstorm?" His eyes flicked from the monitor to her, nervous but curious.


    Leena didn¡¯t even look at him. "Impossible. That fool¡¯s too reckless. They may call him a ¡¯conqueror¡¯ in the news, but he¡¯s just a reckless kid who¡¯s out of his depth." Her tone was colder than space itself.


    The officer nced back at the screen, watching as the squad struggled forward, dodging the relentless sma fire. "But¡­ why do you say that, ma¡¯am?"


    She sighed, irritated. "First, they don¡¯t have the firepower to take down that worm. And second, he led them into the heart of that sandstorm without any cover. Amateur mistake."


    The young officer shifted ufortable. "But, ma¡¯am, isn¡¯t it because if they refused to fight, they¡¯d be in breach of their recruitment contracts?" He looked up, realizing he might¡¯ve spoken out of turn.


    Leena¡¯s eyes narrowed, her lips twisting into a humorless smile. "Hmph." She gave no further answer, though she knew he was right. But she wasn¡¯t about to admit fault in front of a mere junior officer.


    The officer, emboldened, pressed on. "Then, ma¡¯am, why don¡¯t we send reinforcements? One well-aimed shot from our cannons could obliterate that worm. They¡¯d have a real chance."


    She raised an eyebrow, looking at him as though he¡¯d just suggested something obscene. "Under intergcticw, orbital strikes are forbidden when a ground-based war of conquest is in progress. Besides, I¡¯m not wasting our elite forces on a fool¡¯s errand." Her tone turned mocking. "The first waves always look like this. Disposable. That¡¯s the point."


    A tense silence fell over the bridge for a moment, until a new voice, low and unyielding, cut through the air like a de.


    "I have heard enough."

 Chapter 58: Time over.

    The entiremand bridge went silent as Admiral Kael Voss himself stepped out of the shadows, his gaze like a thunderstorm brewing over a calm sea. Every officer on the bridge froze, and even Leena¡¯s expression slipped just for an instant, before she regained herposure.


    "Admiral Voss," she said, inclining her head ever so slightly, but her tone was tinged with a faint challenge. "I wasn¡¯t aware you were observing."


    "Clearly," Voss replied, his voice a quiet storm. His gaze shifted to the screen, watching Rex and his troops battling their way through the sandstorm below. "You call these soldiers ¡¯disposable.¡¯ Do you think they¡¯d see themselves that way?" Stay connected through §Þ??


    Leena straightened and answered. "With all due respect, Admiral, they are the first wave. It¡¯s standard practice."


    Voss turned to face her fully, his eyes hard as steel. "Standard practice or not, every soldier down there is trusting us. And that man you call a¡¯reckless kid¡¯ has earned the loyalty of every one of those troops. How many of our so-called ¡¯elite¡¯ would follow you into that storm without hesitation?"


    Leena clenched her jaw, the tension in the air thickening.


    Voss¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. "Patch me through to the surface."


    Themunications officer stammered, his hands trembling as he connected the channel. Voss¡¯s voice, calm but carrying an undeniable authority, boomed through themunications to Rex and his soldiers below.


    "This is Admiral Kael Voss. To every trooper of Squad 201, know that your bravery is seen. Your grit is known. And reinforcements areing."


    Down on the surface, the exhausted, battered soldiers looked up, eyes widening as they heard the admiral¡¯s voice echo through their helmets. Even Rex paused, a smile creeping across his face as he caught his breath.


    "Now that¡¯s what I call timing," he muttered, tightening his grip on his ymore. "Alright, Squad 201! Reinforcements or not, we¡¯re taking down that worm! Let¡¯s give them something to remember!"


    With a battle cry that cut through the storm, Rex surged forward, his squad rallying around him. The sandstorm raged, sma bolts streaked through the air, and the relentless warriors of Squad 201 charged ahead, knowing they weren¡¯t alone and that their fight had finally, truly been recognized.


    "So, how¡¯d you pull it off, Cleo? How¡¯d you manage to get the Admiral himself to send us backup?" Rex asked, still sprinting through the sandstorm, dodging biosma sts that lit up the haze around him.


    Cleo¡¯s voice came through his helmetmunicator, as calm and unbothered as ever. "I didn¡¯t have to do much. Just forwarded him some video footage my drones have been capturing down here. Oh, and maybe included a few distastefulments someone made about the courage of our ¡¯expendable¡¯ troops."


    Rexughed, narrowly sidestepping a sma shot that singed the ground beside him. "And that was enough to get his attention? I thought the big shots up there saw soldiers as nothing more than numbers."


    "Well, normally you¡¯d be right. But Admiral Kael Voss, he¡¯s different. Started as a mud-soaked rookie and wed his way up to admiral. He knows what it means to fight on the ground." There was a hint of pride in Cleo¡¯s voice, even though she¡¯d never admit it.


    "Ahhh, so he¡¯s one of the good ones. Got it." Rex grinned, then added with a wink she couldn¡¯t see, "Nicely yed, Cleo. Brains and beauty are always a deadlybo."


    Cleo¡¯s sigh came through thems, though he could practically see her rolling her eyes. "Focus, Rex. We may have reinforcements, but if Ys doesn¡¯t reach that worm¡¯s core before they get here, this whole operation could go sideways."


    "True enough. Let¡¯s just hope she makes it." Rex dodged another sma st and nced at the sky, as if somehow he could see Ys in the distance, racing to finish her part of the mission. "Because if she doesn¡¯t... well, at least we¡¯ll go down in the history books as the bravest idiots to ever get swallowed by a giant worm."


    Cleo¡¯s voice crackled back with just a touch of dry humor. "I¡¯ll be sure to make a note of it for your stone as yourst words, Rex."


    Rexughed, charging forward through the storm with his heart pounding and spirits high.


    On the other hand, Ys had already slipped past the worm¡¯s gaping maw, her invisibility cloak keeping her hidden from the Khryssari guards stationed near its entrance. All they saw was a single Skydancer gliding straight into the massive mouth of the worm, only to vanish as if swallowed by shadows.


    "Alright, let¡¯s think." Ys murmured, tapping her fingers against the side of her helmet as she drifted through the beast¡¯s winding corridors. "If I were a giant worm being used as a Khryssari transport, where would I hide my core?"


    She closed her eyes, concentrating, reaching out with her mind to sense the pulsing energy that would give away the core¡¯s location. Within moments, she felt a dense, throbbing mass of energy deep within the worm, surrounded byyers of armored tissue and fortified with bioweapons.


    "Aha¡«, gotcha," she muttered, a grin spreading across her face. "Next time, don¡¯t protect it so obviously¡«, it¡¯s like leaving a giant neon sign saying Important Organ Here. Not very clever for a brainless worm." With a satisfied smirk, she adjusted her course, moving stealthily toward the core, her pulse quickening.


    Meanwhile, out in the swirling sandstorm, Rex and his troops had managed to rendezvous with Carlos and his armored division. The tanks and armored vehicles were covered in sand and sma scoring, but they were still rolling strong.


    "Baldy!" Rex shouted, grinning under his helmet as he caught sight of Carlos. "So nice to see your shiny scalp in this damn sandy hell."


    Carlos barked augh. "And I¡¯m grateful you¡¯re wearing a helmet so I don¡¯t have to see that sissy face of yours!"


    The two men exchanged a quick fist bump, their troops taking a rare moment to catch their breath as sma sts briefly paused.


    "Alright, jokes aside, what¡¯s your situation, Baldy?" Rex asked, ncing at the battered tanks and sand-covered soldiers surrounding Carlos.


    Carlos gave a weary sigh. "Lost contact with four vehicles. Pretty sure they¡¯re gone by now. How about your end?"


    Rex turned and gestured to his ragged troops, sand-streaked and exhausted but still standing. "What you see is what I¡¯ve got left. Cleo¡¯s still using the Aegis Sentinels to sweep for anyone who¡¯s lost out there in the storm."


    Carlos nodded grimly. "So, are we sticking to the n or waiting for reinforcements?"


    "We¡¯re sticking to it. If we don¡¯t draw the swarm¡¯s attention and keep them busy, Ys won¡¯t have a clear shot at the core. We need to kill that worm before the reinforcements even get here."


    Carlos gave a short, approving nod. "Alright, I¡¯ll have my guys load up your troops on the hover tanks. We¡¯ll get them close enough for the next push. Tell ¡¯em to hold tight, since these Skydancers don¡¯t stoping."


    Rex turned to his soldiers, his voice booming over the storm. "Alright, you heard him! Get on the tanks; take a breather if you can. Just keep an eye out for those damn Skydancers!"


    The exhausted troopers scrambled aboard, grateful for a moment of rest. Rex, however, waved off Carlos¡¯s offer to hitch a ride.


    "I¡¯ll keep going on foot," he said with a smirk, giving his shoulders a stretch. "Still got plenty of energy left."


    Carlos shook his head,ughing. "Show-off."


    "Hey, you gotta keep the muscles pumped! Thedies love it," Rex said, flexing his arm with a mock-serious expression. "Besides, I¡¯m eating more these days; I gotta burn it off somehow."


    Carlos rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Just don¡¯t get yourself killed showing off. You know, us normal folks actually like the cover of an armored tank."


    As they continued forward, the soldiers behind them couldn¡¯t help but notice the way their leaders bantered, tossing jokes and insults back and forth like it was just another drill.


    For the troops, it was oddlyforting, a reminder that even in the middle of this brutal sandstorm, with biosma raining down and death at every corner, their captains weren¡¯t rattled. They were focused, ready, and unshaken.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    And somehow, watching Rex and Carlos crack jokes as they marched toward the towering worm on the horizon, the troops felt their own courage rising.


    The sandstorm may have been blinding, the sma bolts deadly, but as long as they followed these two lunatics into the heart of chaos, they felt unstoppable.


    The path toward the worm only grew more brutal with every step. Swarms of Skydancers filled the air, their wings buzzing like a demonic symphony as they dove toward the hover tanks. The soldiers clinging to the tanks¡¯ armor had be makeshift turrets, firing at the Skydancers with relentless desperation.


    For every bug they took down, it felt like two more emerged from the storm. Despite their best efforts, the casualties were piling up, and the tanks¡¯ armor was starting to show the scars of relentless sma fire and wed assaults.


    Rex and Carlos pushed forward, undeterred, though even they could feel the weight of the onught. The tanks kept plowing through the sand, cannons booming, sending volleys of sma at the K. Warriors surging forward like an endless tide.


    The Khryssari warriors showed no fear, no hesitation; they just kepting, intent on tearing through anything in their path.


    One of the K. Warriors lunged at Rex with a massive w, the strike powerful enough to shatter armor. But Rex met it with his bare hand, gripping the creature¡¯s w mid-swipe with a steely grin. He then wrenched the w back with a brutal twist, snapping it off cleanly.


    Without missing a beat, he spun, using the severed w as a weapon, impaling an iing K. Warrior through the chest. Then, with a single fluid motion, he drew his massive ymore and finished off the creature with a deadly, precise swing that cleaved it in two.


    Carlos, meanwhile, was sting his way through the Skydancers, his hammer swinging in wide arcs, crushing exoskeletons and scattering alien limbs with each blow.


    The troops around him fought tooth and nail, holding the line as best they could, even as the enemy pressed closer, emboldened by the dwindling numbers of the human forces.


    Amid the chaos, Cleo¡¯s voice crackled through theirmunicators, cold and clear as ice.


    "Guys¡­ It¡¯s toote. The reinforcements have arrived."

 Chapter 59: A taste of true power.

    Rex¡¯s stomach tightened. He knew what that meant: if the main fleet was already here, they¡¯d lost the small window they had to take out the worm¡¯s core without interference.


    His mind raced, thinking of Ys that was still deep inside the worm, moving toward the core. If the reinforcements didn¡¯t coordinate with her mission, they could easily blow the whole operation and kill her together with the worm.


    "Cleo," Rex growled into hism, dodging another iing Skydancer as he ran, "what kind of reinforcements? Ground troops? Air support?"


    "Everything," she replied, her tone grim. "They brought the heavy artillery and aerial squads. They¡¯re mobilizing now and will likely engage any second."


    Rex clenched his jaw, sparing a nce at Carlos, who had also heard the news. Carlos gave a grim nod. There was no time to waste; if they hesitated now, Ys¡¯s mission would bepromised, and all their sacrifices would mean nothing.


    "Listen up, everyone!" Rex shouted over the squadms, his voice ringing with authority. "Reinforcements or not, our objective hasn¡¯t changed. We have to keep the Khryssari focused on us. So dig in, give it everything you¡¯ve got, and keep those damn bugs busy."


    Carlos turned to his troops, his face set in determination. "You heard the captain! Push forward! Let¡¯s make sure they remember who Squad 201 is!"


    With renewed vigor, the soldiers rallied, pushing back against the relentless waves of Skydancers and K. Warriors. sma bolts streaked across the sands, explosions lighting up the storm as the tanks barreled forward, smashing through the enemy lines.


    In the distance, Rex could see the faint shapes of the iing reinforcements, massive dropships lowering to the surface, nked by swift fighter jets that tore through the skies, their engines roaring over the battlefield. The cavalry had arrived. but whether they¡¯d be allies or aplication was anyone¡¯s guess.


    All he could do now was trust that Ys was fast enough, that Cleo could buy them more time with her drones, and that the soldiers of Squad 201 would hold out long enough to see the mission through.


    He lifted his ymore, blood-streaked and gleaming, and let out a fierce battle cry that echoed across the sands. "Squad 201! Charge! Let¡¯s give ¡¯em hell!"


    With that, Rex surged forward, his troops following close behind, each of them knowing they were fighting on borrowed time, so they were fighting with everything they had.


    Rex could see the truth as clear as day; even with his troops giving everything they had, it was impossible to break through any faster. Every inch they gained came at a price, and time was slipping through his fingers. Finally, he made a desperate call.


    "Carlos!" he shouted, voice thick with urgency. "Take over here! I¡¯m going in alone!"


    "W-wait, what do you mean!?" Carlos yelled back, but before he could get an answer, a blinding sh of white light burst around Rex, and in the next instant, he was gone, shooting into the sky like aet, his powerful wings slicing through the storm.


    "Sigh¡­ seriously?" Cleo¡¯s voice came through hismunicator, a mix of exasperation and fondness. "What do you think you¡¯re doing, Rex?"


    "Ys is in danger, Cleo," he replied, his tone deadly serious. "I can¡¯t just stand here waiting for her to finish the mission before the reinforcements bomb that worm to oblivion." As he soared upward, Skydancers swarmed him from all sides, but he dispatched them with ruthless efficiency, his wings carving through them as he climbed higher.


    "Be grateful I hacked the spy drones," Cleo said, her voice maintaining its calm, professional edge. "They won¡¯t be able to see you... but remember, I can¡¯t hack the eyes of organic life forms."


    Rexughed, even as he struck down another Skydancer. "I¡¯m always grateful, Cleo!"


    There was a pause, a rare, fragile silence. Then, Cleo¡¯s voice came back, quieter than he¡¯d ever heard it. "Is... she really that important to you? That you¡¯d risk your life like this?"


    Without hesitation, Rex answered, "Of course she is." His voice was blunt, matter-of-fact. And on the gunboat, where Cleo¡¯s consciousness was housed, she felt something clench in her core, a rush of emotions she barely understood. Her hands went to her chest, as if to quiet the strange ache.


    But Rex¡¯s voice came back over thems before she could make sense of it. "You¡¯re important to me too, you know. I think I¡¯ve made that pretty clear. And all this effort I¡¯m putting in to get you a body... that¡¯s because I want you here with me." He paused, his tone softening.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I know I¡¯m probably a scumbag for saying this, but... I love you both. You¡¯re both amazing, in different ways. If I have to give my life to save either of you, I¡¯d do it without a second thought. Well¡­ maybe a tiny bit of regret, since I haven¡¯t kissed either of you yet!"


    Cleo couldn¡¯t hold back augh, a warm, soft sound that seemed to surprise even her. "You really are the worst scumbag," she said, a hint of tenderness breaking through her usual calm tone. "But that honesty... it¡¯s what I like about you."


    "Ah! There¡¯s that beautifulugh," Rex teased. "Now I really don¡¯t want to die." Read exclusive content at §Þ??


    But then Cleo¡¯s voice shifted, back to her focused, almost mischievous self. "Well, lucky for you, I¡¯ve got a little trick that might keep you alive a bit longer... though, I warn you, the side effects will be terrible."


    Rex felt a chill. "What¡­ what do you mean by side effects?" He looked down as six small robotic arms extended from his back, each holding a vial of an ominous ck substance. And attached to one of them was a needle the size of a small dagger.


    "Cleo, wait, is that... is that what I think it is?! And why is that needle so big?!"


    "Brace yourself, Rex," she said, a wicked chuckle slipping into her voice.


    "AHHHHHHHHHHHH! YOU MANIAC!" Rex howled as the needles plunged into his back, injecting the ck substance directly into his bloodstream. He could feel the fire spreading through him, burning like molten metal, even as he kept fighting off Skydancers in mid-air.


    "Is this... nanomaterial?" he gasped between breaths. "And since when did you sneak this into me?!"


    "As you love to say, those are ¡¯small details.¡¯ Don¡¯t worry about it." Cleo¡¯s voice wasced with amusement. "Now, this isn¡¯t just any nanomaterial. I¡¯ve been refining this for months.and thanks to it we can fusepletely for a few minutes. Ten, at most."


    "Wait¡­ fuse? What do you mean ¡¯fuse¡¯?! You better not turn me into a girl or something!"


    Cleo actuallyughed, light and musical. "Oh, as much as I¡¯d love to see you in a skirt, that¡¯s not how this works. Just rx and focus. You¡¯re about to feel a power surge like nothing you¡¯ve ever experienced. But stay in control, Rex; you only have a few minutes, and if you lose focus, it could tear you apart."


    "Fine! Bring it on!" Rex growled, clenching his fists, feeling the searing energy course through his body.


    Then he heard something strange, a soft melody humming through his earpiece. "Wait¡­ Cleo? Are you¡­ are you singing?"


    Her voice came through, sweet and rich, the melody something haunting and otherworldly. Her song resonated with the energy in his chest, amplifying it and making it burn hotter, brighter.


    He could feel his body transforming, growingrger and stronger. His muscles swelled, his armor thickening as the nanomaterial wove over him like a second skin, crafting a sleek, powerful exosuit.


    He looked down at himself as his height surged. three meters, four, five, until he stood a colossal six meters tall, encased in shimmering white and golden mecha armor.


    His wings transformed too, taking on a mechanical form, each feather reced with razor-sharp metal that shimmered with an ethereal white aura. He raised his hands, marveling at the sheer strength coursing through them; they looked like the arms of a battlesuit, reinforced and ready to tear through anything in his path.


    And all the while, Cleo¡¯s voice continued to sing, the melody feeding his power and filling him with an unstoppable energy. His HUD blinked, disying a single line of text:


    [What are you waiting for? 9 minutes left.]


    "Oh¡­ right!" Rex snapped back to reality, his eyes locking onto the worm in the distance. Now, even the massive creature didn¡¯t seem quite so intimidating.


    Below him, the Khryssari warriors froze, momentarily paralyzed by the sight of this newly transformed behemoth, their primitive minds struggling to process the towering, glowing figure hovering above them.


    "Well then, if you¡¯re noting to me..." Rex grinned, feeling the power surging through him, "then I¡¯ll juste to you!"


    With a single, mighty p of his wings, heunched forward, cutting through the air like a missile. sma sts from the Khryssari barely fazed him now, ricocheting harmlessly off his new armor.


    His vision was sharper, his senses heightened; every Skydancer in his path was sliced down with effortless precision as he barreled toward the worm, a force of nature, unstoppable.


    Cleo¡¯s voice whispered in his ear, softer now. "Rex, be careful."


    He smirked. "With you watching my back, Cleo? I¡¯m invincible."


    The worm loomed closer, its massive, writhing form finally within striking distance. Rex grinned, raising his fist as he prepared to plunge straight into the beast, no longer just a soldier but a living weapon.


    And with Cleo¡¯s voice guiding him, he felt ready to face whatever came next.

 Chapter 60: A taste of true power (2)

    ("Rex, you don¡¯t need to go through the worm¡¯s mouth anymore,") Cleo¡¯s voice echoed in his mind, steady and calm, even as her singing continued to weave their fusion together. ("We have enough power now to pierce its hide. Just go straight in.")


    Rex¡¯s grin widened. "Got it! Time to y the bullet." In ce of his usual massive ymore, he crafted a gigantce, its gleaming tip razor-sharp, aimed dead ahead.


    With a single powerful beat of his wings, he shot forward like a missile. Thence tore through the worm¡¯s thick, leathery hide, sending a tremor through the massive creature¡¯s entire body as Rex punched straight into its flesh.


    He found himself floating in the eerie, pulsating green glow of the worm¡¯s insides, surrounded by the alien chittering of Khryssari warriors swarming toward him.


    Just as he prepared to craft another weapon, Cleo¡¯s voice cut in. ("Wait. I¡¯ll handle them; your focus needs to be on finding Ys. I can¡¯t establish contact with hermunicator for some reason.")


    "Understood, Ill get to it." With a powerful p of his mechanoid wings, Rexunched himself deeper into the worm, sting forward at terrifying speed. Around him, des began materializing out of thin air; they were sleek, elegant swords he¡¯d never seen before, summoned by Cleo¡¯s power.


    They spiraled around him in perfect synchronization, forming a rotating barrier of razor-sharp steel. The Khryssari who dared approach were instantly shredded, their bodies disintegrating as they touched the barrier. Read exclusive adventures at NovelBin.C?m


    "Rex," Cleo said, her voice focused. ("I¡¯ve detected a lifeform ahead. The signal matches Ys. Head that way.")


    "Thank the stars; she¡¯s okay. But why isn¡¯t she moving?" Rex narrowed his eyes, picking up speed as he hurtled through the worm¡¯s tunnels, slicing through wave after wave of Khryssari.


    After what felt like an eternity, he finally burst into a chamber where Ys was standing, her back against the wall, ws outstretched to brace herself.


    The instant he stopped, the force of his arrival sent a shockwave through the chamber, nearly knocking Ys off her feet. Thanfully, she was fast enough to dug her ws into the flesh of the worm¡¯s insides, steadying herself as she gazed up at him with wide eyes.


    "Ys!" Rex called out, extending one massive hand to her. "Are you okay? Why weren¡¯t you answering yourmunicator?"


    "Darling!¡« Is that¡­ you?" Ys¡¯s eyes sparkled with a mix of surprise and admiration as she took in his colossal, armored form. "You¡¯re... even bigger than before! And, well, about themunicator, you see, the thing is..."


    But before she could exin, Cleo¡¯s urgent voice cut through. "Rex, we¡¯re out of time. The allied reinforcements have arrived, and they¡¯re directly above us. They¡¯re preparing to bombard the worm. You need to get out. Now."


    Rex¡¯s face tightened, adrenaline spiking. "Cleo, how strong are we right now? And how much time do we have left?"


    Cleo¡¯s reply came swiftly, but there was a hint of tension in her voice. ("While I¡¯m more of amand and control AI, in this form, I¡¯m strong enough to slice this worm in half. But we only have 30 seconds left on the fusion. Please, Rex, escape while you can.")


    Rex¡¯s gaze hardened, determination flooding his face. "Thirty seconds... then let¡¯s make it count." He looked down at Ys, who had climbed onto his shoulder, gripping tightly. "Hold on, Ys! We¡¯re making an express exit!"


    With a thought, Rex summoned his ymore, but this time it was different; it wasrger and brighter, a de crafted of pure energy and nanomaterial. The massive sword glowed with a blinding white light, traced with streaks of gold, its form pulsing with barely contained power. It looked less like a weapon and more like a part of a divine mech suit, forged to split worlds.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Cleo!" he shouted. "Put everything we¡¯ve got into this one strike. We¡¯reing out the hard way!"


    He gripped the ymore with both hands, the de growing in size and radiating so brightly that even the Khryssari recoiled in terror. The worm¡¯s flesh quivered around them, reacting to the sheer power building up within its own body.


    ("Rex, be careful.") Cleo¡¯s voice was soft butced with pride and warmth. He could feel her presence, supporting him and empowering him, like a steady hand at his back.


    "AAARRRHGHHHH," Rex spun in a full 360-degree arc, swinging the ymore with every ounce of strength left in him. The de cleaved through the worm¡¯s flesh, releasing a massive shockwave that tore through its entire body, splitting it cleanly in half.


    The gigantic creature shuddered, a final, desperate scream echoing through its hollow insides as its body copsed.


    In one explosive movement, Rex and Ys sted out from the worm¡¯s side, erupting into the open air as the creature¡¯s body began to fall apart, blood and tissue raining down like a storm. They soared into the sky, covered in the worm¡¯s blood, the battlefield below them momentarily stunned by the spectacle.


    The worm that was once a colossal, nigh-indestructible beast was dead, sliced cleanly in half as though by the hand of a god.


    As they flew clear, Cleo¡¯s voice drifted into Rex¡¯s mind, softening. "Time¡¯s up, Rex."


    In an instant, the light surrounding his body dimmed. His colossal form shrank, his armor dissolving back into his usual gear. The mechanoid wings faded, leaving only his regr ones, and the connection with Cleo gently loosened, the nanomaterial receding from his body.


    He nced over his shoulder, feeling a pang of loss as Cleo¡¯s presence began to withdraw. "Cleo, thank you. I couldn¡¯t have done this without you."


    After a small pause, she replied, her voice warm and gentle, "You¡¯re wee, Rex. You¡¯re... kind of amazing, you know that?"


    Heughed, breathing heavily, the adrenaline fading. "Yeah, well, just don¡¯t go falling in love with me or anything."


    Herughter, soft and genuine, echoed in his earpiece. "Toote, scumbag."


    He grinned, ncing at Ys, who was still clinging to his shoulder, staring up at him in awe. "Ys, you good?"


    She smiled, her eyes shining. "Darling¡«, that was... incredible. But, um, let¡¯s never do that again, alright¡«?"


    Rex chuckled, finally allowing himself a moment of relief. Below, the reinforcements were arriving, soldiers and tanks mobilizing to secure the area. The battlefield was theirs, and the worm was no more.


    For the first time in what felt like forever, Rex allowed himself a deep breath, his heart still pounding from the rush. Cleo had pulled him back from the brink. Ys was safe. And he¡¯d lived to fight another day.


    As he flew toward their rally point, he whispered, knowing Cleo would hear. "Next time, Cleo... I¡¯ming back with a body for you to get that kiss. That¡¯s a promise."


    From somewhere far above, a soft voice answered, filled with a quiet joy. "I¡¯ll hold you to that, scumbag¡«."


    "Hahahaha¡«, my dear, reckless niece¡­ bing partner with one of the Kaelzars, one of our sworn enemies!" The Hive Mind Queen reclined in her massive, silken throne, her gaze fixed on a living Khryssari projector.


    It was a massive beetle-like creature with an iridescent shell, casting a hazy, greenish hologram that disyed the events inside the worm moments before it had been cleaved in half.


    She watched as Ys, her niece, stood side by side with that towering, armored Kaelzar. The memory of theirbined energy still lingered, tickling her mind with its raw, chaotic power.


    "Ahhh¡«, that surge of mental energy!" The Queen closed her eyes, savoring the memory like fine wine. "It¡¯s been far too long since I felt something like that... since the wars with the Kaelzar. Those self-righteous warriors were powerful, yes, but so rigid! So bound by their precious honor."


    She let out a sigh, part longing, part mocking. "They were no match for the collective mind. In the end, all their strength meant nothing."


    She opened her eyes and looked down at her hand, where she held Ys¡¯smunicator, a small, innocuous device, but one that held the key to so much intrigue. She turned it over slowly, considering it, her expression one of dark amusement.


    "Now, what shall I do with this little piece of information?" she murmured, her eyes glittering. "Oh, Y¡¯Ssera, my dear niece. You may be useful to me yet."


    Meanwhile, aboard the gship of the Allied Forces, Admiral Kael Voss stood at the edge of themand bridge, his arms crossed as he watched the live feed of the reinforcementsnding on the surface below. His face was set in a stern expression, his gaze sharp and unyielding.


    "Sir," a voice interrupted from behind him. Leena Valrix approached, datapad in hand, her tone a careful bnce of respect and professionalism. "We¡¯ve just received a report regarding the giant worm."


    Voss turned to face her, his brow furrowed. "Go on."


    Leena handed him the datapad, ncing at the screen. "The officer in charge of the gunboat division reports that by the time they arrived, the worm was... well, it was already dead, sir."


    The admiral raised an eyebrow. "Already dead? Who¡¯s responsible?"


    Leena hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "The soldiers on the scene say it looked like the worm was... blown up from the inside, sir. There was no external damage to suggest bombardment."


    Voss¡¯s eyes narrowed, thoughtful. "And the worm¡¯s core? Do we have it in our possession?"


    Leena shook her head. "No, sir. ording to the troops, the core was missing when they arrived. Whoever or whatever killed that worm from the inside likely used its core energy to finish it off."


    "Mmm¡­" Voss stroked his chin, piecing it together. It sounded like the work of an outsider, someone with a unique set of skills and a disregard for protocol.


    His mind drifted to that squad of reckless soldiers, the ones who had survived the impossible. The ones who operated just outside the edges of Allied rules.


    "And what of our¡¯shiny¡¯ friend?" Voss asked, referring to Rex, a hint of wry humor in his voice.


    Leena hesitated, her face betraying a flicker of uncertainty. "Sir, about that..." she began, looking down at her datapad as if it held the answer.

 Chapter 61: Corruption.

    Voss¡¯s eyebrow rose. "Out with it, Leena."


    She took a deep breath. "We¡­ We don¡¯t have a confirmed visual on him, sir. But reports suggest he and another individual were found a few kilometers away of the bug, one fitting the description of the higher-ups secret objective."


    Voss¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. "So, he made it out alive. And it seems our friend has a knack for making strange allies." He chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement.


    Leena¡¯s expression was cautious. "Sir, should we pursue him? He technically vited a number of Allied protocols, enteringbat without orders, using unauthorized weaponry, and now consorting with an enemy operative."


    Voss held up a hand, cutting her off. "Not yet. We¡¯ll keep an eye on him, but for now, let him y his games. He has a talent for stirring things up, and in war, sometimes chaos is useful. Especially when dealing with an enemy like the Khryssari."


    Leena seemed taken aback but nodded. "Understood, sir."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Voss turned back to the screen, watching as thest of the reinforcements touched down, securing the area. He thought of Rex and his unusualpanions, warriors who fought not for orders or duty but for each other. It was rare in this gxy to have that kind of loyalty. And for now, he¡¯d let them keep their secrets.


    In a low voice, almost to himself, he murmured, "The game is only beginning... and this guy may just be the wild card we need."


    Meanwhile, on the¡¯s surface, Rex and Ys had been picked up by an Allied medical team and were en route to the frontlines HQ.


    The rough ride of the transport didn¡¯t help Rex¡¯s condition since every jolt sent a fresh spike of pain through his battered body. Lying on a stretcher, he managed a pained grin as Ys leaned over him, concern evident in herrge, expressive eyes.


    "Darling, how are you feeling?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with worry. "Does it still hurt?"


    Rex chuckled, though it quickly turned into a grimace. "Oh, don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯m fine. Just, you know, painful enough that it hurts to breathe, blink, or move any part of my body. No big deal."


    Ys frowned, catching the sarcasm in his voice. "I¡¯m serious, Rex. That fusion took a toll on you."


    He sighed, the attempt at humor dropping as he looked up at her. "Yeah, it hurts like hell. But I¡¯ll live. I¡¯ve been through worse, I think.... probably?"


    She ced a gentle hand on his shoulder, her touch light but reassuring. "You did something incredible, you know that? You saved us. I don¡¯t know what would have happened if you hadn¡¯te."


    Rex gave her a lopsided smile. "What, you think I¡¯d let you go off alone and have all the fun?" His eyes softened, the mask of bravado slipping for a moment. "I¡¯d fight a thousand worms if it meant keeping you safe, Ys."


    A faint blush touched her cheeks, and she quickly looked away, trying to hide the warmth in her expression. "Just don¡¯t push yourself so hard next time, alright?"


    The medic jolted as it hit a rough patch, and Rex winced, clutching his side. "Easy for you to say," he groaned, "you weren¡¯t the one getting stabbed with needles and turned into a six-meter mech-beast."


    She stifled augh though her eyes shone with affection. "Well, for what it¡¯s worth, you made one very impressive¡¯mech ¡¯beast.¡¯"


    Just then, Cleo¡¯s voice crackled over them, calm and collected as always. "Rex, I¡¯ve finished processing the fusion data. Next time, I can mitigate the physical strain. You may not feel like you¡¯ve been run over by a battleship."


    Rex smirked. "Next time? You say that like I¡¯d willingly go through that again."


    Cleo¡¯s voice softened, a hint of warmth in her tone. "Knowing you, Rex... I¡¯m sure you would."


    Rex chuckled, letting his eyes drift closed as the transport continued to rumble across the battlefield, his body finally sumbing to exhaustion. Whatever awaited them at HQ, he knew he¡¯d face it head-on, with Ys, Cleo, and the rest of his squad by his side.


    After what felt like ages, the medical transport finally rolled up to the improvised HQ on the frontline. Inside, paramedics scrambled, their faces set with steely focus as they began moving the injured to various rooms, each space marked by its own breathable atmosphere.


    "Doc, where should we take this big guy?" One of the paramedics shouted, nodding at Rex, whoy sprawled across a stretcher like a fallen titan.


    "Low-priority zone, oxygen chamber. He just needs rest," the doctor replied, not missing a beat.


    With a quick "Understood, Doc," they hoisted Rex with the help of people who wore exosuits capable of lifting two tons like it was nothing. They maneuvered him to the oxygen chamber, cing him gently on a mattress before rushing back out to gather more wounded.


    Once alone, Rex powered down his battered, nanomaterial armor with a soft hiss. The suit melted away, leaving him in a simple white shirt and ck pants, his muscr frame marred by bruises in all shades from angry purple to sickly green. He sighed dramatically.


    "My perfect, wless body... ruined. I feel like crying," he muttered, staring at his own bruises.


    A chuckle echoed from the doorway. "Hah! You¡¯ve always had that sissy-looking face, but now you¡¯re whining like one too. What¡¯s next, going to flirt with me?" Carlos strolled in, his grin widening as he took in the sight of Rex looking, for once, less than invincible.


    Rex smirked. "Flirt with you? Nah. Bald guys aren¡¯t my type. And, let¡¯s be real, you¡¯re way too ugly."


    Carlos feigned a look of outrage. "Ugly? I¡¯ll have you know I have a son, which makes me officially more handsome than you¡¯ll ever be."


    "Oh, is that what you¡¯re going with?" Rex nced sideways. "Hey, Ys, what do you think?"


    There was a shimmer beside him, and suddenly Ys appeared, having deactivated her invisibility. She was curled up next to Rex, using his arm as a makeshift pillow, looking entirely toofortable. Explore more at NovelBin.C?m


    "Mmm¡­ you¡¯re definitely more handsome, darling¡«," she said, giving Carlos a yful look. "Comparing yourself to that guy? Please. It¡¯s likeparing a diamond to a dull rock. You¡¯d need a better opponent, maybe that actual rock over there."


    Carlos raised an eyebrow. "A rock? Listen here, you pint-sized granny, I don¡¯t need beauty advice from someone who just crawled out of stealth mode like a stalker."


    Ys¡¯s eyes gleamed, a predatory look creeping in as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. "What did you just call me, baldy? You want to settle this right here?"


    Her eyes stared glowing with mischief as the air thickened with tension. Rex, watching from the sidelines with a smirk, leaned back, clearly enjoying the show.


    Carlos squared his shoulders, stepping closer with a defiant grin. "Oh, bring it on, grandma. I¡¯ve taken down beasts twice your size."


    Ys cracked her knuckles, smirking back. "Hope you¡¯re ready to make that ego of yours a casualty."


    Just as Carlos and Ys squared off, a stern-faced nurse barged in between them, her presence cutting through the tension like a knife. She folded her arms, ring up at the towering soldiers.


    "Keep your voices down," she said sharply. "This is a medical zone. There are wounded here who need rest. Fighting is strictly prohibited. If you don¡¯t settle down, I¡¯ll be forced to call the military police."


    Carlos immediately dropped his head, doing his best to look polite. "Uh, we weren¡¯t fighting, ma¡¯am. Just... just joking around. Sorry for the noise. We¡¯ll keep it down."


    The nurse¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. "Good. There won¡¯t be another warning. Kindly follow the rules." She gave them both a brief, scolding nod before striding off to tend to other patients.


    Ys, barely containing herughter, giving Carlos a smirk. "Aw, look at you, all obedient and apologetic. I didn¡¯t know you could be so submissive to a ¡¯weak organism.¡¯"


    Carlos clenched his fists, muttering under his breath. "You got a real big mouth for someone who barely reaches my shoulder, pocket-sized grandma."


    Ys stretched outzily, looking entirely unbothered. "You go on with your macho posturing. I¡¯ll be right here, going back to sleep."


    Carlos grumbled, ready to retort, but before he could get another word in, a voice cracked over themunicator.


    "Be advised," Cleo¡¯s calm tone came through the static. "Officers of the allied forces are on their way to your location."


    Carlos and Rex exchanged looks, eyebrows raised, each silently using the other with a "what did you do this time?" expression. They barely had a moment to process the warning when the doors swung open, and an officer in a sharply pressed uniform stormed in, nked by guards.


    He took a moment to scan the room with a cold, disdainful gaze before his voice boomed out. "Which one of you is the captain of Squad 201?"


    The nurse, hearing his loud voice, hurried over again, her face pale but determined. "Sir, please keep it down. This is a hospital, and our patients need¡ª"


    The officer shot her an icy re, cutting her off. His lips twisted into a mocking smile as he raised his hand, preparing to strike her for her silence. But before his hand could connect, there was a sh of movement, a blur of ck and green.


    A dagger materialized in his hand, embedded there so deeply that he barely registered the pain at first. But as the toxins from Ys¡¯s weapon seeped in, his bravado crumbled. His face went pale, and his hand began to tremble, blood trickling down his wrist.


    He let out a shrill, undignified scream. "Gyaaaaaaa! Who did this? I want the one responsible dead!"


    The room went silent, save for his ragged breathing, as he sank to his knees, clutching his injured hand. Everyone¡¯s gaze shifted toward Ys, who stood calmly, her eyes gleaming with barely-contained menace.


    "It was me,"

 Chapter 62: Showing off (Again)

    "It was me," Ys said, her voice icy and resolute, echoing through the stunned silence.


    Her green eyes were sharp and unforgiving. She tilted her head, with a smirk dancing on her lips as she added, "Now, you¡¯d better keep your voice down. I wouldn¡¯t want to disturb the patients."


    Carlos snorted, crossing his arms. "Looks like our little ¡¯pocket-sized grandma¡¯ has some bite, huh?"


    She gave him a sidelong nce, shing a smile that was anything but sweet. "Oh, don¡¯t worry, baldy. There¡¯s plenty more where that came from; do you want one too?."


    Rex leaned back, arms behind his head, looking perfectly content. "Well, this got interesting. Mind if I just sit back and watch?"


    Carlos grinned, pushing him. "Better hold on to that sense of humor, buddy. Looks like we¡¯re in for one hell of a show."


    The officer finally managed to take a breath when Ys removed her dagger from his hand. Though the toxins from her blood-coated de sent pain searing through his hand, they wouldn¡¯t kill him since Ys had full control over her toxins.


    She then leaned down, smirking as she wiped her dagger clean on his pristine uniform, adding insult to injury.


    The officer¡¯s face twisted in fury. "What are you all doing just standing there? Take her down! Now!" His words came out in a furious spray, eyes wild and rabid, like a cornered animal.


    At hismand, the allied guards raised their weapons, aiming straight at her. She barely nced at them, her living armor shimmering around her in a protectiveyer that would make their guns as effective as water pistols. But Rex was in no mood to let anyone point a gun at his woman.


    With a single fluid motion, Rex crafted a massive ymore, the de materializing in his hand like a bolt from the gods. He hurled it to the ground at the guards¡¯ feet, the sword piercing the earth with a deafening thud and sending up a cloud of red dust. The ground trembled, as if warning everyone in the room.


    "What¡¯s the meaning of this, little officer?" Rex¡¯s voice was calm, but his gaze was that of a lion sizing up prey. "Weren¡¯t you looking for me?" He raised his head slightly, almost mockingly. "Ah, where are my manners? I¡¯m Captain Rex of Squad 201, the one you¡¯ve been so eager to meet."


    The officer¡¯s rage only deepened, his face turning an rming shade of purple. "I don¡¯t care who you are! Kill them! Now! They¡¯re just disposable cannon fodder!" His voice cracked as he screamed, blinded by fury and the arrogance of privilege. He was just a spoiled brat masquerading as amander.


    But the injured soldiers around him had heard every word. Slowly, painfully, they began to rise, each one grabbing whatever weapon they could find, pointing their guns, knives, or even broken metal shards toward the allied guards.


    In the field, even the wounded carried their weapons at all times since one never knew when the enemy might strike, even in a hospital. And now, staring down these arrogant guards, every battered soldier seemed ready to defend their own with grim determination.


    The allied guards looked around nervously, ncing from one defiant face to the next, until one by one, they began lowering their weapons, dropping their guns to the ground, and raising their hands in surrender.


    Carlos smirked, pping Rex on the back. "Didn¡¯t know you were such a heartbreaker with the guys, Captain."


    Rex chuckled, crossing his arms with a shrug. "Neither did I. But hey, if it works in our favor, I¡¯ll take it. And just so you know, I¡¯m not into men."


    "Oh really?" Carlosughed. "Last I checked, you haven¡¯t even touched a girl in your entire life."


    Rex shed him a smug grin. "That¡¯s a lie. I have touched a girl before. If you don¡¯t believe me, ask your mother."


    Carlos froze for a moment, his jaw dropping before he burst outughing. "Alright, you got me there, you bastard!"


    Ys rolled her eyes, pointing to the officer still sprawled on his knees, glowering at her with raw hatred. "Boys? Maybe not the best time for your little talk," she said dryly.


    The officer, who now had a hand throbbing and pride shattered, looked up at her with murder in his eyes. But she met his gaze with icy contempt, her fingers flexing around the hilt of her dagger as if daring him to try something.


    As the dust settled and the guards backed away, the scene was that of a lone officer, humiliated and outmatched, surrounded by injured but defiant soldiers, each one ready to stand with their captain. Rex, Ys, and Carlos stood at the center of it all, their bond and defiance a sharp contrast to the officer¡¯s broken arrogance.


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    The officer, still trembling, spat on the ground. "This isn¡¯t over. You¡¯ll all pay for this."


    Rex threw his head back,ughing. "Hahaha! Of course, this isn¡¯t over! Since you were so eager to see me, you¡¯reing with us to HQ. Aegis Sentinels, take him down. We¡¯re bringing this one along for the ride."


    At hismand, two towering Aegis units stepped into the medical bay, their heavy footsteps echoing through the room. They grabbed the officer, one on each arm, hauling him off the floor like he weighed nothing.


    "Unhand me! Do you have any idea who I am?" The officer¡¯s voice cracked as he writhed in their grip, his face flushed with rage and humiliation. The Sentinels didn¡¯t respond; their cold, unblinking visors focused straight ahead as they dragged him out.


    With a groan, Rex pushed himself up from the bed. Once he was standing, he turned to the nurse, offering her a respectful nod. "Apologies for all themotion, ma¡¯am. You can rx now; we¡¯re leaving so everyone can get some peace." He shed her a wink, and she blushed, looking equal parts flustered and relieved as he made his way to the exit.


    Outside, Carlos and Ys were waiting for him. Ys crossed her arms, eyeing him with a concerned frown. "Darling, you forgot your armor. This isn¡¯t a safe area, and the air here isn¡¯tpatible for you," she reminded him, worry evident in her tone.


    Rex chuckled, reaching over to pinch her cheek yfully. "Thanks for looking out for me, Ys."


    As he walked forward, his armor began to materialize piece by piece, the sleek, white tes sliding over his body like liquid metal, then locking into ce with a soft, powerful hum. The transformation drew the attention of everyone nearby; soldiers, medics, and even injured fighters paused to watch as the legendary Captain Rex suited up, his presencemanding the entire scene.


    Carlos smirked, leaning over to Ys. "Look at him, all dramatic. Can¡¯t just put on his armor in the backroom like a normal guy."


    Rex overheard and shot Carlos a sidelong grin. "Oh, I¡¯m sorry, Would you like me to announce my every move? ¡¯Now I¡¯m putting on my right boot, now the left¡ª¡¯"


    Carlos snorted. "Nah, keep your theatrics, Captain. They suit you."


    Ys rolled her eyes but couldn¡¯t hide her smile. "If you two are done showing off, we have a prisoner to deliver. And Rex, maybe try not to cause an international incident this time?"


    Rex raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Me? Cause an incident? I¡¯m a model citizen!."


    The Aegis Sentinels pulled the officer ahead of them, his face a mixture of fury and terror. Rex walked past him, pping him on the shoulder. "Cheer up, officer. HQ¡¯s going to love hearing all about how you bravely called us ¡¯cannon fodder.¡¯"


    The officer sputtered, trying to shake Rex¡¯s hand off his shoulder, but Rex¡¯s grip was unyielding. "You¡¯ll pay for this! My family has connections you can¡¯t even imagine!"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Oh, I believe it," Rex said smoothly. "Which is why I¡¯m really looking forward to meeting them."


    Rex, Ys, and Carlos strode forward, the Aegis Sentinels dragging their fuming prisoner in tow. Around them, the soldiers, medics, and injured warriors watched in awe and amusement, whispers spreading like wildfire.


    "Hey, check that out," one of the battered first-wave survivors nudged hispanion, nodding toward the small group up ahead.


    "What are you talking about?... Wait, isn¡¯t that the captain of Squad 201? What¡¯s he doing here?"


    "Dunno. Let¡¯s follow him. There might be something worth seeing."


    With that, the two soldiers started moving, trailing behind Rex¡¯s team. As they walked, more soldiers began to notice, joining the quiet procession. By the time Rex¡¯s group reached the improvised HQ tent, they had gathered a small army of curious, battle-scarred onlookers.


    But just as the crowd approached the HQ, a squad of guards stepped in their path, weapons raised in warning. An imposing hover tank loomed behind them; its cannon was already pointing directly at the mass of approaching soldiers.


    A guard with a bright red helmet stepped forward, his stance tense and unyielding. "Who are all of you? State your purpose for gathering here!"


    Rex let out augh, just barely managing to keep a straight face. He took a few steps forward, giving the red-helmeted guard an exaggeratedly innocent look. "Oh, me? I¡¯m just the humble captain of Squad 201. You know, a poor, injured soldier just minding my own business in the medical bay."


    He sniffled dramatically, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye. "...when this guy over here decided to threaten my life. He said he was going to kill me, treating me with guards and status and all that scary stuff. I was so frightened." He threw in a shaky sob for effect.


    Carlos¡¯s face was totally in disbelief, his eyes narrowing as he tried to hold back augh. Meanwhile, Ys looked like she¡¯d seen a ghost, her jaw hanging open in shock as Rex continued his absurd performance. She was clearly not prepared for this shameless disy.


    "Are... are you serious right now?" Carlos muttered under his breath, barely able to contain his amusement.


    But Rex wasmitted. He clutched at his chest, looking up at the guards with big, imploring eyes, every bit the picture of an innocent victim. "Please... please protect me from this mean officer. I don¡¯t know what I did to make him so angry!"


    Just as he was reaching the peak of his melodramatic nonsense, the p of the HQ tent burst open, and an imposing figure stepped out, nked by several elite soldiers from Nexum Dynamics. They wore pitch-ck armor, their visors gleaming under the harsh lights, each one radiating a deadly calm.


    The new arrival looked between the trembling officer, who was still held firmly by the Aegis Sentinels, and Rex, who had suddenly straightened up, dropping the act as he met the figure¡¯s gaze with a cool stare.

 Chapter 63: The next mission.

    The figure¡¯s mouth twisted into a slight smirk. "Captain Rex, I assume?" The voice was smooth, but there was a sharpness to it, like a de hidden under silk.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex crossed his arms, his earlier theatrics forgotten, reced by a hard, unflinching gaze. "Depends on who¡¯s asking."


    The officer, still pale and furious, struggled in the grip of the Sentinels, sputtering. "This man... this man assaulted me in the medical bay! I demand justice!"


    The figure in ck armor raised a gloved hand, silencing the officer with a mere flick of the wrist. "Enough." Her gaze shifted back to Rex, appraising him. "I¡¯ve heard... interesting things about you, Captain. It seems you have a way of attracting attention."


    Rex shrugged, a half-smile ying on his lips. "What can I say? People just love a good underdog."


    From behind, Carlos couldn¡¯t resist. "Underdog? You¡¯re about as subtle as a tank, Rex."


    Ys elbowed him, hissing under her breath, "Quiet you, don¡¯t interrupt my darling."


    The figure in ck armor looked at the ragtag group behind Rex, the crowd of wounded, battle-worn soldiers who had followed him here, standing resolutely despite the threat of guns and tanks. A flicker of something unreadable passed over her face, and she nodded almost imperceptibly.


    "Captain Rex," she said, her voice carrying a strange mix of amusement and approval, "you and your entourage... are invited inside." She gestured toward the tent, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "We wouldn¡¯t want to keep HQ waiting."


    With a casual nod, Rex walked forward, his confidence unshaken, Carlos and Ys nking him like loyal shadows. The crowd of soldiers behind them moved as one, a silent wall of support. The guards lowered their weapons, exchanging uneasy nces as they watched the unconventional procession enter the HQ.


    As they passed the red-helmeted guard, Rex threw him a wink. "See? I told you I was a big deal."


    Carlos stifled a snort, Ys just shook her head, and the officer was still in the iron grip of the Aegis Sentinels since he could do nothing but stare, his face a mask of humiliation and barely contained rage.


    Inside the tent, the lights cast long shadows, and the air was thick with tension. But Rex strode forward without a trace of hesitation, his team close behind, ready to face whatever came next.


    The woman in pitch-ck armor folded her arms, her eyes narrowing as she addressed Rex. "Now then, before we proceed, would you be so kind as to release the officer?" She gestured gracefully toward the disgraced man still in the firm grip of the Aegis units.


    "Oh, right. I almost forgot about the dog who wouldn¡¯t stop barking," Rex said with a dismissive wave of his hand, not even sparing the officer a nce. His words made the woman¡¯s eye twitch; her irritation barely contained behind a practiced, steely expression.


    The Aegis units took hismand with a bit too much enthusiasm, letting go of the officer as if he were a sack of garbage. Hended face-first on the ground with a dull thud, groaning as he scrambled to get up, looking utterly humiliated in front of everyone.


    Rex kept his poker face, turning back to the woman with a slight smirk. "Alright, I¡¯ve done you a favor. Now that we¡¯re all getting along so well, mind telling me who you are?"


    The woman¡¯s jaw tightened, her gloved hands clenching slightly before she forced a calm expression back onto her face. "I am General Leena Valrix," she replied, her voice icy enough to send a chill through the air. "Commanding officer of Nexum Dynamics¡¯ Elite Forces."


    Behind him, Carlos raised an eyebrow, muttering just loud enough for Ys to hear. "General, huh? Rex really knows how to make friends in high ces."


    Ys smirked, whispering back, "Or enemies. After all, it is hard to tell what my darling will do next¡«."


    whle Ignoring the whispers, General Valrix stepped forward, fixing Rex with a steely gaze. "You have quite the reputation, Captain Rex. And not all of it is good. HQ has been... concerned about the way you conduct yourself in the field."


    Rex raised his hands in mock innocence, with a grin spreading across his face. "Hey, I¡¯m just a humble captain, doing my duty. Sometimes things get... dramatic." He shrugged, as if leading an army of injured soldiers to her doorstep was an everyday urrence.


    The general¡¯s eyes narrowed further, clearly unimpressed. "Dramatic? You stormed a secure area with a mob of injured soldiers behind you and caused a scene in front of half the base."


    Carlos chuckled under his breath. "To be fair, it was pretty entertaining."


    Rex turned, giving him a quick wink. "d to have a fan."


    The officer who had been thrown to the ground finally managed to pull himself up, brushing the dirt off his uniform with shaking hands. He looked at General Valrix with desperate eyes. "General, these... these hooligans assaulted me! I demand justice!"


    General Valeri didn¡¯t even look at him. Instead, her gaze remained locked on Rex, sizing him up. "Assaulted, you say?" She tapped her chin, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "From what I heard, it was more of a... disciplinary adjustment."


    Rex smirked, his voice dropping to a low, mocking tone. "See, even the General understands. Just a friendly little lesson on manners."


    The officer spluttered, his face turning red with indignation. "B-but¡ªGeneral, they¡ª"


    She cut him off with a sharp look. "Enough, Lieutenant. Go report to medbay if you¡¯re so injured. We¡¯ll discuss your... conductter."


    The officer¡¯s face went pale as he nced between the General and Rex, realizing that this was about as far from a rescue mission as he could get. With one final, humiliated re, he stumbled off, limping toward the medical tent.


    As he disappeared, the general turned her attention back to Rex, her eyes steely and unyielding. "Now, Captain, let¡¯s get one thing clear. You may have a talent for theatrics, but out here, in my domain, you y by my rules. Understood?"


    Rex¡¯s smirk was unmistakable, and Carlos, watching from the side, knew that look all too well. He sighed, bracing himself. Every time Rex grinned like that, trouble wasn¡¯t far behind. That mouth of his had a way of turning every situation sideways.


    "Excuse me? Your domain?" Rex¡¯s voice dripped with mock innocence. "If I remember correctly, thisnd is ours since this is thend I and my squad fought tooth and nail to secure after taking down that oversized worm. Now you show up after the dust settles and im it as yours?"


    Leena¡¯sposure was visibly cracking, her frustration heating up to a near boiling point. "That worm was only taken down because my troops supported the operation!" Her voice held a barely contained edge of irritation.


    "Ha!?" Rex raised an eyebrow, making a face that could only be described as ssic hooligan intimidation. "Your reinforcements? What reinforcements? By the time you guys arrived, we¡¯d already done the job. I was the one who killed it."


    Leena let out a disdainful chuckle, folding her arms with a smug smile. "Oh really? Do you have any proof that you took down the worm? Taking credit for something someone else did is a serious crime, Captain. Or maybe you didn¡¯t know?"


    "Oh, I have proof, alright," Rex replied, still wearing that annoying calm smile.


    Leena scoffed, her smile widening. "What are you going to show me? A scrap of worm hide you scavenged after my ships bombarded it to pieces."


    Rex chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, that would be dumb, wouldn¡¯t it? After all, anyone who fought alongside me could pull a scrap of worm skin. No, General, I¡¯ve got something a bit more... conclusive." He extended his hand toward Ys, who was standing calmly beside him.


    With a practiced motion, Ys reached into the backpack she¡¯d been carrying and pulled out a gemstone, a deep, emerald green orb about the size of a bowling ball. The moment Leena¡¯s eyesnded on it, her smug expression vanishedpletely, reced by a look of pure shock.


    Rex took his time, circling around behind her, lowering his voice to a whisper as he leaned in close to her ear. "You know, General, someone told me that stealing another person¡¯s achievements is a serious offense." He smirked, enjoying every second of her difort.


    "What do you suppose would happen to someone whomitted such a... horrendous act?" Leena¡¯s jaw tightened, but her words were nowhere to be found. Enjoy more content from NovelBin.C?m


    Rex straightened up, his grin widening as he addressed her loud enough for everyone around them to hear. "So, General Leena, should we continue our discussion about the penalties for, let¡¯s say, falsely iming someone else¡¯s victory?"


    The soldiers and guards nearby were all staring now, some with open admiration, others with barely concealed amusement. The once-imposing general was visibly shaken, her face drained of all its arrogance.


    Just then, as Rex was savoring the moment, a soft voice came from behind him. The blue screen on themand console lit up, and an authoritative voice echoed through the space.


    "Captain Rex, I think that¡¯s enough teasing."


    Rex turned, a bit surprised, to see a high-ranking official on the disy, watching him with a raised eyebrow. The room fell silent, tension thick in the air as the screen flickered slightly, casting an eerie glow across the gathered crowd.


    Rex chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, just making sure everyone knows the full story, sir."


    The official gave a small, knowing smile. "Trust me, Captain, your unique way of handling things has already made an impression." He nced briefly at General Leena, whose face was still frozen in a mix of anger and humiliation, before his gaze returned to Rex.


    "Now, if we¡¯re done with the theatrics, perhaps we can proceed with the debrief."

 Chapter 64: Reward? (R18)

    After a bit of total silence, Rex''s grin only widened. "Of course, sir. Anything to keep things professional." He shot onest look at Leena, who was doing her best to regain herposure, and gave her a mock salute.


    As the General stood there, her expression a blend of frustration and defeat, Carlos leaned over to Ys, whispering, "That''s twice in one day she''s been shut down. Almost feel bad for her."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Ys smirked, her gaze fixed on Rex. "Almost."


    Rex then pped his hands together, his voice cheerful as he addressed the troops around him. "Alright, show''s over, everyone! Let''s get back to saving the world or whatever it is we''re paid to do."


    The gathered soldiers chuckled, some even apuding as they began to disperse, leaving Leena standing alone, staring daggers at Rex''s back. And as he walked away, Ys and Carlos moved to his side.


    "Wait a second there, Captain Rex; we still have something to discuss," the high-ranking officer said while his image was crackling on the screen.


    Rex paused for a bit when he heard those words, making him turn back with a puzzled look. "Hmm? Wasn''t the issue with the worm dealt with? What else is there to talk about?"


    "I think you''re misunderstanding something here, Captain," the officer replied, his voice calm but firm. "I didn''t call you here about that matter. That''s between you and the general. I called you because I have a mission for you of a critical value."


    The officer straightened, his eyes narrowing with purpose. "Oh, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. I''m Admiral Kael Voss,mander of the battle currently raging over your heads and suprememander of this entire allied fleet."


    At the mention of his name, Rex''s expression shifted. Since he recognized that name since it was the same name Cleo had mentioned before, he was the one who''d sent reinforcements. Rex''s posture tightened with respect. "Admiral, forgive myck of formality. I didn''t realize."


    "There''s no need for courtesy between us, Captain," Voss replied with a slight nod. "I value talent, especially in young soldiers with promise, like yourself. Now, back to the mission at hand. You''ve experienced how brutal it is fighting in that sandstorm, haven''t you?"


    As Voss spoke, a series of grainy, chaotic clips yed on the screen. It was the footage from the spy drones that captured the massacre inside the storm.


    "As you can see, the sandstorm doesn''t favor infantry," Voss continued, "but in the air, it changes the rules entirely. Our ships are crippled, unable to provide support. But the Khryssari Skydancers... they adapt. Their organic forms allow them to navigate that chaos, to lend strength to their ground forces."


    He leaned closer to the screen, his voice dropping. "But what if I told you this sandstorm is artificial?"


    With a flick of his hand, Voss brought up a massive map of the. The image zoomed in on a deste area behind enemy lines, where a strange device pulsed ominously. "Our scouts discovered a Khryssari machine. This device is what''s sustaining the storm over this entire region."


    Rex studied the map, his eyes narrowing. "So... our mission is to destroy that device?"


    "Exactly," Voss confirmed. "After two hours that your squad breaches the frontline, we''ll begin a massive deployment to push the Khryssari back. Whether this battle ends in victory or defeat hinges on you taking down that device."


    The image on the screen shifted to show the target again, the machine looming in the shadows. Voss''s gaze was unyielding as he looked Rex straight in the eye. "Once that device is destroyed, the storm will clear. We''ll have air superiority, and our fleet will crush them from above. So, Captain... are you up for this task?"


    After a long pause, Rex finally broke the silence; his voice was steady, but his eyes were glinting with mischief. "Well, by the look of it, this mission''s pretty important, right? So I imagine the bonus should match that, no? just saying"


    Voss''s eyebrow shot up, clearly unimpressed. "I''m here telling you this mission is vital to winning the war, and you''re haggling over pay? What happened to pride and honor, Captain?"


    Rex rubbed the back of his neck with a crooked grin. "Well, pride and honor don''t feed my men, do they, sir?"


    For a tense moment, Voss just stared at him with a frown on his face before a slow grin crept onto his face. "Ha¡­ hah! Fair enough, Captain. Don''t worry. The reward will be enough for your men to live like kings for a few years. You''ve earned it."


    "Oh, now we''re talking!" Rex smirked, leaning back with a twinkle in his eye. "Knew you were a good guy, sir."


    After an hour of strategizing and going over the mission details, Rex and his team finally stepped out of the HQ tent, their expressions a mix of focus and excitement. As they made their way toward Cleo''s ship, Rex nced over at Ys, curiosity tugging at him.


    "Hey, Ys," he started, keeping his voice casual, "you''ve got that worm core now, yeah?"


    "Hm? I do, darling," she replied, looking up at him with a yful glint. "Why do you ask?"


    He gave her a teasing look. "Well, someone mentioned a reward if I managed to beat that thing. You remember who that might''ve been?"


    She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Oh, really? Was she cute?" she asked, her voice dipping in a way that sent a little spark through the air.


    Rex blinked, caught off guard, before trying to recover with augh. "Wait¡ªare you serious?"


    She let out a soft giggle before dashing off toward the ship, leaving him staring after her with a mix of confusion and amusement. Carlos, who''d been trailing behind them, threw up his hands. "Alright, you two, I''ll see youter. I''m off to find some real food. No interest in listening to this flirting," he muttered, wandering off toward the frontlines'' mess area.


    But Ys and Rex were too wrapped up in their own banter to pay him any mind. Rex followed her up the ramp, finally catching up inside the ship''s warm, dimly lit interior. Ys was already chatting with Cleo, and before Rex could say anything, Ys pressed a small dish into his hands, the smell of spices and something rich wafting up.


    "What''s this?" he asked, sniffing it suspiciously.


    "Cleo says you need it," Ys replied, looking up at him with an innocent expression that didn''t fool him for a second. "It''ll help you recover faster since it is full of nutrients and all that."


    Rex eyed the dish warily. "This won''t knock me out or anything, will it?"


    "Rx," Cleo chimed in, her voice smooth as ever. "It''s just good for you, Rex. Nothing extra."


    He held her gaze for a second, still suspicious, but eventually shrugged and took a bite. The vors hit him hard, rich and savory, and as he ate, he couldn''t shake the feeling that both Ys and Cleo were watching him with barely contained amusement.


    Whatever game they were ying, he was pretty sure he''d walked right into it, and oddly enough, he didn''t mind one bit.


    "Mmm, this is actually delicious. Have you tried it before, Ys?" Rex asked, ncing over at her as he ate off thest bite since Cleo had disappeared to the second floor, leaving just the two of them alone in the cargo bay.


    She let out a low mischievousugh, her green eyes gleaming. "Oh, I can''t eat that, darling. It''s a... special dish, just for men. I think the effects should be starting to kick in about now," she said, her voice dropping into a soft, devilish tone as she watched him intently.


    Rex blinked, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Just for males? What''s it made of?"


    "Elphey egg¡«," she replied with a teasing smile ying at her lips.


    He shrugged, unfazed. "Never heard of it... so what? Does it make me more handsome or something?"


    While Rex was busy with hisst bite, Ys had already consumed the core she''d been holding. Now, as he looked up, he noticed something different. She was¡­ taller. A lot taller. Her whole demeanor had shifted; where there''d once been a yful, almost girlish air, now there was a striking, mature beauty that caught himpletely off guard.


    "Mmm¡­ Ys?" he stammered, his voice trailing off.


    "Shhh¡­" She ced a finger gently against his lips, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I heard someone''s been searching for a reward¡«. Would you happen to know who that is?" Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, butced with an irresistible allure.


    Before he could respond, she leaned in closer, the warmth of her presence making his pulse quicken. With a smirk, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. "Mmm, maybe I do... but information like that doesn''te cheap, you know."


    "Aha¡«, is that so?" Ys teased, pressing a finger to his chest and pushing him back until he was seated on one of the metal crates scattered around the cargo bay. "And how exactly does one pay for such valuable information?"


    Rex grinned, his eyes never leaving hers. "Well, nothing''s free in this life, little girl."


    Sheughed softly, sliding onto hisp with a sultry look, her fingers tracing slow circles on his chest. "Lucky for you, I came prepared," she murmured.


    In one smooth motion, the green and ck armor she wore began to dissolve, leaving her in a simple ck top that hugged her form, entuating every curve, and a pair of shorts that barely covered her toned legs.


    Rex felt his throat tighten, his usual confidentposure faltering for a moment as his eyes took her in. She was breathtaking, every detail of her refined, her gaze holding him captive. All he could manage was a faint, involuntary sound.


    "Gulp."


    Ys chuckled, clearly enjoying his reaction as she leaned in even closer, her breath warm against his ear. "Now, Captain," she whispered to his ear, "tell me... what is it you really want as your reward?"

 Chapter 65: Reward? (2) [R18]

    The whispear near his ear felt like a devil luby; it was so sweety... so entrancing... so sensual...


    Rex was at a loss for words; while he was fine while flirting as it was his second nature, he had never beforee this far with a girl before. "What I want..." Rex could just mutter those words, but knowing it was useless, he better did what he knew best.


    And that was act before thinking, He moved his hands toward Ys legs and ced the palm of his hands on them, feeling their warmth and softness that was contrary to the strength that Ys usually show; he was expecting firm muscle legs, but somehow they were soft, too soft.


    His fingers were even burying slightly on her thighs while he squished them.


    "Aha, so is this what my darling wants¡«?" Ys said with her alluring voice before standing up.


    "Darling, while I think you look hot in that armor, don''t you think right now is unnecessary?"


    Without a second thought, he desactivates his armor, leaving him only in his white shirt and ck pants while looking at Ys like an obedient kid, and that made the dominating nature of Yse to light.


    "Aha¡«, thats a nice expression you have there, darling... and that over there seems to be even more eager than you to receive its reward." Ys said while looking down at Rex''s mighty road that was already standing like a tower while biting her lip.


    "Mmm, it seems that the egg already made its effect." She then started to move her fingers down, from Rex''s chin to his chest, going even lower to his abdomen, before stopping on the top of Rex''s mighty rod, sending him pleasure just by feeling that.


    "Kuh!" Rex tried to resist the urge of his mighty rod to explode.


    "Aww, poor you; you should be suffering; let me help you a little," she said with a sensual voice before kneeling in front of Rex''s legs and pulling down his pants.


    "Aha¡«, it seems like my darling has something wonderful right here," she said while licking her lips and staring at Rex''s exposed rod.


    "Ha, I''m d you like it, but are you just going to watch it?" Rex could finally calm down enough to say something.


    "Aha¡«, the little lion cub finally grows some teeth." Ys said while teasing Rex.


    "Well then, shall we finally give the kid his reward?" She then turned around and sat on Rex''s legs while sliding Rex rod between her soft tights, but when she did that, Rex couldn''t handle it anymore.


    "Kuh, fuck wait a second," Rex grabbed Ys from her hips while he let a big quantity of cum on top of her legs.


    "Hahaha, that''s an amazing quantity, darling¡«; it seems the egg was too effective on you." Ys said while covering the head of Rex mighty rod, and after a few seconds the cum finally stoppeding out, leaving a mess on Ys legs.


    She then stared at her hand full of Rex cum before bringing it to her mouth and licking her hand slowly. "You sure made a mess, darling, but it seems you didn''t have enough, right?" She said while pointing at Rex rod that was still standing strong.


    "Now you''ve done it!" Rex roared, standing up with a sudden intensity. He grabbed Ys, pushing her back against the cold, metal wall of the cargo bay. His hands settled firmly on her hips as he leaned in close, his breath hot against her neck.


    "I hope you had fun while treating me like a kid," he said while moving the ck shorts of Ys to the side.


    "Darling¡«, that''s a big no-no; that isn''t your reward," Ys said while shaking her butt.


    "Don''t worry, I''m not going to do that," he said while putting Ys legs together again with his rod between them. "I''m going to make both of us enjoy this moment."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Now that the skin of them was in contact with each other, Ys started feeling the rubbing of the hot rod of Rex between her legs, making her bite her lips in delight of the new feeling that she was experiencing at this moment.


    The sound of ps and small moans resounded in the cargo bay, where a man and a girl were enjoying one of the most delicacies that someone in a human body could feel. By this moment, they didn''t know how many times they had reached their climax.


    but someone could tell just by looking at the quantity of stinky substances on the metallic ground of the cargo bay.


    After reaching onest climax, Rex couldn''t handle it anymore and fell down onto the cargo ground, lying down exhausted and full of sweat, and Ys did the same, but she fell down on top of Rex, gasping for air while still covered in Rex''s white substance.


    "I hope you enjoyed your reward," Ys murmured, her breath still uneven.


    "It... was... amazing..." Rex panted, trying to catch his own breath.


    "But I think you were the one who enjoyed it the most in the end," he teased, a sly smile ying on his lips.


    Ys raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh? I don''t know what you''re talking about," she replied, pretending innocence.


    "Alright, leaving that aside... how exactly are we supposed to clean up this mess?" He looked around, eyeing the sticky substances sttered across the floor and clinging to Ys''s skin.


    "Don''t worry, darling. I''ll handle it," Ys said, struggling to stand as her legs wobbled, barely supporting her. She looked like a newborn deer, shaky but determined.


    As she steadied herself, a dark, sticky substance began to seep from her feet, spreading over the remnants of their wild encounter.


    It moved across the floor, absorbing every trace until the room looked untouched. Rex watched in amazement as the same ck tendrils pulled the lingering mess from Ys''s body, leaving her skin clean and glowing.


    "Well, that''s a neat trick," he said, grinning. "Think you could do the same with me?" He poked at a few stray spots on his own skin.


    Ys chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling. "Right away, darling."


    Once everything was finally clean and they looked presentable again, they stepped outside the ship. Carlos was the first to spot them, his face twisted in a mix of exhaustion and amusement.


    "Oh, look who''s back. Seriously? Three in the morning? Some of us actually want to sleep, you know. Ever heard of consideration?" Carlos muttered, though he couldn''t keep a smirk off his face.


    Rexughed, pping a hand on his shoulder. "You''re just jealous, Carlos. I''ve got this tall beauty by my side, and you''re stuck alone."


    Carlos raised an eyebrow, ncing at Ys with a mocking look. "Tall beauty? All I see is a pocket-sized grandma standing next to you."


    Rex turned, bewildered, only to see that Ys had indeed shrunk back to her small, usual form. She shrugged with a yful glint in her eyes. "The effect wore off already, darling¡«. That worm nucleus wasn''t strong enough to keep me big for long."


    Rex crossed his arms, grinning. "Fine by me. I got my reward. I didn''t really want this baldhead to see you at your best anyway." He shot Carlos a triumphant look.


    "Whatever, man," Carlos rolled his eyes. "Anyway, while you two were off doing who knows what, I was here recruiting soldiers for our mission by Cleo request."


    Ys noticed the slight shadow that crossed Rex''s face, and she took his hand, squeezing it gently. "Don''t worry, darling. Cleo and I... we came to an understanding."


    Rex tilted his head, intrigued. "An understanding? What kind of agreement?"


    Ys pressed a finger to her lips with a mischievous smile. "That''s a secret between us girls. Not even you get to know, darling¡«."


    Rexughed, shaking his head. "Alright, Carlos. Show me the soldiers who decided to join us." He patted Ys on the head, a gesture of quiet affection.


    "Finally remembered I''m here, huh?" Carlos snorted. "Follow me. They''re waiting just over there."


    Carlos led them a little ways off to a quieter area away from the frontlines. were a group of soldiers, and a few hovertanks stood waiting; their faces felt familiar to Rex. As they approached, Carlos raised his voice.


    "Attention! The Captain''s here!"


    The soldiers straightened, a spark of recognition lighting their faces.


    "Captain!"


    "Sir, wee back!"


    Rex''s eyes widened as he recognized them. "Wait, it''s you guys. Now I know why you looked familiar!" He took a step forward, his voice filled with both surprise and concern. "What are you all doing here? You fought your way out of that hell once already. Why would youe back for more?"


    One of the soldiers, a young man Rex had saved from being devoured in the chaos of the first wave, stepped forward. His face was hardened, though a trace of sadness lingered in his eyes. "With all due respect, Captain, we''re here because we trust you. We trust you more than those officers in the allied forces."


    Rex''s expression darkened. "What happened with the allied forces?"


    The soldier looked down, swallowing hard. "They took all our merits, Captain. Said we were hiding somewhere... imed that''s the only reason we survived. They stripped us of everything."


    He paused, his voice faltering as he remembered. "When some of us argued, one officer had us gunned down, saying we were trying to start a riot. Others... others were sent on''scouting missions'' and never returned."


    Another soldier spoke up, his voice thick with barely restrained anger. "They sent our men on suicide runs, Captain. They knew they wouldn''te back. My brother... my brother was one of them." He gritted his teeth, fists trembling as he fought to keep control.


    Rex looked around, the weight of their words pressing down on him. He clenched his jaw, his gaze steely. "I understand now," he said, his voice low and steady yet charged with an unspoken promise. "You''re with me. And as long as I''m here, none of you will be sacrificed for someone else''s pride. We fight as one."


    The soldiers stood straighter, their eyes glinting with renewed determination. They had found their leader again, and in that moment, they knew they would follow him into any fire, no matter how fierce.


    since he was worth it.

 Chapter 66: Sabotage.

    After an hour since leaving the rtive safety of the frontline HQ, Rex and his squad moved steadily toward their objective. His team wasposed of two hundred infantry soldiers and four hover tanks, but they''d opted out of air support since any aircraft in the sky would be a beacon for the enemy.


    "Hey, Ys," Rex called over his shoulder, ncing at his second-inmand as they walked through the rocky terrain. "What are the chances we make it there without getting noticed?"


    Ys frowned, casting a quick look around the rugged canyon walls. "Honestly? Close to zero, darling. If even one Khryssari scout spots us, the whole swarm will be on us in minutes."


    "So we''re pretty much screwed already, huh?" Rex muttered,ing to a halt as he surveyed the jagged cliffs towering over them, blood-red under the harsh sunlight.


    Cleo had nned out their route through this canyon. It was carved by fierce sandstorms that tore across the''s surface, creating natural cover that shielded them from air surveince and distant patrols. But the canyon was a double-edged sword. The same terrain that hid them could just as easily conceal an ambush.


    "Carlos, give the signal. Combat-ready positions," Rex ordered, his grip tightening around the hilt of his ymore.


    Carlos nodded, raising his hand in a thumbs-up that sent a silent ripple through the squad. Within seconds, every soldier was on alert. The hover tanks'' mounted guns swiveled slowly, their barrels scanning the canyon, ready to unleash a storm of bullets at the first hint of movement.


    "What''s next, Rex?" Carlos asked, standing ready with his hammer raised.


    "Move slow. I don''t like this silence," Rex replied, his voice barely a whisper. "Feels like we''re walking right into something. It could be that a scout saw us and went to alert the main force. Stay sharp; this could go bad fast."


    They advanced with caution, with their footsteps echoing against the canyon walls. The oppressive silence stretched on, and after half an hour, Rex could feel the tension radiating from his troops. Faces tightened, eyes darting to every shadow, every curve of rock. They were growing more mentally drained than physically, and he could tell that Ys had noticed too.


    "Rex, this is wearing them down," she murmured from behind him, her voice almost lost in the eerie quiet. She was in stealth mode while she clung to his back like a silent shadow. "We''re up against an enemy that actually knows how to use its brain."


    Rex cursed under his breath. "Alright, everyone,stop! Take cover, now!"


    The words had barely left his mouth when the canyon walls lit up with shes of sickly green light. Biosma rounds poured down from every direction, illuminating the red rock with a deadly green glow. The narrow path erupted into chaos as the energy bolts rained down around them.


    "Damn it!" Rex growled, dodging what he could, but there were too many. His energy shield red as it absorbed several hits, cracks spreading across its surface like spiderwebs.


    "Aegis units, max power to shields! Protect as many as you can!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.


    The Aegis soldiers sprang into action, raising their shields and forming a defensive line. They absorbed the brunt of the sma fire, shielding those behind them, but it was impossible to cover everyone. sma rounds continued to pour in from above, relentless and overwhelming. The squad was pinned, caught in the open, and Rex could see the grim reality of their situation.


    They were exactly where the enemy wanted them. This was no ordinary skirmish; it was a trap, perfectlyid and ruthlessly executed.


    The green sma sts finally stopped, leaving an eerie silence in the canyon. Rex knew this was their only chance.


    "Tanks! Bring down those mountains!" he shouted, pointing his ymore at two towering canyon pirs where the heaviest fire hade from.


    The hover tanks fired their main cannons, the thunderous sts echoing through the canyon as the pirs shattered, sending chunks of rock tumbling down. A massive dust cloud erupted from the impact, thick and blinding, swallowing everything in its path.


    "Three rounds! Fire into the cloud!" Rexmanded, his voice steady and fierce.


    The soldiers didn''t hesitate. A storm of bullets andsers ripped into the dust cloud, lighting up the canyon in shes of red, blue, and golden. The air filled with the unmistakable sound of flesh and armor being torn apart, and a series of agonized squeals echoed out from the cloud. The sound sent a chill down the soldiers'' spines, an unearthly reminder of the alien foe they faced.


    But the silence didn''tst. From within the settling dust, Khryssari warriors burst forth, charging head-on with fierce, primal cries.


    Carlos stepped in front of Rex, raising his shield as he braced himself. The minigun mounted on his shield spun to life, and his robotic arms unleashed a hailstorm of bullets andsers. The Khryssari were met with a wall of firepower, but they pushed forward, relentless.


    Rex grinned, ncing over at Carlos. "What''s this, baldy? You finally decided you''re in love with me?"


    Carlos snorted, keeping his focus on the oing wave. "In your dreams, pretty boy. Just trying to keep that face of yours in one piece since, who knows, maybe the officers with... unique tastes will give us some favors."


    Rexughed, his golden armor ents beginning to glow with a fierce light. "You win this round, damn baldy!"


    With a powerful leap, he shot over Carlos''s shoulder, the impact of his jump kicking up dust and debris behind him. Carlos yelped as a few stray rocks struck him, one right on his backside.


    "Damn it, Rex! You did that on purpose, you sissy-looking brat!" Carlos yelled, shaking his fist.


    While he was stillughing, Rexnded on the head of a Khryssari warrior and drove his ymore down with brutal force, piercing its skull. A fountain of glowing green blood sprayed from the wound, sttering his armor.


    The sight was enough to rally the troops. To them, Rex''sughter sounded like a battle cry, a fearless taunt in the face of danger. Cheers erupted from his soldiers; their spirits lifted, their fatigue forgotten. They fought with renewed vigor, as if the battle itself had be a test of their will.


    But this was no ordinary surge of morale. Cleo, watching through Rex''s eyes from afar, understood what was truly happening. Rex''s mental strength was growing, his spirit radiating with an energy he himself didn''t fully understand.


    His aura, fierce and defiant, was spilling out into the battlefield, unseen yet felt by every ally around him. The effect was immediate, giving an astonishing surge of power and resilience to his troops; their abilities heightened as if by sheer force of will.


    Cleo''s doubts began to fade. She finally understood why Rex could lead a squad of rookies, soldiers meant to be mere cannon fodder, and turn them into a hardened force that fought like veterans.


    It wasn''t just strategy or skill. It was something deeper, something primal. Rex had a gift, a raw power that inspired those around him to push beyond their limits and to fight with everything they had.


    And as the Khryssari warriors charged forward, Rex''s squad met them head-on, their battle cries echoing through the canyon, unyielding, fearless, ready to fight to thest breath.


    But Cleo wasn''t the only one observing the battlefield through borrowed eyes. Far from the fray, hidden deep within the shifting sands, another figure watched with a dark, almost amused curiosity.


    The Khryssarimander, leader of this swarm, had been following the battle through the senses of his warriors, expecting an easy victory, like it had always been a routine ughter of weaker prey. But this... this was different. What he thought was mere food had not only resisted but fought back with ferocity.


    A smile twisted his lips as he focused on the one they called Captain. Somehow, this warrior had breathed new life into the exhausted human troops. He felt the surge of strength ripple through them the moment the white-armored figure joined the fight.


    This enemy, he realized, was no ordinary foe. A thrill ran through him, a rare feeling. His queen hadmanded him to capture this one alive, and now he understood why.


    When thest of his Khryssari warriors fell, he didn''t hesitate. With a smooth, almost graceful leap, he mounted a massive beast lying in the shadows, its scales thick and gleaming like dark armor.


    He gave the creature a firm pat, and with a singlemand, they charged forward, vanishing into the dust storm that still lingered in the canyon.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Meanwhile, Rex pulled his ymore free from the fallen Khryssari warrior at his feet, blood-slicked and gleaming. Around him, his troops erupted in cheers, their voices echoing off the canyon walls.


    "Carlos, how much time have we lost already?" Rex asked, his voice sharp as he nced around to take stock.


    Carlos wiped the green blood from his arm device, muttering under his breath as he checked the time. "We''re down forty-five minutes fighting these bastards."


    Rex''s jaw tightened. "Which means we''re out of time. The two hours Admiral Voss gave us are up; they''ll beunching the full frontal assault any second. We need to move now. If we don''t take down that device before they hit, they''ll be massacred out there."


    He gave Carlos a solid p on the back, enough to make the big man stagger.


    "Damn it, Rex, be careful!" Carlos grunted, rolling his shoulder. "You''re like a damn tank. Almost knocked the lungs right out of me."


    "Oh, sorry, I didn''t know you wanted a skirt, princess," Rex shot back with a grin, his eyes shing.


    Carlos sighed, shaking his head. "One of these days, when I''m as big as you, I swear I''m going to beat the living daylights out of that smug face of yours."


    They bothughed, the banter easing the tension for a moment, but it didn''tst long.


    A low, thunderous sound rumbled from the horizon, followed by a series of sharp, piercing whistles cutting through the air. In an instant, the sky lit up with a swarm of yellow streaks, arcing down like falling stars.


    Each one hit the sandstorm with a deafening explosion, filling the air with shockwaves that sentplumes of dust and sand spiraling up in blinding clouds.


    Rex''s face hardened as he watched the chaos unfolding in the distance. "So it''s started."

 Chapter 67: Sabotage (2)

    "Alright, everyone, on high alert!" Rex shouted, his voice cutting through the roar of distant explosions. "We''re not alone out here."


    The soldiers quickly tightened their formation, weapons at the ready. Each one felt the weight of the moment pressing down on them. They weren''t just fighting for survival now; they were racing against time, against an enemy that seemed to grow more menacing with every breath.


    This battle was far from over. And somewhere out there, hidden in the storm, a new nightmare was waiting to be unleashed.


    As Rex and his team pressed forward, the relentless ambushes took their toll. With every kilometer, the squad''s numbers dwindled, their faces etched with exhaustion and tension.


    Each attack was the same; the Khryssari warriors rained down green biosma from above, forcing the humans to take cover. Then, when the Khryssari ran out of ammunition, they charged in, engaging in brutal meleebat.


    The close-quarters fighting was vicious, with des shing and blood spilling on both sides. The soldiers were worn down, battle after battle, and even Rex could feel fatigue eating out at his endurance.


    "Cleo, are we close to the target yet?" Rex asked, his voice gritty through themunicator.


    "Affirmative," Cleo replied. "The device should be about five hundred meters ahead of your current position."


    Rex squinted his eyes, trying to peer through the swirling sandstorm, but the thick clouds of dust made visibility nearly impossible. "I can''t see a damn thing. This sandstorm is cutting my sight down to five meters or less."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Hold on. I''ll mark a route on your HUD to guide you," Cleo said with a soft blue light illuminating her face as she worked on a screen she summoned.


    Rex gave a tired chuckle. "Right¡­ I forgot you could do that."


    "I figured as much," Cleo sighed, a hint of amusement in her voice. "There. You should see the illuminated path now. Just follow it, but proceed with caution."


    "Got it, beautiful. Thanks." Rex grinned, giving her a quick salute on the screen before rallying his troops.


    They began moving again, following the faint blue trail that Cleo had mapped out. The path was strangely quiet, with no ambushes or enemies in sight. But instead offort, the silence made Rex''s skin crawl. He scanned the hazy surroundings with his senses on edge.


    "Rex! Over there!" Carlos shouted, pointing toward a barely visible shape in the distance.


    Rex strained his eyes and finally caught a glimpse of it; it was a metallic structure, half-buried in sand, looming like a ghostly shadow in the storm. His heart quickened. "That''s it. That''s the device! Move, people! Let''s finish this!"


    Just as they charged forward, Cleo''s voice came through hism, sharp and urgent. "Stop! Don''t go near it!"


    Rex halted, confused. "What? Why?"


    "I''m detecting a powerful electromaic field surrounding the device," Cleo exined. "It''s invisible, but if you step into it, you''ll be crushed instantly. Every piece of your gear has metallicponents. That field would turn your own equipment against you."


    Rex grimaced, scanning the area, even though he knew he wouldn''t see it. "So... they''ve shielded it with an electromaic trap. Damn bugs. Smart move on their part since they''re fully organic, so it doesn''t affect them."


    "Rex, let me handle it," Carlos said, stepping forward, his hammer gripped tightly. "I''ll get in there and shut it down."


    But before he could take another step, Cleo''s voice cut him off. "Negative, Carlos. Rex has to be the one to go in. I''m the only one who understands Khryssari technology well enough to deactivate it, and I need a direct link to Rex''s neural interface to walk him through it. But¡­ there''s a problem."


    Rex raised an eyebrow, ncing at the disy. "Of course there is. What''s the catch?"


    Cleo hesitated, a flicker of concern passing over her usuallyposed expression. "The electromaic field is irregr. It pulses every ten seconds, creating brief windows where you can enter. But once inside, you''ll need to bepletely still while I work on the deactivation. Any movement could disrupt the field, and... well, you''d be crushed instantly."


    Rex clenched his jaw, nodding slowly. "So, we''ve got to time it perfectly. And once I''m in, I can''t move. Got it."


    Carlos shook his head, his expression grim. "Rex, this is insane. One wrong step, one slip, and you''re dead."


    Rex looked at his friend, a determined gleam in his eyes. "I''vee this far, Carlos. This is the mission. Besides, we don''t have time to argue. The longer we wait, the more of our troops are dying out there in the assault. We have to take this thing down now."


    Carlos stared at him, then finally gave a reluctant nod. "Alright. Just... don''t get yourself killed, you damn sissy-looking face."


    Rex grinned, pping him on the shoulder. "Wouldn''t dream of it."


    Turning back to the device, Rex focused, waiting for Cleo''s signal. His heart pounded as he watched the pulses of energy ripple across his HUD, each one a deadly wave just waiting to crush him.


    "Alright, Rex," Cleo''s voice came through, calm and steady. "On my mark... three... two... one... Go!"


    Rex sprinted forward, diving into the narrow gap between pulses. The field hummed around him with a vibrating tension that prickled at his skin. He slipped into the safe zone, barely catching his breath before he froze, every muscle tensed.


    "Now hold still," Cleo instructed. "I''m syncing with your neural interface... just a few more seconds..."


    The seconds felt like hours. He could feel the pulses moving around him, each one a wall of crushing force that could end him in an instant. Sweat trickled down his face, but he didn''t dare move, not even to blink.


    As Rex worked to dismantle the device, the sounds of battle grew louder behind him. Suddenly, a deafening crash cut through the chaos, and he nced back just in time to see Carlos flying through the air, his body smashing into the canyon wall with bone-jarring force.


    A low, mockingugh echoed through the canyon. "Kukukuku... do you like your little cage, human? I made it just for you," sneered a towering Khryssari champion, nearly three meters tall.


    His body was armored in a dark exoskeleton, streaked with eerie green lights that pulsed like the veins of some monstrous insect. His hands ended in massive, hammer-like fists, and behind him, two pairs of translucent wings fluttered, sending ripples of disturbed sand swirling around him.


    "Carlos!" Rex shouted, a surge of anger breaking his focus.


    "Focus, Rex!" Cleo''s voice cut in sharply through their neural link, steadying him. He couldn''t afford to lose concentration now, not with the device only half-deactivated. The entire mission depended on him finishing this.


    Meanwhile, the rest of Rex''s troops rushed to Carlos''s aid, opening fire on the Khryssari champion. Bullets and sma rounds ricocheted harmlessly off the creature''s exoskeleton, which seemed to heal almost instantly, the green veins pulsing brighter with each impact.


    "Kukuku, pathetic little mosquitoes," the champion sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "But don''t worry, I haven''t forgotten any of you."


    As if on cue, thousands of Khryssari warriors appeared, emerging from the shadows of the canyon, their insectoid forms glistening in the dim light. They swarmed around Rex''s troops, surrounding them in a deadly ring.


    The soldiers barely had a moment to brace themselves before a torrent of green biosma rained down, forcing them to scramble for cover.


    "Don''t you dare!" Rex roared, his voice carrying the weight of his fury, even as he stayed locked in ce, focusing on the device.


    The Khryssari champion chuckled darkly. "Kukuku¡­ Why wouldn''t I? Kill them all," hemanded, raising his hammer-like fists as heughed, a deep, rumbling sound that grated against the ears.


    Before he could finish his mockingugh, a familiar voice cut through the chaos. "Shut the hell up, you overgrown cockroach!" Carlos had returned, dragging himself up from where he''d been thrown.


    Blood trickled down his helmet, but his eyes were zing with fury. He hefted his massive hammer and charged, swinging with all his might. The hammer connected with the champion''s face in a bone-cracking blow that sent a shockwave through the air.


    The Khryssari champion staggered, momentarily stunned. "KU! You filthy inferior!" he hissed, rage shing in his eyes as he steadied himself, thenunched himself at Carlos like a charging bull.


    Carlos grinned, unphased. "Aw, did I make the little bug mad?" he taunted, lifting his gunshield and unleashing a stream of bullets. But, as before, they bounced off the champion''s exoskeleton harmlessly.


    "Oh,e on! Is everything on this bulletproof?" Carlos shouted, rolling to the side just as the champion''s massive fist smashed into the ground where he''d been standing, sending a cloud of sand and rock flying.


    "If bullets won''t do the job," Carlos growled, gripping his hammer with both hands, "then I''ll smash your face until it looks like the stew that the Aquarian grandma made back at home!"


    The champion''s eyes glinted with amusement. "Kukuku¡­ Interesting! Show me what you''ve got, inferior life form!" He raised his hammer-like fists, his wings buzzing as he closed in.


    Carlos charged forward, the two titans meeting in a violent sh of strength and fury. Carlos used his shield generators to absorb the brutal impacts of the champion''s fists, each blow sending shudders through his armor.


    In return, he swung his hammer with relentless ferocity, aiming for any weak spot he could find, each hit echoing through the canyon like thunder. Their strikes threw up clouds of sand, the force of their battle pulling them deeper into the heart of the sandstorm, until they were just shadows in the swirling dust.


    Rex, still focused on disarming the device, clenched his jaw as he heard the sounds of his friend''s struggle. He knew Carlos was buying him time, risking everything to hold back the champion, but he couldn''t afford to lose focus. One mistake, and the entire mission would be lost.


    "Just a few more minutes," Cleo''s voice murmured in his ear, calm and steady, guiding him through the final steps. "You''re almost there, Rex. Keep going."


    In the midst of the chaos, surrounded by the sounds of desperate battle and swirling sand, Rex took a steadying breath, pushing aside his fear and rage. This was it. He couldn''t let his team down.


    After a few minutes had passed, Rex could hear the steps of someoneing from the sandstorm while dragging something.

 Chapter 68: Desperate fight.

    As the heavy footsteps drew nearer, Rex could finally make out the hulking silhouette of the Khryssari Champion emerging from the swirling sands. The creature''s green-glowing eyes narrowed with cruel delight as he stopped just out of reach.


    "Kukuku... this inferior being turned out to be far more entertaining than I expected. He has my praise," the champion sneered before casually tossing Carlos''s limp body to the ground in front of Rex.


    Rex''s heart lurched. Carlosy sprawled in the sand, his helmet cracked, one arm missing, blood staining his battered armor. "Carlos!" he choked, rage and horror flooding his voice.


    "Focus, Rex!" Cleo''s voice rang in his ear, sharp and steady. "He''s still alive. But if you want him to stay that way, you need to finish this. Now."


    Rex clenched his fists, breathing heavily, his gaze never leaving the Khryssari Champion. "Cleo... all I need to do is hold onto this device, right? And you said it''s made from materials that can withstand big explosions?"


    "Yes, why do you ask?" Cleo''s voice wavered, sensing something reckless in his tone.


    Rex smirked, ignoring the pain and fatigue gnawing at his body. With a surge of strength, he wrapped his arms around the device, nting his feet firmly in the sand. Muscles straining, he began to lift, pulling it from the ground with a primal roar that echoed across the battlefield.


    The electromaic field reacted instantly, weighing down on him like a crushing, invisible force, trying to pin him in ce.


    "Rex! Wait! This is too dangerous. Stop it!" Cleo''s voice was panicked now as she watched his vitals spike, red alerts shing all over her screen. The strain on his body was intense, his heart rate soaring, blood vessels straining, but Rex''s focus was unbreakable.


    "Kukuku¡­ What are you trying to aplish now, little human?" The Khryssari Champion mocked, striding closer, his massive fists flexing. "Do you wish for death? I would be delighted to oblige."


    Rex ignored him, teeth gritted, veins bulging in his neck as he fought against the electromaic pressure.


    Just as the Champion closed in, barely a meter away, Rex finally wrenched the device free from the ground and swung it with every ounce of strength he had left. The makeshift weapon smashed into the champion''s face with a satisfying crack, sending the towering creature staggering back.


    "How''s that, you ugly bastard?" Rex roared, his voice filled with fury. Without missing a beat, he swung the device again, aiming for the champion''s chest. But this time, the Khryssari was ready. He caught the heavy device with one massive wed hand, stopping it dead in its tracks.


    "Kukuku... using the very trap I set for you as a weapon. Clever... and amusing," the champion sneered, his grip tightening on the device. "But I wonder... how long you can keep up this charade!" With a snarl, he drove his fist into Rex''s face, the impact ringing out like thunder.


    Rex staggered but didn''t back down. He spat blood and grinned defiantly. "Is that it? You hit like a damn child!" He swung his fist, smashing it into the champion''s face in return, feeling his knuckles crack against the creature''s unyielding exoskeleton.


    The champion chuckled, unfazed, as if Rex''s defiance amused him. "Kukuku¡­ your pathetic provocations mean nothing, human. Why should I care what a weaker creature thinks?" He drove his fist into Rex''s jaw again, each blow resonating like the beat of a war drum.


    The two shed, exchanging brutal punches, locked in a savage contest of endurance. Blow after blow, Rex''s vision began to blur, his breaths turning ragged. He could feel his strength draining, his body reaching its limit.


    "Ah, fuck this." Rex muttered, spitting blood onto the sand as his eyes began to glow with an intense, blinding light.


    [Overdrive Mode activated]


    A surge of energy exploded from Rex, his entire body igniting in a brilliant white light that cut through the sandstorm like a beacon. Every soldier on the battlefield, including friends and foes alike, could see the incandescent figure zing within the storm. Rex no longer cared who was watching. All he knew was that he was done holding back.


    With newfound power coursing through his veins, he lifted the device with ease, swinging it like a war hammer. The Khryssari Champion''s eyes widened as Rex brought the device down on him, the impact sending him crashing into the ground with an explosion of sand and dust.


    "K-Ku¡­!" the champion sputtered, dazed, as he struggled to rise.


    "Oh, you''re not getting up from this," Rex snarled, his voice like a battle cry as he raised the device over his head. "Start begging, you oversized bug!"


    He brought the device down with brutal force, mming it into the champion''s exoskeleton. Each hit resounded like an explosion, the sheer power of his blows cracking the hardened armor.


    Dust and debris flew with every impact, and the ground beneath them shook with each strike. The champion writhed beneath him, hisughter now reced by groans of pain, his earlier arrogance shattered.


    Again and again, Rex hammered down, his Overdrive-enhanced strength making each blow deadlier than thest. His rage was a torrent, his body zing with energy, every swing fueled by the thought of Carlos, his team, and everything they''d endured.


    Finally, with onest, thunderous blow, he drove the device into the champion''s chest, shattering the exoskeletonpletely. The K. Champion let out a choked gasp, his green-lit eyes flickering, the light within them dimming as hey sprawled in the sand, defeated.


    Rex stood over him, breathing heavily, his glowing form slowly dimming as his Overdrive faded. Around him, his troops cheered, their voices rising in triumph, their morale soaring as they witnessed their captain''s victory.


    Just as Rex turned to check on Carlos, he caught sight of him struggling to his feet, bloodied but determined. Carlos opened his mouth to say something, but hismunicator had been destroyed in the fierce battle against the K. Champion


    In that split second, Rex felt a sharp, pulsing pain in his abdomen. He looked down, horrified, to see a massive, jagged horn piercing straight through his armor. Golden blood sttered inside his helmet, and he coughed, feeling warmth trickle down his throat.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Rex!" Cleo''s voice rang out, paning her tone as she saw him impaled.


    Behind him, the Khryssari champion that was supposedly defeated just moments ago stood tall, hisughter echoing menacingly. "You pitiful humans should learn to aim for the head first!" he sneered, lifting Rex higher with the horn embedded in his hand, twisting it slightly as if savoring Rex''s pain.


    Carlos saw this horrifying scene unfold. Ignoring his own injuries, he gripped his hammer tightly, channeling every ounce of strength he had left. With a powerful, desperate swing, he mmed his hammer into the Khryssari champion''s side, hitting him with a force that sent both the champion and Rex tumbling across the scorching sand.


    As they rolled, Rex was thrown clear of the horn, but a gaping wound now marred his abdomen. Golden blood spilled from him like a broken fountain, staining the sand beneath him.


    Hey there, gasping, his vision blurring, while he heard the brutal sounds of Carlos shing with the champion once more. It was clear Carlos was struggling, each blow weaker than thest.


    Rex fumbled with his helmet, blood obscuring his view. With a hiss, he deactivated it, feeling the hot wind whip against his face. His long, dark hair fell across his eyes, streaked with golden blood.


    "Rex," Cleo''s voice crackled in his ear, softer now. "I''m redirecting energy to start healing you, but it''s going to drain your strength. You''ll barely be at half power, and overdrive is off the table."


    He coughed, wincing. "That''s fine¡­ just patch me up. The bald idiot''s going to need help before he ends up uglier than he already is."


    "Take care, Rex." Cleo''s voice faded, and with it, the familiar HUD in his eyes blink out. He could feel his strength slipping; his powerful frame weakened, but he wasn''t about to let that stop him. He had to fight the champion once more alone.


    With a wry smirk, Rex forced himself to his feet, gritting his teeth against the pain. He wasn''t alone. He never had been. Even as a kid, there had always been someone watching his back.


    Staggering forward, he spotted the device still intact and humming with power. He gripped it, feeling its familiar weight in his hands, and set off on a stumbling run toward the brutal fight between Carlos and the Khryssari champion.


    Carlos was holding his ground, barely, but the champion was relentless, pressing him back with savage blows.


    With all the strength he had left, Rex lunged, swinging the device at the back of the Khryssari''s knee. The champion grunted, forced down onto one knee, momentarily vulnerable.


    "Now, baldy!" Rex roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield.


    Carlos shot him a wild grin. "Took you long enough, you fancy-haired princess!" With a defiantugh, he powered up his hammer, the weapon crackling with energy, and brought it down in a devastating arc onto the champion''s face.


    The K. Champion staggered, tumbling down the sandy slope, his body skidding and rolling across the dunes.


    Rexughed through the pain, wincing as he held his bleeding side. "Looks like your ugly mug survived after all."


    Carlos snorted, breathing hard. "This face won''t be ruined by some freak with a horn."


    From below, a low, menacing chuckle rumbled as the Khryssari champion rose again, his injuries already beginning to heal. "More!" he hissed, his eyes zing with bloodlust. "Entertain me more!"


    Carlos tightened his grip on his hammer, his muscles tensing. "You ready for round two, Rex?"


    Rex took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Only if you are Carlos."

 Chapter 69: Desperate fight (2).

    "Kukuku! Come on, you weaklings! Entertain me even more!" The Khryssari champion''sughter echoed across the battlefield, mocking them.


    Rex and Carlos let out a raw, defiant warcry, charging toward the towering alien with every ounce of strength they had left. They''d done this a thousand times before, facing enemies stronger than them and finding a way to win together.


    Rex reached the champion first, swinging the heavy device he carried like a club. His bionic imnts sparked and strained under the electromaic interference, each swing sending jolts of pain through his system.


    But Cleo was keeping him patched together, barely. Rex knew the device was their only shot, even if it meant breaking it over the Khryssari''s head until it stopped working.


    Rex swung the device with brutal determination, treating the device like it was part of him. Though weakened, he moved with surprising fluidity,nding a few solid hits. But it wasn''t enough. The Khryssari champion barely flinched, a mocking grin spreading across his face.


    "Kukuku, that''s a nice massage!" The champion sneered, thenshed out with a brutal kick, sending Rex tumbling down the dunes, leaving a streak of golden blood in the sand.


    Carlos grated his teeth and took advantage of the moment. With a desperate swing, he smashed his hammer into the champion''s ankle, causing him to stagger and fall face-first into the sand.


    Rex saw his chance. Rising to his feet, he charged forward, mustering every ounce of strength, and drove the device deep into the Khryssari''s back, forcing a painful roar of pain from the creature.


    "NOW, CARLOS! DO IT!"


    Carlos roared as he leaped into the air, bringing his hammer down on the top of the device with all his might. The impact drove it deeper, and for a split second, time seemed to stand still.


    Then the device exploded, unleashing a massive electromaic shockwave that rippled outward, sending everyone within a five-kilometer radius flying through the air.


    Rex hit the ground hard, golden blood sttering as he rolled to a stop. Hey there, coughing up sand and blood, gasping for air. "Cough¡­ Carlos, are you still alive?"


    From a few meters away, Carlos let out a weak groan. "Barely¡­ After this, I want a long vacation in the underground city. I remember hearing they''ve got bars by the thermal rivers now... maybe half a year there, at least."


    Rexughed, his voice ragged. "That sounds damn good. Yeah. I''m with you. Though I was hoping to die as a sexy old man, not out here on some sandy hellhole."


    Carlos chuckled, wincing. "Oh, quit whining. You''re basically immortal, remember?"


    Rex''s eyes widened, then heughed again, coughing through the pain. "Right! Guess that means I will live long enough to be a sexy old man!"


    "You dumbass."


    A familiar voice cut through their banter, calm and slightly amused. "Mmm¡­ I was expecting you two to be in much worse shape. You''re looking almost fresh."


    Rex didn''t even have to look to recognize the voice. "Well, well¡­ look who decided to show up. And here I thought you didn''t care about me anymore. I thought you were just going to leave me here to rot."


    The figure stepped into view, smirking down at them with a glint in her eye. "Oh, please. Who else am I supposed to rescue if not my favorite reckless idiots¡«?"


    "Well, you know, we could have used that help a little sooner. What kept you?" Rex muttered, ncing up at her with a smirk despite the pain.


    Ys rolled her eyes yfully, crouching down beside him and patting his head like he was a stubborn child. "Oh,e now, darling¡«, don''t be like that. There are rules, you know. I couldn''t just jump in. That champion? He was a gift from my aunt; she hand-picked it for you.


    I told you about this before, or did you forget?"


    Rex frowned, the memory clicking back into ce. "Ah, right... you did mention something about that. So, who exactly was that bastard?"


    Ys smiled, her tone almost cheerful. "He''s the son of my aunt''s daughter."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex blinked, his confusion deepening. "Wait¡­ I thought hive queens only had one daughter. Isn''t that the whole deal?"


    "Correct!" she replied with a grin. "The queen has one daughter, and that daughter, the princess, can''t have daughters herself. Only sons. And those sons? They be champions of the hive."


    Rex let out a long sigh, shaking his head. "Well, damn. At least that bastard''s dead now."


    Ys gave him a curious look, her expression almost pitying. "Oh, darling¡«, he''s not dead. Just¡­ severely injured. He''s probably licking his wounds somewhere, waiting toe after you again."


    Rex groaned, exasperated. "Are you kidding me? Is that guy immortal or what?"


    Sheughed softly. "No, no. Just¡­ resilient. Khryssari champions have remarkable regenerative abilities. As long as they have enough materials to draw on, they can keep healing themselves."


    Thatment made her nce down at her stomach, and she absentmindedly ced a hand over it. "Speaking of which... you did give me quite a lot of nutrients a few hours ago."


    "Oh, for heaven''s sake, please don''t start with that," Carlos growled, ring at the two of them.


    Rexughed, despite the pain. "What''s the matter, Carlos? Jealous, I''ve got a beautiful wife."


    "Shut up, sissy."


    Ignoring their banter, Rex looked back at Ys, rxing slightly as she continued to run her fingers through his hair. "So¡­ What were you up to while we were getting pounded by that oversized hornhead?"


    She smiled, as if enjoying some private joke. "Helping the troops. Reinforcements should be on their way soon to get us out of here. We''ll retreat to a safer zone."


    A shadow passed over Rex''s face. "How many?" he murmured, his voice trailing off.


    She tilted her head, not understanding. "How many what, darling?"


    "How many... did we lose in that ambush?" he asked quietly, the weight of the battle settling over him.


    Ys hesitated, as if counting wasn''t something she was used to. "Mmm, probably half of them. It was too chaotic to be certain. You know, I''m not exactly... ustomed to tracking losses like that." Her tone was almost indifferent.


    Coming from the Khryssari, shecked the same empathy for soldiers'' deaths as other races did; to her, each soldier was simply part of the swarm.


    Rex took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you, Ys. Really. For everything."


    She smiled, a rare warmth lighting up her eyes as she rubbed her cheek against his hand. "Oh, darling, what do you mean? I''m only doing what a good wife should¡«."


    Despite the chaos, Rex found himself smiling back, feeling the rare calm between battles. And for that brief moment, as Ys held his hand in the ruins of the battlefield, everything felt right.


    Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Allied Forces'' gship gunboat, General Leena Valrix stood near the wide observation window, watching the chaotic battle unfold across the skies and sand-sted ground below. Her sharp gaze scanned the horizon until she finally spotted the signal she''d been waiting for.


    "Hmph," she murmured, a hint of satisfaction in her tone. "Looks like that bastard finally aplished his mission." She turned to one of her officers nearby. "You there, openmunication with all air forces."


    "Yes, General!" The officer sprang into action, tapping at his console until the line was live. "You''re now connected, ma''am."


    Leena''s voice cut through the static, crisp andmanding. "Attention to all air units under mymand. Start your engines and prepare forbat. Fighters and heavy fighters,unch first!"


    As her orders echoed across the channels, the ground below became a hive of activity. Fighters and heavy fighters of all shapes and sizes roared to life, kicking up plumes of sand as they lifted off and surged toward the swarming Khryssari forces.


    But the enemy was ready; in response, a massive cloud of Skydancers, glowing a sickly green, rose to meet them, streaking through the air like an unholy swarm.


    Leena counted down under her breath. "Three, two, one, engage."


    In an instant, missiles andser fire rained from the Allied fighters, cutting through the advancing Skydancers. But the enemy was relentless.


    The Skydancers dove through the missile barrage, slicing into the fighters with razor-sharp appendages, tearing open cockpits like tin cans, and consuming the pilots within. The skies erupted in a vicious, close-quarters battle for air supremacy, each side fighting tooth and nail to dominate the battlefield above.


    Leena''s jaw tightened as she took in the brutal scene. "Gunboats! Take off now! Provide support fire to our ground units."


    With a rumble, the Allied gunboats lifted off from their positions and unleashed a withering hail of fire upon the enemy forces below. Explosions lit up the desert, and with the added firepower of the gunboats, the tide of the battle began to turn in the Allies'' favor.


    Far above, on the gship of the Allied fleet in orbit, Admiral Kael Voss watched the ground conflict from the observation deck, his expression grim. He turned to an officer who approached with a tablet disying thetest report.


    "Sir! Here''s the current situation on the surface," the officer said, handing it over.


    Voss took the tablet and skimmed through the footage with practiced calm. The sandstorm had finally cleared, revealing the full extent of the battle below.


    He watched as the Allied air forces fought desperately for control of the skies while the Khryssari unleashed wave after wave of their Skydancers, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.


    "Mmm, it''s getting ugly down there," Voss murmured. He pressed a button on his console, his voice echoing through the bridge.


    "Attention to all capital ships and admiralty staff. This is Supreme Commander Kael Voss. The time hase to be more aggressive. Permission granted for the use of main cannons. Let''s show these bugs what real firepower looks like."


    Across the fleet, enormous warships hummed to life as their main cannons began charging, the colossal barrels aimed at strategic targets. The power levels of each weapon ticked upward as energy flowed through the conduits, preparing for the devastating release.


    Main cannon charging... 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 95%,


    Voss''s gaze was unyielding as he watched the energy levels climb. In his mind''s eye, he could already see the devastation these weapons would unleash. There would be no escape for the Khryssari this time.


    "All ships," he ordered, his voice steady and cold. "Prepare to fire on mymand."


    The final moments of the charge felt like the calm before a storm, the eerie stillness broken only by the distant rumble of smaller skirmishes. Every officer and every crew member held their breath, waiting for the signal that would change the course of the battle.


    The cannons hit 100%, and Voss raised his hand, his eyes locked on the enemy below.


    "Fire."

 Chapter 70: Lurking in the shadows.

    With a thunderousmand, every capital ship in the fleet unleashed a barrage of firepower. The main cannons roared, lighting up the void as they hammered the Khryssari ships, tearing through small and medium vessels like paper.


    The hive queen watched with a twisted grin. "So, these pests think they can scare me with their little toys," she sneered. "They may wipe out the weaklings, but I won''t sit idly by and be humiliated."


    She raised a long, wed finger, pointing directly at the enemy fleet. "Destroy them. All of them. My pets feast on their fear."


    The allied fleet kept up their relentless assault, firing as fast as their main cannons could recharge. From the looks of it, they had the upper hand in the skirmish. But there was an old saying among those who fought the hive: underestimate them, and you''re as good as dead.


    "Officer, any reports from our ships?" Voss asked, his voice steady but with a hint of tension. He barely turned as he spoke, his gaze fixed on the chaos beyond the viewport.


    Themunications officer looked up, a shadow of worry crossing his face. "Sir, some of our ships report strange impacts. They can''t detect anything on sensors, so they''re assuming it''s debris, but it doesn''t add up."


    "Interesting," Voss murmured. "Keep me updated on anything unusual." He folded his hands behind his back, watching as the battle unfolded, his eyes narrowing.


    Meanwhile, deep within the allied fleet, something far more sinister was stirring.


    In the darkened corridors of a midsize ship, the hum of machinery was the only sound, interrupted only by the asional sputter as the guns outside fell silent, waiting for resupply. No one noticed, no one cared. After all, shortages weremon in these battles.


    But down in a cramped maintenance shaft, a lone technician cowered, his breathing in shallow gasps. He was covered in blood, not all of it his own, and his hands shook as he tried to erease any sound.


    He had wedged himself into a tinypartment, a space meant for technicians repairing cables, but now it served as his hiding spot from something far worse than enemy fire.


    Outside, in the dimly lit hallway, a heavy, dragging sound grew louder, punctuated by low, menacing growls. Each footstep thudded against the metal floor, and the technician''s heart pounded in time with the echo. He held his breath, desperate not to make a sound.


    But fate can be cruel.


    With a slight metallic clink, one of his tools slipped from his belt, a screwdriver falling and ttering loudly on the metallic floor. The sound was deafening in the silence, and his blood ran cold.


    "No, no, please, no," he whispered, crawling further inside into the vent, but there was nowhere left to go. His panicked breaths quickened, turning into shallow gasps as a shadow fell across thepartment.


    Three long, slick tentacles snaked into the vent, wrapping around his legs with cold, unyielding strength. He let out a scream, pure terror ripping through him as he was dragged out into the open.


    "H-Help!" His voice was raw, filled with primal fear, but there was no one left to hear him.


    As he was pulled free, he came face-to-face with the nightmare.


    It was a towering figure, standing nearly two meters tall, with an elongated skull and no eyes, just a smooth, reflective ck exoskeleton. Its mouth was a twisted maw filled with jagged, needle-like teeth, dripping with a thick green slime that hissed as it hit the floor.


    The creature''s body seemed built for death, its limbs stretched into writhing tentacles perfectly suited for moving through the shadows of space.


    This was a Khryssari Void Crawler, the stuff of legend and fear, an elite soldier bred to infiltrate and destroy.


    With a guttural roar, the creature lunged, its jaws snapping shut around the technician''s torso, cutting him clean in half. His screams were abruptly silenced, reced by the sickening crunch of bone and flesh as the creature began to feed, savoring the taste of itstest victim.


    And somewhere, in the darkness of the ship, more Void Crawlers stirred, creeping through the silent corridors, hunting down thest of the crew, one by one. The ship was theirs now, another silent grave drifting through the endless night.


    And this ship wasn''t alone. Across the vast reaches of the battlefield, countless other vessels shared the same horrific fate, their crews dying in silence, helpless against the creeping terror. There was no glory here, no honor to be salvaged, only raw, unfiltered fear.


    By the time anyone inmand realized the extent of the carnage, it would likely be far toote.


    Meanwhile, on the''s surface, the ground battle was reaching its climax. Rex had finally managed to regroup with his troops, but they were battered, barely holding together.


    Out of the four hover tanks they''d started with, only one remained, and inside it was Carlos, slumped and bleeding, too wounded to stand, let alone fight.


    Meanwhile, Rex, thanks to Cleo''s relentless patchwork healing, was in slightly better shape, though he wasn''t even half healed; his injuries stitched together just well enough to keep him standing.


    And as they emerged from the canyon, they were greeted by a sight straight out of a nightmare.


    The entire horizon was crawling with Khryssari. Hundreds of thousands of bug swarm troops had converged on the battlefield, an endless tide of insectoid bodies moving with ruthless precision.


    Despite thebined firepower of the allied forces, it barely seemed to dent the relentless horde. What the allies held in firepower, the Khryssari made up for in sheer overwhelming numbers, and they weren''t mindless beasts either.


    Throughout the battlefield, gaping holes had opened in the ground, and from these dark pits, wave upon wave of Khryssari warriors poured out, ambushing the allied ground units and dragging them into brutal hand-to-handbat.


    The Khryssari warriors were ferocious in melee, towering beasts with razor-sharp ws and brutal strength, far beyond what any ordinary allied soldier could hope to match. Rex could see how the lines were crumbling, the soldiers around him falling back in desperate attempts to avoid being overrun.


    Chapter Stay:


    He took a moment, just a moment, to look back at his troops, gathered in a loose defensive formation. Their faces were drawn, pale, eyes wide with terror as they looked to him for any scrap of hope.


    He could feel the weight of their fear, their desperation, all of it pressing down on him like a heavy shroud. But what could he do? Here he stood, no enhancements, no AI whispering in his ear with tactical advice, no overdrive mode to turn him into a god on the battlefield. Just a man, a soldier, standing tall at two and a half meters, facing a tide of death.


    Rex clenched his fists, feeling the bruises and cuts throbbing along his arms. He knew there was no safe ce left on this cursed, no fallback point where they could regroup and n. There was only the swarm, closing in like a nightmare given flesh.


    For the first time, Rex truly felt the weight of the responsibility he bore. It had always been there, lingering at the edge of his mind, but before, he''d shouldered it with ease, his enhanced powers making it feel almost trivial.


    Now, stripped of his strength, just a regr man, the burden pressed down on him with a crushing force.


    Ys, who had been standing close by, sensed the shift in him. Their bond was deeper than words, and she could feel the strain he was under. Without hesitation, she stepped closer, gently taking his bruised, calloused hand in hers.


    "Rex," she murmured, her voiceced with concern, "if this is too much for you, I could call my aunt. She could get us off this and take us somewhere safe. She and my mother have a close bond, so she would help us."


    She meant it as an offer ofpassion, a lifeline. But to Rex, it was something entirely else. He looked into her eyes, and a small, weary smile broke across his face as he let out a dryugh.


    "Ha... yeah, I guess that''s true," he said, his voice low and reflective. "This really is something bigger than me. Just some desk ve trying to live the life of a hero. What a joke, huh?" He nced at his battered troops, each one looking to him with trust and hope.


    And finally, his gaze returned to Ys, her face filled with worry.


    "Don''t worry, Ys," he said softly, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her face. "I''m pretty sure you didn''t fall in love with someone as pathetic as I''m acting right now, right?" He forced a smile, determined not to let her see his fear.


    His hand moved to her head, ruffling her hair gently. "I''ll show your aunt and everyone else just how amazing the man you chose really is."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    As he spoke, his eyes gleamed with a fierce golden light, the same glow they held when he''d once entered overdrive mode. It was impossible since he couldn''t ess that power now, not without Cleo. But for that moment, the fire within him reignited, refusing to be extinguished.


    He turned to his troops, raising his voice so they could all hear him over the distant roar of battle.


    "Listen up, everyone! Hell is right in front of us!" he shouted, his voice ringing out with a strength that belied his injuries. "We''re exhausted; we''re bleeding, and I''m no exception! But there are hundreds of soldiers down there, just like us, clinging to life, fighting with everything they''ve got!"


    His gaze swept over his men and women, and he could see the exhaustion in their eyes, the fear, but also the flickers of determination sparking to life.

 Chapter 71: The duel.

    "If we want to survive, we have to fight as one! We have to push forward, for them, for each other. But..." he paused, taking a deep breath. "I won''t ask any of you to give more than you already have. If you want to stay here and wait for evacuation, I understand. No one will think less of you."


    He took a final look around, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and resolve. "But for those of you who still have something left to give... who still have the courage to push forward... follow me. Together, we''ll show them what we''re made of."


    There was a heartbeat of silence, and then one by one, his soldiers raised their weapons, nodding in grim determination. They weren''t just following orders anymore; they were following him.


    And as Rex turned toward the raging battlefield, he felt the weight on his shoulders lighten, just a little. He wasn''t alone. Together, they would face the oing storm, onest stand against the darkness.


    With a surge of determination, Rex crafted his massive ymore, feeling the familiar weight in his hands as he pointed it skyward, then slowly leveled it forward. His voice thundered across the battlefield as he shouted, "Forward!"


    Without a second thought, he charged, leading his troops into the inferno ahead. They followed, each step pounding the ground with grim purpose.


    The sounds of battle grew louder and closer until they were upon the first allied position, a desperate pocket of soldiers on the verge of being overwhelmed by the relentless Khryssari swarm.


    Rex''s arrival was like a burst of salvation; he and his troops fought their way in, cutting down the Khryssari and rallying the soldiers, who joined his growing force with renewed vigor.


    Meanwhile, back at headquarters, General Leena watched the battlefield reports with a look of barely concealed boredom. One of her officers approached, his voice tense as he delivered thetest update. "General, the situation on the frontline is looking grim. Please, give your orders!"


    Leena''s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a disdainful sneer. "Hmph. Know your ce, you insignificant officer. The situation is perfectly under control. If a few disposable soldiers die down there, that''s what they''re there for. Now stop wasting my time and get back to your duties."


    The officer stiffened, swallowing his frustration as he continued, "Yes, ma''am... but there''s one more report. A group assigned to deactivate the sandstorm device just returned."


    Leena raised an eyebrow, barely interested. "Oh? And where are they now? Cowering at HQ, I suppose?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "No, ma''am," the officer replied, his voice tinged with reluctant admiration. "They joined the frontlines immediately. Right now, they''re gathering the scattered soldiers who were ambushed by the Khryssari."


    Leena scoffed, dismissing the report with a wave of her hand. "Tsk. Is that all? What a waste of my time."


    "There is... one more thing, General," he said, hesitating before handing her a tablet. "A new report came in just minutes ago. There''s video footage."


    Leena took the tablet, eyes narrowing as she watched the screen. The video showed a hulking Khryssari warrior, unlike any she''d seen before, tearing through allied troops like they were nothing.


    Bullets and ster fire bounced off its armored skin, and with each brutal swing of its massive arms, it sent soldiers flying, even crushing a hover tank with a single, devastating punch.


    "What is this creature?" Leena asked, her voiceced with a rare hint of rm.


    "We don''t know, ma''am," the officer replied. "But it appears to be an advanced unit of some kind... possibly a Khryssari champion."


    Leena''s eyes narrowed as she considered the footage, the slightest flicker of intrigue breaking through her mask of indifference. "Advanced unit or not, we''ll destroy it the same way we destroy everything else. Order the gunboats to ready their long-range artillery. I want that creature obliterated."


    The officer hesitated, ncing at the tablet again. "But ma''am, if we fire artillery into that zone, we''ll hit our own troops. It would be... catastrophic."


    Leena''s face twisted into a cruel smile. "I don''t care, officer. And neither should you. Just follow orders. Or would you prefer I rece you and send you down there to join the mon soldiers'' yourself?"


    The officer''s face went pale, his jaw tightening as he struggled to contain his anger and fear. "Understood, ma''am. I''ll ry the order."


    Leena turned her gaze back to the battlefield, her eyes cold and calcting. She had no use for sentimentality, no patience for weakness. To her, soldiers were just tools, expendable in the pursuit of victory. And if a few had to be sacrificed to take down this new threat, so be it.


    As the artillery orders went out, Rex and his troops continued their desperate charge, unaware of the impending storm about to rain down on friends and foe alike.


    Rex stood atop the corpse of the Khryssari warrior he''d just in, his chest shaking as he caught his breath.


    His ymore was shattered, its de broken in half; it was a harsh reminder that without Cleo''s assistance, his crafted weapons were fragile, barely able to withstand the brutalbat he was facing.


    With a sigh, he deactivated the broken ymore, letting it dissolve to salvage what little nanomaterial remained, then set about crafting a new one, feeling the familiar hum as it took shape in his hand.


    Just then, one of his soldiers came sprinting toward him, his face pale with urgency.


    "Captain!" the soldier gasped.


    Rex turned to him, still panting. "What is it?"


    "Sir, we''ve received multiple reports that a powerful Khryssari unit is headed this way!"


    Rex felt a chill run down his spine. "Do we have any description?"


    The soldier nodded, swallowing nervously. "They say... it''s invulnerable to bullets, and it''s got massive hands. Hands strong enough to crush a hover tank with a single blow."


    Rex clenched his jaw, feeling the weight of the news settle over him like a heavy shadow. "Damn it. Alright, tell the soldiers to pull back. No one''s to engage. I''ll handle this myself."


    The soldier''s eyes widened with admiration, and he gave a resolute nod. "Understood, Captain!"


    As the soldier hurried away to ry the order, Ys appeared at Rex''s side, her face etched with worry. She reached out, taking his bruised hand in hers, holding it tightly.


    "Rex¡­ are you sure you can fight him? You''re already hurt."


    Rex gave her a lopsided smile, though he couldn''t hide the lingering fear in his eyes. "I don''t know if I can... but he doesn''t know either. And besides, it''s something I have to do, right?"


    Ys''s grip tightened, her voice trembling. "But, darling, he''s had time to recover and replenish. You''re wounded, exhausted... and you know I won''t be able to help you once the fight starts."


    Rex chuckled, though it sounded hollow. "Hey, don''t worry about me. I''m feeling better already. Last time he got me by surprise and attacked me from behind. That''s not going to happen again." He winked at her, forcing a bit of bravado into his tone. "And maybe if I take him down, I''ll get a reward from you, huh?"


    "This isn''t the time for jokes, Rex!" Ys''s voice cracked, her eyes glistening with tears. She looked at him with a face a mix of anger, fear, and helplessness. "I... I can''t bear to lose you."


    Rex''s expression softened, and he gently brushed a tear from her cheek. "Hey, don''t cry. I''ll win, you''ll see. Have a little faith in me, Ys. I''m not the type of guy who''d lose to a so-called ''champion,'' right?"


    Ys stared at him, her lip trembling as she tried to hold back more tears. She didn''t say anything; she just nodded slowly, her eyes brimming with emotion.


    Rex took her silence as agreement, giving her onest reassuring smile. He ced his hand on her head, ruffling her hair gently. "Go on, help the others. He''s here."


    As he said it, his gaze shifted beyond her to the distant figure moving steadily through the chaos, towering and monstrous. The Khryssari Champion had arrived, its enormous form outlined against the smoke-filled horizon, each step shaking the ground beneath it.


    Rex tightened his grip on his newly crafted ymore, feeling the cold weight of steel in his hands. He didn''t know if he could win this fight, but he knew he had to try. Taking a deep breath, he took onest look at Ys, her face a mask of worry and love.


    With a final nod, he stepped forward, ready to face the nightmare head-on.


    "Kukuku, so we meet again, my prey," the Khryssari Champion sneered, his voice a deep, guttural rumble that echoed across the battlefield as he came to a stop, mere meters from Rex. His monstrous figure loomed over Rex, casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the light around him.


    Rex grinned, wiping the sweat from his brow and refusing to show even an ounce of fear. "Ohhh, look who it is! If it isn''t the coward who ran offst time I shoved an iron rod up his ass!" His heart was racing, his pulse pounding in his ears, but his big mouth was still allmighty.


    The champion''s lip curled in fury, revealing rows of jagged, sharp teeth. "Kukuku¡­ insignificant worm," he growled, his voice dripping with malice.


    "My Queen ordered me to capture you alive. But she never said I had to deliver you in one piece! I''m going to enjoy tearing off each of your limbs, savoring every scream."


    Rex let out a wildugh, his eyes glinting with defiance. "Hah! And here I thought you only liked munching on rocks! Guess you have better taste than I thought. Lucky for you, I''m top-shelf meat!"


    Chapter Continue:


    The champion snarled, a powerful roar building in his throat as he lunged forward, each step shaking the ground beneath him. He swung one of his massive, stone-like fists, a blow that could crush a tank in a single hit. But Rex was ready.


    In an instant, Rex sprang into the air, his body moving on pure instinct, every muscle coiled like a spring. Hended on the champion''s outstretched arm, barely keeping his bnce as the creature''s flesh quivered beneath him. Without missing a beat, Rex tightened his grip on his ymore, raising it high over his shoulder.


    "HAAAAAAAA!" he roared, bringing the de down in a powerful arc, aiming directly for the champion''s neck.

 Chapter 72: The Duel (2).

    As the heavy ymore swung down, aiming for the neck of the K. Champion, the de shattered upon contact, its fragments scattering into the air, without even an scratch appearing on the Champion¡¯s skin. Rex¡¯s eyes widened.


    "You¡¯ve got to be kidding me..."


    With a grin, the K. Champion raised his arm and unleashed a powerful punch that sent Rex hurtling backward. Rex mmed into the ground, rolling across the gritty sand, dust kicking up in clouds around him.


    "Kukuku... what is this? Have you grown weaker?"


    The Champion sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.


    "You¡¯re a disgrace as my prey."


    Rex pushed himself up, struggling to find his footing as he gasped for breath. But the K. Champion was already on him, mming a brutal kick into his stomach, sending him sprawling down the slope of a sand dune. He tumbled and slid, finally skidding to a stop at the bottom.


    Coughing, Rex staggered to his feet, spitting golden blood onto the sand. He looked up to meet the K. Champion¡¯s gaze.


    "Even now... in this state... you still can¡¯t finish me off?"


    The champion chuckled, cold and menacing.


    "I¡¯ve killed thousands of champions from countless races, but you... you¡¯re the first one who talks more than he fights."


    Rex smirked, wiping blood from his lip.


    "Oh, is that so? Guess that means I¡¯ll be living in your head. How cute."


    He flexed his fists, crafting a pair of heavy, spiked gauntlets that glinted in the sun


    "Your resistance is futile!"


    The K. Champion¡¯sughter echoed as he leapt high into the air, crashing down right in front of Rex. But before he could even straighten, Rex struck with a fierce punch to the face, followed by another, each blownding harder than thest. Discover more stories at NovelBin.C?m


    "Where¡¯s that smug grin now?"


    Rex taunted, but his words were cut off as the Champion retaliated, a brutal fist mming into his stomach and knocking him back.


    "I¡¯ll take my time ripping you apart, inferior!"


    The K. Champion roared, his voice filled with raw hatred.


    Suddenly, a thunderous explosion rocked the ground, shaking the very air around them. A massive shockwave threw both warriors off their feet, sending sand spraying in every direction.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rexnded hard, tasting blood and sand as he coughed, his ears ringing from the st. Blinking through the haze, he could barely make out the distant, shing light of the thousands of missiles raining down from allied artillery.


    As his vision slowly cleared, Rex looked up to see the silhouette of the K. Champion, standing hundreds of meters away. In that instant, a missile streaked through the sky and struck the champion directly on the head, erupting in a fiery explosion.


    Rex managed a strainedugh, his vision dim.


    "Serves you right...


    "


    But the K. Champion was already regenerating, his flesh knitting itself back together as he red furiously at the gunboats responsible for the artillery assault.


    With a savage roar that echoed across the battlefield, he spread a pair of massive, dark wings that burst from his back, looking like the wings of a demon.


    Hearing his call, every K. Skydancer in the sky abandoned their targets, turning to swarm toward the distant gunboats. And with one powerful beat of his wings, the K. Championunched himself into the air, a dark shadow hurtling toward his next victims.


    "R...x... C...n... H...r... m...?"


    In the depths of unconsciousness, Rex began to hear a faint, familiar voice echoing through his mind, as though it were calling to him from a great distance. The words were confusing and distorted, slipping away before he could fully grasp them.


    "W-what? I... I can¡¯t hear you,


    " Rex muttered within his mind, struggling to make sense of the voice¡¯s message.


    In this surreal mental space, he saw himself as a figure made of white light, a hazy silhouette in an endless void. Before him floated a second figure, a radiant golden light, pulsing with a gentle warmth.


    Driven by instinct, Rex began to move toward it, hoping that by drawing closer, he might understand what it was trying to say.


    He stopped just inches away from the golden light, and suddenly, the voice became clear.


    "How long are you nning to keep sleeping, Rex?"


    The golden light asked, its tone both amusing and patient.


    Rex blinked in confusion.


    "Sleeping? What are you talking about?"


    He lowered himself to sit beside the glowing figure, feeling oddlyfortable in its presence.


    "I¡¯m not sleeping. I¡¯m just... resting. I fought really hard, you know? Why can¡¯t I rest a little longer?"


    The golden light chuckled, a low, soothing sound that seemed to fill the emptiness around them.


    "Yes, you can rest. But only once your task isplete."


    "Task?"


    Rex frowned, a dull ache forming in his head.


    "Now that you mention it... I don¡¯t even remember what I was doing before... resting. It¡¯s all a blur."


    The golden light sighed, almost as if disappointed.


    "Not a good look for someone who ims they¡¯re ready to take my daughter¡¯s hand. Forgetfulness is a minor w, wouldn¡¯t you say?"


    Rex¡¯s eyes widened.


    "Wait... daughter? What daughter? And who even are you?"


    He nced at the golden light with a mix of irritation and curiosity.


    "I must be dreaming, right? One of those strange, vivid dreams. Why couldn¡¯t I be dreaming of beautiful women or something? Instead, I¡¯m here... with a glowing ball of light."


    The lightughed again, a rich, warm sound.


    "True! That would make for a better dream. I think I¡¯m starting to like you more, kid. As for who I am... well, I¡¯m no one anymore. Just a whisper in the void. A memory of who I once was."


    Rex rolled his eyes, lying back with a sigh.


    "Yeah, yeah, that¡¯s all very mystical. But who were you, then?"


    The golden light flickered, growing brighter and more intense.


    "I was Xynithar, thest Emperor of the Kaelzar,"


    it said, voice resonant with ancient pride and authority.


    As Rex stared, the golden light began to morph, stretching and reshaping itself into a figure of imposing stature. Within seconds, he found himself face-to-face with a towering, majestic being.


    Xynithar¡¯s form was a blend of gleaming chrome and dark obsidian, his body sleek and angr, with intricate patterns of glowing circuitry running through every limb.


    He had multiple segmented arms, each one crafted for precision, for calctions and strategies that spanned the stars. His eyes zed like twin suns, piercing orbs of light that seemed to hold gxies within them, capable of perceiving data streams across countless star systems in an instant.


    His chest bore the sigil of the K?lzar Dominion, a stylized circuit board interwoven with fractal designs, symbolizing both order and infiniteplexity.


    Rex swallowed, feeling dwarfed by the figure before him.


    "So... you¡¯re some kind of... machine emperor?"


    Xynithar¡¯s eyes narrowed, though there was a glint of humor in their depths.


    "Once, perhaps. Now I am merely a remnant, just a memory of a power that once ruled the cosmos. But enough about me."


    His gaze sharpened, a force of will that cut through Rex¡¯s uncertainty. "


    The question is... are you ready to wake up and finish what you started?"


    The void around them seemed to tremble, as if Xynithar¡¯s words carried the weight of worlds. And deep within, Rex felt a spark reigniting, a fire that had been dormant, waiting for this moment to re back to life.


    "I¡¯ll be honest... I don¡¯t remember this task you mentioned,"


    Rex admitted, looking slightly ashamed as he rose to his feet.


    "But I do remember two promises I still need to keep... and a reward I still need to im. So, yeah, I guess I¡¯m ready to wake up."


    Xynithar let out a boomingugh, filled with pride.


    "Good, good! My daughter chose well."


    He nodded approvingly.


    "Rise once more, my heir. You cannot rest until your purpose is fulfilled. Ah, but before you go, there¡¯s a message. Words left by someone who came here long before you."


    Xynithar¡¯s eyes closed for a moment, as if searching the depths of his memory. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, more solemn.


    "Child of mine, forgive me,"


    he began, the words flowing as if from a distant soul.


    "I know the burden I ce upon you is heavy, too heavy for one so young. But as the mother of your race, I beg you... bring them home. I know you must have countless questions about who I am and about who you are."


    He paused, and there was an aching sadness in the air, something ancient and sorrowful. "


    But I promise, every question will be answered when you¡¯ve brought your brothers and sisters back to where they belong."


    Xynithar opened his eyes, and his gaze was both fierce andpassionate.


    "That¡¯s the message the other one left for you. Two tasks of this magnitude... it¡¯s a burden few could bear, even among the strongest. Surround yourself with allies worthy of the journey, kiddo. Never stop moving forward, no matter how difficult the path bes."


    He ced a heavy hand on Rex¡¯s shoulder, his touch both reassuring and final


    . "When you feel like you can¡¯t take another step, those who walk behind you will push you forward. Always remember that. And to help you in this task..."


    He paused, his face softening. "


    I leave you a gift. Use it well. Keep my daughter safe."


    Xynithar¡¯s form began to flicker, his body fading back into pure golden light. The smile on his face was calm yet filled with a pride that spanned ages.


    "Time¡¯s up, kiddo. This is thest you¡¯ll see of me, thest fragment of Xynithar, thest spark of a long-forgotten emperor."


    As his hand rested on Rex¡¯s shoulder, the golden light began to envelop Rex, filling him with a warmth that felt both powerful and ancient. Xynithar¡¯s voice echoed one final time, ringing through the darkness.


    "Go forward, Rex. Start your own legend."


    And with that, Xynithar vanished, his form scattering into rays of golden light, leaving Rex alone in the void but no longer alone in spirit, a newfound resolve burning bright within him.

 Chapter 73: The Duel (3)

    "General! The sensors have detected a massive energy source heading toward us at high speed!"


    One of the officers under Leena¡¯smand shouted, a note of panic in his voice.


    Leena barely nced up.


    "And? Raise the shield and brace for impact. It¡¯s probably just another Khryssari weapon,"


    she said, her voice steady, almost bored. She was a seasoned general, and she wasn¡¯t about to be rattled by some stray projectile.


    But this was no ordinary weapon. It was an enraged K. Champion, with his eyes zing with fury, mming headfirst into the ship¡¯s energy shield with a resounding


    thud


    that reverberated through the hull.


    Leena raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.


    "Ha! The bug thinks it can break through our shield? How idiotic can these creatures be?"


    She sneered, casting a mocking smile in the champion¡¯s direction. "


    All turrets, fire! Shoot it down."


    The gunboat¡¯s turrets whirred to life, unloading a hail of energy bolts toward K. Champion. He twisted and turned in mid-air, dodging the sts with an unnatural agility, all the while unleashing a furious roar that sent a chill through the crew.


    Leena¡¯s confidence wavered.


    "Why is that noisy bug not dead yet? Increase the rate of fire!"


    She barked, sensing something was wrong. feeling that the roar wasn¡¯t just anger. It was a call.


    And she was right. Momentster, a swarm of Khryssari Skydancers descended upon the gunboat, wing and shing at the energy shield in a coordinated assault, their wings creating a terrifying hum as they moved in perfect unison.


    "What are you all standing around for? Get us out of here!"


    she screamed.


    "But General, there are too many of them! If we try to gain speed, they¡¯ll just¡ª"


    "Then ram them! I don¡¯t care what it takes!"


    Leena growled, shoving the pilot aside and mming the throttle forward herself.


    The engines roared to life, and the gunboat lurched forward, plowing through the swarm of Skydancers with brutal force. The shields red as bodies struck, bursts of energy shing as insectoid carcasses sttered against the hull.


    "Ha! See? That wasn¡¯t so hard!"


    Continue your story on NovelBin.C?m


    Leena crowed, a self-satisfied grin on her face.


    "But General! We can¡¯t see where we¡¯re going!"


    The pilot warned with his face pale.


    "Who cares? Just stay on course! Sooner orter, we¡¯ll¡ª"


    Her sentence was cut off as the gunboat crashed head-on into a towering sand dune. They hadn¡¯t noticed the K. Champion forcing them down, his relentless strength guiding the ship lower and lower until they collided with the ground.


    The gunboat skidded and tumbled, plowing through dune after dune, throwing crew members like ragdolls as it tore across the desert before finally grinding to a halt in a spray of sand and metal.


    Inside, chaos reigned. Some officersy still, unmoving. Others moaned in pain, clutching injuries from the brutal crash. Leena herself had been thrown across the cockpit, her head spinning and her vision swimming as she pushed herself up from the cold metal floor.


    The only light was the dim red glow of emergency beacons, casting eerie shadows across the wreckage.


    Groaning, she stumbled toward the emergency exit, dragging her injured leg, her mind racing. But before she could reach the door, a new sound filled the dealy silence, heavy, rhythmic pounding on the ship¡¯s roof, each strike echoing through the hull like the heartbeat of something monstrous.


    She froze, her heart hammering as the pounding continued, loud and relentless, each impact sending tremors through the battered vessel. Her surviving crew members drew their sidearms, faces pale, eyes wide with terror.


    And for the first time, Leena felt the icy grip of fear seize her chest. The pounding stopped for a brief, agonizing moment, leaving only the sound of their own frantic breaths. In that silence, she realized with a sinking dread that whatever was out there wasn¡¯t just trying to breach the ship.


    The K. Champion savored the terror that filled the air, a twisted joy gleaming in his eyes as he loomed over his trapped prey. The silence stretched out, thick with fear, until it was shattered by a sudden, violent crash.


    The rooftop of the gunboat gave way in a burst of metal and sparks, and the K. Champion dropped down into the cramped, darkened space, his shadow falling over the trembling crew.


    "W-what are you waiting for? Shoot him already!"


    Leena¡¯s voice cracked, betraying her panic as she clutched at a nearby console for support.


    At hermand, the surviving officers raised their handguns, their hands shaking as they fired round after round at the towering figure. But the bullets were ricocheted harmlessly off the K. Champion¡¯s hardened skin, each futile shot only fueling his sadistic amusement.


    "Kukuku... you all smell delicious,"


    he sneered, licking his lips.


    "And I could use a little replenishment, thanks to that missile you dared to send my way."


    The K. Champion moved through the gunboat like a nightmare given flesh, his form a blur as he tore through the terrified crew. They screamed and scrambled, but there was nowhere to go... no escape from the monster inside their own vessel.


    In minutes, the gunboat was filled with silence again, interrupted only by the champion¡¯s satisfied, slow chewing. One by one, he had devoured every crew member.


    All except Leena.


    She backed up against the wall, her face pale, her hands shaking as she realized he had saved her forst.


    "Y-you... you monster! Stay back! I am a general of the allied forces! Someone as lowly as you has no right to touch me!"


    she shouted, her voice breaking, her words sounding empty even to her own ears.


    The K. Champion tilted his head, his cold gaze studying her like she was little more than an insect pinned beneath his fingers


    . "Kukuku¡­ It¡¯s always the same with your kind. So much talk of rank, of status. But to me, you¡¯re all the same, weak and inferior.


    "


    With a single motion, he reached forward, his massive hand closing around her head like a big w. He lifted her effortlessly, her legs dangling, kicking helplessly in the air.


    "N-no, please, I¡¯ll do anything! Tell me what you want¡ªmoney? Power? Anything! Just... don¡¯t eat me!"


    Leena¡¯s voice was a frantic plea, her fingers wing at his grip, her legs thrashing in a useless struggle.


    The K. Champion¡¯sughter was a low, dark rumble.


    "Kukuku... yes, you can do something for me. Just keep struggling."


    He tightened his grip slightly, a cruel smile twisting his face.


    "I enjoy my prey while it still has a bit of fight left in it. Makes the meat... fresher."


    Her resistance faltered as despair washed over her. Tears streamed down her face, her eyes wide with terror as she felt herself being drawn closer to the gaping maw that had opened on the Champion¡¯s abdomen, rows of jagged teeth glinting in the dim emergency lights. Her legs were already inside, the cold, slimy darkness enveloping her as she felt the jaws close around her.


    And then, suddenly, she dropped.


    With a sickening


    thud


    , the hand that had held her slipped from the champion¡¯s wrist and hit the metal floor, severed cleanly. She fell to the ground, gasping and coughing, hardly able toprehend what had just happened.


    The K. Champion stared in shock, his focus shifting as he turned to see a figure standing behind him, his de still gleaming with his own green blood. His eyes were burning with fierce determination, his weapon drawn and poised for another strike.


    "Miss me?"


    Rex asked with a defiant smirk on his face.


    The K. Champion¡¯s expression twisted from amusement to rage, a guttural growl escaping his throat. But for the first time, it was


    he


    who felt a flicker of fear.


    Rex took a moment to assess the enraged K. Champion¡¯s condition, noting with satisfaction how the creature¡¯s once-imprable body was now riddled with fresh wounds. Even though the champion¡¯s flesh was knitting itself back together, the regeneration was sluggish, the cuts healing slower than before.


    Rex smirked.


    "Mmm? What¡¯s this? Have you gotten weaker?


    " He taunted, his voice dripping with mock pity.


    "You¡¯re a disgrace as my prey."


    The K. Champion¡¯s eyes red with fury, the mockery of his own words igniting a rage that shook his entire frame.


    With his newly regenerated hand, he reshaped his hands into massive, twisted ck horns, each one razor-sharp and deadly.


    "I¡¯ll make you regret those words! I¡¯ll turn you into my ything!"


    he snarled.


    Rexughed, tossing another barb.


    "I know I¡¯m a good-looking guy, but I don¡¯t swing that way, buddy."


    The jab hit its mark. The K. Champion, ovee with rage, charged forward, smashing through debris and shattered metal, roaring like a mindless beast. Rex didn¡¯t engage; instead, he ran away, weaving through the wreckage of the gunboat with the Champion hot on his heels.


    "Hahaha! You really thought I¡¯d face you head-on while I¡¯m this fuc*ed up?"


    Rex called back, his taunts driving the Champion to a fever pitch.


    "Fight me, you coward!"


    the K. Champion bellowed, his voice raw with hatred.


    Rex finally stopped, a wicked grin spreading across his face.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Alright, you asked for it. Just be warned, I got this new toy in a dream, and I haven¡¯t quite figured out how it works yet."


    With those words, Rex¡¯s eyes glowed with a fierce golden light. A massive golden circle materialized behind him, intricately etched with silver patterns and symbols, like a celestial weapon from another world. Rex raised his hand, forming his fingers into the shape of a gun.


    As he did, a smaller golden circuit-like circle appeared beside his left hand, shimmering with ethereal energy. From its center, a sleek, otherworldly weapon began to emerge, a long, white gun that pulsed with an ominous power. The sight of it made the K. Champion hesitate, a rare flicker of fear breaking through his rage.


    "Get ready, ugly. I have no idea how to control the power on this thing!"


    Rex grinned, aiming his fingergun at the champion. He lowered his thumb like the hammer of a revolver.


    "Bang."

 Chapter 74: YSsera the boss.

    In an instant, the white gun unleashed a blinding beam of energy, roaring forth with a sound like a thunderp. The st tore through the air in the form of a spear of pure light that struck the K. Champion square in the chest.


    The impact sent shockwaves through the wreckage, sand and debris flying as the force of the st drilled into the Champion, tearing through armor, flesh, and bone.


    The K. Champion screamed with fullness of agony and fury as the energy ripped into him, splintering his form with merciless precision. The wounds left by the st didn''t heal; instead, they burned with golden light, searing through his regenerative power, consuming him from within.


    Rex watched how all of this was unfolding with his eyes cold and unyielding as the K. Champion stumbled, his once-imposing form now crumbling under the sheer power of the weapon. The champion copsed to his knees, his body ravaged, and the golden mes were spreading, devouring him.


    As the dust settled, Rex blew on his fingergun, his smirk returning. "Guess that dream weapon works just fine after all."


    "Kukuku... well done, human. This... is my defeat,"


    the K. Champion rasped, his voice low and guttural as his body was consumed by the golden mes. With one final snarl, he dissolvedpletely, leaving only ashes drifting on the desert wind.


    Rex watched until he was certain the champion was death. Then, with a weary sigh, he turned toward the wrecked gunboat, stepping through the hole left by the severed hand of the fallen beast.


    Inside, the scene was gruesome, blood and viscera sttered across the walls, the remains of the officers the K. Champion had devoured in his rampage. The metallic smell of blood and burnt flesh hung thick in the air.


    At the far end of the cockpit, he found General Leena, curled up in a corner, hugging her knees. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and unblinking, like a cornered animal. She was still trembling, either from shock or fear.


    "You''re safe now, General,"


    Rex said, his tone t.


    "The K. Champion is dead. You can head south; there''s a defensive line I set up. You''ll find protection there.


    " He turned to leave.


    "I have other things to take care of. Good luck."


    But as he took a step toward the exit, Leena''s voice cut through the silence, shrill and desperate.


    "Stop right there! You can''t just leave me here! As your superior, I order you to escort me to safety!


    "


    Rex paused, slowly turning back to face her. He knelt down until his face was level with hers, his expression cold, almost contemptuous. "


    While it''s true that you''re a superior officer... you''re not my superior."


    His golden eyes bore into hers, unyielding and fierce


    . "I''ll be honest, General, I don''t like you one bit."


    He let the words hang in the air, watching her reaction with a hard gaze.


    "I lost good men because of you. Because of your arrogance. If I''m not ending you right here and now, it''s only out of respect for Admiral Voss."


    He rose to his feet and turned to leave again, but once more, she stopped him, her voice trembling,ced with a hint of desperation and madness.


    "S-stop! If you leave me here... I''ll report your location to the Strategos!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Her face twisted with a frantic gleam in her eyes, her hands clenched into fists as she scrambled to regain control.


    Rex''s expression shifted, a dangerous smirk forming on his lips as he looked over his shoulder.


    "Oh? You think that scares me?"


    He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a cold whispe


    r. "Go ahead, report me. Let them know exactly where I am."


    Leena''s bravado faltered, her eyes darting away from his intense gaze.


    "I... I just... I just need to survive this."


    Rex shook his head slowly, almost pitying her.


    "Then survive on your own. Maybe you''ll learn something out there... though I doubt it."


    He straightened, no longer sparing her a second nce.


    "Goodbye, General."


    Without another word, he walked out of the ruined gunboat, leaving Leena alone in the flickering light of the emergency beacons, surrounded by the echoes of her own failures.


    A few minutes after Rex left her alone in the dark wreckage, Leena was startled by a yful, almost mocking voice that drifted through the silence.


    "Huhu, my darling really is a softy, don''t you think, General


    ¡«


    ?"


    Leena''s heart raced as she scrambled to her feet, clutching her handgun with trembling hands and swinging it wildly in every direction.


    "W-who''s there? Show yourself!"


    Before she could react further, a powerful kick struck her square in the stomach, sending her sprawling backward into a seat. She gasped, struggling to breathe, when she felt a sharp tug on her hair, forcing her head back painfully. A figure settled onto herp, holding her hair in a tight grip.


    Through the haze of pain, Leena tried to see her attacker.


    "Wh-who are you? Why are you doing this to me?"


    Her voice cracked as tears wereing up in from her eyes.


    A chuckle sounded in her ear.


    "Mmm... maybe my darling knows what a''strategos'' is, but I don''t. Care to enlighten me, General? I''m really curious,"


    the voice cooed,ced with sinister amusement.


    "Oh, silly me, I forgot I was still in stealth mode. Give me a moment."


    The air shimmered, and then a woman appeared, perched on Leena''s legs with a wicked smile. Her eyes sparkled with an almost childlike glee, yet there was something terrifyingly unhinged about her gaze.


    "Much better, isn''t it?"


    Ys said, running a single finger down Leena''s cheek, her touch as cold as ice.


    "Now, tell me more about what you threatened my darling with. This ''Strategos'' nonsense."


    Leena swallowed, her voice shaky and barely a whisper.


    "The Strategos... they''re high-ranking officials in Nexum Dynamics. High Rank Three. They control entire military campaigns, fleets, ground operations¡­ across multiples. They''re¡­ they''re powerful."


    Ys''s eyes narrowed with mild interest, but she tilted her head unimpressed.


    "Mmm, interesting. But I still don''t see why my darling should be afraid of them."


    Her grip on Leena''s face tightened, pulling her closer until their noses almost touched.


    Leena''s breath hitched, fear flooding her veins.


    "It''s because... he has something Nexum Dynamics wants,"


    she stammered.


    Ys sighed, her patience visibly thinning.


    "Ugh, I''m getting bored, little girl. Stop stuttering and spit it out. What exactly does your precious corporation want from him?"


    As she spoke, her eyes shed with a predatory glow, making Leena''s blood run cold.


    "It''s¡­ it''s an egg!"


    Leena screamed, her voice desperate.


    "They were looking for an egg on this, something... something ancient and powerful. And Rex... he stole it from them!"


    Ys''s eyes widened slightly, a slow grin spreading across her face.


    "An egg, you say?"


    She released her grip on Leena''s face and leaned back, tapping her chin thoughtfully.


    "Now that''s interesting."


    Leena watched her warily, still trembling


    . "Please¡­ I told you everything. Just... don''t hurt me."


    Ysughed softly, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "


    Oh, don''t worry, General. I won''t hurt you much. But remember this: if you ever try to threaten my darling again, if you so much as whisper his name to your precious strategos..."


    She leaned in, her voice dropping to a deadly whisp


    er. "I''ll make sure you regret it in ways you can''t even imagine."


    Ys let go of Leena''s hair but remained sitted on her legs with a wicked glint in her eyes. She bit down on her own finger, drawing a thin bead of dark, shimmering blood.


    "Since you don''t want to die, I have a different n for you.


    "


    She purred, holding her finger close to Leena''s trembling lips.


    "Lick my blood, and you''ll be my servant, bound to mepletely."


    Leena''s mind was already fractured, her spirit crushed by fear and helplessness. She didn''t resist. Her small tongue slipped out hesitantly, tasting the blood that dripped from Ys''s finger. As she licked, Ys''s face lit up with a dark satisfaction. She could feel her blood weaving its magic, binding Leena''s will to her own.


    Ys''s predatory instincts red, a surge of power and dominance filling her. This was her true nature: the huntress, the conqueror. She reserved her softer, submissive side for Rex alone.


    "Good girl,"


    she said, her voice dripping with condescension.


    "Now, you''re under my protection. The Khryssari here won''t harm you. You''re safe... for now."


    She hopped off Leena''sp, stretchingzily as if she''d just enjoyed a satisfying meal. Turning back, she regarded Leena with a sly smile.


    "Now, go. It wouldn''t do any good for someone to see us together, would it? And make sure to report back to me with any information your organization has about my darling."


    Leena''s newly green-tinted eyes glistened as she stood up from the seat, kneeling before Ys.


    "Understood, ma''am,


    " she murmured, her voice hollow and submissive.


    Ys gave her a sweet, almost childlike smile before vanishing from sight, her stealth mode reactivating, leaving Leena alone in the dark, changed in more ways than one.


    Outside, the battle raged on. Thanks to Leena''s earlier artillery orders, the Khryssari forces were faltering, their lines breaking under the relentless assault. The allied soldiers could feel the tide of victory approaching with the end of this brutal conflict within their grasp.


    But Rex''s instincts were sharp, honed by countless battles. He felt a dark presence lurking beyond the smoke and chaos, something far more dangerous closing in.


    "Soldiers! Fall back!"


    Rex''s voice boomed through themunicator, urgency filling each word.


    "This is far enough. Retreat to the transport ships immediately!"


    Those who had fought alongside Rex for a long time didn''t hesitate, trusting his instincts without question. They pulled back swiftly, moving toward the transports with practiced precision.


    But some of the newer recruits, those who hadn''t yet seen the depths of Rex''s experience, hesitated, murmuring among themselves that he was being overly cautious or even cowardly. They pressed forward, ignoring themand.


    Rex gritted his teeth as he ran, the weight of his familiar backpack shifting on his shoulders. A voice came from within, soft yet mischievous.

 Chapter 75: Escaping.

    "Hey, beautiful. Wee back,"


    he said with a smirk tugging at his lips despite the tension of the situation.


    "What were you up to?"


    From his back, Ys''s yful voice responded, her tone brimming with smug satisfaction


    . "Oh, nothing much... just taking care of a little pest problem."


    Rex''s eyes narrowed, but there was a hint of amusement in his gaze.


    "I trust you didn''t go too overboard?"


    Ys''s voice hummed in his ear, full of mischief.


    "Me? Overboard? Never, darling. I simply acquired a new little pet. Someone who might prove useful to uster on."


    Rex shook his head with a quiet chuckle.


    "Just make sure she doesn''t get in the way."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Oh, don''t worry,"


    Ys replied, her voice dropping to a purr.


    "She''ll be very well-behaved."


    As they moved swiftly toward the transport ships, Rex''s sense of unease grew. Whatevery beyond the battlefield wasn''t just another Khryssarimon troop; it was something darker, something ancient, and it wasing closer.


    "Hey, Ys, is your aunt nning something big?"


    Rex asked, his tone full of growing concern.


    "Mmm... probably,"


    Ys replied, her voice deceptively light as she hugged his neck from behind, leaning against him with a yful smirk.


    "Since you''ve already defeated the champion, I''d say the ytime is over."


    Rex''s brow furrowed.


    "And... what exactly does that mean?"


    "It means she''ll finally start taking this fight seriously,"


    Ys answered, a hint of excitement in her tone.


    "For starters, the allied fleet is already as good as gone."


    Rex nced over his shoulder, rmed. "


    Is she sending a bigger fleet to ambush them?"


    "Not exactly,"


    Ys chuckled, clearly enjoying his reaction.


    "You see, we have these... special units. Scary-looking guys who are very good at boarding enemy ships without anyone noticing; not even scanners can pick them up."


    Rex let out a low whistle, imagining what kind of horrors could bypass high-tech scanners and trained sentries.


    "If they''re considered scary by Khryssari standards, they must be pure nightmare fuel."


    He was still picturing these mysterious creatures when he felt Ys''s breath close to his ear, her voice dropping to a soft whisper.


    "Darling, we need to hurry to the transport ships. My aunt has already mobilized the real swarm."


    Rex''s stomach dropped.


    "And... how dangerous is the real swarm?"


    Ys started to answer, but before she could speak, the sky began to darken. Countless ck and green eggs of all sizes started to rain from above, mming into the ground with dull, wet thuds.


    As each egg cracked open, Khryssari of every shape and form emerged, soldiers, drones, and beasts, some with long, serrated limbs, others with wings or biosma cannons embedded in their arms.


    Within seconds, the battlefield was swarming with creatures, an endless wave of insectoid horrors that surged forward with terrifying speed and precision.


    Themunications channel crackled to life, filled with frantic, ovepping voices shouting for backup, for evacuation, for anything that could help. But there was no help. The Khryssari had finally stopped toying with them. Now, it was a massacre.


    "Damn it, your aunt was really holding back,"


    Rex muttered as he dodged a bolt of biosma that sizzled past his head, fired from a Khryssari sniper he''d never seen before.


    Ys giggled, a proud glint in her eye.


    "Of course she was holding back! They don''t call her ''The Hive Devourer'' for nothing."


    "Yeah, I don''t think I want to find out why she earned that name."


    Rex shook his head.


    "Let''s get out of here."


    Activating his bionic imnts to their full capacity, Rex took off, sprinting across the battlefield at over 100 kilometers per hour. Thendscape blurred around him as he zigzagged to avoid the long-range biosma shots that streaked through the air like green lightning.


    As he ran, he looked up, and his heart sank. The sky, once a brilliant blue, was now dark and green,pletely blotted out by the endless wave of descending eggs and swarming Khryssari.


    The sunlight was gone, reced by a shadow that stretched across the entire horizon, as if the world itself were being swallowed by the Hive.


    Around him, soldiers who had ignored his earlier order to retreat were now running for their lives, pursued by Khryssari drones that moved in deadly unison. Some were caught mid-sprint, torn apart by ws and fangs before they could even scream.


    Ys''s voice echoed in his ear, calm yet somehow thrilled by the chaos.


    "Isn''t it beautiful, darling? The Hive in all its glory."


    Rex gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on the distant transport ships.


    "Beautiful? I think you and I have very different definitions of that word."


    "Oh, don''t be so serious,"


    Ys teased, her tone almost sing-song.


    "We''ll make it out. After all, I''m with you."


    As they drew closer to the transports, Rex''s focus sharpened. He wasn''t just running for his own life; he was leading a retreat, trying to save as many of his soldiers as possible. But the enemy was closing in, and the Hive Devourer''s forces were relentless.


    Every instinct in his body screamed at him to keep going, to survive. The ground shook beneath his feet as he sprinted through the chaos, dodging sma fire and Khryssari ws, Ys''sughter still echoing in his mind, a strangefort amidst the nightmare unfolding around them.


    "Well, I''m d at least one of us is having fun,"


    Rex muttered, still sprinting at full speed toward the extraction point.


    "Hehehe, why shouldn''t I enjoy it?"


    Ys replied, her tone yful as she nuzzled her cheek against his.


    "I feel perfectly safe while holding onto my darling."


    Despite the chaos around him, Rex couldn''t help but smile, feeling the warmth of her soft cheek against his own. Even in the midst of a battlefield, Ys''s presence had a way of grounding him.


    After several grueling minutes of running at top speed, Rex finally reached


    Cleo''s


    gunboat. It was under assault, with several K. warriors wing at its hull, but the Aegis sentinel were holding them off, sting the Khryssari back and giving Rex a clear path to board the ship.


    Once inside, Rex hurried to the cockpit and threw himself into the pilot''s seat. His fingers danced over the controls, bringing the gunboat''s systems online. The engines hummed as they powered up, and the energy shields shimmered to life, enveloping the ship in a protective barrier.


    "Aegis units, time to fall back!"


    he ordered through thems.


    "Get inside the ship so we can take off."


    For a moment, there was silence. Then, a voice came through, deep and calm but with a strange hint of finality.


    [Negative, my lord. We will stay here to give you enough time to escape and prevent the Khryssari from breaching the ship.]


    Rex''s jaw tightened, his eyes widening.


    "What are you talking about? It''s time to leave; get inside now!"


    There was another pause, and then the response came again, this time even firmer.


    [Negative, sir. Time is running low. You need to take off immediately. It is our duty to ensure your safety.]


    Rex''s hands clenched on the controls, his heart sinking. He wasn''t used to this. The Aegis units were his steadfast guardians, each one a valuable and irreceable asset; more than that, they were hisrades. And now they were choosing to sacrifice themselves.


    He swallowed, trying to find the words. But before he could speak, the voice came through one final time.


    [And sir, it was an honor serving under you.]


    Rex''s grip on the controls trembled.


    "Understood,"


    he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He forced himself to look away from the viewport, unable to bear the sight of the Aegis units outside, holding back the Khryssari swarm with unwavering resolve.


    The ship''s engines roared to full power, and Cleo gunboat lifted off the ground, slowly ascending. Through the cockpit''s ss, Rex caught onest glimpse of the Aegis sentinels, locked in fiercebat, their metallic forms shining amidst the chaos.


    One by one, they were overwhelmed by the relentless Khryssari forces, but they held the line, buying him every precious second they could.


    Ys watched him silently, sensing the turmoil in his heart. She reached out, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder.


    "They knew their purpose, darling. They chose this."


    Rex exhaled slowly, his gaze hardened. "


    I know. But that doesn''t make it any easier."


    The gunboat elerated, leaving the battlefield below. As they soared through the skies, Rex''s heart was heavy with the weight of those left behind. The sacrifice of the Aegis units would not be forgotten. It would fuel him, driving him forward, giving him yet another reason to fight, to survive.


    Once the gunboat ascended into the sky, Rex''s eyes scanned the horizon, catching sight of a swarm of Khryssari aerial units, skydancers, and others, heading straight for them.


    Their forms were like dark shadows in the turbulent skies, wings beating in unison, creating a low, menacing hum that reverberated through the air.


    Rex''s hand flew to the control panel, activating the gunboat''s automated turrets. The hum of the engines was soon apanied by the sharp, rhythmic thrum of rapid-fire cannons.


    Beams of light shot out, tearing through the darkened sky and striking down the approaching skydancers with deadly precision. The air crackled with energy as the Khryssari units spiraled downward, some disappearing in fiery bursts as the turrets found their marks.


    But Rex knew the odds were against them. The was overrun, and it would be nearly impossible to break free of the Khryssari swarm on sheer firepower alone.


    Just as the weight of that realization settled over him, a brilliant, unexpected sight caught his eye, it was a massive allied fleet ship, torn and battered, plummeting from the sky like a falling star.


    The ship''s descent was catastrophic, its bulk slicing through the Khryssari swarm with the force of a thousand des. It crashed into the ground with a thunderous roar, splitting apart and erupting in a dazzling firestorm that lit the sky in a kaleidoscope of me and debris.


    The impact and the subsequent explosions tore through the swarm, creating a temporary void, a pathway through the chaos.


    "Lady Luck, you beautiful thing,"


    Rex muttered

 Chapter 76: Going home.

    Seizing the opportunity. He pushed the gunboat''s throttle forward, maneuvering the vessel into the gap created by the crashing fleet ship. The vessel surged forward, the engines straining as it weaved dangerously close to the wreckage.


    The heat from the explosion roared around them, mes licking at the gunboat''s shields as they skimmed just above the disintegrating hull of the massive ship.


    Ys tightened her hold around Rex''s neck with a glint of excitement in her eyes as they sped through the inferno.


    "Darling, you really know how to make an escape dramatic,"


    she whispered with a yful smile dancing on her lips.


    Rex didn''t respond; his focus was absolute. Just as they passed the broken midpoint of the copsing fleet ship, its space fuel storage ignited, detonating in a burst of blinding white light.


    The resulting shockwave surged outward, a tidal wave of pressure and fire that sent the remaining Khryssari scattering like leaves in a storm. The gunboat shuddered violently, caught in the edge of the st, but held firm, its shields ring bright as they absorbed the brunt of the impact.


    From the surface, all that could be seen was a towering column of fire and smoke, a beacon of chaos visible for kilometers. But from within that wall of me, the gunboat burst out, a small but defiant silhouette against the ze, engines roaring as it climbed toward the stars.


    Rex took a deep breath. His muscles tensed as he pushed the ship to its limit, breaking free of the atmosphere and heading for the cold void of space. The roar of mes gave way to the silence of the stars, and only then did he allow himself a moment to breathe, sweat slick on his brow.


    She rxed her grip, her eyes shimmering with pride and something more like admiration.


    "You did it, darling. Now... where to next?"


    "What do you mean, ''where next?'' Can''t you see the war right there in front of¡ª"


    Rex stopped mid-sentence, turning around to look at the supposed battlefield. And then he froze, his mouth hanging open as the sight registered.


    Right there, in what should have been the heart of the allied fleet, there was nothing but twisted, scattered debris. Ships that had once formed an unstoppable armada, capable of taking on the hive mind fleet head-to-head, were now reduced to floating metal scraps.


    And in the middle of it all, looming like some ancient nightmare, was a massive ck sphere with jagged, horn-like spires.


    It was enormous, easily fifteen kilometers across with spines jutting out in every direction like some demonic starfish. Its surface was dark, almost bone-like, covered in deep cracks that glowed with a sickly green light.


    "Ys..."


    Rex managed, barely above a whisper.


    "Hmm? What''s the matter, darling?"


    Ys replied, still hanging onto his neck, as if they weren''t floating in the middle of a battlefield graveyard.


    "So... what exactly is that thing I''m looking at?


    " Rex pointed at the monstrous sphere with a shaky finger.


    "Oh, that? That''s just my Aunt Kragnarok,"


    Ys said casually.


    Devourer. Though, if it helps you understand, think of it as a supercapital ship. Auntie''s piloting it right now, and... well, I know you''re strong, darling, but let''s just say you''re not quite in her league. So please, don''t do anything... silly,"


    she added, poking his cheek with a smirk.


    "How dumb do you think I am, Ys? No way am I picking a fight with that thing! We''re like a fleapared to it. Heck, we''re probably less than a flea."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Rex was already flipping switches, preparing to activate the wormhole device.


    "Let''s just get out of here!"


    But then his eyes went wide.


    "Oh crap¡­ Carlos! Ys, hang on. We have to go back to the and find Carlos!"


    Before he could turn the ship around, Ys ced a small yet surprisingly strong hand on his shoulder.


    "Rx, darling,"


    she said, almostughing.


    "He''s already resting on the second floor. I had the medical bots take care of him while you were off fighting that Khryssaris champion. Honestly, you''re wee."


    Rex exhaled a huge sigh of relief.


    "Thank you, really. For a second there, I thought I''d left him down there. I''d never hear the end of it if I did something that stupid."


    Ys grinned.


    "Oh, I''m sure he''d find a way to haunt you forever."


    "Alright, enough of this ce,"


    Rex said, setting the coordinates.


    "I''ve had my fill of Khryssaris and deserts. Next stop, I want somewhere with casinos. And bars. Lots of bars."


    With that, the ship jumped into the wormhole, leaving the eerie battlefield and Ys''s terrifying aunt far behind.


    It took them hours to finally exit the wormhole, and when they emerged, the sprawlingmercial of Nakor filled the viewscreen.


    Rex leaned back in his seat, grinning from ear to ear as he threw his hands up in mock celebration.


    "Home, sweet home!"


    he shouted, practically vibrating with relief.


    Nakor looked as lively as ever, a-sized hub ofmerce and chaos, lit up by the constant flicker of ship engines and city lights.


    But just beyond the, something else caught his eye¡ªa new fleet, enormous and gleaming, assembling in tight formations. Rex squinted at it, shaking his head with a smirk.


    "Good luck, fes,"


    he muttered.


    "I hope you''re ready for what''s on the other side, ''cause trust me, it ain''t pretty."


    Even though this new fleet looked like a legendary armada from an old storybook, Rex knew it would barely be a speed bump against the Hive Mind''s supercapital ship.


    Without a fleet of their own supercapitals, they were marching straight into a meat grinder.


    But then he grinned, a little wickedly.


    "Although... the longer Nexum Dynamics is busy ying hero against the Khryssari, the safer I am. Who knew a gctic invasion could be so... convenient?"


    While Rex chuckled to himself, Ys was quietly transmitting away telepathically, sending detailed reports of the fleet''s movements straight to her aunt. She gave Rex a sidelong nce, smiling sweetly, though there was a glint in her eye.


    Sure, she''d never do anything to harm Rex, but the rest of the gxy? Fair game. By giving her aunt a heads-up, she was making sure the Hive Mind had a warm wee ready for these wannabe heroes. Two birds with one very big, deadly stone.


    Finally, Rex''s gunboat began its descent toward Nakor''s underground city. As they descended level by level, heading for the fifth floor where the residential areas were, he looked out over the cityscape in awe.


    The ce had only grown since he''dst been here. Towering structures sprawled in every direction, linked by massive cargo tubes and neon-lit bridges. Ships and cargo drones zipped through the air like a swarm of angry bees, weaving around patrol drones and each other with shocking precision, or at least, reckless speed.


    "Wow, the ce is really booming,"


    Rex muttered, watching the bustle below. It seemed like everywhere he looked, something was moving.


    Hundreds of thousands of people filled the streets, some headed for themercial zones, others milling around food vendors, while the asional Aegis patrol wove through the crowds like stiff-lipped chaperones trying to keep order at a rowdy carnival.


    He gave a low whistle. "


    All this is just for a bunch of credits. You''d think they were giving away gold bars down there."


    Ys chuckled, resting her chin on his shoulder.


    "Oh, they are, if you know where to look."


    As the gunboat slipped into its docking space, Rex took onest look out at Nakor''s thriving underground city and cracked his knuckles


    . "Alright, time to get back into the chaos. But first, I need a drink. A big one."


    As Rex''s battered vessel touched down in the privatending zone, Emilia was already waiting with a group of maid bots standing in neat rows.


    She watched him step out of the ship, covered in scrapes and bruises, his once-formidable armor now little more than a few broken scraps clinging to him like sad, defeated badges.


    Emilia''s eyes went wide.


    "Quickly, summon the medical bots and notify the Golden Hospital to prepare the private ward Lady Cleo set up,"


    she barked at the maid bots, her voice sharp and urgent. She moved so quickly that even Rex had to raise an eyebrow.


    "Easy there, Emi,"


    he said, shing her a grin.


    "I''m not as bad off as I look. Most of this is just... dramatic effect."


    He gestured to his shredded armor with augh.


    "But if you''re setting up rooms, make sure Carlos gets one too. He''s the one who really took a beating. Though don''t worry, his bald head is still shining like a new credit chip."


    Rex gave her a thumbs up, trying to lighten the mood.


    Emilia nodded, but Rex noticed her hands gripping her maid skirt so tightly her knuckles were turning white. She was worried, and she was trying hard not to show it. He sighed softly, feeling a pang of guilt.


    "Alright then,"


    he said, turning to the medical bots who had gathered around him.


    "I''ll head to the hospital. Emi, can you take care of Ys? She''s passed out in the cockpit. Give her afortable ce to rest."


    With that, he let the bots and a pair of Aegis units escort him to a civilian transport ship that was justrge enough to amodate his bruised frame without bumping his head.


    After a short flight, the transport ship touched down on the Golden Hospital''s exclusivending pad. The moment the doors slid open, a small army of professionals was already assembled. Four doctors in pristine uniforms, several nurses, and even a few guards waited in perfect formation were clearly expecting some high-ranking VIP or dignitary to step out of the craft.

 Chapter 77: Golden Hospital.

    When the door of the civilian transport opened, what stepped out was not what anyone had expected. Instead of some frail aristocrat or grizzled oldmander, a massive figure emerged; it was a white giant, towering at 2.5 meters.


    His battered armor hung in pieces, barely clinging to his frame, and a deep wound cut across his torso, gleaming faintly with strange, golden tech markings that pulsed with a faint, otherworldly light.


    The medics and nurses on thending pad blinked, momentarily stunned. Rex had long ck hair that flowed past his shoulders and a chiseled, almost impossibly handsome face.


    One of the nurses flushed bright red as his eyes met hers, and a few of the others exchanged nces, clearly caught off-guard by the sight of this rugged giant who looked like he''d walked straight out of some ancient legend. And right behind him, a group of Aegis units followed, their sleek, armored forms well-known around the underground city for their lethal efficiency.


    Just a few days prior, a gang of thugs had tried to stir up trouble here in the city. Within two hours, the entire gang had been wiped out, no survivors, not a single Aegis unit lost. After that little "incident," the other gangs had quickly decided to fall in line and respect the city''s rules.


    Rex took in the crowd of medical staff watching him and shed a roguish grin.


    "Well, hello there, gentlemen,"


    he said, his voice calm and deep. He shot a wink at the nearest nurse.


    "Anddies. I hear I''m supposed to get some special treatment, courtesy of thedy in charge of the maids."


    He gestured toward Emilia and her team of maid bots, who stood just behind him, looking as formal and poised as ever.


    The lead doctor cleared his throat, clearly trying to gather hisposure.


    "Wee to the Golden Hospital, sir,"


    he said, nodding politely.


    "We''ve prepared the private zone exclusively for your use. If you''ll follow me?"


    Rex raised an eyebrow, looking amused.


    "Private zone? Now that''s my kind of service. Alright, lead the way before the maidmander here yells at me for stalling."


    He gave Emilia a yful salute, and she only rolled her eyes, though he could swear he saw a hint of a smile.


    As they escorted him through the hospital halls, Rex couldn''t help but notice the high ceilings, designed, it seemed, to amodate even giants like him. Medical staff and patients alike stared as he passed, some whispering, others just gawking at the sight of this handsome, wounded colossus being escorted like royalty.


    When they finally arrived at the private treatment zone, Rex''s eyes widened a little in surprise. The room was decked out in thetest tech, recharge bays, medical pods, high-tech disys, and equipment that looked like it belonged on a spaceship rather than in a hospital.


    He scratched his head, genuinely impressed.


    "Wow. Fancy setup. Half of this stuff, I don''t even know what it does."


    One of the nurses, her cheeks still a bit pink, stepped forward hesitantly.


    "Um, sir, would you, uh, mind letting us help you remove your armor?"


    She fidgeted, ncing nervously at his battered chest te.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Rex chuckled


    . "No need, I got it."


    With a thought, he cut the power to the nanobots woven into the armor, and in an instant the battered pieces seemed to melt away, retracting into his body and leaving his bare torso exposed.


    Contrary to what they''d expected, Rex wasn''t built like a bulky, muscle-bound warrior. His frame was lean but well-toned, like a model carved from stone, with just the right amount of muscle, strong but not overly bulky. His skin was marred by a scattering of cuts and bruises, adding a rugged charm that only seemed to make the nurses blush deeper.


    "So... what''s next, doc?"


    Rex asked, ncing around as he noticed the room had gone strangely silent.


    The lead doctor coughed, visibly collecting himself. "


    Ahem. If you''ll lie down on one of the recharge bays, sir. Lady Cleo has already provided us with specific instructions on how to treat you."


    "Is that so?"


    Rex raised his eyebrows, grinning.


    "Well, alright then. You''re the professionals. Lead the way."


    He eased himself onto the recharge bay, which adjusted automatically to support his weight. As hey back, the bay''s transparent lid slid down, sealing him in while the doctors worked around the controls, attaching several tubes to the chamber.


    Rex''s eyes followed one of the tubes, and he frowned.


    "Uh, what''s that thing for?"


    he asked, pointing.


    One of the doctors looked up. "


    That''s a delivery tube for nanomaterials, sir. It''ll help elerate your healing. Now, if you could just close your eyes and rx, we''ll start the process.


    "


    Rex shrugged. "


    Well, if it means I get to be out of here sooner.


    " He closed his eyes, chuckling to himself as he tried to getfortable. Just another day in the life of a spacefaring giant, he thought with a grin.


    As the treatment began, Rex felt a heavy wave of drowsiness wash over him. The adrenaline and tension that had been keeping him going finally drained from his body, and he sank into a deep, dreamless sleep.


    Hourster, he woke slowly, blinking against the soft lights of the recharge bay. As his vision cleared, he saw someone standing over him, someone he hadn''t seen in a while.


    "Hey there, beautiful,"


    Rex said with a slow, lopsided grin.


    "I missed you."


    Cleo, standing beside him in her elegant,posed way, raised a delicate eyebrow. "


    I find that doubtful. The data indicate you were constantly apanied by Y''Ssera, and from the looks of it, she took very good care of you."


    Her voice was as calm and neutral as ever, but there was a glint of something in those golden eyes that made him smirk.


    "Ehem, sure, Ys kept mepany,"


    Rex replied, clearing his throat with a guilty chuckle.


    "But I still missed you. Or are you telling me you didn''t miss me even a little?"


    Cleo paused, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she replied,


    "Negative. I did not."


    Rexughed, shaking his head


    . "Cold as ice, Cleo. Cold as ice. But alright, if you say so. Just know that I did miss you."


    He leaned back, ncing up at the ceiling with a sigh.


    "So... what now? What''s next on the mission roster?"


    Cleo''s gaze softened slightly as she looked over his battered form, her golden eyes studying every scar and bruise. "


    There won''t be a mission for a while, Rex. We need time to rebuild our forces and produce a newbat unit. I''ve already begun the preliminary work."


    With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a holographic screen beside the recharge tank, disying the schematics of a towering mech-like figure with sleek armor ting and enough weaponry to take on a small army.


    Rex''s eyes widened as he took in the design.


    "Damn, now that looks like it could do some damage."


    Cleo nodded.


    "It''s intended to. And yes, we have sufficient credits for production. I secured funds from the allied fleet, and with the underground city''s tax revenue, our financials are stable enough to begin the project."


    Rex chuckled, looking impressed.


    "Allied fleet, taxes, secret project, you really don''t do anything halfway, do you?"


    "Efficiency is preferable to excess,"


    Cleo replied, her tone matter of fact.


    "But it is necessary to ensure we''re prepared for whateveres next. And Rex¡­"


    She looked at him seriously.


    "This new unit may make all the difference in the battles toe. Rest up. You''ll need your strength when it''s ready."


    Rex gave her a mock salute.


    "Aye, aye, Captain. But, you know, don''t take too long rebuilding things. I''m not the type to sit around forever."


    Cleo''s lips quirked ever so slightly, almost a smile.


    "I''ll keep that in mind."


    And with that, she turned and strode out of the room, her silhouette framed by the soft glow of the holographic screen, leaving Rex to wonder just what kind of weapon she had in mind and what exactly the future had in store for them both.


    After a few more days of recovery, Rex finally left the hospital and found himself in the massive mansion Cleo had built. It was a strange mix of opulence and high-tech security that somehow fit her perfectly.


    The ce looked like a ssic mansion at first nce, but everywhere he looked, there were high-tech flourishes: sleek holo-disys, automated doors, and Aegis sentinels patrolling silently.


    Small recon drones disguised as various birds flitted around the grounds, their metallic wings gleaming as they swooped in perfect formations.


    Rex nced at a particrly colorful "bird" that chirped at him as it flew by, and he muttered to himself, "


    Wonder what''ll happen first, me getting bored of these robo-birds, or Cleo finally exining why she''s so obsessed with them. She''s an odd one, that''s for sure."


    From behind him, a familiar voice responded, calm and precise.


    "Interesting wordsing from the man who insisted I build a room just to store rocks."


    "Oh! Hello, Cleo,"


    Rex said, feigning surprise. "


    Didn''t see you there."


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.


    "We are always together, Rex. Did you experience central memory degradation? I should run a diagnostic."


    Rex''s eyes widened, and he quickly held up his hands.


    "W-what? No! My brain is just fine; thank you very much. Nobody''s running diagnostics on my head. Cleo, you really need to learn when I''m joking and when I''m not. I swear, one of these days, I''ll wake up on a dissection table without even knowing how I got there."


    Cleo tilted her head slightly, studying him with a look that was half amusement, half analytic precision.


    "Noted. I''ll endeavor to improve my understanding of your ''jokes.''"


    Rex sighed, shaking his head with a grin.


    "So, you said you had a surprise for me. What''s the big reveal?"


    "It''s nothing extravagant,"


    Cleo said with her usual deadpan delivery.


    "Just¡­ follow me."


    With his curiosity piqued, Rex followed her as she led him up a grand spiral staircase, all the way to the sixth floor of the mansion.


    The halls up here were pristine and quiet, with soft lights casting a warm glow on the polished floors. At the end of the hallway, Cleo stopped before an elegant set of double doors, gesturing for him to go in.


    Rex opened the doors and stepped inside just to froze in ce,pletely speechless.

 Chapter 78: Surprise

    The room was enormous, like a gallery straight out of a museum. The walls were lined with ss cases and disy shelves, each one carefully arranged and lit to showcase... rocks.


    Not just ordinary stones, but crystals, minerals, meteorites, and strange glowing artifacts from across the gxy. Some sparkled with deep colors; others seemed to hum with faint energy.


    There was even a small fountain in the center of the room, surrounded by smooth river stones, with a soft, bubbling sound that filled the space.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Ta-da,"


    Cleo said tly, though there was a glimmer of pride in her golden eyes.


    "Your rock collection room, exactly as you requested."


    Rex gaped, utterly speechless


    . "I... you actually... Cleo, this is amazing! I was kidding about the rock room! Well, mostly kidding."


    Cleo gave a small, satisfied nod.


    "You seemed quite serious to me. And considering how often you talk about the ''geological wonders of the gxy,'' it seemed only logical to create a space where you could... appreciate them properly."


    Rex chuckled, running a hand over one of the disy cases, where a cluster of bright blue crystals sparkled under the lights.


    "You''re something else, Cleo. I mean, look at this ce! You even got the lighting right. And¡­ is that a meteorite from Kyron V?"


    She nodded. "


    Correct. I sourced materials from various sectors. And while I do find your fascination with rocks peculiar, it''s clear that this brings you... enjoyment."


    Rex grinned, looking around like a kid in a candy store.


    "Oh, this is better than enjoyment. This is heaven."


    He nced back at Cleo, eyes twinkling with mischief.


    "Just don''t get any ideas about putting me on disy in one of these cases, alright?"


    She blinked, then responded with an almost imperceptible smile.


    "As long as you refrain from damaging yourself further, I think that can be arranged."


    Rexughed, shaking his head as he took in the room one more time. This wasn''t just a collection; it was proof that, despite her cool exterior and strict logic, Cleo had a way of understanding him that no one else did.


    "Well, Cleo,"


    he said, crossing his arms and giving her a warm smile,


    "you really know how to spoil a guy. Thank you."


    "Of course,"


    she replied, her voice softening just a fraction.


    "After all, what''s the point of all this¡­ if it''s not shared?"


    For once, Rex was at a loss for words, and he let the silence linger, just enjoying the moment.


    After several minutes spent poking around the room like a curious kid, Rex finally remembered something and turned to Cleo with a shameless grin.


    "Mmm, I could probably spend hours in here, but... didn''t you say there were two surprises? What''s the next one?"


    He asked, his voice full of curiosity.


    Cleo raised an eyebrow.


    "Oh, so you finally remembered? Follow me. It''s in my private chambers."


    Rex trailed behind her, intrigued, until they arrived at Cleo''s room. The entrance was surprisingly well guarded, with eight imposing Aegis units lined up at the door. As Cleo approached, they ced a hand over their chests in a crisp salute before stepping aside to let them through.


    "Alright, Rex. You can open the door,"


    Cleo said in her usual neutral tone.


    Rex blinked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Uh, why me? It''s your room. Shouldn''t you be the one to open it?"


    Cleo just looked at him, deadpan, as if he were the dumbest creature in the gxy.


    "Oh, right,"


    he muttered, suddenly feeling foolish.


    "Forgot you were a hologram."


    With a slight flush, he pushed the door open. Inside, the room was filled with a dozen small robot birds, each one more adorable than thest, chirping softly and fluttering around. Rex''s face split into smirks as he turned to Cleo.


    "What?"


    Cleo asked, catching his look.


    "Nothing, nothing... just didn''t peg a powerful gctic emperor as the type to have a... cute side,"


    he said, reaching out to poke one of the round, white birds with tiny wings. It beeped happily in response.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about, Rex,


    " she replied, but the slight edge in her voice suggested otherwise.


    "Right... sure,"


    Rex said, chuckling as he nced around.


    "So... the big surprise was just letting me into your room?"


    "Don''t be ridiculous. You already have ess to my room any time you want. That wouldn''t be much of a surprise."


    Rex raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye.


    "Oh? So I cane in here whenever I feel like it, huh?"


    Cleo gave him a suspicious look.


    "Whatever you''re thinking, stop. Now."


    She gestured him over to therge, luxurious bed in the center of the room, draped in nearly transparent curtains that gave it an ethereal look.


    He followed her over with his curiosity piqued. As he reached the bed, he noticed a figure lying there, partly obscured by the gauzy fabric. Cleo motioned for him to pull back the curtain.


    He did, and there on the bed was a mannequin-like body, sleek and metallic, yet strangely elegant.


    "So... what exactly am I looking at here?"


    Rex asked, ncing at her, but just as he did, Cleo''s holographic form flickered and disappeared. Her voice echoed telepathically in his mind.


    "This is what I''ve been working on for months. It''s a physical body for myself, made of nanomaterial I enhanced with your blood and aura. It''s not quite as advanced as living metal, but it will do."


    Rex''s eyes widened, and a grin spread across his face. "


    No way. That''s... wow, those are some damn good news. So, uh, what now? How do we get you in there?"


    Cleo''s voice was as calm as ever.


    "You don''t ''put me in.'' You and I are already connected. All we need to do is split part of my consciousness into this body. Just take off your shirt and ce your hand on the mannequin''s chest. I''ll handle the rest."


    "Oh? That simple, huh?


    " Rex grinned, slipping off his jacket and shirt.


    "Well, let''s get to it. I can''t wait to see you... up close and personal."


    Heid his hand on the mannequin''s chest, closing his eyes as instructed. His heart pounded in his chest, anticipation thrumming through him. This was about to get interesting.


    As Rex pressed his hand against the mannequin''s chest, he was surprised to find that it felt soft, almost like real skin. A strange sensation washed over him, a warmth that spread through his chest as if some invisible thread was tying him to this figure.


    Then he noticed a shimmer of golden dust, like flecks of light, drifting from his chest and seeping into the mannequin, drawn along the line of his hand.


    "Thanks, Rex. It''s done,"


    Cleo''s voice echoed in his mind.


    "But keep your hand there a little longer; I need a bit more energy to bring the body to life."


    "


    Got it. So... can I open my eyes now?"


    There was a pause, and then, in an uncharacteristically soft tone, Cleo answered,


    "Yes..."


    Rex opened his eyes and watched mesmerized as the metallic mannequin began to shift. Its rigid, neutral form softened, hips widening, curves emerging where there had been none.


    The chest expanded, bing full and rounded. The texture of the body was transforming, too, metallic silver melting into a pale, lifelike skin tone with a delicate hint of pink.


    Rex swallowed, his gaze lingering a little too long.


    "Oh... damn... those thighs,"


    he muttered under his breath, unable to stop himself.


    He snapped out of his daze just as the mannequin''s headpleted its transformation. Long, sleek ck hair cascaded down, and the face took on the familiar, beautiful features of Cleo''s face, but with even more vivid detail than he''d ever seen.


    Finally, her eyes fluttered open, revealing those intense golden irises staring straight at him.


    "How much longer do you n to keep your hand on my chest, Rex?"


    Her voice was cool, but there was a glimmer of mischief in her gaze.


    Rex nced down and felt his face heat up as he realized his hand had, at some point, drifted to a rather... soft part of her chest. Instinctively, he gave it a little squeeze, only to be met with a sharp p on the back of his hand.


    "Ow¡ªokay, I deserved that,"


    he stammered, cheeks reddening.


    "I mean, you''re... wow. Just, wow."


    Cleo sat up slowly, holding her arms over her chest with a modesty that made her new form look even more striking. She raised an eyebrow at him, unimpressed by his flustered state.


    "Ahem, so... do you, uh, need any help?


    " Rex asked, fumbling for words as he tried (and failed) to look anywhere but at her.


    "There''s no need. I''ve already called Emilia to assist me.


    " Just as she said this, the door swung open, and Emilia entered, nked by four efficient-looking robot maids.


    "Sir Rex,"


    Emilia said, giving him a polite but pointed smile. "I


    f you could please step outside, we''ll assist Lady Cleo in getting dressed."


    Before he could respond, the robot maids were already nudging him toward the door.


    "Wait, hold on, I¡ª!"


    But before he knew it, he was unceremoniously shoved out into the hallway. The door shut behind him with a definitive click, leaving him standing there, staring at his hand in a bit of a daze, as if he could still feel the softness he''d just held.


    He flexed his fingers absentmindedly, a grin sneaking onto his face, but then he looked up to see the Aegis units posted at the door, watching him silently.


    Rex cleared his throat, doing his best to keep a straight face.


    "Uh... keep up the good work, guys,"


    he muttered, giving them a halfhearted thumbs-up before turning and making a quick exit down the hall with a stupid grin still stered across his face.

 Chapter 79: A date with Cleo.

    After Rex was kicked out of the room, Cleo let out a shaky breath, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. She could still feel the warmth of Rex''s hand on her. Well, she didn''t want to dwell on that. Clearing her mind, she straightened up just as Emilia''s voice broke the silence.


    "


    Lady Cleo, we have brought the dress you ordered from the city. Shall we assist you in dressing?


    " Emilia stood at the side of the bed, while two robot maids held up a gown of flowing white fabric, embroidered with intricate gold patterns.


    Cleo nodded, hoping the busy work of dressing would distract her from the lingering heat in her cheeks. She focused on each careful movement as the maids began slipping the gown over her shoulders, adjustingyers, and fastening sps. Almost two imperial hourster, she was finally ready.


    Meanwhile, downstairs, Rex was sprawled on a sofa, his head tipped back as he fought off boredom and the temptation to fall asleep. He''d been waiting for ages, and the stillness of the room was starting to lull him. Just as his eyelids drooped, he heard the steady rhythm of marching footsteps.


    Rex cracked one eye open, but when the doors swung wide and Cleo entered, his other eye snapped open too, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. A squad of Aegis Sentinels filed in first, but they were nothingpared to the vision that followed.


    Cleo entered the room, making direct eye contact with Rex. She wore a flowing white dress ented with shimmering gold that caught the light with each step.


    Her long ck hair was adorned with delicate golden pins that glowed softly, the tech symbols etched on them casting a faint light. But most striking of all were her wings, huge, pristine, folded elegantly behind her back. She looked like something out of a dream... an ethereal beautye to life.


    For a moment, neither of them moved. Cleo stood there, and Rex sat frozen on the sofa, at aplete loss for words.


    Emilia cleared her throat, breaking the silence. Rex snapped out of his daze, practically stumbling off the sofa as he approached her.


    "You look... wow. You look beautiful, Cleo,"


    he said, his voice catching slightly as he tried to hold back a goofy grin.


    Cleo''s cheeks turned a shade pinker, and she looked away.


    "Oh... thanks. I suppose."


    Watching them, Emilia smiled to herself and, with a discreet p of her hands, signaled everyone to leave the room. The Aegis Units filed out, and Emilia gave instructions for the door to be closed behind them. Within moments, Rex and Cleo were alone.


    Rex finally collected himself enough to speak.


    "So, uh, what''s the n for today?"


    Cleo waved her hand, and several holographic screens appeared in front of her.


    "Well, we have a few stops. First, we''re going to inspect the assembly factory to check on the construction of the new unit. Andter tonight...


    " she gave him a small, mischievous smile, "


    we''ll be attending an auction at the underground ck market."


    Rex''s eyebrows shot up.


    "Wait... there''s a ck market here? Since when?"


    Cleo''s expression was calm, almost amusing.


    "Since tonight, actually. This auction is the main event tounch the ck market. Their representative approached me and asked permission to open it here, asking for security. In return, they''ll treat us as VIPs and give us 20% of their profits."


    Rex whistled, giving her an impressed look.


    "Well, damn, Cleo. Didn''t peg you for the cutthroat business type. Does that mean you''re, uh... rich?"


    She tilted her head, her golden eyes gleaming as she met his gaze.


    "Rex, you have no idea how much a single month of maintenance costs on this estate. ''Rich'' is a rtive term when most of it goes right back into a ck hole."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Rex chuckled, scratching his head. "


    Right, the never-ending maintenance bills. Good thing you''re good at making deals. So... we''re going to look all fancy and mysterious tonight at this auction, huh?"


    Cleo allowed herself a small smile.


    "Yes, and try to keep your mouth shut for once. I don''t want our VIP status revoked because you couldn''t resist a rudement."


    Rex grinned, feigning offense.


    "Me? Rude? Never."


    She raised an eyebrow, and he chuckled, holding up his hands in surrender.


    "Alright, alright. I''ll be on my best behavior... for you."


    "So... may I have the honor of escorting you, my lovelydy, to the absurdly expensive, tacky-looking ship waiting for us?"


    Rex said with a yful smirk, giving her a slight bow and extending his hand.


    Cleo looked at his hand for a moment, her expression unreadable, before cing her gloved hand in his. Rex''s smirk widened as he closed his hand over hers, giving it a gentle but firm squeeze.


    "Well then, let''s be off,"


    he said, leading her forward, his steps slow and deliberate as they walked side by side. Cleo was unusually quiet, and he couldn''t help but nce at her now and then, amused by her uncharacteristic silence.


    They arrived at the civilian transport ship Rex had used before, an ostentatious vessel that looked like it belonged to a rich, slightly clueless tourist. It was nked by several Aegis units standing at attention, with four sleek Wraith-ss fighters parked nearby, their metallic frames gleaming under the city''s lights.


    Once they boarded, the ship lifted off smoothly, the four fighters taking formation around them. As they ascended from the 5th floor of the city to the 3rd, Rex couldn''t help but gaze out the window, watching the lights of the sprawling city below.


    Themercial district stretched out beneath them, pulsing with activity as they headed toward the assembly factory.


    And there it was, impossible to miss. The factory loomed at the far end of the district, dwarfing every building around it. Like most of the structures of Cleo desing, it was a gleaming monument of white and gold, but this one was heavily fortified to an almost ridiculous degree. Rex couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow at the sheer level of security.


    "Subtle,"


    he muttered, unable to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.


    The factory bristled with turrets of every kind, missileunchers,ser cannons, and sma turrets, all shielded byyers of energy barriers. Squads of Aegis units patrolled every side of the facility and the surrounding streets, moving with cold precision.


    In the air above, hundreds of drones buzzed around in a well-coordinated dance, some carrying cargo, others armed forbat. Even a few Wraith fighters circled overhead, their engines humming as they kept a vignt watch over the city''s.


    Rex let out a low whistle.


    "You know, I''m starting to feel a little underdressed. Do they really need all this just to make some machines?"


    Cleo gave him a sideways nce, the hint of a smile tugging at her lips.


    "In my empire, we believe in... thorough security."


    "Clearly,"


    Rex replied, chuckling. He nced out at the swarming drones and the heavy weaponry dotting the factory''s perimeter.


    "Remind me not to jaywalk around here. I''d probably get vaporized on the spot."


    Cleo shook her head, a hint of exasperation in her eyes, but she didn''t respond. Rex could see, though, that the corner of her mouth was twitching, almost as if she were fighting back a smile.


    As the ship descended and they prepared tond, Rex leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice


    . "So, do they roll out this kind of wee for all the VIPs, or is it just me?"


    Cleo gave him a cool, amused look.


    "Just you, Rex. I thought you might enjoy the extra attention."


    Heughed, giving her hand a light squeeze before letting go. "


    ttery will get you everywhere, your Majesty."


    They touched down smoothly, the ship settling on thending tform just outside the assembly factory. Rex straightened his jacket, casting onest nce at the fortress-like structure before stepping out of the ship, wondering what other surprises Cleo''s empire had in store for him.


    They stepped into the factory, Rex still escorting Cleo with a certain swagger in his step. Inside, the ce buzzed with mechanical life. The assembly lines stretched as far as he could see, each one busy constructing sleek Aegis units in perfect synchronicity.


    Robotic arms whirred and sparks flew as the machines worked tirelessly, piecing together hundreds of the deadly sentinels.


    "Wow,"


    Rex murmured, taking in the sight. "


    You don''t mess around, do you? So, are there more floors?"


    "Indeed,"


    Cleo replied, a hint of pride in her voice.


    "The upper levels are dedicated to producing ammunition of every type imaginable, for the turrets, the Aegis units, and other troops."


    Rex raised an eyebrow, impressed.


    "Efficient. So... where''s the special project? You know, the new unit you''ve been working on?"


    Cleo gave him a pointed look.


    "Please, Rex. I wouldn''t leave a private project like that out in the open for anyone curious enough to wander by."


    She brought up a holographic screen, disying a detailed blueprint of the factory.


    She pointed to a section at the very bottom


    . "Myb is on the lower floors. There are only two underground levels at the moment. The first is where we assemble Wraith-ss fighters. Right now, production is at about two units per month. And the second level...


    " Her golden eyes sparkled.


    "That''s where I''m building the new unit."


    "


    Of course, hidden away in your secretir,"


    Rex said with a grin.


    "Why am I not surprised?"


    She ignored his teasing and gestured down a hallway.


    "This way. I''ll show you."


    They made their way deeper into the factory, passing rows of meticulously organizedponents and rows of Aegis units in various stages of assembly.


    Rex watched as mechanical arms attached weapon systems to freshly built frames, each piece fitting together with the precision of a puzzle. He could feel the hum of energy in the air, a testament to the sheer power and resources Cleo poured into this facility.


    Finally, they reached a secure elevator that took them down to the lower levels, where Cleo led him through a series of heavily guarded corridors.


    She gave him a brief tour of the fighter assembly area, then finally showed him the new unit in progress. But it was clear she was keeping most of the details close to her chest, only allowing him to see what she wanted him to see.

 Chapter 80: A date with Cleo. (2)

    After a few hours, they exited the factory and boarded their transport ship once again. The four Wraith fighters took formation around them as they set course for the next destination.


    Rex leaned back in his seat, ncing over at Cleo with a smirk.


    "So, off to the ck market now, huh? You know, I''ve always wanted to see what kind of shady deals go down in these ces."


    Cleo gave him a cool, amused look


    . "Try to contain yourself, Rex. This is business, not entertainment."


    "


    Business can be entertaining, especially with you around,"


    he replied, grinning.


    Cleo just rolled her eyes, but he could tell by the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth that she was holding back a smile. As the ship sped toward the underground ck market, Rex couldn''t help but feel a thrill of excitement.


    After a few minutes weaving through the bustling 4th floor of the underground city, their ship finally touched down at the VIPnding zone of the ck market.


    Thending area wasn''t huge, but it was more than spacious enough to amodate several VIP civilian ships, each sleek and ostentatious in its own right.


    The whole zone was tightly controlled, with patrols of the underground city''s police keeping a watchful eye on every corner. It was clear to anyone with a brain that trying to steal one of these ships would be a one-way ticket to getting vaporized. The underground city''s defenses were notoriously unforgiving.


    But even among the VIP ships, the arrival of Rex and Cleo''s transport drew immediate attention. Heads turned, conversations faltered, and eyes followed as their ship descended, nked by four deadly Wraith fighters.


    It wasn''t every day a vessel arrived with that kind of high-powered escort, and the guards stationed around the most securending pad stood at attention.


    Waiting just outside the ship was an entourage of bot maids and ck market representatives, all dressed in sleek uniforms, eager to greet their prestigious guests.


    When the ship''s doors finally opened, the spectacle continued. A procession of Aegis units emerged first, stepping out in perfect formation, followed by a line of bot maids who quickly took their positions along the path.


    And then, with all eyes riveted on the ramp, Rex appeared, tall, handsome, and dressed in a sharp white suit adorned with subtle gold ents. He exuded an easy confidence, his gaze sweeping over the onlookers with the faintest hint of amusement.


    But the real showstopper was Cleo. As she stepped out, an audible gasp rippled through the crowd. She moved with regal elegance, her long, white dress flowing around her like liquid starlight.


    The dress hugged her figure just enough to hint at her curves, while her doll-like face, framed by jet-ck hair, looked almost otherworldly in its beauty. But it was her wings that truly stunned the crowd, immacte, feathered, and glowing softly with a golden light. She looked like a deity who had somehow deigned to walk among mortals.


    Rex noticed the stares and leaned close, his voice a low murmur only she could hear.


    "I think I''m getting jealous already. I don''t like how everyone''s looking at you. Maybe I should poke their eyes out."


    Without missing a beat, Cleo ced her hand in his, ustomed by now to his possessive grip.


    "I told you not to say anything rude before we arrived, Rex,"


    she replied, her tone as icy and controlled as ever.


    Rex clicked his tongue, giving her a yful smirk. "


    Fine, I''ll y nice. Behold, my most elegant form."


    He struck an exaggerated pose, lifting his chin and adopting the expression of a snobby aristocrat.


    Cleo nced at him, barely suppressing an eye roll.


    "Just¡­ try to act normal,"


    she sighed, though she couldn''t entirely hide the glint of amusement in her gaze.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    They made their way down the ramp together, hand in hand, their every step drawing the gaze of every onlooker around them. The representatives and guards stationed nearby straightened as the pair approached, bowing deeply in respect.


    The ck market''s representative, a tall man in a dark, finely tailored suit stepped forward, his faceposed but his eyes wide with awe as he took in the sight of Cleo. He cleared his throat and offered a deep bow.


    "Lady Cleo, Sir Rex. Wee to the grand opening of the ck market. We are deeply honored to have you with us tonight."


    Rex gave him a slow nod, doing his best impression of a wealthy, arrogant aristocrat, while Cleo inclined her head gracefully in response.


    "Thank you for the warm wee,"


    she said coolly. "


    We look forward to seeing what tonight''s auction has to offer."


    With that, the representative led them through a grand set of double doors, and the buzz of whispers followed in their wake. Cleo''s presence was maic, and Rex found himself savoring the attention, even if half of it was directed at her. He kept her hand firmly in his, a subtle reminder to everyone watching that she was, in a way, already imed.


    As they entered the main hall, filled with opulent decor and an array of rare artifacts on disy, Rex leaned in again, a mischievous glint in his eye.


    "So... what do you think? Did I manage to behave myself?"


    Cleo gave him a sidelong nce.


    "Barely. But I suppose that''s the best I can hope for with you."


    He chuckled, tightening his grip on her hand just a little. "


    You wouldn''t have it any other way."


    And though she didn''t respond, the slightest hint of a smile softened her expression as they walked deeper into the ck market, ready for whatever the night had in store.


    "Sir Rex, Lady Cleo, this is the VIP chamber we''ve prepared for you,"


    the representative said, opening the door with a practiced flourish.


    The room wasvishly decorated, with plush seating and walls lined with intricate gold patterns. To Rex, it looked like something out of a luxury catalog. But Cleo just gave the room a cool nce, clearly unimpressed.


    She walked in without hesitation and took a seat, her posture rxed yetmanding. Rex followed suit, sitting beside her, though he couldn''t help but smirk at the way she held herself like she was sitting on a throne.


    "These two bot maids will be attending to you for the evening,"


    the representative continued smoothly.


    "If you see an item you''d like to bid on during the auction, simply use the device between your seats."


    "


    Understood,"


    Cleo replied with a slight nod, her gaze already drifting toward the stage.


    "Very well. I''ll take my leave now. Enjoy your evening."


    The representative gave them a small bow and stepped out, closing the door behind him.


    As soon as they were alone, Rex leaned back with a sigh.


    "Haaaa, pretending to be a rich guy with a beautiful wife is exhausting."


    Cleo''s eyes flickered with a hint of amusement as she nced at him.


    "Incorrect. I''m 80% certain the impression you gave was that of a wealthy woman with her... malepanion."


    Rex''s face went through a range of emotions: shock, disbelief, and then indignation.


    "W-wait... what? No way. That''s impossible, right? Hold on¡ªdid you just make a joke? Since when do you joke?"


    Cleo looked at him, her face as neutral as ever.


    "What joke?"


    she replied, her voice as icy as usual. But as she turned her head away, Rex caught the faintest hint of a smile ying at her lips.


    He narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously, realizing she was indeed learning to mess with him. Instead of reacting, he leaned forward and gently took her chin between his fingers, turning her face back to him. His own face was just inches from hers.


    "Well, for the record, I don''t mind the idea of being your... ''male toy,''"


    he whispered, his voice low and teasing before he released her.


    Cleo''s expression stayed impassive, but inside, her mind was spinning. She hadn''t expected him to turn the tables so easily, and she felt a spark of embarrassment, something she rarely experienced. She thought she was prepared for Rex''s impulsiveness, but apparently she was wrong.


    Meanwhile, Rex settled back into his seat, looking entirely too pleased with himself, a satisfied grin tugging at his lips. Cleo struggled to regain herposure, her icy exterior hiding the fact that her mind was practically screaming.


    Their little moment was interrupted as the lights dimmed in the auction hall, drawing their attention to the stage. A single spotlight illuminated the center, where an elderly gentleman in a sharp ck suit and white gloves took his ce, a polished baton in his hand.


    "Ladies and gentlemen,"


    he began, his voice ringing through the hall,


    "we are honored to wee you all to the first ck Market auction. Before we begin, we would like to extend our gratitude to the ruler of the underground city for making this event possible."


    He looked up toward the VIP room, his gaze meeting the one-way ss where Rex and Cleo were seated. Rex offered azy wave, though he doubted anyone could see it, while Cleo simply inclined her head in acknowledgment.


    "Now, without further ado, let the auction begin!"


    The old man tapped his baton, and a ripple of excitement swept through the crowd as the first item was brought to the stage; it was a strange, glimmering artifact encased in ss.


    Rex leaned in closer to Cleo, his voice barely above a whisper.


    "Think we''ll see anything worth buying, or are we just here to show off?"


    Cleo raised an eyebrow.


    "Depends. Are you nning on bidding on something, or are you just here to y as my malepanion''?"


    Rex chuckled, unbothered.


    "Maybe both. Though if something catches your eye, I''ll just have to make sure I win it for you, won''t I?"


    Cleo gave him a sidelong nce, her lips curving ever so slightly.


    "Let''s see if you can keep up, then."


    The auctioneer''s voice echoed across the hall as he began listing off the features of the first item up for bid. As the auction proceeded, Rex found himself more interested in the challenge Cleo had just thrown at him than in anything actually up for sale. Tonight was turning out to be far more intriguing than he''d anticipated.

 Chapter 81: Necrotech world.

    The auction continued at a steady pace, showcasing an assortment of rare artifacts, some more interesting than others.


    Rex and Cleo bid asionally; she won a rare rock from a bioluminescent world that glowed faintly in her hands, andter, they snagged a blueprint for a robot bird. That blueprint, oddly enough, turned out to be the most expensive item they''d bid on nearly two million credits.


    Rex couldn''t hide his surprise. He nced at Cleo, who was examining the blueprint on a screen, her eyes lit with fascination. Apparently, her affection for those little mechanical birds was stronger than he''d thought.


    Rex made a mental note to hunt down more blueprints on his future travels; clearly, they''d make for good gifts.


    "And that concludes the regr portion of tonight''s auction,"


    the elderly auctioneer announced, his voice resonant.


    "Now, we will proceed to our premium items, items so rare and exclusive that only those in the VIP rooms are permitted to bid."


    He stepped to the side with a dramatic sweep of his arm, and from behind the curtains, a procession of Aegis units marched onto the stage, surrounding a young woman who held a small ck box in her hands.


    "Now,dies and gentlemen,


    " the auctioneer continued, his voice rising with excitement,


    "our headline item is an artifact the ck market paid a heavy price to acquire, which is contained within this box. But I won''t tease you any longer; I know you''re all dying to see it."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    With a theatrical gesture, he pointed his baton at the girl, who stepped forward and opened the box. She lifted a small, heavily encrypted USB drive, holding it up for everyone to see before cing it carefully back inside the box.


    "As some of you may have guessed, this USB contains coordinates,"


    the auctioneer said, letting the suspense hang in the air for a moment. Then he leaned in, lowering his voice for effect.


    "Coordinates to a recently discovered necrotech world."


    A ripple of shocked murmurs spread through the crowd. Even the VIPs in their private rooms were visibly restless, leaning forward, eager, their eyes fixed on the stage. The anticipation in the air was electric.


    Everyone, that is, except Rex, who took another sip of his wine and nced over at Cleo, clearly puzzled.


    "Hey, Cleo, what''s a necrotech world?"


    Cleo turned her head, giving him a brief look of mild amusement.


    "I''m not surprised you''ve never heard of them. Necrotech worlds aren''tmon knowledge, and they''re kept under strict ssification."


    "Why''s that?"


    Rex asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes.


    Cleo tapped the screen in front of her, pulling up a series of images and videos from her personal archives. Grainy footage of barren, destendscapes appeared, filled with humans moving in slow, unnatural motions. Their skin was partially fused with metal, with wires and machinery jutting out from under decayed flesh. The sight was both eerie and mesmerizing.


    "These worlds are infected,"


    Cleo exined, her tone clinical. "


    All life on them has been overtaken by a tech-based virus, one that spreads through organic beings, turning them into twisted fusions of flesh and metal. The virus integrates with their bodies, reanimating them as cybeic husks with only one goal: to spread the infection."


    Rex''s brows knitted as he watched the disturbing footage.


    "So, a virus that turns people into... machines? Like undead cyborgs?"


    "Essentially. My people have purged several necrotech worlds before,"


    she continued, her voice cool and steady.


    "Our units are immune to the virus, as it only affects organic life. But despite countless attempts, we''ve never been able to trace the virus back to its source. It remains a mystery, even after centuries of study."


    Rex let out a low whistle, eyes still glued to the images.


    "And here I thought I''d seen everything."


    He looked down at the auction floor, where the crowd was practically buzzing with excitement, most of them whispering to each other in hushed, eager voices.


    "So why''s everyone so hyped if these worlds are crawling with, you know, infected robot-zombies? Sounds like a death wish."


    Cleo''s gaze remained fixed on the stage, her golden eyes thoughtful.


    "A necrotech world is dangerous, yes, but it''s also highly valuable to certain types of collectors. Some believe these worlds hold advanced technologies from the virus''s origin, tech that could potentially be harnessed or weaponized."


    Rex raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of intrigue in his eyes.


    "Weaponized, huh? So it''s not just about bragging rights."


    "Correct. Whoever controls the coordinates to a Necrotech world controls the potential ess to highly advanced tech and all its resources. For some... that''s worth the risk."


    Rex leaned back, folding his arms as he watched the unfolding spectacle with a newfound appreciation.


    "Well, no wonder everyone''s losing their minds. I''d be lying if I said I wasn''t a little curious myself."


    On the stage, the auctioneer cleared his throat, drawing the room''s attention back to him.


    "Now, we''ll open the bidding for these coordinates. The starting bid is ten million credits."


    A hush fell over the room, and then, slowly, the bidding began. Numbers shed on the screen as each VIP room ced their bids, the price climbing higher and higher with each passing second.


    Rex nced at Cleo, grinning.


    "So, any interest in owning a world of killer robot-zombies?"


    She didn''t respond immediately; her eyes still focused on the bid screen as the numbers soared. But then she turned to him, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.


    "Only if you''re willing toe along for the adventure."


    Rex let out augh, raising his ss in a mock toast.


    "Now that''s an invitation I''d never turn down."


    As the bids climbed past twenty million credits, Rex settled back in his seat, excitement buzzing under his skin. Tonight was shaping up to be a lot more interesting than he''d expected.


    "So, are we really going to bid for those coordinates?


    " Rex asked while watching the numbers on the screen rise higher and higher.


    "I mean, it sounds like we could make a ridiculous amount of credits if we got our hands on that world."


    Cleo nced at him, then back to the screen, her expression cool and calcting. "


    Yes, we will. But there''s no need to bid early; it only drives up the price. We''ll wait until it''s close to the peak, then make our move."


    Rex smirked, impressed by her strategy. She had a way of staying two steps ahead, and he was starting to see why the city ran so efficiently.


    Finally, after an intense bidding war that pushed the price sky-high, Cleo ced a final bid. The screen shed, confirming her victory: 50 million credits. Rex let out a low whistle. The first ck market auction had officiallye to an end, and they were escorted back to their ship, the prized coordinates securely theirs.


    Several minutester, they arrived back at the mansion,nding in their private zone. As they stepped off the ship, Rex looked around, his eyes scanning the shadows.


    "I''ll be honest, I was half-expecting an ambush on the way back. I mean, we just walked out with the coordinates to a necrotech world. That''s got to be tempting for some of the ck market types."


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her gaze.


    "Why would they attack us? They know who we are. An attack on us would make them enemies of the entire city."


    Rex shrugged, still ncing around as they walked.


    "Yeah, but these are ck market types. They''re not exactly known for their restraint. Greed tends to get in the way of logic."


    As they stepped inside the mansion, Cleo chuckled softly. "


    Don''t be silly, Rex. Even if they wanted the coordinates, they''d never risk it. Besides, they don''t know which VIPs won. And it''s not like these coordinates are exclusive; the ck market will likely sell simr ones in other cities."


    He gave her a sidelong nce


    . "Wait, so they''re selling the same coordinates to different buyers? Isn''t that, like, double-crossing everyone?"


    Cleo rolled her eyes, though there was a faint smile on her lips. "I


    t''s the ck market, Rex. Everything about it is illegal."


    "Touch¨¦,"


    he said, chuckling. As he looked around, he realized that somehow, in their conversation, they''d ended up outside Cleo''s room.


    "Ummm..."


    He scratched the back of his neck, ncing at her door, then back at her. "


    Wasn''t nning on ending up here, but, uh, I''ll take it as a sign."


    Cleo looked at him, her face asposed as ever, though there was a slight glint in her eyes.


    "A sign of what, exactly?"


    Rex cleared his throat, leaning casually against the doorframe, trying to mask his nervousness.


    "Oh, I don''t know... Maybe that you enjoy mypany more than you let on?"


    Cleo gave him an appraising look, her expression unreadable.


    "Or perhaps it''s a sign that youck direction and just followed me here out of habit."


    Rexughed, shaking his head. "


    You know, I can never tell if you''re insulting me or just teasing me."


    Cleo''s lips quirked into the faintest of smiles.


    "Maybe a bit of both."


    She turned, opening the door to her room. "Well, are youing in or are you just going to stand outside?"


    Rex was shocked at first when he heard those words,


    "Erm, I dont thinks so, I will sleep in my room for well you know, giving you some privacy."


    "Mmm? What are you talking about? This is also your room,"


    Cleo said while getting inside.


    "Ah....."

 Chapter 82: Illumination.

    Rex hesitated at the door, ncing around Cleo''s room as he stepped inside. She was already there, looking at him with her mesmerizing golden eyes, an amused glint hidden in their depths.


    "Uh, so you''re okay with me being here?"


    he asked, trying to sound casual but feeling the heat rise to his face.


    Cleo tilted her head slightly, her expression calm.


    "Yes. I prepared this room for both of us to sleep in."


    Rex blinked, caught off guard.


    "Both of us? As in, together? Don''t you feel, I don''t know... a little shy?"


    She raised an eyebrow, her lips curving in a hint of a smile as she turned to remove her hair essories.


    Why would I feel shy, Rex? You and I share the same essence, the same nucleus. My connection to you is as deep as it is inescapable. Sleeping together is simply a way to reinforce that bond. And besides,"


    she added, almost to herself,


    "it''s not like this is the first time we''ve..."


    Cleo trailed off; her cheeks tinged the faintest shade of pink. Before she could finish, the maid bots entered the room through a hidden door, moving efficiently to help her out of her dress. Rex found himself momentarily entranced, watching as the maids carefully peeled awayyers of fabric, revealing more of Cleo''s pale, wless skin.


    Catching his gaze, she narrowed her eyes slightly, though the faint flush in her cheeks betrayed herposure.


    "Are you nning to sleep in those clothes, or..."


    Rex snapped out of it, looking down at his own outfit.


    "Uh, right. I''ll... go change."


    "That won''t be necessary,"


    Cleo said, her voice a little too casual as she gave him a lingering look.


    "The maids will take care of it for you."


    Rex blinked in confusion, then noticed the maid bots advancing toward him, clearly intent on "assisting" with his clothing.


    "Wait¡ªhold on,"


    he protested, trying to fend them off as they began to tug at his jacket.


    "I can undress myself, thanks!"


    Cleo settled into a nearby chair, watching the struggle with an amused smirk as one of the maids brought her a silk robe, almost transparent, draping elegantly over her curves.


    She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on Rex with a mischievous glint. "


    Oh, so I get a little show before bed, but you don''t want to return the favor?"


    She teased, biting her lip in mock anticipation.


    Rex''s focus wavered as he met her gaze, and that was all the opportunity the maids needed. With surprising efficiency, they managed to divest him of his clothes, leaving him stark naked. Rex quickly covered himself, ring at Cleo with a mix of embarrassment and exasperation.


    "And where exactly are my pajamas?"


    Cleo chuckled, her voice taking on a yful, sultry edge.


    "What pajamas? I happen to know you sleep naked."


    He frozen, staring at her.


    "Wait¡­ how do you know that?"


    Without answering, Cleo rose gracefully from the chair, crossing to the bed with deliberate slowness, letting him catch a glimpse of her bare back and the elegant curve of her waist as she slipped under the nkets.


    She turned to him, one eyebrow raised, a faint smile ying on her lips.


    "Are youing to bed, or do you n to stand there naked all night?"


    Rex hesitated, feeling the weight of her gaze and the unspoken challenge in her words. With a resigned sigh and a smirk of his own, he crossed the room and slid into bed beside her, pulling the covers up as he settled next to her.


    The silence stretched for a moment, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension. Rex turned his head slightly, looking at her as shey beside him, her eyes closed but a small, knowing smile on her lips.


    "Goodnight, Rex,"


    she murmured, her voice softer than usual.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    He swallowed, his heart pounding in his chest as he replied,


    "Goodnight, Cleo."


    As the lights dimmed, hey there, trying to calm his racing thoughts, acutely aware of her presence beside him. Tonight, sleep would note easily.


    Just as Rex was drifting off to sleep, he felt something warm and soft curl around him. Blinking his eyes open, he turned slightly to confirm what he already suspected.


    Cleo had, at some point in the night, shifted closer, wrapping her arms around him in her sleep. Her face was peaceful, her breathing soft against his shoulder.


    Rex let out a deep, controlled sigh, closing his eyes and muttering under his breath,


    "If there''s a god out there... please, give me strength."


    He kept whispering that mantra to himself until, eventually, he managed to fall asleep, despite the warmth and presence of Cleo nestled against him.


    When morning came, Cleo was the first to wake. She blinked a few times, realizing with some amusement that Rex was lying on his back, hands folded together like he was in prayer, a look of intense serenity on his face. He looked like a monk who''d just reached enlightenment.


    Unable to resist, Cleo leaned over and started poking him on the cheek.


    "If you''re trying to confirm if I''ve returned to thend of the living... yes, I''m awake,"


    Rex mumbled, his eyes still closed, though he was fighting a grin.


    "Good,"


    she replied with a faint smirk.


    "That means you can get up first, change, and head to the dining room. I''ll join you after I''m dressed."


    Rex cracked one eye open, giving her a yful look.


    "Alright, fair enough... but this time, I get something in return."


    Before she could ask what he meant, he moved swiftly, shifting so he was leaning over her, his face close to hers. Without a word, he captured her lips in a slow, lingering kiss, savoring the softness of her rosy lips. For a moment, Cleo''s eyes widened in surprise, but then she rxed, almost melting into the kiss.


    When he finally pulled back with a smirk on his lips, he left her lying there, stunned, slightly flushed, and speechless. The maids entered to help him dress, and he allowed them to lead him out of the room, casting onest teasing nce at Cleo before he left for the dining room.


    Cleo remained in bed for a moment, still processing what had just happened, a faint blush coloring her usuallyposed face. She touched her lips lightly, almost in disbelief, before giving herself a little shake and rising to get dressed.


    A few hourster, Rex and Cleo were in the mansion''s centralmand room. In contrast to the mansion''s ssic and refined decor, themand room was a hub of high-tech equipment, with sleek metallic walls lined with screens and devices that hummed with quiet energy.


    Holographic disys projected data streams into the air, and multiple screens monitored everything from city surveince to fleet logistics.


    Rex looked around, whistling under his breath.


    "Alright, now this looks like their of a gctic emperor. You sure know how to keep things high-tech."


    Cleo didn''t respond immediately; her focus was on a set of holographic panels disying reports. But after a moment, she turned to him, her expression still as neutral as ever, though he could see a faint trace of color on her cheeks.


    "Now that you''re here, I assume you''re ready for today''s briefing."


    She asked, ignoring his earlier antics with an air of professional calm. But Rex could tell she was still rattled, even if just a little.


    "Absolutely,"


    he replied, leaning against the control panel, grinning.


    "After all, I did manage to get a kiss from the great Lady Cleo this morning. I think I can handle a briefing


    ."


    Cleo shot him a withering look, but there was a tiny, reluctant smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.


    "Don''t let it go to your head, Rex."


    He chuckled, feeling a rare warmth between them. "


    Toote for that, princess."


    "Hmph. Serve yourself, then,"


    Cleo said, gesturing toward the seat at the head of the long, ridiculously grand table.


    "Take a seat, please."


    Rex looked at the chair she indicated, then back at her with a raised eyebrow.


    "So... who exactly are we waiting for to fill up thisicallyrge table?"


    Cleo nced at her tablet, her expression as neutral as ever.


    "We''re waiting for Carlos, Emilia, and Y''Ssera to join us. We''ll begin nning our next steps once everyone arrives."


    "Makes sense, I guess,"


    Rex said, sliding into the head seat with a smirk. But then he frowned, looking at her.


    "Still, can you exin why I''m sitting in this chair? The boss chair, at the head of the table? Shouldn''t that be you


    ?"


    Cleo blinked, momentarily confused by his question.


    "Because you''re the highest rank here."


    Rex raised a skeptical eyebrow.


    "Wait a minute. I''m the highest rank? How does that work? You''re the one who built this ce, right? Doesn''t that make you the one in charge?"


    Cleo tilted her head, her expression serious as she considered his words.


    "This is the optimal formation I calcted,"


    she replied, as if the answer were obvious.


    Rex crossed his arms, giving her an amused look.


    "Alright, let me rephrase. What made you decide that putting me in charge was the optimal choice?"


    Cleo hesitated for a moment, then looked him directly in the eye.


    "You have a charisma that I...ck,"


    she admitted, her tone softening slightly.


    "Charisma is essential to lead others, to inspire them. That''s something my father taught me."


    Rex''s eyes widened, catching the faint vulnerability in her voice.


    "Your father? Wait¡­ that reminds me."


    He leaned back, trying to piece together a hazy memory.


    "I had this strange dream recently, and in it, there was this figure who¡ª"

 Chapter 83: New Agenda.

    Just then, the door swung open, and Carlos, Emilia, and Y''Ssera entered, each taking their seats around the table. Rex''s thoughts were interrupted, and he shot a quick nce at Cleo, but her expression had already returned to its usual calm mask.


    Carlos took his seat, giving Rex a nod of respect.


    "Sir Rex. Lady Cleo,"


    he greeted them formally.


    Emilia offered a polite smile, though her gaze flickered with curiosity as she nced between Rex and Cleo. Y''Ssera, meanwhile, looked mildly bored, adjusting her hair with a flick of her wrist.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Rex cleared his throat, straightening in his seat as he remembered his role.


    "Alright, so¡­ let''s get started. What''s on the agenda for today''s meeting?"


    Cleo subtly adjusted her posture, letting Rex take the lead as the others settled in. Though she didn''t look at him, he could tell she was listening closely, almost as if she were testing his abilities.


    And as the nning session began, Rex couldn''t shake the feeling that there was more to Cleo''s decision and her past than she was letting on.


    As everyone settled around the huge table, holographic screens flickered to life in front of each person, projecting data and visuals. Cleo stood at the head, her gaze sharp and focused.


    "If you''ll direct your attention to the screens, this is the n our leader, Rex, has decided on."


    Rex gave her a sidelong look, a bit taken aback by her formal tone, but didn''t interrupt. Information about the recently acquired necrotech world scrolled across the screens, with diagrams and images detailing the risks and resources required.


    Carlos furrowed his brow as he scanned the data.


    "What exactly am I looking at here?"


    he muttered, scratching his shaved head.


    Rex grinned, leaning back in his chair.


    "I had the same reaction, baldy. But just keep reading; it''s all exined."


    After a few more minutes of tense silence, Y''Ssera looked up, her expression regretful.


    "I''m sorry, darling,"


    she said to Rex, her tone soft.


    "But I won''t be able to join you this time. This kind of enemy... it''s deadly to my people. We''ve encountered necrotech worlds before, and our protocol is to destroy them from orbit. Going down to the surface is far too dangerous."


    Rex gave her a reassuring smile and a wink.


    "Don''t worry about it, Ys. This mission will just be me and Cleo. We''re immune to the virus, and so are our troops. We''re the best suited for this kind of operation."


    Y''Ssera nodded, though a trace of sadness lingered in her eyes.


    "Be careful, darling,"


    she murmured.


    Cleo took over, her fingers tappingmands into her holographic console, bringing up a new set of data. Schematics for a sleek, medium-sized warship appeared, along with blueprints for upgraded Aegis units.


    "As Rex said, we''re immune to the virus, but that doesn''t make us immune to the physical attacks of the infected. We''ll need time to prepare an appropriate force. It will take two years to build an armyrge enough, as well as a proper escort for the ship I''m currently designing."


    Carlos looked up from his screen, his face a mixture of curiosity and concern.


    "And in the meantime... what''s our role?"


    Rex turned to him with a grin.


    "Carlos, you''re in charge of running operations for the Thunderde mercenaries while we''re gone. You''ve got a free hand to manage things however you see fit. Just keep them in one piece, alright?"


    Carlos chuckled, giving Rex a mock salute.


    "You got it, boss."


    Y''Ssera stretched her arms, letting out a delicate yawn that showed her sharp, cat-like fangs.


    "Well, if you''ll both be upied with preparations, I think I''ll return to hibernation. You did wake me up far earlier than scheduled, darling¡«."


    She gave Rex a yful smile, her eyes half-lidded with a mixture of affection and fatigue.


    Rex frowned slightly, concern crossing his face.


    "Sorry about that, Ys. Is it affecting you? Did waking up early cause any damage?"


    She waved a hand dismissively, her smile softening.


    "Nothing serious. My bio-weapons systems are still disabled, so I''m not at full strength, but I''ll be fine. I just need more rest."


    She reached out to pat his hand, a gentle, reassuring gesture.


    Rex smiled back, squeezing her hand. "Alright, then. Rest well, Ys. We''ll take it from here."


    Y''Ssera nodded, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before she rose gracefully from the table, her robes flowing behind her as she left the room.


    As the door closed, Rex looked around at the remaining team


    . "Alright, looks like it''s just us. Let''s make these two years count."


    Cleo nodded, her usual stoic expression softening just a fraction as she met Rex''s gaze.


    "We have a lot of work to do. But I have faith... we''ll be ready."


    And with that, they returned their attention to the screens, each preparing for the challenges thaty ahead.


    World of Nakor, Year 5602 of the Imperial Gctic System


    The war between the allied fleets and the hive minds dragged on, with no clear end in sight. The arrival of the allied supercapital ships had momentarily lifted the spirits of those watching from afar, a glimmer of hope in the darkness.


    But unsettling rumors began to circte that another hive mind was reportedly joining the conflict, raising questions about why the hive minds seemed so fixated on the world of Hanarix.


    World of Nakor, Year 5603 of the Imperial Gctic System


    The tide turned grim. Of the three supercapital ships that had been sent to support the allied forces, only one limped back, battered and scarred, its hull punctured with gaping holes. The sight of its crippled frame orbiting Nakor cast a shadow over the people''s hopes, a reminder of the scale and brutality of this war.


    Yet amid the gloom, a new arrival sparked intrigue. A sleek, medium-sized ship with gleaming white and gold hulls appeared in orbit above Nakor, staying for a few days before being joined by a formation of matching fighters. Once they had all docked, the ship opened a wormhole and vanished, its destination known only to a select few.


    Aboard the white-and-gold ship, Rex strolled onto the bridge, his gaze drifting to where Cleo was standing by the controls. His eyes traveled over her figure with an appreciative smirk.


    "Hello there, Cleo. Looking good,"


    he said, his voiceced with yful mischief.


    Without looking up, Cleo replied in her usual deadpan tone,


    "Wee back, Rex. And in case you were wondering, my face is up here."


    Two years of working together had given her an uncanny sense of exactly when Rex was saluting her butt instead of her.


    Rex chuckled, undeterred.


    "Oh, my bad. I was admiring your beautiful ck hair. Nothing else, I swear."


    He shed her a grin, then added, "


    So, how much longer until we arrive at the necrotech world?"


    Cleo''s gaze remained fixed on her screens. "


    Approximately three hours, using the wormhole."


    Rex nodded, ncing at the holographic disy showing past recordings of Cleo''s encounters with the infected of necrotech worlds. The twisted, undead machines flickered on the screen, their cybeic parts sparking erratically as they lumbered forward in endless, mindless waves.


    "So... do you think there''ll be any survivors down there?"


    Rex asked, a trace of hope in his voice.


    Cleo''s golden eyes shifted slightly, betraying a hint of sympathy.


    "Highly unlikely. ording to the ck market''s information, it took them nearly three years to acquire those coordinates. And we''ve spent another two years preparing to get here. My informants indicate we''re the first to arrive, but if anyone''s survived this long... it would be a miracle."


    Rex fell silent, his expression contemtive as he stared at the flickering images on the screen.


    Meanwhile, on the surface of the necrotech world, a father and his twin young daughters sprinted through the rubble-strewn streets, their breathing in desperate gasps.


    Behind them, a group of infected drones lurched forward, rotting humanoid figures whose decayed flesh was fused with malfunctioning cybeic imnts, their eyes flickering with erratic lights. While slow, they were relentless, and there were far too many of them to outrun easily.


    "Papa!"


    one of the twins cried, her voice trembling. "


    I... I can''t run anymore!"


    The father nced down, his face pale and exhausted. He was already carrying her twin sister in his arms since she was burning up with fever, her body weakened by an untreated illness that would have once been trivial to cure. But now, medicine was a distant memory, just like the days of peace.


    "I know, sweetheart. I know,"


    he said, his voice cracking. "


    But we have to keep going. Just a little further."


    He spotted a nearby building that looked rtively intact. Grabbing his daughter''s hand, he pulled her forward.


    "Quickly! Let''s go inside and head for the roof. We can block the stairs behind us."


    He kicked the door open and ushered his daughter in, following close behind to make sure none of the infected were too close. They sprinted up the stairwell, the father ncing anxiously over his shoulder at every turn, praying they could stay one step ahead of the relentless swarm.


    Atst, they burst onto the rooftop, but the girl he''d been leading copsed onto her knees, her legs finally giving out from sheer exhaustion.


    "P-Papa¡­ I... can''t... move anymore,


    " she gasped, struggling to catch her breath.


    "Just hold on, sweetheart,"


    he murmured, bending down tofort her. But his eyes widened in horror as he spotted movement behind her.


    "Sweetheart, look out!"


    A decayed, cybeic drone stumbled out from behind a pile of debris, its mouth opening in a grotesque hiss as it lunged toward his daughter, its metallic fingers outstretched.


    The father lunged forward, desperation flooding his veins as he reached for anything, anything at all, to save his little girl.

 Chapter 84: The twins.

    Since it all happened too fast, the father of the twins barely had a moment to think. He did what any father would do when love outweighs fear; he threw himself between the zombie drone and his daughter, shielding her with his own body.


    In that split second, while clutching his other daughter tightly in his arms, he braced himself. The drone''s bite tore into his shoulder with a force that was anything but human. Flesh ripped, bones snapped, and and a fountain of blood erupted, staining the rain-soaked ground beneath them.


    The virus had turned the drone into something more than undead, something with a brutal, mechanical strength that left his shoulder mangled and his muscles and sinew shredded.


    "P-Papa!"


    his daughter''s voice broke through the rain, a desperate cry edged with terror. She understood, in that awful instant, what wasing and what it meant to be bitten. But the shock paralyzed her, holding her in a silence filled only by the pattering rain and her father''s ragged breathing.


    Tears spilled down her cheeks, mingling with the rain as she stood helpless, feeling as though the whole world had fractured around her.


    Her mind screamed that her father was lost, that she was next, and then, out of nowhere, a golden sma bolt streaked down from the sky, striking the zombie drone squarely.


    The creature copsed, smoldering, as figures began descending from above, haloed in the glow of their own armor.


    The Aegis Sentinelsnded, one after another, their movements precise, almost inhuman. One sentinel, the one who''d fired the shot, turned his helmet lights on her, assessing with cold, clinical detachment.


    [Three survivors located; Healthy female child and sick female child confirmed; no trace of further infection was present.]


    The voice echoed metallically, devoid of any warmth or humanity.


    As the sentinelpleted his report, another strode forward and stopped beside her father, whoy gasping in the mud, his skin already paling.


    "[Young male detected. Health condition: critical. Infection detected...]"


    "[Proceeding with cleaning protocol]"


    "No!"


    The girl''s voice broke, raw with fury and desperation


    . "You can''t! Leave my papa alone!"


    She knew what they nned to do and knew that, in their logic, her father was as good as dead. But her heart rejected it, fought it, and screamed that he was still there, still her father, still worth saving.


    She stepped between her father and the sentinel, her small frame trembling but unyielding. The Aegis unit raised its sma gun, pointing it at her without hesitation. In the old days, the machine would have killed her without a second thought since she was just an obstacle in the way of its mission.


    But something held it back. The sentinel hesitated, as if a new protocol restrained it, as if some unseen force tempered the cold, ruthless programming that had once driven it.


    "Stand down, Aegis Unit 619."


    A voice drifted through the air, soft yetmanding, carrying a strange, almost unearthly calm. The girl turned, wide-eyed, and there, through the rain and shadows, she saw her...


    She descended like an angel of war, clothed in high-tech armor that gleamed white and gold, entuating her graceful, almost ethereal form. Behind her, enormous wings spread wide, shimmering in the rain.


    Beside her, a towering figure in simr armor but bigger, stoic, with a presence that radiated unbreakable strength,nded with a quiet, measured power.


    Cleo''s gaze shifted to the father lying in the mud, bloodied and barely holding on, and to the two little girls huddled together, soaked and shivering in the cold night air.


    "Child,


    " Cleo''s voice was soft yetmanding, her eyes settling on the oldest girl.


    "You know what''s happening to your father, don''t you?"


    The girl shook her head fiercely, her voice breaking.


    "No! My papa will be alright! He promised... he promised we''d be together forever!"


    Her words were choked with sobs, as if saying them could somehow hold back the inevitable.


    Her father, struggling for breath, managed to lift his head, his voice a hoarse whisper.


    "That''s enough... Nyra."


    "Papa!"


    Nyra cried, crawling toward him on her knees, her small body trembling. She reached for him, as if by sheer will she could keep him here, hold onto him just a little longer.


    "I''m... sorry, Nyra,"


    he said, forcing a weak smile through the pain.


    "I won''t be able to keep that promise. But you have to keep going. Look after your sister. You''re the strong one. I know you''ll make it."


    The father''s gaze drifted upward, catching Rex''s unflinching eyes. With a silent, tearful nod, he signaled his eptance, his final plea to protect what he loved most.


    Rex stepped forward, his face impassive, his armor gleaming as he summoned a ymore from the air, its de glinting coldly in the rain. Nyra''s desperate screams tore through the night.


    "No! No, please stop! Papa! PAPA!"


    Her cries echoed, raw and broken, as she watched in helpless horror.


    Rex kneeled by the father, his voice a deep, unyielding calm.


    "Rest easy, sir. My wife and I will care for your children until they''re ready to stand on their own."


    He raised the de, holding it steady over the father''s chest.


    Hearing these words, a faint smile touched the father''s lips, even as tears traced down his cheeks. At that moment, his expression softened, bing peaceful, almost grateful.


    With one swift, precise motion, Rex plunged the ymore into his heart. It was over in an instant, a quick, merciful end that spared him any further suffering.


    The rain continued to fall, a quiet witness to the tragedy. The twins had already begun to lose consciousness, their small bodies exhausted and overwhelmed by shock. Two Aegis sentinels gently lifted them, each cradling a child with surprising care, awaiting further orders.


    "Cleo,"


    Rex said, his voice steady,


    "signal for a transport. Get them to the medical bay on the main ship. Make sure they''re safe."


    Cleo nodded, already ncing skyward.


    "The transport''s en route,


    " she replied, her voice as calm as ever.


    Rex''s gaze hardened as he turned to the nearest Aegis unit.


    "Tell every unit to clear a three-kilometer radius. Prepare the area for construction bot deployment."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The Aegis sentinel acknowledged with a sharp nod.


    "[Understood.]"


    Within moments, the sentinels scattered, moving with lethal precision to clear every threat in the vicinity.


    As the rain continued to fall, the night filled with the distant sounds of battle, the hum of engines, and the fading cries of the undead.


    Cleo stayed with the twins, her golden wings casting a gentle light over their small forms as they drifted into unconsciousness, the rain washing away the remnants of the nightmare that had changed their lives forever.


    Rex stood atop the crumbling remains of a four-story building, arms crossed, surveying the vast, open expanse below. The cityy in ruins, skeletal and silent under a dark, stormy sky. Without turning, he sensed Cleo arrive, her presence familiar and reassuring beside him.


    "Wee back, Cleo,


    " he said, ncing her way.


    "How are the kids?"


    "They''re stable now,"


    Cleo replied, summoning holographic screens that hovered around her, each disying live data feeds and maps of the surrounding area.


    "The medics ced them in thermal beds tobat hypothermia. One of them had a high fever, but it''s under control now."


    Rex nodded, his gaze shifting back to the wastnd.


    "Good. They deserve some rest after... everything."


    Cleo''s fingers moved quickly across her screens as she analyzed theyout of the ruined za below


    . "What do you think of this location? Will it work for the assembly factory?"


    Rex nodded again.


    "It''ll do. We have enough space here to set up production lines without obstruction. Good call, Rex."


    "Perfect,"


    Cleo replied, already issuingmands.


    "I''m deploying drop pods with construction bots and materials. We''ll have the foundationid soon


    ."


    Their conversation was interrupted by a crackling voice over themunications.


    [Sir, we''ve encountered a high-priority hostile; our weapons are proving ineffective, requesting the deployment of the Mauler Juggernaut for support.]


    Rex frowned, considering the cost of deploying the Mauler, since its high-powered artillery rounds burned through credits with each shot. "


    Do you have visual confirmation on the target?


    "


    [Affirmative, Streaming live feed now.]


    A screen materialized in front of Rex, disying the grim scene. The video showed a hulking creature, easily eight times the size of an average infected, lumbering through the ruins while the Aegis Sentinels fired futilely at it.


    Its body was encased in thick, chitinous armor that absorbed iing sma rounds like they were mere raindrops. With each hit, the creature seemed to pulse with kic energy, its body glowing ominously beforeunching explosive projectiles back at its attackers.


    "That''s a superior mutant,"


    Cleo observed, her eyes narrowing.


    "This one''s tougher than most."


    Rex smirked, intrigued.


    "So, this creature is the boss of this area?"


    "Affirmative,"


    Cleo nodded.


    "These unique infected evolve beyondmon limits, bing zone leaders. Theymand the infected hordes in their territory."


    "Perfect,"


    Rex said, excitement flickering in his eyes


    . "I''ve been waiting to see what the Mauler Juggernaut can do. Let''s test it out."


    Before Cleo could respond, Rex scooped her up in a swift, effortless motion, carrying her in his arms as heunched off the edge of the building. They soared through the rain-soaked air, moving at breakneck speed toward the battlefield, the wind whipping past them as Rex maneuvered with precision.


    Cleo, unphased by the sudden flight, kept her gaze fixed on her screens, calcting Mauler''s entry point and preparing support protocols. As they closed in on the battle, she could already see shes of sma fire and hear the booming echoes of the creature''s retaliatory sts.


    When they arrived, Rex touched down with Cleo still in his arms, setting her down gently before stepping forward to assess the situation.


    The Aegis units were holding their ground, but barely, and several of them were already damaged, their armor scorched and dented from the relentless counterattacks.


    Rex raised his wrist and keyed in the authorization.


    "Deploy the Mauler Juggernaut at my location. Priority target: zone boss."

 Chapter 85: Mauler Juggernaut.

    Within moments, a low rumble echoed through the city as the Mauler drop pod hurtled from orbit, streaking through the clouds like aet.


    It mmed into the ground nearby with a deafening crash, unfolding to reveal the massive war machine, an armored juggernaut bristling with high-caliber weaponry and reinforced ting. The Mauler''s cannons began to glow as it powered up, the deep hum of its engines reverberating across the battlefield.


    Rex grinned, anticipation lighting up his face.


    "Alright, let''s see how this so-called boss handles some real firepower."


    The Mauler Juggernaut''s targeting systems locked onto the towering zombie, and with a thunderous roar, it unleashed its first salvo, a st of sma so intense it turned the night into day for a brief moment.


    The impact struck the creature dead center, sending it staggering backward; chunks of its armored hide sted away, exposing the raw, pulsing flesh beneath.


    For the first time, the mutant seemed to hesitate, its monstrous form wavering as it struggled to recover from the st. But Rex wasn''t done yet.


    "Keep firing,"


    he ordered, his voice cold and unyielding.


    The Mauler unleashed round after round, each shot tearing into the boss with merciless precision. The ground shook with every impact, the relentless firepower of the Mauler proving too much for even this formidable enemy.


    But this boss wasn''t about to go down quietly. With all the energy it had absorbed from the relentless attacks, it unleashed a powerful counterstrike, firing a barrage of explosive energy sts toward the Mauler.


    The zombie''s shots tore through the air with blistering speed, each one a deadly streak aimed directly at the Juggernaut.


    The Mauler Juggernaut, with its massive, lumbering frame, had no chance to dodge. Speed was its Achilles'' heel, and even if it had tried, its heavy armor made evasion almost impossible.


    The energy sts struck it dead-on, a brutal assault that cracked its shields and engulfed it in a shower of burning sma.


    But when the smoke began to clear, the Mauler stood tall, its thick armor barely dented; the only damage was a few scorched marks, paint singed, and peeling. The zombie''s assault had done nothing more than scratch the surface of its imprable hull.


    And then, for the first time, a guttural voice rumbled from within the Mauler''sms


    "[Die, scum.]"


    Rex''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Wait, did he just say that?"


    he muttered, ncing at Cleo, who looked equally taken aback. The Kaelzar machines were never programmed for speech beyond theirmands. This was new... and unsettling.


    But the Mauler didn''t pause. With a low whir, missile pods unfolded from its shoulders, each one primed and aimed at the stumbling boss.


    The zombie monster staggered, trying to evade, but it was toote. The missiles shot forward, tracking the target''s every move, and as they hit, they splintered into smaller explosives, each mini-warhead detonating with pinpoint precision across the creature''s armored form.


    Cleo watched the devastation unfold, her face lit by the glow of her holographic screens.


    "Finish it off, but leave the head intact; I want that brain preserved for study."


    Through the thick smoke of the explosions, the Mauler advanced, relentless as ever. The boss creature was still standing, but only barely, its twisted body riddled with burns and wounds, patches of exposed flesh sizzling.


    Without hesitation, the Mauler surged forward, ramming into it with a brutal shoulder check that sent the zombie boss sprawling onto the ground.


    Towering over its fallen foe, the Mauler aimed its sma cannons at the creature''s neck. Then, in a merciless disy, it fired shot after shot, each st a concentrated pulse of energy that tore into the creature''s body with surgical precision.


    The Mauler didn''t stop, each discharge pounding into the zombie''s form with a cold, unfeeling rhythm, reducing it piece by piece into nothing more than scorched remains.


    When the barrage finally ended, silence fell over the battlefield. Dust and smoke drifted in the air, and as it settled, Rex and Cleo could see the aftermath: only the zombie''s lower half remained, mangled and broken, with a half-shattered head lying in the rubble.


    Rex let out a low whistle, impressed.


    "Now that''s what I call overkill."


    Cleo smirked, her eyes gleaming as she cataloged the data streaming in from the Mauler''s systems.


    "Efficient and thorough. Just the way I like it."


    The Mauler stood there, motionless, awaiting its nextmand, still exuding an air of cold, mechanical menace. This wasn''t just a machine; it was a weapon, a relentless force that had turned the tide of the battlefield in mere minutes.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    With the boss defeated, Rex nced back at Cleo, nodding.


    "Alright. Let''s wrap up here and get the salvage crew in. And don''t forget to collect that brain sample; I have a feeling it might reveal something interesting."


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity crossing her face. "


    Agreed. I want to know what made that thing so resilient. If we''re facing more like it, we''ll need all the intel we can get.


    "


    As they turned away, the Mauler remained standing amidst the ruins, a silent sentinel among the wreckage. And somewhere in its core, a spark of awareness seemed to flicker for just a moment, almost imperceptible, before it returned to stillness, waiting, as if biding its time.


    The nearby Aegis units moved quickly, forming a defensive perimeter around the remains of the zombie boss. They knew, thanks to Cleo''s research, that other infected would often swarm to devour the corpse of a powerful fallen foe, sometimes even consuming each other in the chaos.


    Some units set the body ame, ensuring that it wouldn''t be reanimated or scavenged, while others secured the head, binding it with heavy chains. Momentster, sleek Wraith fighters descended, mping onto the chains and lifting the grotesque trophy back to the main ship for further study.


    As they prepared to leave, Cleo turned to Rex, watching as he reluctantly rose from the old sofa he''d dragged out of a nearby house.


    "The head''s already been secured on the ship,"


    she said, ncing at him.


    "Are youing with me, or do you want to stay?"


    Rex stretched, giving the makeshift couch onest look.


    "I''ll go with you. I want to check on the twins; see how they''re doing."


    The transport ship arrived, and the two of them boarded, ascending swiftly to the main vessel. Once docked, they went their separate ways; Cleo headed to the hangar to oversee the zombie boss''s head being unloaded, while Rex made his way to the medical bay.


    The med-bots had reported that the twins were awake, and he braced himself as he entered the sterile, white-walled room.


    Inside, the twins were sitting up in their beds, talking in low voices. The moment they noticed him, Nyra''s expression darkened, and she sprang up, eyes zing.


    "You!"


    she screamed, her voice thick with anger and grief.


    "You''re the one who killed Papa!"


    In a burst of rage, she grabbed anything within reach, pillows, small medical instruments, even a metal tray, and hurled them at him, one by one.


    Each item nged harmlessly against Rex''s energy shield, flickering to life around him, but he didn''t flinch or attempt to stop her.


    Two Aegis units stationed outside stepped forward, ready to restrain the child, but Rex raised his hand, signaling them to hold back. He stood silently, letting Nyra vent her pain, her small body trembling as she threw every ounce of her fury at him.


    "Stop, Sister!"


    Lyra cried, her voice weak but insistent. She slipped out of her bed, still unsteady from her fever, and wrapped her arms around Nyra, pulling her back.


    "Please... he saved us."


    "How can you say that?"


    Nyra sobbed, her fists clenching in helpless rage.


    "He killed Papa! I saw it. I saw him do it right in front of us."


    Her voice broke, and tears poured down her face.


    Lyra''s own eyes filled with tears as she held her sister, trying tofort her despite her own sorrow. Seeing her sister''s pain only made Nyra''s anger fade, and her small shoulders slumped as she turned to embrace Lyra fully.


    The two girls clung to each other, crying softly, sharing the weight of their grief in the sterile quiet of the medical bay.


    Rex remained where he was, his expression unreadable as he watched them. He stood in silence, waiting patiently until the storm of their emotions had subsided, giving them the time and space they needed to process what they''d lost.


    He knew there was nothing he could say to ease their pain, and perhaps, right now, they wouldn''t want to hear it.


    After their tears finally slowed to quiet sobs, Rex took a moment before approaching. He picked up a tray of food, a simple meal with some pre-packaged rations, juice, and a small bag of chips.


    He walked slowly toward the twins'' bed, his heavy footsteps softened by his deliberate care. When he reached them, he knelt beside their bed and, with a soft click, deactivated his helmet.


    As the helmet retracted, his face was revealed, unexpectedly gentle, framed by long ck hair that fell loosely around his shoulders. He looked nothing like the cold, armored figure they''d seen on the battlefield. Instead, he seemed almost... human. A person, not just a weapon.


    The girls looked at him in silence, their eyes red and puffy, their expressions wary but curious.


    "I know you''re both hurting right now,"


    Rex began quietly, his voice calm and steady.


    "Losing your father... it''s a pain no one should have to endure. And there''s nothing I can say that will make it right."


    He set the tray down on the bed within reach, nudging it gently toward them.


    "But you still have to eat. Your father entrusted both of you to me, and I promised him I would look after you."


    Nyra''s eyes narrowed slightly, her lips pressed into a thin line.


    "You¡­ you promised him?"


    Re


    x looked at Nyra eyes before answering.


    "I...."

 Chapter 86: Void Crawler.

    Rex nodded, meeting her gaze with unwavering sincerity.


    "Yes. In hisst moments, he asked me to protect you both, to make sure you had a chance to live. And I don''t take promises lightly."


    He nced down, his hand resting on the edge of the bed.


    "I know you might not understand why things happened the way they did. And I don''t expect you to forgive me, not now. Maybe not ever. But I''ll be here, as long as you need me."


    Lyra reached out hesitantly, her fingers brushing the juice box on the tray. She looked up at Rex, a glimmer of understanding in her tearful eyes.


    "Papa... would want us to be strong,"


    she whispered, almost as if she were reminding herself as much as her sister.


    Nyra''s face softened, the anger being remced with something closer to exhaustion. She looked away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "


    Fine, but that doesn''t mean I trust you,"


    she mumbled, her voice thick.


    Rex smiled faintly, a small warmth breaking through his otherwise stoic demeanor.


    "I wouldn''t expect you to. Trust takes time. But I''m not going anywhere."


    He stayed by their side in silence, letting them slowly nibble at the food, respecting their space while still offering his quiet presence. For now, words weren''t necessary. They each had their own grief and their own pain, and they would take their own time to heal.


    Once he was sure the girls had eaten everyst bite, Rex grabbed the empty tray and started toward the door. Just as he was about to step out of the medical bay, he froze, swearing he''d heard someone say something.


    He turned back, scanning their faces, but the girls were happily chatting away, their voices lively now that they had full stomachs for the first time in years.


    "Must be losing it,"


    Rex muttered, rubbing his temple.


    "Great. I''m hearing things now."


    He shook his head and left the medical bay, making his way down the sterile hallways toward the hangar. The moment he stepped inside, he spotted a flurry of activity: medics and cargo bots scurried around, tending to the enormously severed head of the zombie boss, its grotesque features somehow even uglier in person.


    Rex approached an Aegis sentinel stationed nearby.


    "Hey, where''s Cleo?"


    he asked, eyes scanning the chaos.


    The sentinel turned its nk metal face toward him. "[Commander, she is inside the zombie''s head.]"


    "Inside?"


    Rex blinked, then let out a low whistle.


    "Of course she is."


    He made his way toward the upper part of the zombie''s head, right where the brain should be, and what he saw looked straight out of a horror flick banned in half the gxy. The zombie''s brain had been cracked open, leaving a gaping cavity that was oozing and glittering in ways he''d rather not describe.


    And right in the middle of this nightmare scene was Cleo, sitting cross-legged as if she were meditating. Several thick cables were snaking around her, pulsing with light, keeping her suspended in the middle of the zombie''s brain like some kind of twisted sci-fi goddess.


    "So,"


    Rex called up to her, smirking,


    "found anything about the enemy we''re dealing with? And, seriously, how do you put up with that smell?"


    Cleo barely nced his way, one eyebrow quirking. "Oh, you get used to it," she replied, deadpan.


    "Besides, it''s not like you smell like a field of roses yourself."


    Rex snorted, covering his mouth as the rancid stench hit him full force, like a mix of rotten eggs and burnt hair.


    "Fair point,"


    he muttered, trying to keep his breakfast where it belonged.


    "So... have you found anything useful in that oversized brain?"


    Rex asked, eyeing the cables that slithered out of the zombie''s skull like metallic worms. The sight made his skin crawl.


    Cleo nodded, her face lit by the eerie glow from the cables.


    "Yes, though it''s not everything I hoped for. The brain didn''t have enough data on the origin of the virus, ''Zone Zero,'' but I did manage to extract intel on the other area bosses."


    "There were twenty of them originally. Now, with this one taken out, we''ve got neen left to go."


    Rex rubbed his chin, pretending to be deep in thought.


    "So you''re saying one of these neen zombie overlords might know something about where this virus came from?"


    "Precisely. Or, at the very least, one of them should have a clue about the location of Zone Zero."


    "And why exactly are you so interested in Zone Zero?"


    Rex asked, giving Cleo a questioning look as she deactivated her helmet.


    Without a word, Cleo summoned a series of floating screens and flicked them toward Rex.


    "That''s why,"


    she said.


    Rex squinted at the screens, watching in horror as footage yed of a small meteor crashing into a bustling city. From the smoldering impact site, a thick, ck ooze emerged, creeping out like it was alive, before slithering into the shadows and vanishing.


    The footage was repeated in different settings, each showing the same eerie sequence: the meteornds, the ck sludge seeps out, and then it burrows itself deep into the''s surface, no matter the terrain, as if it were hunting for something.


    "T-this stuff¡­ it''s alive?"


    Rex stammered, his face twisting with disgust as he watched the ooze disappear into the ground again.


    "That,"


    Cleo said, her voice steely,


    "is the reason my people have a strict policy: once we''ve extracted all resources from a, we ss it from orbit. Our race is immune to the virus, but we still don''t know what it truly is. Whatever its purpose, we know it''s a threat best left buried."


    "Good call,"


    Rex muttered, looking back at the footage with a shudder.


    "In that case, maybe we should consider the same approach. I''m not about to be the guy who lets an alien goo monster loose in the universe. So, which one of these zombie bosses is next on our list?"


    With a flick of her wrist, Cleo summoned a holographic map of the region, zooming in on an area where the massive assembly factory was under construction.


    "Right here. The Void Specter,"


    she said, tapping the map.


    "This one and our dearly departed friend here used to sh all the time over control of this sector."


    She zoomed further, highlighting an area near an old train station.


    "Hmm,"


    Rex murmured, tracing the map with his finger.


    "So, if it''s been holding ground around the train station, it''s probably holed up somewhere in the tunnels below."


    "Exactly. I''ve already sent a squad of twenty Aegis units to scout the subway system,"


    Cleo said, pulling up live feeds on several screens. The disys showed the POVs of the Aegis sentinels moving through pitch-ck tunnels, their lights cutting through the darkness.


    Rex watched as the sentinels crept along the damp, crumbling tracks, the shadows around them shifting and flickering


    . "Well, here''s hoping they find our friend down there. And if they don''t, maybe I''ll get lucky and someone else will have to crawl into a zombie brain next time."


    Cleo smirked.


    "Keep dreaming, Rex. This job isn''t for the faint of heart."


    Rex gasped, putting on his best offended face


    . "Are you calling me a delicate little princess who can''t handle a big ol'' zombie brain?"


    He fluttered his eyshes in exaggerated disbelief.


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with mock sympathy.


    "Well, I didn''t want to bruise your ego, but yes, Rex, you are a little princess."


    "What!? I am not¡ª"


    Rex started to protest, but Cleo cut him off.


    "Hold on. Something''s happening with the Aegis Sentinels."


    She quickly expanded the screens showing the live feeds from the squad moving through the subway tunnels.


    The sentinels had shifted into a tight circle formation, their lights sweeping over the shadows. Dark shapes darted around them, creatures with elongated limbs and hollow torsos filled with a sickly, venomous fluid.


    These things were smaller and faster than the usual drone zombies, their movements jerky and erratic as they crept along the walls and ceiling, ws scraping against metal.


    Rex leaned closer to the screen, his brow furrowing.


    "What the hell are those things? They look annoying as hell."


    "ording to the data I pulled, they''re called ''Swarmers'', level 2 infecteds that specialize in ambush tactics and are usually only active at night,"


    Cleo exined, pulling up a holographic image of one of the creatures. The thing looked like it had crawled straight out of a nightmare, its hollow chest cavity dripping with venom that glowed faintly in the darkness.


    "Damn, they''re ugly. How''d the twins survive out here with monsters like that roaming around?"


    Rex muttered, his face momentarily darkening as he remembered thest, sad smile of the twins'' father before he... well, before he met his end.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Cleo noticed the shift in Rex''s expression but decided this wasn''t the time to bring it up.


    Meanwhile, the Aegis Sentinels were struggling. The Swarmers moved too fast, slipping past sma fire with ease. Every few seconds, one of them would lunge forward, wing at the sentinels'' armor.


    Although the venom was useless against the Aegis units, the Swarmers'' ws were razor-sharp, capable of slicing through armor once the energy shields depleted under the constant assault.


    Cleo frowned, focusing on the screens.


    "Rex, these things are faster than the Aegis units can track. If they break through that formation, we''re looking at serious losses."


    As if on cue, two of the screens flickered and went dark.


    "Look here,"


    Cleo said, zooming in on thest remaining feed just as it began to glitch. The sentinel''s camera shook as the view tilted, then froze, catching a final, chilling image before the signal cut out entirely.


    On the screen, for a split second, they glimpsed something looming in the shadows behind the Swarmers. A figure muchrger than the others, with rows of serrated teeth that seemed to gleam in the dim light, its eyes glowing a deep, unsettling red. It was as if the darkness itself hade alive, coiling and breathing with silent menace.

 Chapter 87: Steaming bath.[R17]

    The new enemy moved through the Aegis units like they were nothing more than paper tiggers. Every minute, another sentinel went down in a burst of dark smoke.


    This creature, whatever it was, struck with impossible speed, phasing in and out of the shadows, attacking in a blur, and vanishing before the Aegis units could even register its presence. Within minutes, all the screens showing the sentinels'' POVs had gone dark.


    Rex and Cleo exchanged a long, grim look.


    "So... it seems like the boss decided to find us first,"


    Rex muttered.


    Cleo nodded, her eyes fixed on thest bits of footage. "


    Looks that way. This thing... this ''Void Crawler'' it''''s practically a shadow. It can slip in and out of the material ne, making it nearly impossible to hit. Tracking it down is going to be... difficult."


    "Perfect,"


    Rex sighed, cracking his knuckles. "


    Guess it''s up to us now. Let''s get Squad 201 ready. Too bad the Mauler Juggernaut can''t fit into the subway tunnels; otherwise, we could just roll in there and squash this thing."


    As he turned to head down to the, Cleo grabbed his arm.


    "Hold on a second, Rex,"


    she said, wrinkling her nose


    . "You need a shower first. Your hair is a mess, and you smell like... well, zombie brain."


    Rex raised an eyebrow, looking mock-offended


    . "Excuse me? I smell way better than you."


    He plucked a stray chunk of zombie brain from her shoulder and flicked it away.


    Cleo rolled her eyes.


    "Which is why I''m taking a shower too."


    She led him down the corridor to the private shower room, a luxurious area Cleo had personally customized. The space was practically a spa, with a massive hot tub that looked more like a small pool, statues of exotic birds carved from rare stones, and intricate mosaics on the walls. It was obvious this was Cleo''s personal sanctuary, designed for both herself and Rex.


    Inside, a small squad of maid bots, dressed in elegant Grecian-style tunics, hurried over to greet them. They bustled around, helping Rex and Cleo undress with quiet efficiency before retreating to the side, standing by in case they were needed.


    Rex gave Cleo a sidelong nce, then smirked. Without warning, he scooped her up in his arms, carrying her toward the waterfall shower like a princess.


    "What exactly are you doing?"


    Cleo asked, trying to sound annoyed, but the blush on her cheeks betrayed her.


    "Oh, nothing much,"


    Rex replied, grinning.


    "Just carrying my personal maid to make sure she can help me wash my hair and back. You know I can''t reach back there."


    He set her down gently on a bench made of some rare, polished stone that felt like smooth silk under his hands.


    Cleo sighed but didn''t protest.


    "Fine, but let''s get this over with."


    Shethered up her hands and started washing his hair, her fingers surprisingly gentle as they worked through the tangles. She moved with her usual precision, every movement calm and controlled, as if this were just another mission.


    Rex closed his eyes, feeling her fingertips massage his scalp, her touch somehow both professional and... warm.


    When she finished, Rex stood and gave her a yful look


    . "Alright, now it''s your turn. I can''t leave a princess like yourself to wash up alone; where''s the chivalry in that?"


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "


    And making this princess wash your body wasn''t a disgrace?"


    Rex waved a hand dismissively


    . "Minor details. Now then, my princess, may this humble servant be permitted to wash your perfect hair and radiant self."


    Cleo let out a smallugh, unable to hide her smile.


    "If you must."


    Rex gave a dramatic bow, the kind he''d seen servants do in the ck market, and gently led her to sit on the bench.


    He carefullythered her hair, his hands moving gently through her ck locks, washing with a surprising amount of care. Cleo''s cheeks turned pink, the warmth in her eyes softening her usual cool expression.


    When he''d finished, she nced at him, still blushing.


    "You know, this is highly inappropriate for a princess and hermander."


    Rex smirked.


    "Good thing we''re both a little less ''proper'' than that, don''t you think?"


    Cleo chuckled, her voice softer than usual.


    "Yes¡­ I suppose so."


    For a moment, they stood infortable silence, surrounded by the sound of cascading water and the gentle warmth of the bath. Out there, they weremanders facing down monsters in a world on the brink. But here, they could just be... themselves.


    After Rex finished washing Cleo''s hair, he started on her body, his fingers tracing over her soft, warm skin. Cleo gave a little jump every time he touched her with a cute, almost rabbit-like reaction that stirred something in Rex¡ªsomething like a dormant sense of control and yfulness.


    Deciding to tease her, Rex let his fingers drift slowly from her neck down to her hips, moving as if he were ying a piano.


    "Ah..." she


    bit her lip, clearly unused to this kind of touch. She''d mentioned before that her people, the Kaelzar, had long abandoned natural reproduction, relying instead on gestational chambers.


    For them, physical contact didn''t hold any deeper meaning; even a simple hug was rare. Romance, desire... those things were practically nonexistent.


    Rtionships were functional, aimed at producing children for specific roles, like generals or scientists. Nothing like the feelings Rex was awakening in Cleo or the way her heart raced under his touch.


    Everything felt strange and new, even a little overwhelming. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment, letting Rex explore her body. There was a mix of fear and excitement inside her, a thrill in letting go.


    Rex''s hands slid down from her hips to her thighs, pressing into her soft skin a bit more firmly, his fingers sinking in gently.


    He then opened her legs slowly, making her heart run even faster than before. He then moved one of his hands toward the middle of her legs slowly, getting closer and closer with each passing second.


    Cleo suddenly ced her hand on Rex''s, her face softened but uncertain.


    "Wait, Rex¡­ I''m sorry. I¡­ I''m not ready for this,"


    she said, lowering her head, feeling a pang of guilt, as though she might be letting him down.


    Seeing her hesitation, Rex smiled gently and ced his other hand on her head, ruffling her hair softly


    . "It''s okay, Cleo,"


    he said warmly.


    "I''d never want to do anything that makes you ufortable. Take all the time you need."


    Cleo looked up, a grateful smile touching her lips.


    "Thank you, Rex. I... I appreciate that more than you know."


    He chuckled, brushing a thumb across her cheek.


    "What kind of guy do you think I am? I''m not some jerk who''s just trying to... well, you know."


    His eyes sparkled with his usual humor as he added,


    "Besides, we''ve got more important things to do, like testing out that ridiculously big bathtub of yours."


    Cleo''s pout appeared instantly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "It''s not ridiculously big! I made it that size in case you ever got bigger somehow. Even I''ll be taller in the future."


    She crossed her arms, huffing, which only made Rexugh.


    "Alright, alright, you win,"


    he said, stillughing as he carried her over to the massive tub. They settled onto the wide steps leading into the steaming water, with Cleo seatedfortably against him.


    "Mind if I take a little rest?"


    She murmured, her voice softer now.


    "I''ve forgotten what it''s like to actually need sleep... I haven''t rested in four days."


    "Go ahead. Rest as long as you need,"


    Rex replied, wrapping one arm around her shoulders.


    "I''ll take you to bed after, so don''t worry."


    Cleo sighed contentedly, closing her golden eyes as she rested her head on his chest, a peaceful smile forming on her face. She felt safe in his arms, the gentle warmth of the bath soothing her. For once, she let go of the weight of her responsibilities, just enjoying the moment.


    After a while, when Rex noticed her breathing had deepened, he carefully lifted her from the bath. The maid bots hurried over, ready to help, but Rex waved them off with a smile.


    "Just bring our bathrobes,"


    he whispered, not wanting to disturb Cleo''s sleep.


    Once the maids returned, Rex gently wrapped Cleo in her robe, then allowed them to help him into his own. Cradling her against his chest, he carried her through the quiet corridors toward their sleeping quarters.


    Their room was cozy, echoing the style of the mansion back in the underground city, a touch of home amidst the coldness of the ship. Rexy down on the bed, still holding Cleo close, and settled herfortably on top of him.


    As he closed his eyes, he felt the steady rhythm of her breathing, and a sense of calm washed over him. For now, with the threats of the world outside, this small moment of peace was enough.


    Rex looked down at Cleo, her peaceful face resting against his chest. Somehow, in sleep, she was even more breathtaking.


    Her lips were parted slightly, and a few damp strands of ck hair clung to her cheek, catching the faint glow of the room''s soft lighting. She looked like something out of a dream, an ethereal beauty, serene and unguarded in his arms.


    Gently, he reached for her hand, marveling at how small and delicate it felt in his. He lifted it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her fingertips. The gesture felt intimate andforting, and without a word spoken, it said everything he wanted her to know.


    As sleep began to pull him under, Rex wrapped one arm around her, holding her close. With their fingers intertwined, he closed his eyes, feeling the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against his. In that quiet, stolen moment, all the battles and threats of the outside world faded away.


    And for the first time in a long time, Rex fell asleep with a peaceful smile, feeling like he was exactly where he was meant to be.

 Chapter 88: Underground Subway.

    The next day, Rex was already stationed by the subway entrance, scanning the dimly lit surroundings where the Aegis Sentinel squad had been wiped out the night before.


    Several other squads were positioned around nearby subway entrances, ready to intercept in case the Void Crawler emerged.


    Just in case, the hulking Mauler Juggernaut was on standby too, its massive frame looming nearby, ready to respond if any other giant infected decided to make trouble while they were down below.


    Rex tapped his foot impatiently.


    "Cleo! We¡¯re waiting on you! Come on, I can¡¯t wait to get down there and have my ass handed to me!"


    He called out, grinning, though he was only half-joking. Cleo had kept him waiting nearly an hour while finalizing updates to the assembly factory construction.


    Cleo finally appeared, letting out an exasperated sigh as she joined him.


    "Alright, I¡¯m ready. Let¡¯s get this over with,"


    she said, though the look in her eyes was steely.


    Rex turned to Squad 201, his face serious but his tone still light enough to keep the soldiers on edge.


    "Squad 201, listen up! Today, the princess herself,"


    he gestured grandly at Cleo, "


    will be joining us down there. So I want you all to show her what we¡¯re made of. We¡¯re going to take out that zombie boss and make it look easy!"


    He pointed dramatically at the dark, gaping subway entrance


    . "Now move out! Clear those tunnels before anything ugly down there has a chance to stain the princess¡¯s beautiful eyes!"


    While Rex looked entirely pleased with himself, Cleo just rolled her eyes, barely hiding a smirk. He always had a ir for the theatrical, and by now, she was well past being surprised by it.


    Following the orders, Squad 201 began descending into the subway in a wave formation. The first team of five slipped in, moving quickly and quietly. A minuteter, another team followed. Cleo observed their tactical movement with a hint of surprise.


    "I have to admit, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so methodical with this,"


    she said, her eyes tracking the steady rhythm of the deployment.


    Rex shrugged, grinning.


    "Hey, we can¡¯t just rush in there like idiots. The infected have the home-field advantage down there. If we all charge in at once, we¡¯re sitting ducks. But if we go in waves, each team has the space to react. Keeps things tight, controlled."


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed.


    "Well, shall we? Lead the way, my lord,"


    she added, giving him a small, sarcastic bow.


    Rexughed, then returned the bow with exaggerated courtesy.


    "With pleasure, mydy."


    Together, they descended into the subway, darkness swallowing them as they moved deeper. The only lights came from the shlights mounted on the Aegis Sentinels¡¯ helmets, casting eerie shadows along the rusted tracks and crumbling walls.


    Rex¡¯s night vision kicked in, turning everything into shades of green, but the atmosphere remained oppressively still.


    "This ce is downright creepy,"


    he muttered, peering into the shadows.


    Cleo walked beside him, nked by four Aegis Sentinels, her fingers flying over her holo-disy as she checked the status of the squads ahead.


    "Any word from the first wave?"


    Rex asked, keeping his voice low.


    "Negative,"


    Cleo replied, ncing at him.


    "No sign of enemy movement yet."


    Her screens shed in rapid session, processing data faster than any human could track.


    The silence dragged on as they ventured deeper into the tunnels, minutes stretching into hours. The oppressive weight of the subway pressed in around them, the stale air thick with dust and decay. But just when it seemed like the emptiness would go on forever, Cleo¡¯s expression changed, her eyes narrowing.


    "Hold on,"


    she said, her voice tight.


    "I¡¯m picking up distress signals from the team ahead of us. They¡¯re under attack. Let¡¯s move!"


    Without waiting for a reply, Cleo broke into a run, and Rex sprinted alongside her, adrenaline kicking in as they hurried toward the ambushed team. As they turned a corner, Rex¡¯s HUD lit up with proximity alerts of enemy signatures, fast and erratic, swarming over the first wave of Aegis units.


    In the dim glow of the Sentinel lights, he saw them: twisted, shadowy figures darting in and out of the darkness. They were the Swarmers, small, wiry infected with elongated limbs and hollow chests filled with venomous fluid, moving like a pack of rabid animals. The Aegis units were holding a defensive line, but the Swarmers¡¯ speed and agility made them nearly impossible to hit.


    Rex clenched his jaw, assessing the situation. "Squad 201, form up, and cover them! Aim for the torsos; those things are carrying venom."


    Cleo quickly patched into the Aegis unit feeds, her fingers flying as she analyzed the swarm¡¯s movement patterns.


    "Their movements are unpredictable, but they¡¯re following a loose pattern. If we can funnel them into a choke point, we might stand a chance."


    Rex nodded, then shouted over his shoulder,


    "You heard her! Draw them toward the east tunnel intersection! Set up a bottleneck!"


    The squad moved as one, adjusting their positions. The Swarmers, sensing their targets shifting, redirected, racing after them with chilling speed.


    Just as the Swarmers began closing in, the team reached the narrow intersection Cleo had marked. The Aegis units took defensive positions, sma rifles zing as they funneled the creatures into the confined space. Finally, with the Swarmers forced into single-file, their advantage was neutralized, and Squad 201 picked them off one by one.


    Thest of the creatures dropped, and the tunnel fell silent, the only sound their ragged breathing echoing through the darkness. Rex looked over at Cleo, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "


    Well, that was fun. Ready to find the main event?"


    Cleo gave a small, satisfied smile.


    "Lead the way, My Lord."


    Rex straightened, ncing once more at the darkness stretching ahead. Somewhere down here, the Void Crawler was lurking, waiting...


    Just as Rex was lost in thought, a series of explosions shook the subway tunnel, sending massive chunks of debris flying in every direction. The force of the sts copsed sections of the tunnel in seconds, burying Rex, Cleo, and several Aegis units under a mountain of rubble.


    In the chaos, Rex reacted instinctively. Activating his overdrive mode, he unfurled his powerful wings and wrapped them around Cleo, creating a protective cocoon just as the debris crashed down around them. Dust and darkness filled the air, and for a moment, all was silent.


    When the dust finally settled, Rex flexed his wings, sending rocks and debris flying off in every direction. He lowered his gaze to Cleo, checking for any signs of injury. "


    You alright, Cleo?"


    he asked, his tone soft but urgent.


    Cleo took a steadying breath, nodding.


    "Thanks to you,"


    she replied. But before they could even take in the extent of the damage, a low, guttural roar echoed through the darkness.


    Rex nced around, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight: the explosions had attracted a horde of infected, and now hundreds, no,


    thousands


    of drone zombies were swarming toward them, their eyes glowing with hunger in the shadows.


    Rex grinned, drawing his newly upgraded ymore.


    "Well, it looks like the whole city came out to give us a warm wee. Can¡¯t me them; being this handsome is a curse."


    Cleo shot him a look, rolling her eyes as she summoned her weapons. "


    This might not be the best time for jokes, Rex."


    "There¡¯s always time for a little humor, mydy!"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Rexughed, spinning his ymore as itsser-coated edge hummed to life. Cleo¡¯s enhancements had made it deadlier than ever, the de now glowing with a lethal golden sheen.


    Cleo shook her head, focusing on her own preparations.


    In each of her hands, she summoned a short sword, while four more swords floated in a formation behind her, each de crackling with a different elemental energy: mes flickered along one de, electricity arced from another, acid dripped from a third, and thest was cloaked in a ck, shadowy me that sent shivers down Rex¡¯s spine.


    He decided he probably didn¡¯t want to know what


    that


    one did.


    Rex swung his ymore, cleaving through the first wave of zombies that lunged toward him.


    "I¡¯ll take the front! Cover my nks!"


    With a powerful beat of his wings, heunched himself into the heart of the horde, slicing through dozens of zombies with every swing. His wings battered the infected away like they were nothing more than leaves in a storm, clearing space as he tore through the swarm.


    Rex fought like a force of nature, a whirlwind of raw power, scattering limbs and bodies as he pushed forward.


    Meanwhile, Cleo took a more graceful, lethal approach. She ran along the wall of the copsed tunnel, her movements precise and fluid, slicing through the heads of zombies with an almost effortless elegance.


    Each step was calcted, and each strike was deadly. When shended back on the ground, her floating swords formed a protective sphere around her, spinning and weaving to create a deadly barrier. mes incinerated anything that got close, lightning arced out and stunned the infected, acid melted through rotten flesh, and the shadowy me seemed to consume the very life of any zombie foolish enough to approach.


    For a few intense minutes, the two of them held their ground, carving through the horde as wave after wave of infected fell. But just as they were beginning to tire, Rex caught sight of movement in the distance.


    His scanners detected several movement sources that weren¡¯t hostile, and his HUD detected them in a green color. Rex finally could breathe since the reinforcements were finally here.

 Chapter 89: Twins thoughts.

    Teams of Aegis units poured into the subway tunnel from every direction, their sma rifles lighting up the darkness as they joined the fray.


    From above, Rex spotted the unmistakable glint of missiles streaking through the air, and he grinned as the familiar, hulking shape of the Mauler Juggernaut came into view, positioning itself at the subway entrance.


    With a deafening sound, the Juggernaut unleashed a barrage of missiles, each one arcing gracefully through the air before mming into the horde with explosive force. The impact was cataclysmic, hundreds of zombies were incinerated in a ze of fire and shrapnel, the sts carving massive craters in the crowd.


    Rex let out a triumphantugh as he swung his ymore, cutting down another wave of infected.


    "Now that''s what I call backup!"


    Cleo, still surrounded by her orbiting swords, nced over her shoulder, allowing herself a small, satisfied smile after seeing her creation.


    Thebined assault was relentless. Between Rex''s brute force, Cleo''s deadly precision, the disciplined fire of the Aegis squads, and the raw destructive power of the Mauler Juggernaut, the horde didn''t stand a chance. One by one, the infected fell, until finally, the relentless waves slowed, then stopped altogether.


    As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded, Rex lowered his ymore, panting slightly, his armor sttered with the remnants of the undead. He turned to Cleo, grinning.


    "Well, that was a nice warm-up. Ready to go find our shadowy friend, the Void Crawler?"


    Cleo gave a slight nod, wiping a smear of dust from her cheek.


    "Lead the way, My Lord. But try not to get us buried alive again."


    Rex chuckled, giving her a yful salute.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "No promises, princess."


    Together, with Squad 201 and the Juggernaut covering their backs, they ventured deeper into the tunnel, knowing that the real fight was still waiting for them in the shadows ahead.


    As they made their way through the pitch-ck tunnels of the subway, Rex squinted into the darkness, the silence weighing heavily around them. "


    So... isn''t there a more effective way to track this thing? Wandering around in the dark isn''t exactly my idea of efficient monster-hunting."


    "Affirmative,


    " Cleo replied, her voice matter-of-fact.


    "Until now, there wasn''t a way to reliably track the Void Crawler when it shifts between the material and immaterial nes."


    She held up her hand, where nanomaterial swirled and reformed into the shape of a small, pristine white bird.


    "But I justpleted the final adjustments on this. Now there is."


    Rex leaned in, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.


    "Oh? So this little bird can hunt down and fry the Void Crawler?"


    Cleo rolled her eyes, patting the bird gently on its metallic head.


    "Don''t be ridiculous, Rex. It''s a tracker, not a fighter. When it detects the Void Crawler phasing between nes, it''ll fly straight to its location."


    Rex huffed, crossing his arms. "


    Still think a bird that could shootser beams from its eyes would be cooler."


    Cleo shot him an exasperated look, her lips curling into a pout


    . "Then make your own bird,


    " she said, quickening her pace to leave him a few steps behind.


    Rex watched her go, chuckling under his breath as he caught up.


    "Didn''t know my expert tactician was so sensitive about her creations."


    Meanwhile, back on the ship, the twinsy curled up in the medbay, sharing the same bed under a nket. The lights were dimmed, and the sterile quiet of the room was a sharp contrast to the chaos in the tunnels below.


    Lyra shifted slightly, snuggling closer to her sister, Nyra.


    "Sis, what do you think of the guy who rescued us?"


    she whispered, her voice barely audible.


    Nyra tightened her arms around Lyra, a thoughtful look crossing her face.


    "Rex? He''s¡­ different."


    She paused, searching for the right words.


    "I''ve never seen anyone like him. He''s strong, but not just physically¡­ it''s like he''s got this confidence that makes everything feel safer. Like we''re really going to be okay."


    Lyra nodded slowly, staring up at the ceiling.


    "Yeah, he''s a bit silly, though."


    Nyra chuckled, a small smile appearing on her face. "


    Maybe that''s part of why I trust him. He doesn''t act like some distant hero. He''s¡­ real."


    The two sisters fell into afortable silence, each lost in their thoughts, feeling a glimmer of hope that had long been absent from their lives.


    "But¡­ I can''t forgive him for what he did to Papa,"


    Nyra whispered, her voice tense as she stared into the dimly lit medbay. The memory crept into her mind like a dark shadow, wing at her thoughts, a terrible scene she couldn''t unsee, no matter how hard she tried.


    Lyra looked up at her sister; her expression was conflicted.


    "Sis¡­ I saw it too. But¡­ Papa was infected. He was gone, Nyra."


    "ENOUGH!"


    Nyra''s voice was sharp, but her tone cracked with barely contained pain. She pulled Lyra closer, gripping her tightly.


    "That''s enough about this, Lyra. We have bigger things to worry about. If we don''t figure out a solution soon... we could die, and then there won''t be anyone left to remember Mama and Papa."


    Lyra nodded slowly, resting her head against Nyra''s shoulder. She spoke softly, almost afraid to voice her thoughts.


    "But... do you think they might help us if we told them about... our condition?"


    Nyra''s face twisted in anger and sadness, a bitterness in her voice as she replied,


    "Help us? They''d probably treat us like monsters. An experiment. Like freaks on disy."


    Her fists clenched at the memory.


    "Even the humans... they didn''t care about us. They wanted to kill us, just to get rid of us. And when the infection spread... they killed Mama, Lyra. Just for trying to protect us."


    A tear slipped down Nyra''s cheek, but she quickly brushed it away, refusing to let herself break down. Lyra reached up and pressed her forehead gently against her sister''s, her voice steady and reassuring.


    "It''s okay, sis. Even if... even if they call us freaks, even if they hate us, we''ll always have each other."


    Nyra''s gaze softened, and she hugged her sister tightly, a fierce determination in her eyes.


    "Of course we''ll stay together. Once we get what we need, we''ll be strong again. Strong enough to survive on our own. And then, maybe... we can finally escape from this ce."


    She nced around the mall, a slight frown on her face


    . "Speaking of which... where are we, anyway?"


    Lyra looked around, her eyes lingering on the walls and the steady hum of the medbots moving silently around the room.


    "I don''t know. Since we got here, it''s just been these medic bots. The only one who seemed human was the person who brought us food, but even he didn''t talk much."


    Nyra''s gaze hardened.


    "Well, we need to keep our guard up. Just because they haven''t hurt us yet doesn''t mean they won''t."


    The two sisters fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts, holding onto each other as the uncertainty of their situation loomed around them. Whatever happened next, they knew they''d face it together.


    "Rex! Come see this! the little one picked up something!"


    Cleo called, pointing to the small white bird as it took off, its wings glowing faintly in the darkness of the subway.


    Rex''s eyes lit up.


    "Nice work, little one!"


    He broke into a run, following the bird as it darted through the winding tunnels of the underground, weaving around rusted pirs and crumbling walls. The eerie quiet of the abandoned subway only amplified the sound of his boots against the concrete, each step echoing off the cold stone.


    Finally, the bird came to a stop,nding on a kilometer marker, its tiny form almost lost in the dim light.


    "


    Cleo, I think your little bird might be bro...ken...."


    Rex trailed off, his words catching in his throat as he caught sight of whaty just beyond the marker.


    A few meters away, the floor of the tunnel had been ripped open, leaving a massive, jagged hole. The edges of the pit were wed and uneven, as if something with enormous strength had torn through the earth itself.


    A foul stench seeped from the opening with a thick, metallic odor tinged with decay that wed at the back of his throat. Everything about this hole screamed danger.


    Rex activated themunicator in his helmet, his voice tense.


    "Squad 201, this is Commander Rex. I need all units to converge on my location immediately. Be ready forbat; this ce is about to get ugly."


    He nced up through a gap in the ceiling where the subway had copsed, revealing a sliver of sky. The sunlight was fading, casting long shadows across the ruined structure as night began to fall.


    Somewhere deep within the darkness of the hole, an unearthly growl echoed up from the depths, followed by a chorus of distant, spine-chilling screams.


    Rex took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, though his grip on his ymore tightened.


    "Cleo, I think I owe you an apology. Turns out your little bird led us straight to our deaths. Worse than a bird withser eyes, after all,"


    he said, attempting a weak grin.


    Cleo''s lips quirked into a half smile, though her gaze remained fixed on the pit.


    "Don''t worry, Rex. I wasn''t expecting a simple mission,"


    she replied, her voice steady.


    "Besides, maybe the Void Crawler is just as afraid of us as we are of it."


    Rex chuckled, but his eyes never left the shadowed hole. The tension was thick, pressing in from all sides as thest traces of daylight vanished, leaving only the faint glow of the Aegis units'' lights as they arrived.


    Within moments, the remaining 87 Aegis Sentinels of Squad 201 were in position, standing at attention, their dark forms blending into the shadows of the subway. The air was charged, and every unit prepared for whatever horror might emerge from the depths.


    Rex raised his voice, giving his orders without looking away from the pit.


    "Alright, Squad 201, listen up. I want a three-line formation surrounding that hole. First two lines on the ground, positioned around the perimeter. Third line on the copsed rooftop up there."


    he said, pointing to the jagged remains of the ceiling.


    "Hold your fire until you have a clear shot. Whateveres out of that pit, don''t let it get close."


    The Sentinels moved with wless precision, taking their positions around the hole in concentric circles, sma rifles trained on the darkness below. The silence was deafening, broken only by the distant, guttural noises echoing up from the depths.


    Rex and Cleo exchanged a quick, understanding nce. They were on the brink of something terrible, and they both knew it. He adjusted his stance, ymore at the ready, his eyes fixed on the darkness within the hole.


    Then, from the pit, a new sound emerged, a slow, rhythmic scraping, like ws dragging against stone. The noise grew louder, building in intensity, each scrape sending a chill down their spines.


    Rex took a deep breath, steeling himself.


    "Here we go..."


    he murmured, bracing for the inevitable as the first shadows began to shift in the darkness below.


    And then, with a roar that shook the entire tunnel, the Void Crawler emerged.

 Chapter 90: Cleo vs Crawler.

    As the Void Crawler emerged from the stinking darkness of itsir, Rex raised his hand, signaling for his squad to hold fire. Shooting at the creature would be pointless; it could slip into the immaterial realm the moment it sensed any real danger. For now, all they could do was watch and wait.


    The Void Crawler stood firm, his eyes locked onto the twisted enemies he had encountered the night before. In the past, he might have charged forward, tearing through them with reckless abandon.


    But tonight was different since two dangerous presences pulsed in the air around him, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.


    The first energy was clear enough; it came from the towering figure standing at the front of the enemy line, radiating menace. But the second presence was hidden, lurking somewhere just out of reach, and that unknown threat gnawed at his confidence.


    Still, despite his unease, he could feel the virus inside him whispering, urging him to devour the enemies before him, to consume their strength and grow even more powerful. The temptation clouded his thoughts, and before he knew it, a feral roar ripped from his throat as he vanished into the immaterial world.


    "Wait... that''s it? It ran away?"


    Rex muttered, ncing around, eyes darting, but the creature had already disappeared.


    "Rex, get ready,"


    Cleo called out, her gaze fixed on the multiple screens in front of her, each showing the views of the scout drones she had sent into the creature''sir.


    "The drones are dropping off the grid one by one. They''reing."


    The ground began to tremble, faint at first but building to a relentless rumble. Small rocks and debris jumped and rolled as the vibrations grew stronger, until finally, from the dark mouth of the tunnel, a swarm of creatures spilled forth, hundreds, thousands of them, an endless wave of mindless hunger.


    As the swarm surged forward, the Aegis sentinels in the front two fire lines unleashed a barrage of sma, transforming the tunnel entrance into a zing inferno. The soldiers stationed on the rooftops above picked off any that slipped through the wall of gunfire, taking down stragglers with ruthless efficiency.


    "Cleo, I''m heading to reinforce the third line,"


    Rex shouted as he sprinted toward the fray, swinging his ymore in wide, deadly arcs, slicing through the swarmers as if they were nothing.


    For a few minutes, it seemed as if they were holding the upper hand. But then the Void Crawler reappeared, materializing behind the fire lines, striking down Aegis units one by one in a devastating ambush.


    Cleo was ready. She had anticipated this tactic after losing soldiers to it in the previous battle. This time, every unit in Squad 201 was equipped with upgraded energy shields, each powerful enough to withstand the Void Crawler''s attacks, even if they drained twice as much power.


    The creature darted from one point to another, trying the same ambush in different spots, but Cleo had outmaneuvered it. Before the Void Crawler could react, a ck-med sword flew through the air and plunged into its back.


    A hideous, guttural roar tore from the creature''s throat, its body writhing in pain, a sensation it hadn''t felt since the infection took hold of it.


    "Stop whining. I''m already sick of chasing you,"


    Cleo muttered as she stepped forward, twin swords glinting in her hands.


    The Void Crawler''s eyes zed with fury; its only thought was to tear her apart, but as it tried to shift back to the immaterial world, it found itself trapped, bound to the physical ne.


    Cleo let out a lowchuckle. "


    What''s wrong? Stuck? Not that I care, but I had to ask. I think Rex is rubbing off on me,"


    she sighed, her tone mocking as she closed in on the disoriented creature, ready to deliver the final blow.


    The Void Crawler, its fury boiling over, lunged at Cleo with ws raised, aiming to tear her apart. But Cleo moved with an effortless grace, sidestepping each attack without wasting a single motion.


    Her eyes stayed locked on her target, calcting every dodge leading into a precise counterattack. Each time the Void Crawler''s ws missed, her de bit into its thin, sinewy body, slicing through flesh and drawing out thick, ck blood that hit the ground with a sickening stter, releasing a stench so foul it was nearly suffocating.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Cleo wrinkled her nose beneath her visor, her voice cold and unamused.


    "You stink. Honestly, I feel like I''m doing the gxy a favor by putting you down."


    She activated her helmet, sealing herself off from the creature''s rotting stench, a relief for someone as obsessive about cleanliness as she was.


    The Void Crawler snarled, enraged by her mocking words. It attacked even more wildly, ws striking faster, with enough force to make her shield flicker as it absorbed the blows. But Cleo was ready. As the creature lunged forward, three more des appeared, piercing into its back.


    A terrible scream tore from the Void Crawler''s throat as the enchanted swords did their work. One de unleashed a searing acid burning through its flesh and filling the air with smoke and a rancid odor.


    Another de delivered a jolt of electricity, surging through the creature''s muscles, locking its limbs in spasms. The Void Crawler copsed to the ground, writhing and convulsing, its skin smoking as it fought against the pain.


    Cleo watched it thrash, tilting her head as if mildly entertained.


    "Well, my job here is done. My efficiency has dropped by 65 percent dealing with you. I''ll need to keep tuning this body before I can get a better body."


    She gave a quick nod to the nearby Aegis units of Squad 201.


    "Take care of it."


    The Aegis soldiers stepped forward, surrounding the paralyzed creature. They raised their weapons and unleashed a barrage of sma rounds, reducing the Void Crawler to little more than charred, stinking meat. The creature''s remains sizzled on the ground, smoke curling up into the cold air.


    Cleo deactivated her weapons, the des dissolving back into nanomaterial, which she reabsorbed as she walked away. She tapped hermunicator


    . "Rex, the ''zombie boss,'' as you like to call them, has been taken care of. How''s it going on your end?"


    "Well,"


    Rex''s voice crackled over the line, a hint of augh in it,


    "the swarmers started scattering a few minutes ago. Guess they weren''t too happy about their leader biting the dust. Thanks for that. By the way, Cleo, you feel like exploring a creepy alien cave?"


    "What cave?"


    Cleo asked, one eyebrow arching in skepticism.


    Rex shrugged, already stepping toward the dark, reeking tunnel left behind by the Void Crawler.


    "The Void Crawler''sir. Now that it''s gone, the ce should be empty. We can go in, take a look around, maybe learn a bit more about these ''zombies,'' don''t you think?"


    Cleo let out a resigned sigh but gave a nod.


    "Alright, give me a second. I''ll join you."


    She jumped down from the rooftop where she''d been stationed with the third fire line,nding in a crouch before making her way over to where Rex was waiting.


    As she approached, Rex grinned, already peering into the dark entrance.


    "Well, then, let''s do this. I can''t wait to see what kind of creepy shit is hiding down there."


    He gestured to Squad 201, signaling them to go ahead and sweep the area, making sure there''d be no nasty surprises waiting in the shadows.


    Rex and Cleo followed the squad into the cave, and as soon as they stepped inside, an overwhelming stench filled the air, thick and rancid.


    The ground squished unpleasantly beneath their boots, as if they were walking across a vast b of decaying flesh. Shadows stretched along the walls, revealing shapes and textures that were disturbing in ways neither of them wanted to think too deeply about.


    "Hey, Cleo,"


    Rex muttered, his voice echoing in the confined space.


    "I couldn''t help but notice, all the swarmers we''ve fought so far¡­ they''ve been male. And, uh¡­ those things on the walls look like¡­"


    He trailed off, pointing at a mass protruding from the wall, its grotesque shape almost recognizable.


    Cleo rolled her eyes and gave him a sharp kick to the ankle, cutting him off.


    "Don''t. Even. Think. About. Finishing. That. Thought,"


    she said firmly, stepping in front of him with a re that could pierce armor.


    Rex snickered, undeterred. "


    Oh,e on, you can''t deny they kinda look like¨D


    "


    "Rex! Keep talking, and you''ll be sleeping outside tonight. Alone."


    Cleo shot him a deadly look over her shoulder and kept moving, her stride quickening as if eager to get this over with.


    Falling silent, Rex exchanged a nce with one of the nearby Aegis units. He raised an eyebrow, pointing discreetly at the disturbing mass on the wall.


    The Aegis unit gave a small, subtle nod, acknowledging the resemnce, and Rex smirked, giving him a thumbs-up. Then he jogged to catch up with Cleo, a mischievous grin lingering on his face.


    As they continued deeper into the darkness, the atmosphere grew thicker, and the walls seemed to close in, pulsing faintly with the remnants of whatever unnatural life had thrived here. Neither of them spoke, but the silence was filled with unspoken questions, the eerie quiet amplifying the faint, wet sounds beneath their feet.


    After a few minutes of walking around, they arrived to a big pool of muddy water and they could see how something big was moving under the water, Rex and Cleo looked at each other.


    "So, do you wanna go to take a shower with me?" Rex said while poiting at the clearly dangerous muddy water.

 Chapter 91: Confrontation

    Cleo eyed the murky water, the surface dark and imprable, her gaze narrowing as she nced over at Rex.


    "Are you serious? You really want to go in there when we have no idea what¡¯s lurking below?"


    Rex shrugged, casting a quick look at the faint ripple below, where somethingrge and unsettling moved beneath the surface.


    "I mean, we can¡¯t just leave that ugly thing down there, can we? Someone¡¯s got to deal with it."


    She sighed but nodded.


    "For once, you¡¯re right. Let¡¯s do this smart, though. I¡¯ll send some recon drones down first to see what we¡¯re dealing with. We¡¯ll decide our next move after we know what¡¯s in there."


    Her golden eyes flicked to him, sharp and resolute.


    "Fine by me,"


    Rex said, crossing his arms, though he couldn¡¯t hide a small, cocky grin.


    "Take your time, no rush."


    A few minutester, a set of reconfigured drones arrived from the ship, buzzing to life as Cleo summoned several holo-screens in front of her, each disying a drone¡¯s point of view. With a quickmand, she directed them into the muddy water, their lights barely prating the gloom.


    Rex watched the screens with a smirk.


    "Yeah, see? Good thing I suggested waiting. Not that you need to thank me."


    He tilted his head, affecting an air of smug wisdom.


    Cleo rolled her eyes, choosing to ignore his antics as she focused on the screens. The drones pushed deeper until they reached an area where the water grew slightly clearer, revealing pale, drifting shapes below.


    "Are those¡­?"


    Rex leaned in, his usual humor reced by something more serious as he stared at the screen.


    "Yes,"


    Cleo said, her voice clipped. "


    Eggs. I¡¯ll have one of the drones retrieve one."


    With careful precision, a recon drone extended its mechanical arms, delicately grasping one of the eggs before rising back toward the surface. Momentster, the drone emerged from the water, holding the egg aloft, hovering in front of Rex and Cleo.


    Rex activated his eye scanners, his expression darkening as he studied the translucent shape within the egg. "These


    are swarmerrvae. I didn¡¯t think these ¡¯zombies¡¯ could reproduce. Not like this. Guess the movies lied to us."


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, keeping her gaze on the egg.


    "So, what¡¯s the n? Do we keep it for research, or...?"


    Rex didn¡¯t hesitate, tossing the egg back into the water with a grim look.


    "No way. We¡¯re not taking any chances. I say we destroy the whole nest and whatever else is hiding in there."


    "Agreed,"


    Cleo replied, turning on hermunications.


    "Let¡¯s pull everyone back and call in an orbital strike. I don¡¯t want any trace of this ce left standing."


    Within hours, all Kaelzar units had retreated to a safe distance outside the bombardment zone. High above, the ship¡¯s AI confirmed theirmands, positioning itself over the target. Momentster, a low whine filled the air as the first bombs began their descent.


    Rex looked up just in time to see the fiery streaks slicing through the sky, their trails zing against the dark clouds.


    "Here theye."


    The first explosion struck with a blinding sh, followed by a powerful shockwave that rippled through the ground beneath them. Secondster, another st hit, and then another, until the entire area was swallowed by fire and fury.


    Dirt and debris shot skyward, darkening the air as the sessive sts hammered the ground, leaving nothing but a smoking crater where the Void Crawler¡¯sir had once been.


    As the dust began to settle, Rex took onest look at the obliteratedndscape, letting out a sigh of relief.


    "Well, that¡¯s one less nightmare to worry about."


    Cleo nodded, a hint of satisfaction in her gaze as she watched the smoke rise.


    "Let¡¯s hope that was thest of them... at least for now."


    They turned, walking away from the ruined battleground.


    "So, with the zombie bosses wiped out around the assembly factory, what¡¯s next on the agenda?"


    Rex asked as they made their way toward the transport ship¡¯snding zone.


    Cleo nced at him, her eyes briefly flicking from the holo-screens she was reviewing.


    "Not much. The factory¡¯s up and running, and the defense systems are almost fully operational. We¡¯ll be leaving this tomorrow evening."


    "Wait, we¡¯re leaving already?"


    Rex raised an eyebrow.


    "But we just got here!"


    She chuckled softly.


    "What, did you think we¡¯d conquer an entire with just one ship and a handful of troops? Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Rex. What we¡¯ve done here is nothing more than nting a single grain of sand in an ocean. This was only the start."


    She stepped onto the ramp of the transport ship, her expression unreadable.


    Rex scratched his head as he followed her aboard.


    "Now that you put it like that... I guess you¡¯re right. So today¡¯s ourst day here?"


    "That¡¯s correct,"


    Cleo replied, her gaze shifting back to the holo screens. "


    Only Squad 201 and a few of us will leave. We¡¯re leaving behind the remaining Aegis units and the Mauler juggernaut to secure our foothold. When the others arrive with the coordinates, they¡¯ll know this ce is already imed. No one¡¯s going to try and steal a safe zone we¡¯ve marked as ours."


    "Ahhh, I get it now."


    Rex leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms thoughtfully.


    "So that¡¯s why you¡¯ve been building those cargo ships to keep supply lines running and expand the factory¡¯s reach. You n to keep producing Aegis units here and send them out to explore the rest of the, don¡¯t you?"


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, impressed.


    "Close enough. The cargo ships are indeed for material transport, but they¡¯re also intended to move valuable goods we can sell in the underground markets."


    Rex grinned, shaking his head in admiration.


    "I¡¯d expect nothing less from my brilliant wife."


    Cleo smirked but kept her attention on the screens, though a faint hint of pride shed in her golden eyes.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    When they finally arrived back on the main ship, Rex reached out and took Cleo¡¯s hand, surprising her.


    "Hey, before you disappear to hack into another zombie¡¯s brain or whatever you¡¯ve got nned next,e with me. Let¡¯s go check on the twins. It¡¯s been a day since we saw them."


    For a moment, Cleo¡¯sposed demeanor softened, and she allowed him to lead her down the corridor.


    "Alright, just for a little while,"


    she murmured, ncing up at him with a slight smile.


    They walked together, hand in hand, moving through the cold, metallic halls of the ship toward the quarters where their children waited, a rare moment of quiet warmth amidst the chaos of their war-torn lives.


    Once they reached the quarters, Rex gave a gentle knock on the door, careful not to startle the twins again. Thest time he¡¯d done that, they¡¯d bombarded him with whatever objects were within reach; he¡¯d prefer to avoid a repeat.


    "Who is it?"


    came a young, wary voice from inside.


    "It¡¯s me,"


    Rex replied softly,


    "the same guy who brought you food yesterday."


    Silence stretched on for several moments before he heard a quiet response.


    "¡­Come in."


    Rex pushed open the metal door, stepping inside to find Lyra standing alone in the center of the room, her small frame tense, her gaze cautious.


    "Hello, little one,"


    Rex greeted warmly, kneeling down to meet her at eye level, hoping to appear less intimidating.


    "Nice to see you again. How are you doing?"


    "I¡­ I¡¯m fine,"


    Lyra stammered, her eyes darting to Cleo, who was standing just behind Rex.


    Rex followed her gaze, chuckling softly.


    "Oh, her? Don¡¯t worry, that¡¯s just my wife, Cleo. She¡¯s harmless¡­ well, mostly harmless. She can¡¯t even handle a knife properly; her roasted meat always ends up overcooked,"


    he added with a wink, though he recalled the chaotic scene she¡¯d once created in the kitchen.


    Cleo rolled her eyes but smiled, then took a step forward, kneeling beside Rex.


    "Hello, Lyra,"


    she said in a gentle tone


    . "My name is Cleo, and I¡¯m a Kaelzar."


    Lyra¡¯s eyes widened.


    "A Kaelzar? But¡­ you look human!"


    She gasped, clearly astonished.


    Cleo¡¯s cheeks colored slightly. Kaelzars didn¡¯t have a fixed form, and Cleo had chosen a human-like appearance for convenience.


    "While I may look human, I assure you, I¡¯m very much a Kaelzar."


    To prove her point, she extended her ethereal, angel-like wings from her back, the soft glow illuminating the room.


    Lyra¡¯s mouth fell open in awe.


    "Wow! You¡¯re... you¡¯re beautiful! Are you like one of..."


    "


    Lyra!


    " a sharp voice interrupted, echoing from across the room. Nyra rushed forward, grabbing her sister and pulling her back protectively; her eyes narrowed, her body taut with suspicion as she red at Rex and Cleo.


    "And here¡¯s the grumpy one,


    " Rex remarked with a smirk. "


    I was wondering when you¡¯d show up."


    Nyra scowled, holding Lyra close.


    "What do you want with us? Stay away from my sister!"


    Cleo crossed her arms, studying the defiant young girl with a cool expression. "


    Ungrateful, aren¡¯t we? I can¡¯t recall thest time someone resented being rescued,"


    she said dryly, standing up.


    "Rescued?"


    Nyra spat, her voiceced with venom.


    "That man killed our papa! How is that rescuing us?"


    She pointed an using finger at Rex, her eyes brimming with anger.


    Cleo let out a weary sigh.


    "You think he killed your father? From what I saw, it was¨D"


    "That¡¯s enough!!"


    Rex interrupted sharply, his voice firm, cutting Cleo off before she could make things worse. He turned to her, giving her a gentle pat on the head in silent apology for the outburst.


    "Let me handle this, Cleo."


    Taking a deep breath, Rex stepped closer to the twins, his expression somber. He looked at Nyra, meeting her furious gaze head-on.


    "All right, Nyra,


    " he said calmly.


    "If you believe I took your father from you, then I¡¯ll give you a chance to make things right.


    "


    With a swift motion, Rex summoned a small sword from his nanomaterial, crafting it carefully before tossing it onto the ground in front of the twins. He sat down on the cold, metallic floor, deactivating his armor, leaving himself entirely vulnerable.


    "There. Take the sword,"


    he said, his voice steady.


    "If you want to avenge your father, now¡¯s your chance. Do whatever you feel is right."

 Chapter 92: The hidden clan.

    For a moment, the room was silent. Lyra stared at the sword on the floor, her eyes wide with confusion, while Nyra looked between Rex and the weapon, anger flickering with hesitation. She tightened her grip on her sister¡¯s hand, torn between the fear she felt and the hatred she carried.


    Rex remained still, his gaze unwavering.


    "I won¡¯t stop you. If this is what you need to do, then do it. I¡¯ll ept the consequences."


    Nyra¡¯s hands trembled as she reached toward the sword, her fingers hovering above it, eyes filled with a mixture of pain, anger, and doubt. She nced up at Rex, and in that moment, saw no malice in his face, only the weight of his words and a quiet eptance.


    Finally, she dropped her hand, stepping back and looking away, her eyes filling with tears. "I... I don¡¯t understand... Why would you give me a chance to hurt you...?"


    Nyra dropped to her knees, her small body trembling as tears welled up in her eyes. Her voice quivered as she spoke, the weight of her guilt crashing down on her.


    "I-I... it was me, wasn¡¯t it? Because of me, Papa died. He died because he was trying to protect me. It¡¯s all my fault!"


    Her brave facade shattered, and she broke downpletely, sobbing uncontrobly.


    Rex watched in silence for a moment, his expression softening. Without hesitation, he moved toward the twins and wrapped his arms around them both, pulling them into a firm, reassuring hug.


    At first, Nyra resisted, her small fists pressing weakly against his chest, but then she melted into the embrace, her sobs growing louder. Lyra clung to him as well, tears streaming down her face. Though they had known Rex for less than an hour, there was something about his presence, his warmth, and his strength that made them feel safe, even in their grief.


    Minutes passed, and the room filled only with the sound of their crying. Rex stayed still, kneeling on the floor, holding them close as they released the pain they had been carrying for far too long.


    When their sobs finally quieted, Rex released them gently, cing a hand on each of their shoulders. He met their tear-streaked faces with a steady, understanding gaze.


    "Listen to me,"


    Rex said softly, his deep voice carrying aforting strength.


    "There isn¡¯t a father in the universe who wouldn¡¯t do what yours did."


    Nyra and Lyra looked up at him, their eyes wide and red, their breaths still shaky.


    "For him, you two were the most precious thing he had left in this forsaken world. If he could use his body to shield you, to give you even one more second of life, that¡¯s a decision he would never regret. Not even for a moment."


    Rex¡¯s voice grew even gentler, his wordsced withpassion.


    "In his final moments, he made sure you both were safe. That¡¯s not something to me yourself for. It¡¯s not anyone¡¯s fault. You got that?"


    The twins stared at him, their guilt slowly giving way to understanding. Finally, they nodded, wiping their tear-soaked faces. Rex smiled softly, reaching out to ruffle their hair.


    "That¡¯s better," he said warmly.


    Then, as if switching gears, Rex¡¯s tone lightened.


    "Now, Cleo here mentioned that you two need to consume blood to stay healthy. That true?"


    He looked at them with a casual expression, as though the subjects were nothing out of the ordinary.


    The twins froze, their faces turning pale. Nyra stuttered, her voice cracking with fear.


    "How do you know that?"


    Rex chuckled softly.


    "Well, my wife here,"


    he said, gesturing to Cleo,


    "is in charge of everything on this ship, including the doctor bots. She told me about it. Don¡¯t worry, though. It¡¯s not a big deal. The gxy is full of different kinds of people and races. Needing blood? That¡¯s not even the strangest thing out there."


    Lyra¡¯s usually calm demeanor broke as she gripped her sister¡¯s arm tightly, her voice rising with emotion


    . "But in this world, there¡¯s no one like us! Everyone treated us like monsters because of it!"


    Tears began welling up in her eyes again, her voice trembling with frustration.


    Cleo stepped forward, her voice cool but firm.


    "That¡¯s because they were clueless civilians,"


    she said.


    "Of course they¡¯d react that way; they don¡¯t know anything about the Blood n of assassins."


    Both twins froze, staring at Cleo with wide, shocked eyes.


    "The... Blood n?"


    Lyra whispered, her voice barely audible.


    "Wait... what? Blood n? Assassins?"


    Rex¡¯s eyebrows shot up, clearly more surprised than the twins.


    Nyra blinked, her confusion quickly turning to curiosity.


    "What¡¯s the Blood n? What do you mean by assassins?"


    Cleo crossed her arms, her golden eyes narrowing as if she were piecing together her own thoughts.


    "The Blood n is an ancient faction of assassins scattered across the gxy. Your ability to consume blood isn¡¯t unique; it¡¯s part of your heritage. It¡¯s what made your people some of the deadliest fighters in the gxy. Most people don¡¯t know about them because they operate in the shadows, and only those involved in... unsavory circles would even have heard of their existence."


    Lyra¡¯s mouth fell open.


    "Wait, you¡¯re saying we¡¯re connected to... assassins?"


    Cleo nodded.


    "Exactly. Your physiology matches theirs, enhanced strength, agility, regenerative abilities. All of it is fueled by blood consumption. It¡¯s no coincidence. You¡¯re part of something far greater than you know."


    Rex rubbed the back of his head, clearly processing this new information. "


    Wait, hold on. Assassins? Ancient factions? You¡¯re telling me these two kids are descendants of some super-secret gxy-wide assassin cult? And no one told me?"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Cleo shot him a sideways nce.


    "I didn¡¯t think it was relevant until now."


    "Not relevant? I¡¯m standing here babysitting two tiny super-assassins, and that¡¯s not relevant?"


    Rex said, throwing his hands up.


    "What else are you hiding, Cleo?"


    Nyra and Lyra exchanged nces, their fear giving way to curiosity and disbelief. For the first time, Nyra spoke without hostility, her voice small but steady.


    "If... if that¡¯s true, then why didn¡¯t Papa ever tell us? Why didn¡¯t he know?"


    Cleo sighed, her expression softening slightly.


    "The Blood n fractured a long time ago, scattered across the gxy. Many of their descendants don¡¯t even know who they are anymore. Your father may not have known the truth about your heritage... or maybe he was trying to protect you from it."


    The room fell silent as the weight of her words sank in. Lyra nced at her sister, her voice trembling.


    "Do you think we¡¯ll ever find out the truth?"


    Rex kneeled down again, giving them both a reassuring smile.


    "If that¡¯s something you want, we¡¯ll help you find the answers. Together."


    He looked back at Cleo, his grin yful but genuine.


    "Right, oh mysterious wife of mine?"


    Cleo rolled her eyes but smiled faintly.


    "Yes, together."


    For the first time, the twins looked at Rex and Cleo not with fear or anger but with a flicker of hope.


    "Well,"


    Rex began, crossing his arms with a wry smile,


    "that brings us to the golden question. Where exactly are we supposed to get blood for you two? Everyone here is basically a machine, unless you¡¯re okay with swapping out blood for some nice, warm engine oil."


    The room went silent. When Rex nced up, he noticed Cleo and the twins were all staring at him, their expressions unreadable. He blinked, pointing at himself. "


    What? Why are you guys staring at me like that?"


    Cleo tilted her head slightly, her tonepletely neutral as she replied, "


    You¡¯re the only one on this ship with blood running through your veins."


    Rex froze, the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks.


    "Wait... what? Hold on a second; you¡¯ve got a body too, right?"


    He gestured toward Cleo, his tone a mix of hope and mild panic.


    Cleo gave him a t look, folding her arms across her chest.


    "True, I do have a physical body, and it looks exactly like a human¡¯s. But what flows through my veins is nanomaterial. This body isn¡¯t flesh and blood; it¡¯s made entirely from that material.


    "


    "Nanomaterial,"


    Rex echoed, groaning as he rubbed the back of his neck. He let out a small, defeated sigh and held up a hand, summoning a knife with his nanotech.


    "Fine, fine. So what do I need to do? Cut my neck open or something?"


    Cleo¡¯s golden eyes narrowed slightly, her disgust unmistakable as she leveled her gaze at him. "


    And then what? You expect these little girls to lick your wounds with their tiny tongues? Do you even hear yourself right now?"


    Her tone was icy, her disdain unfiltered.


    Rex jumped back, nearly dropping the knife.


    "Whoa! No! That¡¯s not, hold on! That¡¯s not what I meant!"


    His face flushed as he waved his hands frantically, trying to backpedal.


    "I swear, it¡¯s nothing like that!"


    Cleo sighed, clearly unimpressed by his flustered exnation. She ignored his stammering and picked up two syringes, each capable of holding a liter of blood.


    "You¡¯re hopeless,"


    she muttered before giving him a sharp look. "


    Sit down and stop talking before you make it worse."


    Rex sighed, relenting. He sat down as Cleo approached, rolling up his sleeve.


    "I can¡¯t believe this,"


    he mumbled as she methodically drew two full liters of blood from his arm.


    "I¡¯m going to pass out and die on this ship one day, and you won¡¯t even care."


    Cleo gave him a quick nce as she finished.


    "Correct,


    " she said dryly, sealing the syringes with precision. She poured the golden blood into two elegant wine sses before handing them to the twins, who stared at the cups warily.


    Nyra looked up at Rex, her voice soft but hesitant.


    "Are you... sure this is safe for us to drink?"

 Chapter 93: Progenitor.

    Rex raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward himself.


    "What? Of course, it''s safe! I can guarantee you my blood is top-notch. I don''t smoke, I don''t do drugs... well, I drink asionally, but it''s been a while, so I''m clean!"


    He gave them a thumbs-up, grinning.


    Lyra frowned slightly as she swirled the golden liquid in her ss, watching it catch the light.


    "It''s not that, Uncle Rex. It''s just¡­ your blood is golden. We''ve seen red and brown blood before, but we''ve never seen anything like this."


    Rex blinked, looking genuinely surprised for a moment, then leaned back smugly.


    "Huh. Guess I''m built different,"


    he said with a shrug.


    Cleo stepped in, her analytical tone taking over.


    "Affirmative. Rex''s blood contains a significantly higher concentration of aura and nutrientspared to most races. For a member of the Blood n, this should not be an issue. In fact, it will act as a powerful stimnt, temporarily enhancing your abilities and strengthening your bodies."


    She gave the twins an expectant look, gesturing toward the sses.


    "Drink it. You''ll feel better."


    The twins exchanged hesitant nces, their apprehension written all over their faces. Nyra''s fingers trembled slightly as she brought the ss closer to her mouth, and Lyra gave her a tiny nod of encouragement. After a long pause, they both tilted their sses, the golden liquid flowing into their mouths.


    They frozen the moment they swallowed, their eyes widening. A wave of warmth coursed through their bodies, their pale faces gaining a faint flush of color. For a few moments, neither of them spoke, their expressions a mixture of shock and amazement.


    "How do you feel?"


    Rex asked, leaning forward with concern.


    Lyra set her ss down slowly, her voice soft but steady.


    "It''s¡­ warm. And sweet. I didn''t expect it to taste like this."


    Nyra nodded, her voice trembling slightly.


    "I feel... stronger. Like I was starving before and didn''t even know it."


    She paused, looking at Rex with a new sense of awe.


    "Uncle, what are you?"


    Rex scratched his head awkwardly, giving them a sheepish smile.


    "Just a guy trying to help you guys out. Nothing special."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Cleo''s lips curled into the faintest of smirks.


    "Nothing special, he says, while his blood could probably fuel a small army."


    "Alright, alright, no need to hype me up,"


    Rex said, waving them off.


    "Just d you''re feeling better. And hey, Cleo, next time, you''re donating the nanomaterial equivalent, alright?


    "


    Cleo didn''t dignify hisment with a response, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes as she watched him banter with the twins.


    As the conversation drifted into lighthearted topics, Rex noticed something strange. He furrowed his brow and pointed at the twins.


    "Hold on... what''s thating from the girls?


    "


    Cleo turned her head, following Rex''s gaze. Her golden eyes studied the faint, glowing white smoke rising from the twins'' bodies.


    "Hmm? Interesting,"


    she murmured, narrowing her eyes as her scanners activated.


    "It looks like they''ve adapted to your aura and absorbed it."


    Rex blinked in surprise, leaning closer to get a better look at the twins. Their brown hair was now gradually turning a brilliant, snowy white, and their once soft, brown eyes had shifted into a vivid crimson that seemed to shimmer faintly in the dim light.


    Cleo tilted her head slightly, clearly fascinated


    . "This is truly remarkable. I''ve never seen anyone from the Blood n develop these characteristics. Usually, when they awaken their ancestral bloodline, they gain red hair and red eyes, but never white hair. This is something entirely new."


    She ran several scans on the twins, data scrolling across her holo screens.


    "Their transformation isn''t just aesthetic. Their energy signatures have increased exponentially, and thetent aura in their blood has awakened fully."


    Rex scratched the back of his head, watching the girls curiously as their crimson eyes focused on him, unblinking.


    "Wait, so you''re saying they''re not pure blood?"


    he asked, feeling a bit uneasy under their intense stares.


    Cleo shook her head.


    "No, they''re pure blood, but not from the Blood n we know. Their transformation is likely tied to your aura. The power in your blood is far stronger than that of the ancient Blood n progenitors."


    She paused, folding her arms as her piercing gaze locked onto Rex.


    "Rex, just who are you? There''s no way you''re a normal human."


    Her words made the room go still. Lyra and Nyra both stared at him, their glowing crimson eyes fixed on his face. Even Cleo, normallyposed and detached, seemed genuinely intrigued, her expression unreadable.


    "What do you mean, who am I?"


    Rex said, blinking at them like they were crazy.


    "I''m just me. A regr guy. Well, I was a regr guy before I met you, Cleo. Just an orphan ve working with Carlos, doing what I could to survive. You know my story.


    " He shrugged casually, as if her question had no weight at all.


    Cleo''s neutral tone didn''t waver.


    "Your story doesn''t match the science. I''ve scanned Carlos'' blood before, and while his DNA is typical for humans and several humanoid species, yours ispletely different.


    "


    She summoned two DNA helix projections into the air, one glowing a soft blue and the other a radiant gold.


    "Look at this. The helix on the right is Carlos'', a perfectly standard human genome. And on the left is yours, which... She gestured toward the golden helix. "Doesn''t match anything. No known race in the gxy has a gic structure even remotely simr."


    Rex stared at the projections for a moment before shrugging again, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "


    So what you''re saying is, I''m a limited-time collectible? Great. Now I feel totally special."


    Cleo sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.


    "I''m being serious, Rex. Your blood and DNA are unique, and the fact that it''s affecting the twins so drastically proves that your existence isn''t ordinary."


    "Yeah, well, my DNA''s probably all messed up because of you and Ys,"


    Rex replied with a smirk.


    "I''m pretty sure you two cooked me into something weird along the way."


    He crossed his arms and gave the twins a cheeky grin.


    "Anyway, why are you two staring at me so hard? I mean, I know I''m handsome, bute on, I prefer more... developed girls."


    Nyra''s face flushed immediately.


    "W-who said we were staring at you!?


    " she snapped, turning her head to hide her embarrassment.


    "But Sis,"


    Lyra said with her inocent voice, "


    we were staring at him.


    " She tilted her head innocently, her crimson eyes still locked onto Rex.


    "Oho?"


    Rex''s smirk widened.


    "I see how it is. So little stubborn Nyra''s too shy to admit it, huh? Alright then, brave little Lyra, tell me, why were you staring at me so hard? Please don''t tell me it''s because I look like a walking cafeteria to you now."


    Lyra blinked at him, her expressionpletely earnest.


    "It''s because Uncle Rex is shining so brightly. There''s something inside of us that''s drawn to it. It feels¡­forting."


    Her soft, calm voice carried a strange weight, as if she didn''t fully understand what she was saying.


    Rex raised an eyebrow, intrigued.


    "Shining, huh? That''s a first. Alright, what about you, little stubborn Nyra? What do you feel?"


    Nyra''s face burned red as she refused to meet his gaze, ring at the wall instead.


    "I didn''t feel anything!"


    she snapped, crossing her arms.


    "I was only staring because Lyra was doing it!"


    She bit her lip, furious with herself. There was no way she could admit the truth, that Rex''s presence felt overwhelming, like standing before a god, and that a primal instinct inside her made her want to obey himpletely.


    Cleo observed them silently, her analytical mind already piecing things together. What no one else in the room realized was that something extraordinary had just urred. Rex''s unique blood had fundamentally altered the twins, awakening a power that had long been dormant within them.


    What''s more, they had unconsciously recognized him as a progenitor, a force unlike anything in the history of the Blood n. The Blood n had only ever had three progenitors, all born from within their race. But now, for the first time, an outsider had be the source of new blood.


    Cleo''s expression grew distant as she considered the implications. Whatever had just happened to the twins was only the beginning. Rex''s existence was about to send ripples across the gxy.


    "Alright,"


    Rex said, stretching and ncing at the glowing crimson-eyed twins.


    "It''ste, and since you girls already had your ''dinner,'' it''s time to get some sleep. But before that, go brush your teeth."


    He paused, rubbing their heads affectionately, then frowned as if reconsidering.


    "Actually, scratch that. You two need a proper shower first. You probably haven''t had one in days or weeks."


    Lyra tilted her head curiously, while Nyra just gave him a suspicious look, crossing her arms.


    "Better yet,"


    Rex continued, pointing toward Cleo,


    "go with her and take a nice, long, hot shower. She''ll help you clean up. I''ll... uh... take care of some other things while you''re busy."


    He grinned, stepping toward the door.


    "Well then, Cleo, the girls are officially in your care."


    Cleo blinked, raising a delicate eyebrow.


    "Understood,"


    she replied simply before turning her sharp gaze to the twins.


    "Come along, little girls. We''ll get you cleaned up, and afterward, we''ll figure out something more suitable for you to wear."


    She swiped her hand through the air, summoning a series of holo screens in front of her.


    Her fingers danced across the projections as data shed rapidly.


    "Attention, all units in the Necrotech world. This is a top-priority order. Begin searching for female clothing immediately, casual wear, nightwear, anything that fits. I''m transmitting size specifications now. You have thirty minutes to deliver everything to the transport ship. Failures will be noted."


    With a swipe of her hand, the screens vanished, leaving Lyra and Nyra staring at her in stunned silence, their mouths slightly open.


    "Now then,"


    Cleo said with her usual neutral voice, offering her hands to the twins,


    "let''s take that shower."


    The twins hesitated for a moment, still processing what had just happened. Lyra, as always, was the first to move, cing her tiny hand in Cleo''s. Nyra, after ncing suspiciously at Rex as he left the room, reluctantly followed suit, grabbing Cleo''s other hand.


    "Good girls,"


    Cleo said with a small, approving nod as she led them toward the bathing quarters.


    Meanwhile, Rex chuckled to himself as he walked down the hall.


    "Man, Cleo really runs things like a military operation. Thirty minutes for clothes? Those poor Aegis units are probably panicking right now."


    Shaking his head with a smirk, he headed off to tackle his own tasks, leaving Cleo and the twins to their newfound routine.

 Chapter 94: The blood clan.

    Rex walked through the dim corridors of the ship, his steps echoing softly until he reached the massive reinforced window overlooking the Necroworld below.


    The lifeless stretched out before him, its surface scarred by deep fisures and unnatural formations, bathed in an eerie greenish light from the system''s distant star. He stood there, his arms crossed, staring into the endless wastnd as his mind drifted to the things he had just learned.


    He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair.


    "So... I''m not even human anymore, huh?"


    he muttered to himself, the words heavy as they left his lips.


    But even as he said it, doubt lingered in his heart. Before meeting Cleo, he had been just another orphan scraping by on a harsh world, a human with red blood and nothing extraordinary about him.


    It was only after bing a half-Kaelzar that things had started to change. The golden blood, the aura, the strange pull others seemed to feel toward him, all of it had begun after Cleo had altered his body.


    Rex frowned, leaning against the reinforced ss. "


    Maybe it''s all connected to what Cleo did to me... or maybe there''s something else I don''t know yet,"


    he murmured. His fingers tapped against the window absentmindedly.


    "But there''s no point in thinking too hard about it. Whatever''s going on, we''ll figure it out sooner orter."


    Letting out another sigh, he pushed himself off the window and headed back toward his quarters. His body felt heavy, his mind racing, but he was determined to push it all aside for now.


    "Sleep first. Save the gxy-shattering identity crisis forter,"


    he muttered to himself with a dry chuckle as he disappeared down the hallway.


    Meanwhile, in the dark alleys of Nakor''s principalmercial city...


    The slum reeked of decay and desperation, its narrow, winding streets cloaked in shadow. In the dead of night, a notorious criminal, a man wanted for multiple murders, extortion, and unspeakable abuses, ran for his life.


    Sweat poured down his face as his breath came in ragged gasps, his wild eyes darting around in search of an escape.


    Behind him, shadows moved swiflty across the rooftops, silent and relentless. They moved like predators, closing the gap with every leap. The criminal turned a corner, his boots sshing through the filthy, wet ground, but it was no use. One of the shadows pounced, mming him into the dirt with brutal force.


    "Argh! Unhand me, you bastard!"


    the man spat, thrashing against his captor. "


    Do you even know who I am? You''re dead! You hear me? DEAD!"


    The figure pinning him down said nothing, his face obscured by the deep hood of a dark red robe. His armor, the same blood-red color, gleamed faintly under the dim light.


    The man''smunicator crackled to life, and he spoke into it in a low, gravelly voice.


    "Sir, we''ve captured the target. Should we kill him?"


    A calm yetmanding voice responded through the line.


    "No. The client specifically requested he be brought back alive so she can deal with him personally."


    The red-d figure nced down at the squirming criminal, disdain shing in his hidden gaze.


    "Understood. But with respect, sir, why are we wasting time on work like this? Any low-level assassin or mercenary could''ve handled it."


    He punctuated his frustration by kicking the criminal in the ribs, eliciting a grunt of pain.


    The voice on the other end of the line responded evenly, unbothered by theint.


    "Consider it training. Our real mission is far more significant. The client has tasked us with eliminating the key leaders of the underground city. The ones who keep its dark web of crime and power in motion."


    The figure''s interest piqued at that.


    "And do we have a lead on these leaders, sir?"


    "Indeed,"


    the leader replied.


    "The first target has already been identified. He''s the head of the Thunderdes mercenary group, a human by the name of Carlos. Brown skin, bald, and notorious in the underworld."


    The figure nced back at his squad, the shadows shifting as more red-armored individuals emerged from the darkness.


    "Carlos, huh? Well, if we already know where he is, why are we wasting time on this trash?"


    He kicked the groaning criminal again for emphasis.


    The voice on themunicator remained calm, but there was a sharp edge to it now.


    "Patience. The client has already arranged for Carlos to take a lucrative mission outside the city. Once he leaves the safety of the city, we''ll ambush him. It will be quick and clean."


    The figure nodded, rising to his full height.


    "Understood, sir. We''ll deliver this one and regroup for the next phase."


    "See that you do. And remember,"


    the voice added,


    "failure is not an option."


    Themunication ended, and the figure turned to his squad.


    "You heard the boss. Let''s move. The client wants this garbage alive, so let''s not kill him just yet."


    He grabbed the criminal by the cor, dragging him to his feet.


    As the squad melted back into the shadows, their movements precise and practiced, the criminal whimpered, his false bravado long gone. Far above, the city''s neon lights flickered in the distance, oblivious to these events.


    "Alright, son, I have to hang up now,"


    Carlos said through hismunicator, his voice warm but tinged with urgency.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He climbed into his all-terrain vehicle, the engine rumbling to life beneath him. "


    I just took a mission that needs to be handled quickly, and it''s outside the city. Remember to study hard, alright?"


    On the other end of the secure line, a young boy''s voice piped up, clear but a little disappointed.


    "Okay, Dad. But¡­ When will you and Uncle Rexe visit me?"


    Carlos sighed, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he leaned back in his seat.


    "We''ve talked about this, son. It''s too dangerous for us to visit right now. The work I do... it''s not something I want you or your grandma getting involved in."


    His voice softened, though, trying to ease the boy''s frustration.


    "At least we can talk thanks to that secure line Rex''s girl set up for us. When the timees, when it''s safe, I''ll tell you, and we''ll finally meet face-to-face. Deal?"


    There was a pause on the other end, then a long, drawn-out sigh.


    "Fiiiine¡­ okay, deal,"


    the boy finally relented, his tone reluctant.


    "But you have to promise, Dad. You''ll let me know when."


    Carlos smiled faintly, his hardened expression softening for a moment.


    "I promise, son. Now, take care of yourself, stay out of trouble, and keep an eye on your grandma for me, alright?"


    "Okay, Dad. I will. See you soon. And... don''t get hurt!"


    Carlos chuckled, his chest tightening at the boy''s words.


    "I''ll be fine. You know me. Take care, kiddo."


    "Bye, Dad,"


    the boy said before the line went silent.


    Carlos sat in his seat for a moment, staring at themunicator in his hand. The sound of his son''s voice always made his resolve stronger, and the distance between them was even harder to bear. He ced themunicator in its holder, letting out a quiet breath before focusing on the task ahead.


    The engine roared as he started driving toward the city''s massive gates. Inside themercial, only military officers were legally permitted to use airships for transport. Everyone else, even mercenaries like Carlos, had to rely onnd vehicles.


    Not that he minded too much since he loved his rugged, heavily-modified all-terrain car, a beast of a vehicle that looked more like a tank than anything else.


    As he neared the city''s gates, Carlos pushed the elerator, the vehicle''s tires crunching against the dirt road. The towering metal doors of the underground city loomed ahead, their floodlights casting harsh beams across the darkened outskirts.


    "Time to get this over with,"


    Carlos muttered to himself.


    The guards at the gate barely gave him a nce as he approached. They were used to seeing him since Carlos was a regr face here, and no one questioned hisings and goings anymore.


    With a sharp nod from one of the officers, the gates rumbled open, and Carlos sped through without issue, heading out into the endless, barren wilderness beyond.


    The night stretched before him, the stars barely visible through the faint haze of pollution lingering in the atmosphere. As he drove further from the city, the weight of the mission settled on his shoulders.


    Something about this job didn''t sit right with him, but work was work, and Carlos had learned long ago not to ask too many questions.


    Unbeknownst to him, several pairs of crimson eyes watched from the shadows, tracking his every move.


    Carlos drove through the dense forest at breakneck speed, the roar of his vehicle''s engine echoing through the night. The tires kicked up dirt and rocks as he sped along the uneven terrain, the all-terrain car handling the harsh ground with ease.


    At 250 kilometers per hour, Carlos knew he was pushing the limits, but he trusted his beloved tank-like car to get him to his destination safely.


    The forest blurred past him, its massive trees casting dark shadows under the pale glow of the moons above. Carlos kept his eyes on the road, or what passed for a road out here. He grinned faintly, adrenaline surging through him. "


    Let''s see someone try to catch me now,"


    he muttered, the confidence in his voice born from years of dangerous missions.


    Unbeknownst to him, his confidence was misced.


    Through the dense canopy of the forest, several dark red figures moved with inhuman speed. Their armored forms blended seamlessly with the shadows, their movements so swift and precise that they seemed almost like phantoms.


    Despite the incredible speed of Carlos'' vehicle, the figures were keeping pace, their strides long and powerful as they darted between the trees.


    From the side of the forest, one of the shadows gave a silent signal. The others responded instantly, surging forward as one. Their timing was perfect; within seconds, several of the dark red figures leapt from the underbrush, their powerful bodies hurtling toward the speeding car.


    The impact was sudden and violent.


    CRASH!

 Chapter 95: The blood clan (2).

    The first shadow mmed into the side of the vehicle with bone-crushing force, denting the reinforced armor of the car and sending it skidding off the dirt road. Carlos barely had time to react as the entire vehicle careened into the forest, smashing through thick undergrowth before colliding head-on with one of the massive trees.


    The crash echoed through the forest, a deafening mix of metal grinding and wood splintering. Carlos was thrown forward, his seatbelt keeping him from being hurled through the windshield, though the force still left him gasping for air.


    His beloved car groaned under the strain, smoke beginning to rise from the engine as the vehicle''s systems struggled to function.


    Carlos shook his head, his vision swimming as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.


    "What the hell...?"


    he muttered, his hands gripping the wheel tightly. His instincts kicked in, and he reached for the weapon holstered beneath his seat, his breath ragged.


    But before he could arm himself, the shadows moved again.


    Outside, the red-armored figures circled the wreck like predators stalking wounded prey. Their movements were unnaturally fluid, almost graceful, as they closed in on the vehicle.


    One of them, clearly the leader, approached the driver''s side, their crimson helmet reflecting the faint light filtering through the trees.


    Carlos tightened his grip on the weapon, his heart pounding as he tried to steady his breathing.


    "Looks like someone finally caught me,"


    he muttered to himself, his tone a mix of defiance and grim humor.


    The leader of the dark crimson assassins raised a gloved hand, making a silent gesture toward two of his subordinates. Without hesitation, the pair stepped forward, their movements confident, almostzy.


    "Check if the target''s dead,"


    the leader ordered through hismunicator, his voice calm butmanding. Humans were a notoriously weak race, after all, fragile creatures who could rarely survive a direct attack, let alone a violent crash like the one that had just taken ce.


    A collision like this should have been more than enough to kill any ordinary human or leave them heavily wounded and helpless.


    The two assassins moved toward the wreckage of the car, their heavy boots crunching against the forest floor. They didn''t bother with caution, strolling up to the mangled vehicle with the confidence of predators certain their prey was already dead.


    One of them leaned down, peering through the cracked and smoky window to confirm the kill.Suddenly, the quiet forest was shattered by the deafening roar of gunfire.


    A hailstorm of bullets erupted from within the vehicle, the muzzle shes lighting up the wreck like fireworks. The two assassins didn''t even have time to react. The first was riddled with holes, blood spraying as the bullets tore through his crimson armor, severing limbs and leaving him on the ground without moving.


    The second fared no better, his torso practically disintegrating under the relentless barrage. Both copsed to the ground in pools of their own blood, their bodies twitching for a brief moment before going still.


    "Quickly, dodge!"


    the leader barked, his voice sharp.


    The remaining assassins reacted instantly, their reflexes honed by years of brutal training. They scattered into the shadows, moving with incredible speed and precision as the storm of bullets continued to pour from the car.


    It was clear this was no ordinary group; they were elites, highly trained killers who had faced far worse than a stray gunman.


    For several tense seconds, the gunfire continued, the sound echoing through the forest. Then, abruptly, it stopped. Smoke rose from the car, the silence thick and foreboding.


    Before the assassins could regroup, the driver''s side door was kicked off its hinges with a loud metallic ng.The twisted hunk of steel sent flying several meters before crashing into the undergrowth.


    Carlos stepped out of the wreckage, his silhouette looming in the faint moonlight. His power armor, usually a sleek gray design, was bulkier than usual, reinforced with heavier ting that gleamed faintly beneath theyer of dirt and scratches from the crash.


    In his right hand, he held his trusted shockwave hammer, its head humming faintly with stored energy. Where his left hand should have been, there was now a smoking minigun mounted directly to his arm, its barrels still glowing from the intense heat of the earlier gunfire.


    Carlos scanned the area, his AI-enhanced helmet HUD marking out faint heat signatures in the trees around him.


    "Well, well,"


    he said, his voice calm but carrying a dangerous edge.


    "More assassins? You guys are the fourth group today. At least I''ve already taken out two of you."


    He rolled his shoulders, the servants in his power armor whining softly as he adjusted his stance. His helmet''s visor glinted as he turned his head, taking in the shadows shifting in the trees.


    The leader of the assassins stepped forward from the darkness, his crimson armor pristine and imposing, his presence radiating authority.


    "Target is still alive,"


    he said coldly, addressing his squad.


    "Surround him. Execute quickly."


    Carlos smirked, gripping his hammer tightly as the minigun on his left arm whirred, spinning back to life.


    "Come on, then,"


    he said, his tone dripping with confidence.


    "Let''s see if you''re any better than thest group. Spoiler alert: they weren''t."


    The assassins moved swiftly, their crimson forms darting between the trees like wraiths. But Carlos stood his ground, his hammer crackling with energy as his AI continued to track their movements. The fight was far from over, and Carlos was more than ready to show them why he had survived this long.


    In the blink of an eye, several crimson-armored assassins surrounded Carlos. Their wed gauntlets glinted menacingly in the moonlight as they struck simultaneously, aiming to pierce his body and end the fight in one brutal instant.


    But their deadly strikes were stopped cold, deflected by the shimmering energy shields generated by Carlos'' reinforced power armor. The faint hum of the shields resonated through the air as Carlos smirked.


    "


    Guess you''re not as tough as you look,


    " he said before gripping his hammer tightly. With a powerful swing, he brought the weapon, crashing down on the nearest assassin''s head. The force of the blow was devastating; armor buckled, bones shattered, and the assassin crumpled to the ground, his heads reduced to a puddle of blood and gore.


    Carlos barely paused, raising his minigun-mounted arm and unleashing a barrage of bullets at the remaining assassins. This time, they were ready, darting away with inhuman speed. Some scrambled for cover among the trees, while others waited for an opportunity to strike, their movements calcted and precise.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The battle raged on, a chaotic game of cat and mouse. Carlos swung his hammer and fired his minigun relentlessly, each attack sending shockwaves through the air. In turn, the assassins circled him like wolves, lunging at him in coordinated strikes only to be repelled by his energy shields or his hammer''s crushing blows.


    This deadly dance continued for over an hour, the forest echoing with the sounds of gunfire, the hum of energy weapons, and the metallic sh of armor. By now, Carlos was certain he had taken down at least six of his attackers, their blood staining the forest floor where their bodies had fallen.


    But something was wrong.


    He frowned, his keen eyes scanning the battlefield as he caught his breath. The assassins'' numbers didn''t seem to be decreasing. If anything, it felt like there were


    more


    of them now than when the fight had started. And when he nced at the spots where he had killed his earlier opponents, he realized with a sinking feeling that the bodies were gone.


    "What the hell is going on here?"


    Carlos muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on his hammer.


    There was no time to dwell on the mystery. The assassins gave him no respite, attacking from all angles in a relentless assault.


    Carlos'' energy shields red brightly as they absorbed hit after hit, but even with the armor''s enhancements, he was beginning to feel the strain. His breathing grew heavier, and his movements slowed as exhaustion began to creep in.


    After nearly three hours of nonstopbat, Carlos was showing signs of fatigue. His armor''s energy reserves were running low, and the cracks in his defenses were bing more apparent.


    The leader of the assassins, who had been watching the fight from a distance, finally stepped forward, his crimson sword glinting ominously in the pale light.


    "Well, well,"


    the leader said, his tone dripping with disdain. "


    It seems the mad dog is finally out of breath."


    Carlos smirked, his breathing inbored gasps.


    "Hah! I''m not tired, you idiot,"


    he shouted, his voice tinged with defiance.


    "I''m just old!"


    The leader chuckled, shaking his head as he walked closer. "


    Don''t worry,"


    he said coldly.


    "After


    today, you won''t feel the passage of time anymore."


    Before Carlos could respond, the leader vanished from sight, moving faster than Carlos'' eyes could track. In the next instant, a powerful strikended on Carlos'' energy shield, sending him staggering backward.


    Carlos barely had time to recover before another blow came, this one mming into his side. The force was tremendous, and though his shields held, the impacts rattled his body inside the armor.


    The attacks came faster and faster, the leader moving like a phantom, striking from every angle with brutal efficiency. Carlos was being toyed with, his once-imposing form now reduced to a battered figure struggling to stay upright. Finally, a devastating blow sent him crashing to one knee, his hammer slipping from his grip as he gasped for air.


    The leader of the assassins stepped forward, his crimson sword resting on his shoulder as he looked down at Carlos with contempt.


    "That''s more like it,"


    he sneered.


    "On your knees, just like a good dog. You should have done this when we first arrived. It would''ve saved you the trouble."


    Carlos let out a weak chuckle, his shoulders shaking as he lowered his head.


    The leader''s eyes narrowed.


    "What are youughing at?"


    he demanded, his voice sharp with annoyance.


    Carlos nced up, a defiant grin on his dirt-streaked face.


    "I''mughing because... looks like I''m not dying today after all. Guess I''ve got an angel of luck shoved somewhere deep inside my arse!"


    The leader opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the forest suddenly erupted in a blinding cascade of golden sma fire.

 Chapter 96: The blood clan (3).

    sma bolts shot out from all directions, streaking through the air like shooting stars. The assassins scrambled to dodge the iing fire, their reflexes saving many of them as they darted and rolled to safety.


    The leader himself deflected several sma bolts with his crimson sword, the energy sizzling as it shed against his de.


    "What the hell is this?!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The leader barked, hisposure slipping as he scanned the forest. His crimson eyes red as he tried to locate the source of the attack.


    From the shadows, golden sma bolts continued to rain down on the assassins, the intensity forcing them to abandon their coordinated strikes and scatter for survival. Carlos, still kneeling, grinned weakly as he recognized the familiar glow of the sma fire.


    "About damn time,"


    he muttered, his voice filled with both relief and triumph.


    From the sky, the rhythmic hum of engines filled the air as several Aegis units descended, their glowing thrusters illuminating the dark forest below. Theynded with precision, forming a tight defensive circle around Carlos.


    More Aegis units emerged from the forest, sma rifles raised and scanning for targets. Their glowing golden visors cut through the darkness, tracking every movement in the dense forest where the assassins had vanished.


    Carlos, now surrounded by his mechanical reinforcements, grinned, his breath stillbored but his defiance unbroken.


    "Now what?! Where''d all you bastards go?"


    he yelled into the trees, his voice dripping with mockery.


    "Weren''t you all so powerful just a second ago? Come on, don''t run off like scared mutts now!"


    But the forest remained eerily silent. The assassins didn''t bite the bait, their presence hidden, but Carlos could feel their eyes still on him.


    "How''s your situation, Carlos?"


    A familiar voice came through themunicator embedded in his helmet. It was Emilia, her tone professional butced with concern.


    Carlos chuckled, ncing at the Aegis units standing like sentinels around him.


    "Hey, Emilia. Thanks for the backup. I''m fine, just a little scratched up, that''s all. But enough about me. What about the rest of the Thunderdes? Any news on the other teams we sent out on missions?"


    Inside the mansion''s control room, Emilia stood at the center of a circr array of monitors. Her sharp eyes scanned the iing data as she spoke.


    "There''s no sign of any other teams being attacked. From the looks of it, you were the primary target this time."


    She paused, her gaze shifting to the hologram of Cleo, who was watching the footage from Carlos'' car camera with a calm, calcting expression.


    "Lady Cleo rmends you return to the underground city immediately. We need to figure out who''s after your life before you''re exposed any further."


    Carlos sighed, ncing back at his wrecked car.


    "Understood. I''ll head back now. Cancel all other Thunderdes missions and give the teams a paid vacation until further notice. No sense in putting anyone else at risk."


    "Already done,"


    Emilia replied. Her voice softened slightly, betraying a flicker of emotion.


    "Be sure to return with the Aegis escort. And Carlos¡­ stay safe."


    Carlos smirked as he climbed back into his car, a faint warmth in his chest at Emilia''s words. The vehicle groaned under his weight, its damaged systems sputtering, but after a few tense seconds, the engine roared back to life.


    "


    You got it, Emilia,"


    he said, elerating the engine before steering back onto the road. The remaining Aegis units fell into formation around him, their sma rifles still scanning the forest as they escorted him toward the underground city.


    Meanwhile, in the shadows of the forest...


    The assassins watched from their hidden positions, their crimson armor blending seamlessly with the dark forest. One of them limped toward the leader, clutching the stump where his arm had been severed by the earlier sma barrage.


    Without a word, he pressed the severed limb back to the jagged wound. A red mist began to swirl around the injury, and with an unnatural hiss, the arm reattached itself, the flesh knitting back together seamlessly.


    "Sir,"


    the assassin rasped, flexing his fingers experimentally.


    "Are we really going to let him leave just like that?"


    The leader didn''t respond immediately. His crimson sword rested on his shoulder as he watched Carlos'' vehicle disappear into the distance, nked by the glowing Aegis units. A cruel smile crept across his face.


    "No,"


    he said finally, his voice low and dangerous.


    "We''re not."


    The other assassins perked up at his words, their crimson visors glinting faintly in the moonlight.


    The leader''s grin widened as he continued,


    "We''ll follow them. Let the dog lead us to the underground city. Once we find it, we''ll have not one but two objectives in our grasp."


    The injured assassin tilted his head curiously. "


    Two, sir?


    "


    The leader turned his cold gaze toward him.


    "The Thunderdes are only part of the picture. The client''s primary interest lies with the underdogs. If Carlos leads us to them... we''ll finish all three objectives in one stroke."


    Without another word, the leader crouched low and leapt into the air,nding soundlessly on a tree branch high above. The rest of the assassins followed suit, their crimson forms flitting through the forest like shadows, moving with an eerie silence and precision.


    Carlos'' damaged car rumbled in the distance, its glowing lights faintly visible between the trees. The assassins stayed just far enough to remain unseen but close enough to ensure they wouldn''t lose their target.


    The leader''s voice crackled over the assassins'' sharedmunications.


    "Keep pace. Stay out of sight. We''ll strike when the time is right."


    "Understood,


    " came the replies in unison.


    The hunt was far from over, and the leader of the assassins could feel the thrill of the chase building in his veins.


    "Run all you want," he muttered under his breath, a sinister grin spreading across his face.


    "We''ll find you. And when we do... not even a deity could save you."


    Inside the ship''s gym, Cleo was in the middle of close-quarterbat training with Nyra, the faint hum of the wormhole outside vibrating through the ship''s walls. The session had been going for hours now, and the energy in the room was still high, at least for Nyra.


    "Come on, Nyra,"


    Cleo said firmly as she caught the girl by her ankle mid-kick, flipping her upside down with ease. Nyra iled for a moment, her crimson eyes wide, before Cleo carefully ced her back on the ground.


    "I know you can do better. Try again."


    Nyra huffed, brushing a strand of her snowy white hair from her face.


    "I am trying! It''s just¡­ you''re too strong!"


    Cleo tilted her head slightly, her expression as neutral as ever.


    "That''s not an excuse. Out there in the gxy, there are beings far stronger than I am. You should take this opportunity to train with someone who can challenge you. That''s how you grow stronger."


    Nyra clenched her fists, determination lighting up her crimson eyes.


    "Okay, okay, you''re right! Let''s try again! This time, I''ll give it everything I''ve got. Don''t go easy on me!"


    Without hesitation, she charged at Cleo, delivering a flurry of kicks with precision and speed, just as Cleo had taught her.


    On the other side of the gym, Rex sat cross-legged on the floor with Lyra nestled in hisp, her head restingzily against his chest. Cleo and Nyra''s training session had long since stopped feeling like a practice match and had turned into an endurance marathon.


    "Hey, little Lyra,"


    Rex said, his voice lighthearted as he watched Nyra practically bounce across the mat, throwing herself into attack after attack.


    "Does your sister have infinite energy or something? You''ve both been at this for two hours now; wait, scratch that. It''s been three hours."


    Lyra yawned softly, stretching her arms and leaning into Rex''s chest like a cat.


    "It''s not that she has infinite energy,"


    she said, her voice calm and measured.


    "She just doesn''t want to be a burden anymore. I can tell she''s pushing her body past its limits, but she doesn''t care. She wants to be stronger."


    Rex raised an eyebrow, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.


    "Hmm. That actually makes sense. Well, in that case,"


    he said, a yful grin spreading across his face,


    "I just thought of something that''ll make her actually take a break."


    Standing up, Rex stretched his arms overhead, cracking his neck before walking toward Cleo and Nyra. He stopped just as Nyra was spinning into another kick. "


    Alright, girls, that''s enough for now. It''s time for Cleo and me to have a little sparring match with swords."


    Nyra immediately stopped mid-spin, her face scrunching up in protest.


    "What?! But I''m not finished with my¡ªhey!"


    She yelled as Rex scooped her up and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.


    "


    Yes, yes, you''ve done great, little warrior,"


    Rex said with a teasing grin as Nyra squirmed in his grip. "


    Now it''s time for you to sit down, take a rest, and enjoy the show."


    He walked over to where Lyra was sitting and gently ced Nyra down beside her.


    "Stay here and cheer for your favorite parent,"


    he added with a wink before turning back toward the training area.


    Nyra pouted, crossing her arms.


    "You''re not even my parent!"


    "Not yet,"


    Rex shot back with a smirk, grabbing a training ymore from the weapon stash. He spun it in his hand, testing its weight, before turning to Cleo with a mock bow.


    "So, my dear princess, are you ready to dance?"


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, her expression cool but with the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. "


    Give me a moment, my lord,"


    she replied, walking to the stash to select her weapons. She chose two short training swords, their dull edges gleaming under the gym''s bright lights.


    As she turned back to face him, Rex twirled his ymore again, loosening his shoulders.


    "Come, mydy. You may attack first. After all, I''m a gentleman; it''s only proper that thedy leads the dance."


    He motioned with his finger, taunting her to make the first move.


    Cleo''s golden eyes narrowed slightly.


    "You may regret offering me the first strike, my lord,"


    she said, her tone calm but with a razor-sharp edge.


    Rex smirked, nting his feet and raising his ymore into a defensive stance.


    "Oh, I''m counting on it,"


    he said, his voiceced with yful confidence.

 Chapter 97: Worth it.

    The twins, now sitting side by side, watched with wide eyes, their earlier energy forgotten as their attention zeroed in on the two warriors squaring off in the center of the gym. Lyra leaned toward Nyra, whispering softly.


    "Who do you think will win?"


    Nyra frowned, still a little annoyed about being benched.


    "I don''t know... but if Rex loses, I''m going back in."


    Lyra giggled softly.


    "Of course you are."


    In the center of the room, Cleo moved like lightning, her twin swords shing as she closed the distance between them in a heartbeat. Rex''s ymore swung to meet her strike with a resounding


    ng


    , the sound echoing through the gym as their sparring match began in earnest.


    Cleo skillfully dodged Rex''s wide ymore swings, her movements sharp and calcted. She darted in close, looking for an opening to counterattack, but Rex didn''t give her the chance. As she closed in, he suddenly shifted his weight and used his leg to deliver a swift kick, sending her skidding back a few feet.


    "Hahaha! What was that supposed to be? Were you trying to tickle me, Princess?"


    Rex said with a loudugh, resting the ymore on his shoulder as he gave her a teasing grin.


    Cleo stood her ground, brushing herself off and eyeing him coldly.


    "Hmph. Your taunting words don''t work on me anymore. I''ve long since grown immune to your nonsense."


    Her voice was calm, but her golden eyes were already calcting her next move.


    "Oh?"


    Rex smirked, a devilish gleam shing across his face. "


    So you''re saying... even if I bring up that time?"


    Cleo froze mid-step, her calm exterior breaking for just a moment.


    "What time?"


    she asked warily, narrowing her eyes at his smug expression.


    Rex''s smirk widened.


    "You know... that time,"


    he said, his tone dripping with mischief.


    Cleo''s eyes widened slightly as the realization hit her. A bright red blush spread across her cheeks,pletely shattering her neutral poker face.


    "Y-you wouldn''t dare!"


    she shouted, her voice betraying her usualposed tone with a hint of panic.


    "Oh, wouldn''t I?"


    Rex teased, his grin growing even more insufferable. He raised his voice just enough to make sure the twins could hear him.


    "I mean, I wouldn''t mind sharing with everyone here how you..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, Cleo


    exploded


    forward with breathtaking speed, closing the distance between them in a blink.


    "You''ll do no such thing!"


    she yelled, throwing a vicious kick aimed straight at his face.


    Rex barely dodged, leaning back just enough for the attack to graze the tip of his nose.


    "Whoa, whoa, calm down, my dear wife!"


    he said, stumbling slightly as Cleo unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    She didn''t let up for even a second, her twin short swords whirling like extensions of her body as she spun in the air, using her long legs to chain powerful kicks into her assault. Rex grunted as he blocked one strike with his ymore, only to be forced to duck under another spinning kick aimed for his head.


    "Are you trying to kill your husband?!"


    Rex shouted, wincing as one of her kicks connected with his ribs, sending him sliding back a few steps.


    "What husband?"


    Cleo snapped, her flushed face still betraying her embarrassment despite the anger in her voice.


    "I don''t have a husband!"


    Rex chuckled through the pain, clearly enjoying her reaction.


    "Oh, so that''s how it is? Well, I can see I won''t win fighting honorably against you. Guess it''s time to use... dirty tricks!"


    Cleo narrowed her eyes, her body tense as she prepared for his next move.


    "What tricks?"


    she demanded, her voice sharp with suspicion.


    Before she could react, Rex suddenly dropped his ymore and lunged forward, catching her leg mid-kick. Cleo''s eyes widened in surprise as she felt his grip tighten around her ankle.


    "Let go of me!


    " she shouted, trying to pull free.


    "Not this time!"


    Rex said with a triumphant grin. He raised his free hand, palm open, and with lightning speed, brought it down hard on Cleo''s butt with a loud


    SMACK


    .


    "HYAA!"


    Cleo let out an involuntary sound that was far too embarrassing for her liking. Her face turned an even brighter shade of red as she quickly wrenched her leg free, stumbling backward and jumping several feet away. Shended with a hand over her butt, ring at Rex with wide, furious eyes.


    Rex doubled over withughter, clutching his stomach.


    "What? Is that it? Are you going to admit defeat after just one little attack?"


    He taunted, holding up the offending hand for her to see.


    Cleo''s hands trembled as she pointed one of her short swords at him, her entire face burning with humiliation.


    "Rex, you¡­ you insufferable¡­ IDIOT!"


    she shouted, her voice trembling with a mixture of rage and embarrassment.


    From the sidelines, Nyra and Lyra were frozen in ce, their mouths hanging open as they watched the chaotic exchange. Nyra finally broke the silence, nudging her sister with her elbow.


    "D-did he just... spank her?"


    Lyra blinked, her crimson eyes wide with disbelief


    . "I think so... but I''m not sure if this is part of their training or if Uncle Rex just has a death wish.


    "


    Nyra nodded slowly.


    "Definitely a death wish."


    Back on the mat, Cleo was already storming toward Rex, her twin swords gleaming as she closed the distance with terrifying speed


    . "Come here, you stupid human! I''ll show you what happens when you disrespect a Kaelzar."


    Rex''s smirk wavered as he saw the murderous look in her eyes.


    "Wait, wait, hold on! It was just a joke! Cleo, be reasonable!"


    He shouted, backpedaling as fast as he could.


    "Reasonable? Oh, I''ll show you reasonable!"


    Cleo roared,unching herself at him with a spinning sh that made Rex yell as he scrambled to avoid her wrath.


    The twins watched in stunned silence as the chaos unfolded, their earlier training session nowpletely forgotten.


    Several minutester, Cleo exited the gym with a twin clinging to each of her hands. Her normallyposed face was still flushed a bright red, and her steps were noticeably stiff. Despite having decisively "won" the sparring match against Rex, he had somehow managed to sneak in a final, well-ced spank every time she let her guard down.


    Her backside throbbed with a dull, stinging ache, and she could practically


    feel


    the imprint of his massive hand still lingering on her skin. Each swat had been obnoxiously loud, reverberating throughout the gym, and her pride took an even greater hit knowing that the twins had witnessed the entire fiasco.


    As they walked toward the ship''s bathhouse, Nyra peeked up at Cleo''s glowing face, her crimson eyes sparkling with barely contained amusement.


    "Cleo, are you okay? You''re walking, kind of funny."


    "I''m fine,"


    Cleo said sharply, her voice unusually high-pitched.


    Lyra, ever the quieter twin, tilted her head curiously.


    "But your face is all red, and you keep rubbing your..."


    "Not. Another. Word."


    Cleo cut her off, her tone carrying the finality of a queen issuing a royal decree.


    The twins exchanged a mischievous nce but decided not to push their luck. Still, Nyra couldn''t help but mutter under her breath,


    "Guess Rex won after all."


    Cleo''s eye twitched violently at thement, but she forced herself to focus on leading the twins to the bathhouse. It would take more than Rex''s juvenile antics to ruin herposure. Or so she told herself.


    Meanwhile, back in the gym, Rexy sprawled out on the floor, groaning softly as he tried to catch his breath. Bruises and welts covered his arms and torso from Cleo''s relentless attacks, and one of his ribs was probably cracked from thatst spinning kick.


    Still, a satisfied smirk stretched across his face as he rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling.


    "Haaa¡­ worth it,"


    he said with a chuckle, raising his hand and admiring it like a trophy.


    "Totally worth it."


    That night, Rex was banished to the medical bay, where he had to sleep on a cot surrounded by beeping machines and disapproving medical devices. Cleo, of course, refused to let him back into their shared bedroom, locking the door and ignoring his half-hearted apologies through the inte.


    After several days of traveling through the wormhole, the ship finally exited into the Nakor system. The moment they emerged, a squadron of patrolling ships from the allied fleet intercepted them.


    "This is the Allied Fleet Patrol,"


    came a calm butmanding voice over thems.


    "Identify yourself and state your business in this system."


    Rex stood on the bridge, watching the patrol ships through the reinforced viewing window. He activated themunications and responded with practiced ease. "


    This is a Thunderdes mercenary group vessel. We fought alongside the allied fleet during the first wave. Sending our credentials now."


    A brief silence followed as the patrol captain verified their identification.


    "Credentials confirmed. You''re cleared to proceed,"


    the captain replied, his tone lighter now.


    "Wee back, and thank you for your service, citizen."


    With the patrol ships peeling off, Rex turned his attention to the breathtaking view outside the ship. The Nakor hung in the distance, a glowing beacon of industry andmerce, surrounded by a glittering ring of orbital tforms.


    But what caught Rex''s eye wasn''t the bustling trade routes or the steady stream of civilian ships; it was the Allied Fleet itself.


    Looming above Nakor were four supercapital ships, massive vessels that dwarfed everything around them. Two of the behemoths were severely damaged, their hulls riddled with scars and breaches from recent battles.


    Swarms of engineer ships buzzed around them like bees tending to a wounded hive, their tools sparking as they worked tirelessly to patch up the devastation.


    One of the ships in particr caught Rex''s attention. Its once-pristine hull was now marred by an enormous ck and green horn, embedded deep into its side. The horn was grotesque, almost organic in appearance, and it oozed faintly with a sickly green substance that seemed to pulse faintly even in death.


    Rex stared at the sight, his jaw tightening.


    "Damn, they really took a beating, didn''t they?"

 Chapter 98: Underground City Arrival.

    Behind him, Cleo entered the bridge, her usual neutral expression returning despite the twins trailing behind her. She followed Rex''s gaze and nodded slightly.


    "Two of the supercapitals barely made it out of thest Hive Mind assault. That horn..."


    She gestured toward the grotesque protrusion.


    "It''s from one of the Khryssari supercapitals. It pierced the ship''s shields and hull before they could warp out. The damage speaks for itself."


    Rex frowned, his thoughts briefly drifting to the battle reports he had skimmed over the past few days. The Hive Mind attacks had been relentless, and even the Allied Fleet''s best efforts had only managed to hold the line with heavy losses.


    "How long until those two ships are fully repaired?"


    "At least three months, minimum,"


    Cleo replied, crossing her arms. "


    Assuming the engineers don''t run into any unforeseen issues. Those Kragnarok-ss Devourer Hive Mind supercapitals aren''t just strong; they''re corrosive. That horn''s toxin likely infected half the ship''s internal systems."


    Nyra peeked out from behind Cleo, her crimson eyes widening as she looked at the damaged supercapital. "


    Wow¡­ Are those ships?"


    Lyra nodded, her soft voice filled with awe. "


    They''re huge, but they look so hurt."


    Rex smirked and ruffled the twins'' hair with one hand.


    "Wee to the real world, kiddo. Out here, it''s eat or be eaten. The strong thrive, and the weak... well, they get crushed."


    "Right now, the allied fleet is the weak, and let''s be honest, they''ve been slugging it out with the hive mind for two years with about as much sess as a fish trying to climb a tree."


    With a sharp nod, Rex gestured toward the cockpit door.


    "Alright, move it, you two. We''ve got to get to the transport ship and hit the before we lose even more time."


    He gave them a light shove, urging them toward the exit, while Cleo trailed behind them in silence like a shadow.


    Once inside the transport ship, they shot straight toward the underground city. It might''ve seemed like an amateur move to fly directly to a hidden location, but Cleo''s jamming devices were a work of pure genius.


    nted all over the, they rendered registered shipspletely invisible to any tracking system. And as for unauthorized ships? Well, let''s just say anyone dumb enough to tail them would have a Wraith-ss squadron on their six faster than they could say "big mistake."


    Engines? Gone. Ship? Grounded. Survivors? If there were any, thebat drones would sweep them up, leaving the rest to the city guards, guards who were all too happy to y ball thanks to a little something Rex liked to call


    "generous financial motivation."


    As the transport ship approached the city''s entrance, it passed seamlessly through the cloaking field that kept the entire operation hidden from prying eyes. The descent into the city was breathtaking. Floor after floor of underground brilliance unfolded before their eyes, a world alive with color, light, and energy.


    The twins were glued to the reinforced windows; their eyes opened wide. Coming from an agricultural world where the height of innovation was a slightly more efficient plow, this bustling city was like stepping into a whole new universe.


    "Whoa!"


    Lyra gasped, her crimson eyes sparkling like rubies.


    "This is... this is incredible!"


    Rex chuckled and crossed his arms, watching their amazement with a cocky grin.


    "Yeah, not bad, huh? I told you the underground life has its perks."


    Nyra, ever the tough one, tried to y it cool.


    "It''s alright, I guess,"


    she said with a shrug, but her wide-eyed stare betrayed her. She leaned closer to the window, pretending to inspect something


    "important."


    Rex barked out augh.


    "Oh, don''t even try to hide it, Nyra. You''re loving this, and we all know it. It''s okay to act your age once in a while."


    Nyra whipped her head around, ring at him with a fiery look.


    "I''m not a kid!"


    "Sure, sure,"


    Rex teased, smirking.


    "You keep telling yourself that."


    As the ship glided smoothly into the docking bay, the city''s vibrant hum surrounded them with a world unlike anything the twins had ever known. They had no idea what awaited them down here.


    As the ship settled into the privatending zone, the group was greeted by Carlos and Emilia, nked by a squad of imposing Aegis units and a handful of meticulously polished Maid bots.


    Carlos''s face was rugged from too many sleepless nights; he cracked a grin when he spotted Rex stepping off the ramp.


    "Well, look who it is! You somehow managed to get even prettier, Rex!"


    Carlos called out, his voice dripping with mockery.


    Rex grinned and strolled toward him with an exaggerated smile.


    "And you look like you''ve been dragged through a scrap yard. What happened? Forget what a razor''s for, or did someone punch you in the face and miss?"


    Carlos rubbed his scruffy beard and rolled his eyes.


    "This is what happens when you work nonstop for months on end! Now, hold on a second."


    He squinted past Rex and noticed the twins, his brow furrowing in confusion.


    "Wait a minute. Since when do you have kids?!"


    Rex nearly tripped over his own feet.


    "What are you even talking about? Those aren''t mine!"


    he barked, pointing a finger dramatically at the twins


    . "Do I look like the kind of guy who''d have kids?"


    Carlos tilted his head and shot him a suspicious re.


    "Then what? Don''t tell me you''ve resorted to kidnapping now."


    "Old man, I swear... don''t start with me!"


    Rex shouted, throwing his hands up in frustration.


    "It''s not like that! It''s... it''s a long story, okay? One I don''t feel like exining right now."


    Carlos crossed his arms, giving Rex a look so skeptical it could cut steel.


    "Yeah, sure, long story. That''s what they all say."


    Rex groaned and waved him off.


    "Whatever, let''s hit the bar. I haven''t had a single drink in months, and you''re buying."


    Carlos scoffed.


    "Why the hell do I have to pay?"


    "


    Because,"


    Rex said, striding confidently toward the mansion''s private garage,


    "I''m thirsty and broke. Small details; don''t worry about it. Now hurry up before the bars close!"


    Carlos jogged to catch up, his voice rising in protest.


    "Don''t give me that! The bars here are open 24 hours a day, you lying bastard!"


    "Hahaha, details!"


    Rex replied, not even looking back, hisugh echoing down the corridor.


    The twins, standing at the base of the ramp, exchanged wide-eyed nces as they watched the ridiculous back-and-forth unfold.


    Nyra crossed her arms, trying not tough while Lyra couldn''t stop giggling. Their amusement was short-lived when they noticed Cleo, standing quietly nearby, shaking her head in exasperation and letting out a tired sigh.


    "Emilia, please,"


    Cleo said, summoning a cluster of floating holo-screens with a flick of her wrist, "


    take the girls inside. Get them cleaned up, fed, and settled into a room. They''ve had a long day."


    Emilia, ever the epitome of grace, nodded with a slight bow.


    "Understand, mydy. Youngdies, if you would follow me.


    " She gestured with a soft smile, her every movement precise and elegant.


    The twins nced between Emilia and Cleo, hesitating for a moment. Cleo noticed their uncertainty and knelt down to their level, her voice soft but firm.


    "It''s okay, girls. Emilia is one of the few people I trust with my life. You''re safe with her, so there''s no need to worry."


    Cleo paused, studying their expressions before reaching out to pinch their cheeks gently.


    "I have a lot to do, but if you need anything, anything at all, just ask one of the little birds flying around the mansion. They''ll find me."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    She stood up, giving them a small smile before turning to leave.


    "Be good girls, alright?"


    The twins nodded silently, their eyes following Cleo as she walked away with her usual air of authority. Emilia waited patiently before gesturing again.


    "Come along now. Let''s get you two cleaned up and fed."


    The twins exchanged another nce, and Lyra couldn''t help but whisper to Nyra, "


    This ce is weird... but kind of cool."


    Nyra smirked.


    "Yeah, just don''t let them pinch your cheeks again."


    While Emilia escorted the twins to freshen up and settle into their new surroundings, Cleo retired to her bedroom for some much-needed rest. Her bed, far from ordinary, doubled as an advanced recharge bay.


    As shey down, the soft hum of energy coursing through the sleek, futuristic frame began restoring her strength, both physically and mentally. Her calm expression hinted at someone who was always three steps ahead, even when asleep.


    Meanwhile, Rex and Carlos had already made themselves at home in one of their favorite dens, a bustling nightclub filled with shing lights, pounding basslines, and an endless stream of energy from the young crowd.


    Their spot of choice? The exclusive VIP room perched on the third floor, a secluded space with an unbeatable view of the chaos below.


    This wasn''t just any nightclub; it was


    the


    nightclub. A melting pot of species from all corners of the gxy, where the daring came to dance, drink, and indulge in every kind of vice imaginable. Rex liked this ce for one specific reason:


    The Dragon yer


    .


    This wasn''t your average drink; it was a beer with a kick strong enough to knock even the toughest warriors t on their backs. For someone like Rex, who had the alcohol tolerance of a tank, it was the only drink worth his time.


    The name wasn''t just for show, either. A single sip of the Dragon yer could kill an ordinary human outright, so the staff wisely enforced a strict policy, only races with proven high tolerance levels were allowed to order it. And Rex? Let''s just say he was on a first-name basis with the bartenders.


    Carlos leaned back in his chair, the neon glow from the dancefloor below casting sharp shadows across his rugged face. He took a long gulp from his mug and set it down with a heavy thunk.


    "Alright, Rex,"


    he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "


    Enough stalling.


    What''s the deal with those twins you brought with you this time? Don''t tell me you''re starting some kind of daycare service now."

 Chapter 99 Little progenitors.

    Rex, sitting across from him, swirled his frosted drink, the icy condensation dripping onto the sleek, ss tabletop. With a grin, he took an enormous gulp of his beer and let out a satisfied sigh.


    "Ahhh, now that hits the spot."


    He leaned back, bncing his chair on two legs, clearly in no rush to spill the beans.


    Carlos wasn''t having it. He raised an eyebrow, tapping his fingers impatiently on the table.


    "Don''t dodge the question, Rex. Spill it. I don''t buy that ''long story'' excuse you pulled earlier


    ."


    "Alright, alright, keep your shirt on, old man,"


    Rex said, waving a dismissive hand. He took another swig of his beer, savoring it like it was liquid gold, before finally leaning forward with a grin that was equal parts mischievous and tired.


    "The thing is... well..."


    He paused dramatically, enjoying Carlos''s growing irritation.


    "The thing is what?"


    Carlos snapped, mming his mug down. "


    Don''t tell me you picked up two random kids on some backwater because you felt sorry for them."


    Rex nced at Carlos, his tone heavy with unspoken weight. "


    Nothing like that, Carlos. See, the thing with them is..."


    His voice trailed off as his gaze darkened.


    He began to recount how Cleo and he ended up taking care of them after he killed their father. The tale unraveled into the grim events that followed in the chaotic Necrotech world.


    Meanwhile, the twins were exploring the sprawling mansion, their hair still damp from the shower. Emilia, their guide, walked ahead, her quiet presence bothforting and watchful.


    "Lyra... what are you doing?"


    Nyra''s voice was sharp, almost whispering, as her eyes fixed on her sister. Lyra stood motionless in the hallway, her arms outstretched. She was covered with countless botany birds of varying sizes and intricate designs, their metallic forms shimmering under the dim light.


    "What?"


    Lyra tilted her head, her lips curling into a yful smile.


    "Oh, you mean the birds? Aren''t they adorable? They just started following me after I picked up this little red one."


    She held up a small bird resembling a crimson hummingbird, its delicate wings fluttering slightly as if alive.


    Nyra stepped closer, her voice hushed and urgent


    . "I don''t think we should be messing with those birds, sis."


    Her eyes darted to Emilia, who was already staring intently at the red bird, her expression unreadable. Nyra instinctively tried to shield the bird from Emilia''s gaze, but it was toote.


    "Don''t worry, youngdies,"


    Emilia said softly, her tone calm but carrying an edge that made Nyra shiver.


    "Nothing will happen to the little bird, no matter what you do to it. Lady Cleo made it resilient. Even if you managed to break it, though I doubt you could, it would repair itself."


    Her eyes lingered on the red bird for a moment longer before she turned and gestured for them to follow.


    Still uneasy, the twins trailed behind Emilia as she led them to the garden. As they stepped outside, their eyes widened in amazement. Behind the mansion stretched a lush paradise, a garden filled with fruit trees of every kind imaginable.


    The air was thick with the sweet fragrance of ripe fruits, and vibrant colors painted thendscape.


    "Wow," the twins whispered in unison, their voices filled with awe.


    Emilia chuckled softly, her usually serious demeanor melting into a rare warmth.


    "Go ahead,"


    she said with a slight smile.


    "You can try any fruit you like. They''re all safe for human consumption."


    The twins wasted no time, darting off in opposite directions but always staying within arm''s reach of each other. They plucked fruits from branches,ughing as they took bites. Some were sweet and delicious, others sour enough to make their faces scrunch up in exaggerated expressions. Their carefree joy was infectious, and Emilia couldn''t help but smile as she watched them.


    But even in theirughter, the twins remained inseparable, never straying more than a few steps apart. Emilia noticed this small detail, her sharp eyes catching the unspoken bond between them. She thought it was endearing, a rare purity in a world so full of chaos.


    Yet unseen to the twins, danger loomed in the shadows. Figures moved silently, cloaked in advanced camouge that bent the very light around them. They watched from the edges of the garden, their presence predatory and menacing.


    "Sir,"


    one of the figures whispered into a hiddenmunication device.


    "The two targets have entered the mansion grounds. Should we proceed with the mission?"


    The voice on the other end replied, low and cold.


    "Wait. Observe. Strike only if necessary."


    The twins, oblivious to the predators lying in wait, continued tough and explore, their joy filling the garden as the storm of fate began to close in around them.


    The assassins remained hidden, their forms blending seamlessly into the shadows of the garden. They watched with cold precision, calcting their next move. Then, one of them noticed something unusual.


    "Sir,"


    the assassin murmured into hismunication device, his voice barely audible.


    "The two girls, those twins, they can enter the mansion without much trouble. Should we capture them to gain ess?"


    The leader, perched silently on the branch of a fruit tree, gave a cold smile that didn''t reach his eyes. His figure was shrouded in the faint light filtering through the garden canopy.


    "Yes. Capture them. But kill the maid. We can''t leave any witnesses alive to warn the enemy. Move now."


    Without hesitation, one of the assassins leapt from his concealed position, his crimson de gleaming with a deadly glow. He streaked toward Emilia like a falling star, his speed nearly blurring his form as his weapon aimed directly for her head. The garden seemed to hold its breath.


    But then something impossible happened.


    Just as the de was about to pierce Emilia, the assassin''s charge came to an abrupt halt. His crimson sword was stopped cold, held in ce as if by an invisible force, or better said, by a hand.


    "What¡ªwhat is this!?"


    The assassin gasped, his voice filled with disbelief. Before him stood one of the twins, her small hand gripping the de with unshakable strength. Her expression was calm but burning with a quiet intensity.


    He didn''t have time to react. A blur of motion appeared from the side, a second twin. With the force of a hurricane, she delivered a brutal kick to his chest, sending him flying backward through the air.


    He crashed into the ground several meters away, finally reaching a stop as he clutched his stomach in agony.


    "W-what are they!?"


    Emilia stammered, her voice trembling as she stared at the fallen assassin writhing on the ground. The sharp, pained noises he made were the only sounds in the now-silent garden.


    "Emi! Get inside the mansion! Call for Cleo!"


    Lyra''s voice rang out like amand, her tone firm and resolute.


    But there was no time to rest. Another assassin emerged from the shadows, his form flickering in and out of sight as he activated a cloaking device. He moved like a ghost, his de slicing through the air as he targeted Nyra.


    Nyra was ready. Her body twisted with supernatural grace, dodging the de by mere inches. Her movements were fluid yet precise, her focus unbroken as she countered the assassin''s relentless strikes. Lyra darted to her sister''s side, their unspoken bond evident as they moved in perfect synchronization.


    The assassins, so confident moments ago, now hesitated, their calcted strategy crumbling in the face of these two seemingly ordinary girls who had turned into an unstoppable force.


    The leader of the assassins narrowed his eyes, watching from his vantage point in the tree. His hand tightened around the hilt of his weapon.


    "Interesting,"


    he muttered to himself.


    "They''re more dangerous than I anticipated. No matter. We proceed."


    The leader of the assassins finally decided to join the fight, his crimson cloak billowing behind him as he descended from the tree like a vengeful shadow. His movements were near silent, predatory, and precise. He closed in on Nyra from behind, his de poised for a lethal strike.


    But before he couldnd the blow, several golden spears tore through the air toward him with terrifying speed. He barely managed to twist out of the way, his enhanced reflexes saving him from certain death. Yet even with his incredible speed, one of the spears struck true, piercing his right leg with a sickening crunch.


    "Kuh!"


    The leader stumbled back, gritting his teeth as pain shot through his body. His crimson eyes red with rage as he barked his next order, his voice echoing like thunder.


    "Kill those bitches! Don''t hold back!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    At their leader''smand, the remaining assassins sprang into action, their movements fluid and synchronized as they closed in on the twins.


    The girls stood back to back, their youthful faces tense but unwavering. The assassins attacked in waves, their des slicing through the air, but Lyra and Nyra moved with uncanny precision, dodging, blocking, and countering in a rhythm that showed theirck of training.


    The leader, meanwhile, staggered a few paces away, clutching the golden spear embedded in his leg. He grabbed it with both hands, attempting to wrench it free, but his efforts were in vain. The spear refused to budge. Then he felt it. Experience new tales on empire


    A searing heat began to spread from the wound. His eyes widened in shock as he realized what was happening. The golden spear wasn''t just a weapon; it was alive, in a way. He could feel it devouring his blood, its energy spreading through his veins like wildfire.


    "This... this is impossible,"


    the leader muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief. He stumbled backward, his strength beginning to waver. "


    Why is this weapon the same as our blood n''s? Where did this powere from!?"


    For the vampires of the Blood n, blood was everything. They used the blood of powerful beasts to forge their weapons and enhance their own bodies.


    The stronger the blood they consumed, the stronger their weapons and abilities became. But when two vampires fought, their weapons would sh in a battle of dominance, with the blood of the stronger consuming the weaker.


    And now, the leader of the assassins could feel it; his blood was being overpowered. The golden spear was stealing his strength, draining him of his very essence. It wasn''t just any blood; it was something far more potent, far more ancient than anything he had ever encountered.

 Chapter 100 The lady in white.

    His gaze shifted back to the twins, who were still locked inbat with his subordinates. Though their movements were clumsy and inexperienced, they somehow managed to evade the assassins lethal strikes.


    When they were hit, the wounds healed almost instantly, the blood sealing and repairing their injuries as if they had never been harmed.


    "What the hell is happening here?"


    The leader whispered, his voiceced with confusion and fear. His sharp eyes caught sight of something else; golden shields, seemingly forged from the same blood as the spears, hovered around the twins. They moved with a mind of their own, intercepting the assassins'' attacks with unnatural precision.


    The assassins faltered, their relentless assault beginning to break under the strain. The shields blocked their des, the spears flew with devastating uracy, and the twins, though untrained, moved like they were protected by an unseen force.


    The leader''s mind raced. His blood burned, his strength waned, and his forces were faltering. These girls... these


    amateurs,


    should have been easy prey. Instead, they were bing the center of a storm he couldn''tprehend.


    "What... what are they?"


    He muttered, his voice filled with both rage and dread. The golden spear in his leg pulsed again, and he fell to one knee, realizing far toote that this fight was no longer in his control.


    The twins were far more than what they seemed, and whatever force was protecting them was ancient, relentless, and utterly unforgiving.


    While chaos unfolded in the mansion''s garden, Rex and Carlos were in no condition to help. The two had sumbed to an impressive and dangerously irresponsible amount of alcohol consumed in under two hours.


    Rex was sprawled across the sofa, snoring loudly, while Carlos had somehow ended up on the floor, curled around a liquor bottle like it was his long-lost lover.


    "Mmm? Where is this?"


    Rex muttered groggily as his consciousness flickered back. His surroundings felt... wrong.


    He rubbed his temples and blinked, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.


    "I''m pretty sure I was drinking with Carlos at the nightclub just a second ago. Could it be... I was drugged again? Haha, that brings back old memories. That time Carlos almost lost his balls, and I nearly got one of my organs harvested. Good times, good times."


    The humor in his voice couldn''t quite hide the unease creeping into his chest. Rex stood up, his boots crunching against an unfamiliar surface. His eyes scanned his surroundings, and the realization hit him like a punch to the gut.


    He wasn''t in the nightclub or anywhere familiar, for that matter. He was standing in an infinite expanse of white sand, a vast, otherworldly desert stretching endlessly in every direction.


    Above him, the sky was a surreal mix of darkness and brilliance. Two enormous crimson stars glowed fiercely, casting an eerie light over the desert. Their presence felt unnatural, their fiery radiance burning through the pitch-ck heavens.


    "So... where the hell am I?"


    Rex muttered, his voice carrying across the silent expanse. His unease deepened as he began to walk, the sand crunching beneath his boots the only sound apanying him.


    "Carlos!? Cleo!? Can you hear me!?


    " Rex shouted into the emptiness. His voice echoed faintly, but there was no response. He reached for hismunicator, fumbling with the device in his pocket, but it was dead, no signal, no static, nothing. Just silence.


    "


    Damn it,"


    Rex cursed, shoving themunicator back into his pocket. He kept walking, his unease growing with every step. The infinite white desert seemed devoid of life, and yet he couldn''t shake the feeling that he wasn''t alone. Something was watching him.


    After what felt like hours, Rex spotted something in the distance. A structure. A faint, dark outline against the endless white. His pace quickened, driven by equal parts curiosity and desperation.


    As he drew closer, the shape became clearer, and now it was a small wooden cabin, sitting incongruously in the middle of the vast desert.


    "What in the..."


    Rex muttered, his voice trailing off as he approached the cabin. It looked weathered, ancient, and out of ce, as though it had been plucked from another world and dropped here. He hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over the door, then pushed it open.


    The interior was strange, almost dreamlike. The cabin was empty, save for a single bed in the center of the room. The bed wasn''t ordinary; it appeared to be made of gctic clouds, its surface shimmering with the hues of distant gxies. The faint glow of starlight emanated from it, illuminating the cabin in a soft, ethereal light.


    What struck Rex even more was that the desert outside the cabin was no longer visible through the windows. Instead, the surroundings had transformed into a surreal oasis.


    Trees with luminescent white leaves dotted the area, and flowers that seemed to radiate a gentle glow bloomed in patches across the ground. It was a scene out of a dream or a nightmare.


    Rex stepped outside, his breath catching in his throat. The air was heavy,den with an otherworldly energy that made his skin crawl. He gazed at the shimmering trees and flowers, their beauty so overwhelming it almost hurt to look at.


    But the peace didn''tst.


    Suddenly, the pristine white of the oasis began to dissolve. Darkness crept in like spilled ink, swallowing the light. The once-luminescent trees withered and ckened, their silver glow twisting into a faint, cold radiance. Even the flowers dimmed, their beauty corrupted into something hollow and lifeless.


    Rex froze, his instincts screaming that something was wrong. The white desert beyond the oasis was gone, reced by an endless abyss of ck sand that shimmered faintly under the silver light of the corrupted trees.


    "What the hell is this ce...?"


    Rex whispered, his voice barely audible as he took a step back. The air grew colder, the oppressive silence broken only by the faint sound of his breathing.


    And then he felt it; something was watching him.


    The presence was overwhelming, oppressive, and it sent a chill down his spine. He turned sharply, his instincts screaming at him to react. But as soon as he whipped around to face it, the sensation shifted. Now it was on his left. He spun again, but the presence moved to his right. Then above him. Then below him.


    It was everywhere and nowhere at once.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex grated his teeth, his hands clenching as he fought the rising panic. His immediate instinct was to summon his ymore, the weapon that had always been his stalwartpanion in countless battles. Theforting weight of its hilt, the bnce of its de, he needed it. He needed it now.


    But as he extended his hand and reached deep within himself to craft it, nothing happened.


    His heart dropped.


    He couldn''t summon his weapon.


    He was powerless. Alone. Stranded in this dark, surreal ce where neither his friends nor his strength could reach him. For the first time in a long while, Rex felt truly vulnerable.


    The oppressive silence was broken by a voice.


    It was unlike anything he''d ever heard, melodic, soft, and yet overwhelming, as though the words were being spoken directly into his soul. It was warm, almost soothing, and carried a weight that shook him to his core.


    "Fear not, my son,"


    the voice said, the words caressing his mind like a luby. "


    Because I am your mother, and this is your home." Enjoy exclusive content from empire


    Rex froze. Of all the things he had expected to hear, this wasn''t even on the list. For a moment, his panic gave way to sheer confusion.


    "What son!?"


    Rex yelled, spinning in ce as he scanned his surroundings, his head snapping from side to side.


    "Y


    ou''ve got the wrong guy, demon! I''m an orphan! Good luck next time!"


    His voice was defiant, but his nerves betrayed him. His hands trembled slightly, and his eyes darted toward every shadow, every flicker of motion in the periphery.


    But the voice didn''t respond in anger. Instead, itughed, a soft, sweet giggle that seemed to echo everywhere and nowhere at once.


    "You are not an orphan, my son,"


    the voice continued, calm and patient


    . "While it is true that circumstances kept me from you, I am full of joy now. For you are finally strong enough to connect with me, at least in your astral form."


    "Astral form? Seriously? Now you''re making up excuses!"


    Rex barked back, his defiance masking the unease gnawing at him. "


    If you''re really my mother, then show yourself! Prove it!"


    The voiceughed again, but this time it was different, closer, deeper, more real. It wasn''t just sound anymore; it was presence. The darkness that surrounded him began to shift, like ink spilling into water, and from the ground beneath his feet, a radiant white light began to shine.


    The cabin trembled, the wooden walls groaning as if they could barely contain the energy erupting from beneath them. The light grew brighter and brighter, so blinding that Rex instinctively shut his eyes. Even with them closed, the brilliance seeped through, painting his vision in shimmering white.


    When he finally opened them, the desert, the cabin, and the oppressive darkness had faded away.


    Before him stood a woman, radiant and otherworldly. Her long, snow-white hair cascaded to the ground like a waterfall of light. Her skin glowed with a soft, pale luminescence, as if she had been sculpted from moonlight itself.


    Crimson eyes, deep and piercing, locked onto his with a warmth that made him instinctively step back.


    She wore a flowing, single-piece dress of thin, ethereal fabric that seemed to shimmer like starlight. Blue ornaments adorned her dress, their intricate patterns pulsating with energy. Behind her, a massive, glowing circr sigil floated, its design both divine and arcane, a perfect blend of mystery and majesty.


    Rex stared,pletely dumbfounded.


    There was a long silence before he finally blurted out,


    "Definitely not my mother. No way.


    " He gestured at her, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he tried to mask his awe.


    "First off, I''m not this good-looking. Second, you''re way too tall! What are you, three? Four meters? I was a perfectly normal human of 1.8 meters a few years ago."


    The tension that had gripped him moments ago began to loosen. Now that he could see her, it was easier to speak, easier to feel like himself again. But deep down, there was a sense of unease he couldn''t shake. This woman, this being, felt far too powerful, far too...


    otherworldly.

 Chapter 101 The lady in white (2).

    Thedy in white let out another melodious giggle, the sound as gentle as the soft rustle of wind through leaves. Her crimson eyes sparkled with amusement as she listened to Rex''s frustrated rant.


    "While it is true that you are my son,"


    she began, propping herself up on the massive, cloud-like bed, her head resting on her hands


    , "your soul has several restraints ced upon it. That''s why you haven''t been able to reach your true potential."


    She kicked her legs idly behind her, the motion childlike and carefree,pletely at odds with the immense power radiating from her.


    Rex crossed his arms, raising a skeptical brow.


    "Well then, if you''re my mother, who''s my father?"


    he asked, deciding to humor her far-fetched ims for the sake of maintaining his sanity.


    "Mmm?"


    She tilted her head, pretending to think deeply for a moment before shing him another dazzling smile.


    "You don''t have a father. You were born from me and me alone."


    "Ha!? How is that even possible? No, wait... that''s not important,"


    Rex said, shaking his head as if to clear the absurdit


    y. "What I really want to ask is why you decided to show up now. No, wait, scratch that! If you''re my mother, why did you abandon me? Or, better yet¡ª"


    His questions spilled out in rapid session, each one more incredulous than thest. He was full of them, his curiosity warring with his frustration and disbelief.


    Thedy in white sighed softly, resting her chin in her palm as she watched him with a serene expression.


    "I''m afraid there isn''t enough time for me to answer all your questions,"


    she said, her voice gentle but firm.


    "However, I will tell you this: the little girls you chose as your heralds are in grave danger. You must go to them and help them. I will use what little strength I have left to give them a boost, just enough for them to hold on until you arrive."


    Rex''s eyes narrowed, his posture stiffening


    . "Wait, what heradls? What are you talking about?


    " He locked eyes with her, his expression demanding answers.


    Thedy in white pursed her lips and made a thinking gesture, her delicate fingers tapping her temple.


    "Mmm¡­ I''m not very good with names, but I think it was something like... Nunu and Lulu?" she said with a yful tilt of her head.


    Rex blinked, stunned. "


    You mean Nyra and Lyra?! What''s happening to them!?


    " He shouted, his voice rising in panic.


    "Oh,"


    she said casually, her face now buried in a fluffy white pillow. "


    Some... children of the night are attacking them, I think. Vampires, if I''m not mistaken. I can''t see very far right now, though, since I''m too weak."


    She sighed dramatically, nuzzling her pillow like a content cat.


    "Then tell me how I can leave this ce!"


    Rex demanded, his hand already on the wooden cabin''s door, ready to bolt.


    "What do you mean?"


    she replied, tilting her head as if the answer were obvious.


    "You just have to wake up, and that''s it."


    "Wake up? What do you¡ª"


    "Okay, time''s up, honey,"


    thedy in white interrupted, pping her hands together. Her smile remained warm, but her voice carried a finality that sent a shiver down Rex''s spine.


    Before he could argue, the world around him began to shatter like ss. The white desert, the cabin, the stars all of it dissolved into fragments of light, leaving Rex in an empty void.


    As the illusion faded, so did the mask of strength thedy in white had worn.


    In the real world, her radiant formy in a dark, oppressive ce. Her body was encased in a writhing mass of ck slime that oozed and pulsed with malevolent intent.


    The only thing keeping the slime at bay was a faint, shimmering shield of white energy, though the barrier was weakening. The slime inched forward slowly, relentlessly, as though savoring its eventual victory.


    Thedy in white''s serene expression faltered, and a single tear rolled down her pale cheek. She whispered softly, her voice trembling with both sadness and hope.


    "My son¡­ I pray I can see you again before it''s toote."


    The glow of her protective barrier flickered, and the dark ooze crept ever closer, its tendrils reaching for her like the ws of a predator waiting to strike.


    Meanwhile, Lyra and Nyra were nearing their limits. Despite their supernatural strength, theirck ofbat experience was evident.


    The assassins, trained killers and far more experienced, pressed them relentlessly. The twins were forced to rely entirely on the shields crafted from Rex''s golden blood, their only line of defense against the onught.


    But the reserves of Rex''s blood that flowed within them were almost depleted, leaving them exhausted and vulnerable.


    Every second made the situation more desperate. Their movements slowed, their breathing grew ragged, and the shields flickered with unstable light. The assassins, sensing their advantage, moved in for the kill, their weapons gleaming in the dim light.


    And then it happened.


    The tide of battle turned in an instant as something primal, something ancient, awakened within the twins. Their bodies froze mid-motion as an overwhelming surge of power radiated from within them. It was unlike anything the assassins had ever felt before.


    Suddenly, horns erupted from the twins'' foreheads, sleek, curved, and predatory. Their once-human crimson eyes shifted, taking on the slit pupils of a superior predator, glowing with an ominous, otherworldly light. The air grew thick with an oppressive force that seemed to crush the will of all who stood near them.


    The twins turned their gaze toward the assassins, their lips curling into a smirk that carried the weight of unshakable dominance. Then, they spoke.


    "Kneel,"


    theymanded, their voices resonating in perfect harmony. It wasn''t just a sound; it was a decree,ced with a power so overwhelming that it struck at the very core of those who heard it.


    The voice carried the authority of an ancient ruler, something far beyond mortalprehension.


    "What the fuck are you talking about, bitch? You should know your ce¡ª"


    one of the assassins cursed, his voice dripping with disdain. But before he could finish, his knees buckled.


    His body copsed to the ground as if he were a puppet whose strings had been cut. And he wasn''t the only one. Every assassin within earshot crumpled to their knees, their faces twisted in shock and disbelief.


    They couldn''t fight it. They couldn''t resist. Their bodies betrayed them, bowing in submission to the overwhelming power of the twinsmands.


    "What... what is this?"


    One of the assassins muttered, his voice trembling as he stared at the ground, unable to lift his head.


    While the lesser assassins were forced to kneel, the leader of the crimson assassins, the strongest of them all, resisted. His body shook with effort, his mind screaming against thepulsion.


    He gritted his teeth, snarling like a cornered beast, and ripped the golden spear from his leg with a savage cry. Blood poured from the wound, but he didn''t care.


    "I don''t kneel to anyone!"


    he roared, his voice raw with rage. Heunched himself at the twins, his sword raised high, ignoring the pain that wracked his body. His professionalposure was gone, reced by unhinged fury.


    "Die, you bitches!"


    he screamed hysterically, closing the distance between himself and the twins in a blur of motion.


    But he didn''t make it.


    Just as the leader''s de was about to strike, his body froze in midair. An invisible force seized him, holding him in ce like a fly trapped in amber. He thrashed and roared, but it was useless.


    The twins turned their glowing, predatory eyes toward him. Their expressions were calm, but their voices dripped with contempt as they spoke in unison.


    "Your time is done, scum. The boss is near."


    Their words echoed with ominous finality, and as soon as they finished speaking, the glow in their eyes faded. Their horns vanished, their bodies copsing to the ground like marites whose strings had been cut. They had pushed themselves too far, thest vestiges of Rex''s golden blood spent.


    The leader fell to the ground, freed from their invisible grip. Hended awkwardly, stumbling to his feet. His lips twisted into a maniacal grin, his bloodied body trembling with exhration.


    "Hahaha! It''s my win!"


    The leader of the assassins screamed hysterically, his voice echoing through the battlefield. His eyes gleamed with unhinged triumph as he raised his sword, preparing to finish the unconscious twins.


    But before he could take another step, the sky split open.


    A deafening


    boom


    shattered the air, louder than anything the assassins had ever heard. A massive object descended from the heavens, breaking the sound barrier with such force that the shockwave ttened trees, shook the ground, and sent every kneeling assassin sprawling.


    The impact was catastrophic. The ground cracked and splintered beneath the force of thending, dust and debris exploding outward in a colossal cloud. The leader of the assassins was thrown backward, his sword flying from his hand as he tumbled across the dirt like a ragdoll.


    When the dust began to settle, a figure stood at the center of the crater. The silhouette was tall and imposing, radiating an aura of power that sent a chill through the spines of everyone present.


    The assassins, even the defiant leader, could feel it... the presence of something far beyond their understanding.


    From the swirling cloud of dust, two enormous white wings emerged, stretching wide and radiating a luminous white aura that illuminated the battlefield.


    The dust began to clear, revealing a towering figure shrouded in an overwhelming energy that seemed to distort the very air around him. Each step the silhouette took sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, the earth trembling beneath the weight of his power.


    The figure''s eyes glowed with a searing golden light, piercing through the haze like twin suns. They swept over the scene, pausing on the twins whoy copsed on the ground, their small forms battered and covered in injuries. A flicker of sorrow crossed the figure''s glowing eyes, but it was quickly reced by a fury so intense it made the air hum with raw energy.


    This was no ordinary man. This was a force of nature, a being whose very presence screamed dominance and power.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The leader of the assassins, who had beenughing moments earlier, froze as those golden eyes locked onto him. His maniacal grin faltered, reced by a look of growing dread. The overwhelming pressure emanating from the figure was suffocating, pressing down on him like a tidal wave.

 Chapter 102 Dont confuse my kindness with weakness.

    "You!"


    The assassin leader grinned like a lunatic, his bloodshot eyes twitching with excitement.


    "You''re the other one I''ve been hunting! Hah! This is perfect! Perfect! I don''t even have to waste my time searching for you now! Hiahiahia!"


    Hisugh echoed like shattered ss, sharp and wild. He spread his arms theatrically, as if expecting apuse, his madness dripping from every word.


    Rex rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed.


    "So it''s you, the assassin that my bald friend warned me about."


    He took a step forward, his boots crunching against the gravel with a deliberate slowness.


    "You know what, little bastard?"


    His voice was calm, almost too calm, but there was a weight to it, like a storm waiting to break.


    From beneath the assassin leader, white chains shot up from the ground, mming into his limbs with a ferocity that rattled his bones. The chains coiled around him like angry serpents, pulling him into the air as he struggled and cursed.


    "W-what the hell is this?! Release me! Do you have any idea who I am?"


    The assassin leader barked, his earlier confidence cracking. His eyes darted around like a cornered rat.


    "If you hurt me, my uncle will make you regret it! You''ll wish you were never born!"


    He screamed, a mix of fear and arrogance dripping from his words.


    Rex stopped just inches away, his eyes level with the assassin''s as the chains held him aloft. A cold smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.


    "Not a single day goes by where I regret being born,"


    Rex said, his voice carrying the kind of chill that made even the bravest men falter.


    And then, without warning, his fist mmed into the assassin''s stomach with enough force to shake the ground.


    The assassin gasped, blood spurting from his mouth as Rex''s arm plunged straight through his torso. But instead of fear, the assassin leaderughed, a wet, gurgling sound that made Rex raise an eyebrow.


    "Hah! That''s it? That''s your best shot?"


    The assassin wheezed, his voice rasping but defiant.


    "Do you think I''m scared of a punch? I''m immortal, idiot! You can''t kill me with your pathetic tricks!"


    He grinned, blood staining his teeth as his chest heaved.


    Rex didn''t react. He didn''t even blink. Instead, he touched themunicator on his neck. "


    Cleo, is that enough data for you?"


    He asked, his tone t and detached, like he was ordering groceries.


    "Affirmative,"


    came the cool voice of Cleo through themunicator.


    "The blueprint for the device has been sent to your HUD. Proceed as nned."


    "Good,


    " Rex said, cracking his knuckles as he turned his gaze back to the assassin.


    "Now, take the twins and your soldiers. Get out of here. Things are about to get... messy."


    "Understood. Phantom unit, retrieve the twins, and fall back," Cleomanded.


    From the shadows, sleek ck soldiers materialized like specters, their crimson visors glowing menacingly. Unlike Cleo''s usual pristine white Aegis units, these were darker and deadlier, their silence more unnerving than any battle cry.


    Two of the phantoms shifted their arms, des of crackling energy extending from their wrists. With mechanical precision, they sheathed the des and scooped up the unconscious twins before vanishing back into the darkness.


    Rex waited, watching until everyst one of Cleo''s troops was gone. The assassin leader watched too, though his smirk was beginning to waver. The silence felt heavy, suffocating, as Rex slowly opened and closed his hands, the metallic gleam of his freshly crafted brass knuckles catching the faint light.


    "Still ying with toys, huh?"


    The assassin leader sneered, though his voice quivered ever so slightly.


    "Do you think those useless trinkets can stop me? I told you, I''m¡ª"


    Rex''s fist smashed into his face before he could finish the sentence. The sound of the impact was like a gunshot, reverberating through the air. The assassin''s head snapped back, his nose breaking with a sickening crunch, but Rex didn''t stop.


    The next punch came harder, mming into the side of his jaw. A third followed, then a fourth. Each hit carried more force, more fury, until the assassin''s taunts turned into gurgled screams. His once-proud grin was reced by shattered teeth and blood that dripped down his chin like a crimson waterfall.


    "You talk too much,"


    Rex muttered, wiping some of the blood from his knuckles onto the assassin''s cloak.


    "Immortal or not, I''m going to make you feel pain in ways you didn''t even think were possible."


    The assassin leader coughed, blood sttering from his mouth as he tried to speak.


    "You... You''re insane..."


    "No,"


    Rex said, his voice as cold as ice.


    "I''m just thorough."


    The chains tightened, twisting the assassin''s limbs at unnatural angles until the sickening sound of bones snapping filled the air. The leader screamed, his voice raw and desperate, but Rex showed no mercy. He brought his fist down again and again, each blow carrying the weight of unrelenting rage.


    "Immortal, huh?"


    Rex said, his voiceced with dark amusement as he stepped back to admire his handiwork. The assassin''s face was unrecognizable, a pulpy mess of blood and bruises, but somehow he was still aliv


    e. "Let''s test that theory, shall we?"


    And with that, Rex grabbed the chains, pulling them until the assassin''s body contorted further, his screams echoing into the night.


    "Laugh now,"


    Rex whispered, a grin finally spreading across his face.


    "Let''s see how much your uncle cares when he gets you back in


    pieces." The eyes of Rex that were of a beautiful golden before were now as dark as the abyss.


    While chaos raged outside the mansion, the twins stirred awake in the serene yet sterile environment of the medical bay. The faint hum of the equipment apanied their slow return to consciousness. Emilia was the first to notice and wasted no time rushing over, wrapping the two girls in her arms like a mother hen.


    "You''re awake! Oh, thank heavens,"


    Emilia eximed, her voice trembling slightly as she clutched them tightly.


    "Mmm? Emi¡­ how did we even get here?"


    Lyra mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes. Her soft, innocent voice carried a tone of confusion as she nced around the room


    . "Last thing I remember¡­ we were fighting those gross, ugly viins, weren''t we?"


    Emilia pulled back slightly, her gentle eyes scanning their faces.


    "You don''t remember anything else, youngdies?"


    she asked carefully, her gaze lingering on them as if searching for something deeper.


    Nyra sat up straighter, her brow furrowed.


    "No¡­ I don''t,"


    she admitted reluctantly, rubbing her temple as if trying to force her memory back into ce.


    "I remember fighting them. And then¡­ nothing. It feels like there''s something I should remember, but I just¡­ can''t."


    Emilia let out a soft sigh and patted Nyra''s head, but before she could say anything further, Cleo''s voice rang out.


    "Well, girls, it''s clear to me you''ve still got a long way to go,"


    Cleo''s holographic form materialized in the room, her shimmering figure projecting an air of authority.


    "This little experience just proves it. So from now on, your training regimen will be increased... dramatically."


    The twins nced at each other, both groaning softly, though Lyra''s pout was far more pronounced.


    "Teacher¡­"


    Lyra whined in her usual sugary voice.


    "Do you really have to? I thought we were doing well!"


    Cleo''s holographic form raised a virtual eyebrow.


    "You thought wrong. If you''d been even a fraction more prepared, you wouldn''t have gotten yourselves knocked unconscious."


    Her tone was sharp, but there was a subtle undertone of concern beneath her scolding.


    "


    We understand, Teacher,"


    the twins replied in unison, their voices a mix of resignation and determination.


    The momentary calm was shattered by the echoing loud sound of a distant explosion, followed by the deep, bone-rattling sound of shockwaves tearing through the air. The girls jumped slightly, their wide eyes darting to the nearest window, though it offered no view of the outside chaos.


    "What¡­ what was that?


    " Nyra asked, her voice sharper now, the edge of her curiosity tinged with unease.


    "Oh, that? Don''t worry,"


    Cleo said, her tone unusually casual, almost dismissive. "


    That''s just Rex¡­ having a little talk with one of our uninvited guests."


    "A talk?


    " Lyra tilted her head, blinking in innocent confusion


    . "But¡­ it sounds so loud! Is he yelling at them or something?"


    Nyra frowned, her instincts kicking in. She was no fool, and she knew exactly what Cleo was trying to sugarcoat. Her sister might buy the exnation, but Nyra wasn''t so easily convinced. Her gaze lingered on the holographic teacher.


    "Teacher, can we see how Rex is ''talking'' to them?"


    Nyra asked, crossing her arms. Her sharp tone was all too aware of the truth Cleo was trying to dodge.


    Cleo hesitated for a moment, her expression flickering as if she was calcting something. Over the past week, the twins had begun calling her "Teacher" out of respect, not just for thebat training she''d given them, but for the countless other lessons she''d drilled into them.


    From empire management to survival skills, even down to the subtle art of cooking something as simple as a perfect egg, Cleo had be their unyielding mentor.


    "Hmmm¡­"


    Cleo mused aloud.


    "I can''t show you everything. Some parts are¡­ ssified."


    She was already filtering the footage, removing anything too visceral or gruesome from Rex''s ongoing interrogation.


    "But I can show you a little, just enough for context."


    With a flick of her holographic hand, Cleo summoned a massive holo-screen that filled the center of the medical bay.


    The video began ying, showing Rex''s arrival at the scene, his cold, methodical approach to the assassin leader, and the first devastating punch that broke the assassin''s smug demeanor. The screen cut off there, leaving the twins with just enough to paint a picture, but far from the whole story.


    Their reactions couldn''t have been more different.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lyra''s eyes widened in shock, her hands gripping the nket tightly as she tried to process what she''d just seen


    . "I-Is that how Rex¡­ talks to people?"


    she stammered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief.


    She shrank back slightly, almost as if she could still feel the echoes of Rex''s chilling aura through the screen.


    Nyra, however, had an entirely different reaction. Her lips curved upward in a sly, almost devious smile. She rested her chin on her hand, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous curiosity.


    "Hah¡­ so that''s how he deals with them,"


    she murmured, her tone low and amused. It wasn''t fear she felt, it was admiration.


    Cleo noticed the stark contrast between the two girls and narrowed her eyes slightly, addressing them both.


    "You''d do well to remember that Rex''s methods aren''t something to take lightly. What you saw wasn''t a game, nor was it a show of strength for entertainment. It was a necessity."


    Lyra nodded quickly, still clutching the nket as if it might shield her from the thought of Rex''s brutality.


    "I¡­ I get it. He was just doing what he had to¡­ right


    ?"


    Nyra, on the other hand, leaned forward, her grin widenin


    g. "Oh, I get it, Teacher. Believe me, I get it."


    Her voice was practically dripping with mischief.

 Chapter 103 Both sides of the same coin.

    After nearly an hour of what could barely be called a


    conversation


    with the assassin leader, Rex finally stepped back, letting out a deep breath as he crouched by the small river in the garden.


    He dipped his bloodied hands into the cool water, scrubbing them with a kind of calm precision that felt unnervingly out of ce after what had just transpired. Behind him, the leader of the assassins still dangled limply in the air, suspended by the same white chains that had held him since the beginning.


    If the assassin leader could still think, if he could still feel, he might have begged for mercy. But his broken body told another story. His face was no longer recognizable, a pulpy mess of swollen flesh and blood.


    His limbs were twisted at grotesque angles, like some nightmarish pretzel. Even his infamous healing factor had given up hours ago, the sheer brutality of Rex''s punishment having pushed his body beyond any hope of recovery.


    He wasn''t even breathing heavily anymore, just wheezing shallow, broken gasps.


    Rex stood, shaking the water from his hands before turning his gaze back to the mangled figure


    Find your next adventure on empire


    . "You know, this could''ve all been avoided if you''d just told me who sent you."


    His voice was conversational, almost friendly, like he was chatting with an old acquaintance.


    "Although¡­"


    Rex scratched his chin, as if considering something.


    "Now that I think about it, if I keep punching your face like that, there''s no way you''d be able to talk even if you wanted to. My bad. Anyway, it doesn''t matter."


    He smiled faintly, almost apologetically.


    "I know someone who can rip the answers straight from your brain. So¡­ yeah. Guess I overdid it for nothing."


    Rex turned away from the leader, letting the chains hold what little remained of his dignity. His pitch-ck eyes scanned the garden until theynded on the rest of the assassins.


    They were scattered across the ground, each one bound tightly by the same glowing chains that now felt more like a death sentence than a prison. Unlike their leader, they were still intact, unbroken in body, if not in spirit.


    The assassins stared at Rex, wide-eyed and trembling. They had all witnessed the brutality unleashed upon their strongest warrior, the one they had believed was invincible. Now, as Rex began walking toward them, their fear grew so thick it was suffocating.


    Rex stopped a few steps away, just close enough for all of them to hear him clearly. He ced his hands behind his back, tilting his head slightly as if deep in though


    t. "Hmm, what should I do with you all?"


    he mused aloud, his tone light and yful.


    He suddenly pped his hands together, grinning.


    "Oh, I''ve got it!"


    His voice carried a mock excitement that made the assassins shiver.


    "Here''s the deal. If you don''t want to end up like your boss over there..."


    he pointed with a thumb toward the mangled figure still dangling in the air,


    "swear your loyalty to the twins you were trying to kill. Sounds fair, doesn''t it? I mean, better than the alternative."


    The assassins froze. Rex''s smile was anything butforting. The oppressive weight of his presence hung over them like a storm cloud, his abyss-ck eyes boring into their very souls.


    His smile didn''t reach his eyes; in fact, it made the aura surrounding him even more terrifying. Every fiber of their being screamed at them to respond, to sayn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    something,


    but their voices were trapped in their throats.


    "Well?"


    Rex asked, spreading his arms as if inviting them to speak.


    "Anyone? No?"


    His smile faded slightly, reced by a look of mild disappointment


    . "Guess I''ll have to make some more organic art. Don''t worry, I''m getting pretty good at it."


    Rex reached out, his hand inches from the head of the nearest assassin, who began hyperventting as tears streamed down his face. The assassin''s lips moved, but no sound came out; he couldn''t even beg for his life.


    Before Rex could go any further, a familiar voice rang out behind him.


    "That''s enough, Rex."


    He froze mid-motion, slowly straightening as Cleo''s voice carried across the garden. The tone was calm and neutral, yet it carried an authority that couldn''t be ignored.


    Rex turned his head slightly, just enough to nce over his shoulder. Cleo stood at the edge of the garden, her holographic figure glowing faintly in the dim light. She met Rex''s gaze without flinching, her golden eyes sharp and unwavering.


    "They can''t answer you because your aura is too heavy,"


    Cleo continued, her voice steady as she stepped closer.


    "You''re suffocating them, Rex. They aren''t defying you; they physically can''t respond."


    Rex turned fully now, the chains retracting slightly as he released the trembling assassin. His abyss-ck eyes locked onto Cleo''s golden ones, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them felt electric, charged with tension.


    Cleo''s usual perception of Rex, bright, dependable, a beacon of hope, waspletely shattered. The man standing before her now felt alien, his aura so oppressive and sinister it made her feel ufortably.


    Where she once saw a radiant, white light surrounding him, she now saw something entirely different: a swirling void of ckness, suffocating and imprable.


    "Who are you?"


    Cleo asked, her voice quieter now, though it carried an edge of suspicion.


    Rex tilted his head slightly, a flicker of confusion passing across his features.


    "What kind of question is that?"


    he replied, his tone calm but tinged with curiosity.


    "You aren''t... the same,"


    Cleo said, narrowing her eyes as she studied him closely. "


    You feel... different. This aura, it''s not like you, Rex."


    Rex blinked, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.


    "You think I''ve changed?"


    he asked softly, his voice almost amused. "Maybe this is just a side of me you''ve never seen before, Cleo. Or¡­" He stepped closer, his pitch-ck eyes gleaming in the faint light.


    "Maybe this is the real me."


    Cleo didn''t move, though she could feel the oppressive weight of his aura pressing against her.


    "No,"


    she said firmly, her golden eyes narrowing.


    "The real you isn''t like this. The real Rex wouldn''t enjoy doing something so... vile."


    Rex chuckled, shaking his head.


    "You always did see the best in me, Cleo. But sometimes... the ''best'' isn''t enough."


    Before Cleo could respond, Rex turned back toward the assassins, his expression unreadable. His voice softened, but the edge of menace still lingered.


    "Take them away,"


    he said tly. "


    I''m done here."


    Cleo hesitated for a moment before giving themand. "


    Phantom unit, secure the prisoners. Move them to the holding cells."


    As the ck-armored units emerged from the shadows to carry out her orders, Cleo''s gaze lingered on Rex. For the first time, she felt uncertain about him and about what he was bing.


    And as thest of the assassins was dragged away, she couldn''t shake the feeling that something dark was stirring within him, something that even he might not fully understand.


    After the Blood n assassins were dragged away, the garden fell silent, save for the soft murmur of the artificial river. Rex made his way toward the pool that connected to the water''s flow, his steps slow and deliberate. The adrenaline from earlier had faded, reced by a strange heaviness he couldn''t shake.


    Once he reached the edge of the pool, Rex deactivated his armor with a low hum, the sleek tes retracting and disappearing, leaving him in nothing but a thin, sweat-drenched shirt and a pair of in ck pants. Without hesitation, he stepped into the cool water, goin in until it reached his chest.


    Rex leaned back and let his body float, staring upward as the tension in his muscles began to ease. His gaze sought the sky out of habit, but all he found was the arched stone ceiling of the underground garden.


    The realization made him sigh, and he let his eyes close, the weight of exhaustion pulling him deeper into his thoughts.


    Minutes passed in silence, broken only by the faint ripples in the water. Then, a familiar voice reached him.


    "Rex..."


    It was Cleo. Her voice was softer than usual, almost hesitant, a note of concern hidden beneath her usualposed tone.


    Rex opened his eyeszily, tilting his head toward her. His golden irises, glowing faintly in the dark, met hers, and Cleo exhaled in relief. His aura had returned to the radiant, inspiring energy she was used to. The oppressive, sinister feeling from earlier waspletely gone, as if it had never been there at all.


    "Mmm? What''s the matter, my wife?"


    Rex asked, his tone light and yful, like nothing had happened. He gave her one of his usual grins, the kind that could disarm a battlefield of tension in an instant.


    Cleo paused, studying him. It was as though the person standing before her now was an entirely different man from the one she had seen earlier, with abyss-ck eyes and an aura that could crush the strongest wills. It left her... unsettled.


    "There''s nothing wrong¡­"


    Cleo said carefully, though her golden eyes betrayed her concern.


    "I just wanted to see how you were feeling after¡­ you know."


    She hesitated, clearly trying to find the right words to express herself.


    "Oh, that,"


    Rex said, his smile fading slightly. He moved toward her in the shallow water, his steps deliberate but slow, as if considering his response. Without warning, he grabbed Cleo''s hand and gently pulled her into the pool, catching her by the waist as she sshed in.


    "Rex!"


    Cleo gasped, her expression half-shocked, half-annoyed. But she didn''t pull away from him.


    He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he let out a deep sigh.


    "I''m sorry you had to see that side of me,"


    Rex murmured, his voice quieter now.


    "So far, only Carlos has ever seen me like that. It''s just... when someone hurts the people I care about, I lose myself. I can''t help it. It''s like something in me snaps."


    Cleo stared up at him, her golden eyes catching the faint glimmer of the artificial river''s ripples. The garden lights had been destroyed by the shockwaves of Rex''s punches, leaving the area cloaked in shadows, but somehow, her eyes seemed to glow even brighter in the darkness.


    Rex reached up, brushing a few strands of damp hair from her face.


    "I''m sorry if I scared you


    ," he said softly, his fingertips lightly trailing across her cheek.

 Chapter 104 The masquerade.

    Cleo held his hand against her face, her expression softening as her fingers intertwined with his.


    "So you''re telling me... that was really you?"


    She asked, her voice steady now, her concern giving way to curiosity.


    Rex nodded, a faint smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.


    "Well, yeah. If it wasn''t me, then who else would it be?"


    He teased her, though his tone carried a hint of self-awareness.


    Cleo sighed, rolling her eyes but keeping her hand on his.


    "You don''t make it easy to understand you sometimes, you know that?"


    Rex chuckled, the sound low and warm


    . "Let''s not dwell on it right now, alright? I''ll make it up to youter. But first..."


    His tone shifted slightly, bing more serious as he gazed into her eyes.


    "Why didn''t you step in to help the twins earlier?


    You could''ve stopped all of this before it started."


    Cleo arched an eyebrow at the sudden shift in topic.


    "Because they weren''t in any real danger,"


    she exined simply. "


    The Phantom units were with them the entire time, cloaked and ready to intervene if anything went wrong. I wanted them to gain somebat experience, but I didn''t expect you to show up the way you did."


    Rex tilted his head, processing her answer.


    "Oh, I see. So you were letting them have a little trial by fire."


    He smirked, shaking his head.


    "I guess that''s fair. But next time, maybe give me a heads-up so I don''t storm in thinking the world''s ending."


    "I''ll keep that in mind,"


    Cleo replied, her lips curving into a faint smile. She was starting to rx, the oppressive tension from earlier now feeling like a distant memory.


    Rex leaned back slightly, running a hand through his wet hair as a thoughtful expression crossed his face.


    "You know, it''s funny... I had a weird dream before all of this. There was this woman in white. She looked so real, but I knew something was off."


    Cleo''s smile faltered, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.


    "What woman?"


    she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.


    "Well...


    " Rex trailed off, scratching the back of his head.


    "The thing is..."


    He hesitated, unsure of how to exin it. Cleo, however, wasn''t about to let it slide. Her golden eyes narrowed slightly as she waited for him to borate, her fingers tightening around his hand.


    "Don''t you dare leave me hanging, Rex,"


    she said firmly, her curiosity and concern blending into one.


    "Alright, alright,"


    Rex said, raising his hands defensively with a sheepish grin. "


    I''ll tell you. But first, can we just enjoy this moment? You don''t often jump into the water with me, you know."


    Cleo sighed but allowed herself to rx, leaning against him as the waterpped gently around them. "


    Fine. But don''t think for a second; I''ll forget about this."


    Rex chuckled, holding her close. "


    I''d be worried if you did."


    The two of them stayed there for a while, letting the tension of the night slowly fade away. For the first time in hours, there was peace.


    Rex couldn''t help but let his thoughts drift as he leaned back in the cool water of the pool. (


    If the twins were never in danger, then what the hell was thedy in white warning me about?


    )


    The dream still bothered him, even though he kept telling himself it was probably a scam or some twisted figment of his imagination. But the timing was too perfect. The twins


    had


    been attacked, after all.


    Still, trying to make sense of it felt like chasing shadows. What logic was there in dreaming about a beautiful woman who appeared out of nowhere to warn him about danger? Rex shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside.


    No point in overthinking this now. She''s probably gone as fast as she appeared.


    Several days passed since the attack on the mansion. The chaos had settled, and the twins were recovering, but other issues lingered. Rex now sat in the control room with the rest of his team, the atmosphere tense and businesslike.


    The twins weren''t present; they were still resting after the ordeal, and Ys, their mysteriouspanion, remained cocooned in her highly secure chamber. Cleo had ensured nothing short of a full-blown siege could disturb her there.


    "Thank you all foring so quickly,"


    Cleo began, standing at the head of the table with her usualmanding presence. Her holographic projections flickered on various disys across the room, her tone crisp and professional.


    "As you''re already aware,st week we were attacked by assassins from the Blood n."


    The room was silent as Cleo continued, her voice steady Discover hidden tales at empire


    . "I''vepiled all the information we''ve gathered on the Blood n so far. It''s in the datapads at your stations."


    She gestured at the sleek devices resting near each person''s seat.


    "It took me several days to extract andb through the memories of their leader, but I''ve finally found something useful."


    With a flick of her hand, a massive holo-screen appeared in the center of the table, its glowing surface disying the image of a middle-aged man dressed in regal attire. His face bore the smug expression of someone ustomed to wielding power.


    "This,"


    Cleo said, her tone icy,


    "is the mayor of this. He was the one who contracted the Blood n assassins, acting as a middleman."


    Rex frowned, leaning forward slightly


    . "A middleman? So he''s not the one pulling the strings?"


    "Correct,"


    Cleo confirmed.


    "The mayor is merely a pawn. He''s working under a noble from Nexum Dynamics. The noble''s name is still unknown, but the mayor knows who it is, and we''re going to make him talk."


    Carlos, seated across the table, rubbed his chin thoughtfully.


    "So, what''s the n here? Are we just going to roll up to this guy''s office and ask him for the name of his boss? Or are we doing something a little more... persuasive?"


    Rex smirked at the remark, leaning back in his chair.


    "I take it you''ve got something cooking already, my dear wife?"


    He asked, his golden eyes gleaming as he turned his gaze toward Cleo.


    "Affirmative,"


    Cleo said without missing a beat.


    "The mayor is hosting a masquerade party in two days. With some help from my contacts in the ck market, I was able to acquire two invitations to the event."


    As Cleo finished speaking, the sound of fluttering wings filled the room. Three white-bellied birds swooped in, gliding gracefully toward the table. Theynded in unison, dropping two ornate invitations in the center before flying off as silently as they hade.


    Carlos let out a low whistle, picking up one of the invitations and inspecting it.


    "Fancy. So, we''re crashing a party to get what we need, huh? I like it."


    Rex, however, crossed his arms with a skeptical look.


    "Yeah, it''s a decent n and all, but there''s just one little problem."


    He gestured toward himself.


    "Have you seen me? I''m a damn giant. If I walk into that party, and everyone''s going to notice me instantly. Hell, I''ll probably scare half the guests before we even make it to the mayor."


    Cleo''s expression didn''t change.


    "You''re not the one attending, Rex,"


    she said simply.


    "Carlos will be apanying me instead. Your size alone wouldpromise the mission."


    Rex froze, his eyes narrowing as he turned to look at Carlos. "


    Oh, is that so?"


    His voice was low andced with mock menace.


    Carlos shrugged, grinning as he leaned back in his chair.


    "Don''t get your boxers in a twist, pretty guy. It''s just a party."


    Rex jabbed two fingers at his eyes, then pointed them directly at Carlos, repeating the motion several times. "D


    on''t you even think about touching her. No dances. No sneaky moves. Nothing. I''ll be watching, Carlos."


    Carlos burst outughing, holding up his hands in mock surrender.


    "Rx, man! I have codes. You think I''dy a finger on your girl? Come on, Rex. I wouldn''t touch her if my life depended on it."


    His grin widened mischievously. "


    Well, unless she touched me first."


    Rex''s re darkened, his golden eyes narrowing dangerously.


    "Alright, alright! I''m joking!"


    Carlos said quickly, stillughing. "


    You know I''d never do that; calm your pretty face."


    Cleo sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.


    "Enough, you two. We don''t have time for this nonsense. Focus on the mission."


    She turned her gaze to Carlos.


    "I''ll brief you on the detailster. For now, just be prepared to y your role. The sess of this operation depends on subtlety, which means no unnecessary theatrics."


    "Got it, boss, "


    Carlos said, giving her a yful salute.


    Rex muttered something under his breath, clearly not thrilled with the arrangement, but he let it go for now. The team had a mission to focus on, and as much as he hated the thought of Carlos attending the party with Cleo, he knew she was more than capable of handling herself.


    Still, as he leaned back in his chair, Rex couldn''t help but let his mind wander. The memory of thedy in white lingered in the back of his thoughts, her words faint but persistent.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    If this was all a scam, then why does it still feel like a warning?


    On the night of the grand masquerade, Cleo and Carlos stood at the gates of the mayor''s huge mansion, a behemoth of luxury and arrogance. The building loomed against the moonlight, its towering spires trying too hard to intimidate but failing miserably.


    Cleo smirked, thinking how even the underground pce she had built from scraps had more soul than this bloated monstrosity. The defenses here? Laughable. It was almost insulting.


    The duo walked toward the main entrance, their steps slow and deliberate, the kind that turned heads even in a crowd of masked strangers. At the door, several guards checked invitations, each one looking bored out of their minds as they waved guests through.


    It wasn''t just security that was sloppy; it was lifeless.


    Carlos, ever the professional, had his earpiece buzzing with updates from their inside man, but something cracked through the line that wasn''t part of the n.


    "Pffff," someone snorted, barely containingughter.

 Chapter 105 The masquerade (2).

    Theughter crackled through Carlos''s earpiece.


    "Pfff, hahahaha!"


    Rex''s voice cut through, practically dying with amusement.


    "And here I thought you were going as her partner, but no, you''re just the bodyguard! What a promotion, huh?"


    Carlos rolled his eyes, his hand subtly adjusting themunicator to mute Rex''sughter.


    "Ha-ha, hrious,"


    he said, his voice t and biting.


    "This arrangement works better for everyone, so shut up already. We''re going in."


    With a firm tap to the device, Carlos switched it off, cutting Rex''s chuckles short just as they approached the mansion''s entrance.


    The guard at the door was a burly man, more muscle than manners, and his eyes drifted rather unprofessionally toward Cleo''s body. She was dressed to perfection, wearing a flowing white gown trimmed with golden ents that caught the dim light like molten fire.


    Her mask was a work of art, a delicate bird design that covered her entire face and added an air of mystery.


    Carlos, by contrast, looked in and deliberate in his standard ck suit and a half-face mask that left his mouth uncovered. His entire ensemble screamed


    "bodyguard"


    with just a hint of


    "don''t mess with me."


    The guard barely tore his eyes from Cleo to talk, "


    Your invitations, please."


    Without hesitation, Carlos stepped forward, deliberately positioning himself between the guard and Cleo, cutting off the man''s wandering gaze like a mmed door.


    "Here are our invitations,"


    Carlos said, his voice deep, professional, and utterly uninterested in nonsense.


    The guard examined the invitations with the practiced eye of someone who didn''t care much but needed to pretend otherwise. Satisfied, he stepped aside.


    "Enjoy your evening, ma''am,"


    the guard said, his voice dripping with feigned politeness.


    As Cleo and Carlos walked past, the guard couldn''t resist the urge to steal another nce at Cleo. But instead of the graceful curve he was hoping for, his view was obstructed by Carlos''s broad, square butt.


    "Ugh,"


    the guard muttered under his breath, annoyed, as Rex, perched on a nearby rooftop, quietly marked him in his sights. Through his binocrs, Rex smirked.


    "That one''s definitely on my list,"


    he murmured.


    The inside of the mansion was a grotesque disy of wealth. Every surface gleamed with polished excess, from the chandeliers that dripped with crystals to the reinforced ss cases showcasing artifacts no one in the room had likely seen before.


    Even the walls were lined with paintings of the mayor, all of them varying degrees of narcissistic. One particrlyrge painting in the grand ballroom featured the mayor reclining in the nude, his posture majestic, his "assets" less so.


    Carlos stopped in his tracks, staring at the painting with the kind of expression usually reserved for finding a rat in your soup.


    "This guy''s ego doesn''t just touch the sky; it''s orbiting the damn moon,"


    he muttered, shaking his head.


    Cleo barely reacted, her focus elsewhere. As they walked, she subtly deployed her spider-like scout drones, crafted in real time beneath the folds of her dress. The tiny mechanical creatures skittered out unseen, scattering into the mansion''s crevices to map theyout and report back.


    The murmurs of the crowd suddenly hushed as the grand hall''s lights dimmed. A single spotlight flicked on, illuminating the staircase at the far end of the room. There, standing tall, or as tall as one could with a head like that, was the mayor.


    The man''s body was humanoid, dressed impably in a suit that likely cost more than a small fortune. But his head... his head was a full octopus, with writhing tentacles that seemed to twitch and shift as if alive.


    "Wee,dies and gentlemen!"


    the mayor began, his voice smooth and charismatic despite his unusual appearance.


    "First of all, I must thank you all for epting my humble invitation to this little masquerade soir¨¦e, hosted in honor of Nexum Dynamics. It brings me great joy to share this night with such esteemedpany."


    He gave a theatrical bow, his tentacles swaying dramatically.


    As he descended the staircase, the crowd surged toward him, eager to win favor. Parents elbowed each other out of the way to present their daughters, while others scrambled to heap praise and curry favor. The mayor epted it all with an unsettling grace, basking in the attention like a sunbather on a summer''s day.


    Meanwhile, Carlos leaned toward Cleo, his tone dry as he gestured toward the unfolding circus.


    "Well, it looks like the mayor''s ego has plenty of cheerleaders tonight."


    Cleo didn''t reply; her attention was fixed on the intelligence streaming in from her drones. But beneath her mask, she couldn''t suppress a small, knowing smirk.


    "Rex, the mansion''spletely mapped,"


    Cleo said, her tone cold and measured, as always.


    "I''m starting the operation to kidnap the mayor now."


    "Roger that, my dear wife,"


    Rex replied, a sly grin evident in his voice as he pulled up the hood of his rain-soaked cloak. The downpour had begun to intensify, droplets drumming steadily on the rooftop where he crouched.


    "You do your part, and I''ll do mine. Just don''t leave me hanging."


    Cleo didn''t dignify his teasing with a response; her focus was locked on the task ahead.


    Inside the mansion, the masquerade continued in all its gaudy splendor. One overeager guest, a man with far too much jewelry and far too little shame, pushed his daughter forward, practically shoving her into the mayor''s personal space.


    "Mayor, this here is my daughter,"


    the man said with a proud grin, gesturing at the young woman with the enthusiasm of a salesman pitching his wares.


    "She just became an adult a few days ago! Isn''t she stunning?"


    The mayor''s bulbous octopus head tilted, his cold, calcting eyes scanning the girl''s voluptuous figure.


    "Oh, yes,"


    he murmured, several tentacles slithering toward her without hesitation, brushing her shoulders and curling around her arm.


    "She''s¡­ very beautiful."


    The girl flinched slightly at his touch, her smile faltering, but her father beamed like he''d just won the lottery.


    And then, in an instant, everything changed.


    From her position in the shadows of the mansion''s upper floor, Cleo pressed amand on her wrist device. Her voice was calm and detached as she muttered,


    "Well, then... let the main event of the masquerade begin."


    Every light in the mansion went out at once, plunging the grand hall intoplete darkness. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd as panic began to set in.


    "What is happening?!


    " the mayor yelled, his voice echoing angrily through the pitch-ck hall. His tentacles writhed in agitation, their movements barely visible in the faint light from the rain-streaked windows.


    The guards sprang into action, rushing toward the mayor from all corners of the room to form a protective circle around him. Weapons drawn, their eyes darted around the shadows, searching for any sign of an intruder.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Outside, the faint rumble of engines grew louder. Dozens of city guard vehicles were speeding toward the mansion, their sirens cutting through the rain-soaked night. Above them, military transport ships roared through the storm clouds, converging on the mayor''s location like predators closing in on prey.


    Cleo''s voice cut through the chaos, low and icy.


    "Kill all the guards."


    Themand was absolute, and from the shadows of the grand hall, dozens of glowing red eyes flickered to life. For a fleeting moment, the guards glimpsed the glint of sleek, metallic shapes of the phantoms, their razor-sharp des glinting faintly in the darkness. Enjoy more content from empire


    And then, in the span of mere seconds, the room fell silent again.


    One by one, the guards copsed, lifeless, their bodies crumpling to the polished marble floor with barely a sound. The Phantoms had struck with surgical precision, their movements too swift and calcted for anyone toprehend.


    The guests, blissfully unaware of the carnage in the shadows, continued to murmur nervously amongst themselves, their fear focused on the darkness and the missing lights. Not a single scream broke the eerie calm.


    From her vantage point, Cleo marked the mayor''s location on her HUD. Her system confirmed that the guards were neutralized, and her Phantoms had already begun sweeping the mansion for any remaining threats.


    With cold precision, she stepped into the grand hall, her heels clicking softly against the floor. The sound was barely audible over the storm outside, but to those who heard it, it might as well have been the toll of a bell.


    The mayor''s tentacles twitched nervously as Cleo emerged from the shadows, her white dress now illuminated faintly by the dim emergency lights flickering back to life. Her golden ents glinted like the edge of a de, and her bird mask made her look like some vengeful phantom of the masquerade.


    "Who... who are you?!"


    the mayor demanded, his voice trembling slightly despite his attempt to sound authoritative. His protective circle of guards was gone, and he was all too aware of it.


    Cleo didn''t answer immediately. She stepped closer, her gaze locked on the mayor like a predator sizing up its prey. Her hand hovered over the controls on her wrist, ready to deploy the next phase of her n.


    Outside, Rex chuckled softly to himself as he watched the chaos unfold through the scope of his rifle. "And it is because of this situation that I love that woman," he muttered, the rain rolling off his hood as he adjusted his position.


    Perched on the rooftop, rain dripping off his hood, Rex adjusted the scope of his rifle, the faint glow of its targeting system casting a golden light against his face. Below him, the patrol cars of the city guard rolled into view, their shing lights cutting through the stormy darkness as they approached the mansion in a tight formation.


    "They''re here,"


    Rex muttered to himself, his toneced with anticipation. His finger hovered over the trigger, steady and precise. He exhaled slowly, letting the rhythmic patter of rain fade into the background.


    His scope locked onto the lead vehicle, focusing on the driver through the supposedly "reinforced" crystal windshield. Without a hint of hesitation, Rex lowered his finger and squeezed the trigger.

 Chapter 106 The masquerade (3).

    A blinding goldenser burst from the barrel of his rifle, tearing through the storm and striking its target with deadly precision. The beam punched cleanly through the windshield, piercing the driver''s chest. The man barely had time to react before slumping forward onto the steering wheel, his foot pushing the elerator.


    The patrol car veered sharply to the left, its tires screeching as it spun out of control. It mmed violently into the vehicle beside it, the impact crunching metal and sending sparks flying into the rain-soaked air. Both cars careened off the road, one flipping onto its side with a deafening crash, while the other plowed into amppost, its lights flickering and dying.


    The convoy behind them screeched to a halt as the guards scrambled to assess the situation. Shouts of confusion erupted, their voices barely audible over the rain and the roaring engines.


    Rex smirked, leaning back slightly as he recharged his rifle for another shot.


    "Reinforced crystal, my ass,"


    he muttered, lining up his next target. Through the scope, he could see the chaos unfolding below, the guards spilling out of their vehicles, weapons drawn, their movements frantic and disorganized.


    "Too easy,"


    he said, settling his sights on the next driver. His finger tightened on the trigger once more, the golden light of his rifle illuminating the storm-soaked battlefield.


    The rain continued to pour, and Rex, as calm as ever, prepared to turn the city guards'' reinforcements into nothing more than smoldering wreckage.


    "Take cover!"


    the high-ranking city guard officer yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos. The guards, shaken but responsive, scrambled to follow his orders, diving behind vehicles and overturned debris as the rain pounded down around them.


    Rex let out an irritated click of his tongue as he watched through his rifle''s scope.


    "Tsk, that officer''s got brains. Guess I''ll have to step it up."


    With a casual motion, he pressed themunicator on his neck.


    "Phantoms of Squad 201, proceed with the mission. Leave no survivors."


    The moment his words were spoken, the shadows around the convoy came alive. ckser beams erupted from seemingly every direction, slicing through the rain like jagged streaks of midnight lightning.


    The Phantom, Kaelzar''s elite assassin units, moved with inhuman precision, their attacks swift and unrelenting.


    Guards who had taken cover behind vehicles dropped like stones, their positions obliterated before they even had time to react. Shouts of panic turned into screams and then silence as body after body fell in the blink of an eye.


    The smarter ones, if you could call them that, crawled under vehicles or threw themselves inside patrol cars, ttening their bodies and staying low. But even those who survived knew it wouldn''tst long.


    The city guards were never a true fighting force. Civilians with a paycheck and uniforms, hired to maintain appearances for the mayor''s corrupt regime. They had no training, no discipline, and no chance against Kaelzar''s Phantom units. Fighting assassins bred for war was like throwing stones at a hurricane.


    Rex lowered his rifle for a moment, watching the carnage unfold with an almost detached amusement.


    "Pathetic,"


    he muttered, before noticing something on the horizon. His smirk faltered as he adjusted his scope.


    The faint glow of engines pierced the storm clouds, growing brighter by the second. In the distance, he could see the unmistakable bulk of city army transport ships descending toward the mansion.


    "Cleo, hurry it up. The city army''s moving in,"


    Rex said into hismunicator, his voice calm butced with urgency.


    Inside the mansion, Cleo''s reply was just as steady.


    "Understood. I need thirty more minutes to extract everything we need from here."


    She turned her gaze toward the mayor, who was sprawled on the floor before her, his once-pristine suit stained with ck blood that oozed from his face. His octopus-like head looked grotesque now, tentacles limp and twitching in pain.


    Carlos stood beside him, cool andposed, meticulously cleaning his knuckles with a towel.


    Cleo''s heels clicked against the marble floor as she approached the mayor, each step deliberate, echoing in the eerily quiet room. She stopped just centimeters away from his head, her towering presence casting a long shadow over him.


    The remaining guests in the grand hall, cowering in corners or behind overturned tables, watched in terrified silence as the scene unfolded.


    Cleo crouched slightly, her mask gleaming faintly in the emergency lights, and spoke with amanding voice that carried across the entire room. "


    This is thest time I''ll ask, Mayor."


    Her tone, though not loud, was sharp as steel and twice as deadly.


    "Tell me who your contact is. Who gave you the order to send the Blood n after us?"


    The mayor coughed weakly, his tentacles twitching as he tried to raise himself upright.


    "I... I don''t know what you''re talking about,"


    he rasped, his voice trembling.


    Carlos''s fist smashed into his jaw with a sickening crack before he could say another word, sending him back to the ground in a heap. The sound echoed through the grand hall, drawing muffled gasps from the onlookers.


    Cleo didn''t flinch. She stood still, her icy gaze boring into the mayor as Carlos calmly folded the bloodied towel over his arm like a waiter preparing for service.


    "Don''t y games with me, Mayor,


    " Cleo said, her voice low but carrying an edge of deadly intent


    . "Your guards are dead. Your army''s too slow. And the only thing keeping you alive right now is the faint hope that you still have something I want to know. So I''ll ask again."


    She leaned closer, her voice rising slightly, loud enough for everyone to hear, her words carrying a weight that silenced even the quietest murmurs of the terrified guests. "


    Who. Gave. The. Order?"


    The mayor whimpered, his tentacles weakly waving in a pitiful gesture of surrender.


    "I... I can''t tell you,"


    he choked out, barely audible.


    "They''ll kill me if I do."


    Cleo tilted her head, her tone cold as the storm raging outside.


    "And what exactly do you think I''ll do if you don''t?"


    The room fell deathly silent, save for the faint hum of her Phantoms patrolling the hall, their glowing red eyes like specters of death in the shadows. Outside, the distant rumble of the approaching army drew closer, but inside, all eyes were on Cleo, waiting for what would happen next.


    The mayor shuddered, his resolve crumbling as he stared up at her. He knew there was no escape.


    "What do we know about the situation at the mayor''s mansion?"


    The general of the city military asked, his voice sharp enough to make the officers around him straighten instinctively. His second-inmand, standing nearby with a datapad clutched tightly in his hands, hesitated.


    "N-Nothing, sir,


    " the officer stammered, his fingers fumbling as he scrolled frantically through the feeds.


    The general''s eyes narrowed, his expression twisting into one of barely contained frustration.


    "How is it possible that we don''t know anything? No updates, no visuals, nomunication?"


    He paused, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Losing hisposure wouldn''t help, not now. His tone was more measured as he spoke again.


    "Fine. Then tell me what we do know about the situation outside the mansion."


    The second-inmand gulped, his face pale as he nced back at the datapad.


    "Sir, the moment the silent rm on the mayor''s body was triggered, the city guard units responded immediately. They reached the mansion within minutes, but¡­"


    He hesitated again.


    "But what?"


    the general snapped, his patience wearing thin.


    "But¡­ there''s been nomunication since. No reports, no updates. Theirst confirmed position was just outside the mansion."


    The general''s face darkened as the weight of the situation settled over him.


    "They''re likely dead already,


    " the second-inmand added grimly, his voice barely above a whisper.


    "Dead¡­"


    The general let the word hang in the air for a moment, his jaw tightening. He turned to his crew.


    "Raise the threat level to red and prepare for¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the transport ship lurched violently, the cabin shaking with an ear-splitting


    boom


    . The lights flickered, rms red, and the entire vessel tilted sharply to one side as the pilot''s voice crackled through the speakers.


    "Missiles inbound! We''ve been hit! Brace yourselves! we''re going down!


    "


    The general barely had time to grab hold of a nearby rail before the transport ship spiraled out of control. Outside the small viewport, the night sky was alive with chaos.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    White, darting ships zipped through the air like predatory birds, their sleek forms unmistakable.


    Wraith-ss fighters.


    A swarm of them had descended on the convoy, their missile pods unloading in a relentless barrage that left little room for escape.


    The ship groaned under the strain, its engines sputtering before cutting out entirely. With a deafening crash, the transport smashed headfirst into the city freeway below, skidding across the wet asphalt beforeing to a grinding, screeching halt.


    Smoke and fire erupted from the wreckage, illuminating the rain-soaked night like a beacon of destruction.


    For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the crackle of mes and the distant sound of sirens. Then, with a metallic


    ng


    , the cargo doors of the transport ship were kicked open from the inside.


    The twisted metal creaked as the general emerged, dragging his injured second-inmand out of the wreckage. Blood ran down the side of his face, and his uniform was torn and burned, but his resolve hadn''t wavered.


    He ced the unconscious officer against the crumbling wall of the freeway, checking briefly to make sure he was still breathing before rising to his feet. The general winced, clutching his side where a shard of debris had pierced his armor. Despite the pain, his focus remained locked on the night sky above.


    The battle in the air was unlike anything he''d seen in years. More Wraith-ss fighters swooped down, their pale, ghostly forms darting through the city''s airspace with deadly precision.


    The remaining transport ships from his convoy tried to evade, but it was useless. One by one, they were struck down, their fiery wreckage raining onto the streets below. Continue reading at empire


    The general narrowed his eyes, watching as a particrlyrge fighter executed a wless strafing run, obliterating a convoy vehicle with chilling uracy. The ships were too familiar, too precise, and yet¡­ he couldn''t ce them. Where had he seen these ships before?


    His fists clenched as he muttered under his breath,


    "What kind of enemy has that bastard mayor pissed out this time?"

 Chapter 107 Unknown enemy.

    Meanwhile, inside the mayor''s mansion, Carlos had the writhing, ck-blooded mayor slung over his shoulder, dragging him unceremoniously toward the grand entrance.


    The once-glorious hall was now in shambles, scattered debris, shattered ss, and lifeless bodies of guards strewn across the marble floor. Carlos''s boots echoed loudly as he walked, his pace steady and deliberate.


    Cleo followed closely behind, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings as her systems confirmed the sessful extraction of all data from the mansion''swork.


    "There''s nothing else left here. Let''s move,"


    she said curtly.


    When they reached the armored vehicle parked just outside the entrance, Carlos opened the cargopartment and dumped the mayor inside without a shred of gentleness. The octopus-headed man groaned in protest but didn''t dare speak as Carlos mmed the hatch shut.


    Carlos climbed into the driver''s seat while Cleo took her ce beside him. With a low hum, the vehicle roared to life, its reinforced tires crushing debris underfoot as they sped away from the mansion.


    Cleo activated hermunicator, her voice calm yetmanding.


    "Rex, we''re done here. Retreat."


    There was a brief crackle of static before Rex''s voice came through, agitated and unusually tense.


    "Erm, I''d love to, but that''s not happening. We''ve got...plications."


    Cleo frowned, her tone sharp. "


    What do you meanplications? Rex?"


    But Rex wasn''t listening; he couldn''t afford to.


    On the rooftop, his normally cocky demeanor was gone, reced by razor-sharp focus as he squared off against two hulking figures. They were experimental soldiers, twisted creations of Nexum Dynamics, their bodies rippling with unnatural muscture and enhanced cybeics.


    Their wild, frenzied movements reminded Rex of something, or rather someone... Ys. Only these creatures had none of Ys''s discipline or intelligence. They were pure, mindless brutality.


    One of the soldiers charged him, its wed hand swiping toward him with bone-shattering force. Rex barely dodged, the ws slicing through the air just inches from his face.


    The second soldier followed up with a leaping strike, its fists mming into the ground where Rex had been standing, sending a shockwave through the rooftop.


    "They''re strong; I''ll give them that,"


    Rex muttered, flipping backward and creating some distance.


    "But uracy? Not your strong suit, is it?"


    Despite theirck of precision, their relentless aggression kept him on the defensive. Every attack came with full, devastating power, forcing Rex to dodge and counter when he could.


    He managed tond a few solid blows, but every wound he inflicted was rendered meaningless as the soldiers'' flesh regenerated before his eyes.


    "Why does everything these dayse with automatic regeneration?!"


    Rex growled, frustration leaking into his voice as he delivered a powerful kick to one of the soldiers, sending it crashing into a nearby wall with a deafening


    crunch


    .


    Dust and debris exploded from the impact, but the creature simply moved itself from the rubble, snarling like a feral animal.


    With a flick of his wrist, Rex crafted his heavy ymore, the de materializing in a shimmer of golden light.


    "Alright, enough ying around,"


    he muttered, gripping the massive weapon with both hands.


    He turned to the second experimental soldier and lunged, his de moving with speed and precision that seemed impossible for someone his size. Each strike was calcted, designed to exploit weaknesses in the soldier''s movements.


    The monstrous creation barely had time to react as Rex delivered blow after blow, forcing it to stagger under his relentless assault.


    But even as hended hit after hit, Rex grimaced.


    "Damn it! Your skin''s like steel!"


    he shouted, leaping back to survey the damage. Despite his efforts, the wounds he inflicted were shallow, and the soldier''s regenerative abilities made them vanish almost instantly.


    Before he could press the attack, the first soldier, now recovered from its earlier crash, joined the fray once more. The two experimental soldiers charged him in unison, their eyes glowing with unbridled fury.


    Rex braced himself as they closed in, their movements wild but devastatingly fast. One swung its wed hand at him, forcing Rex to duck and roll to the side.


    The other followed up with a powerful strike, its fists mming into the ground and creating a massive crater in the road. The sheer force of the impact sent chunks of asphalt flying through the air.


    "Cheating bastards,"


    Rex muttered, gripping his ymore tightly as he prepared for the next round.


    But before he couldunch his counterattack, a voice rang out from below, cutting through the chaos.


    "That is, Captain Rex!"


    The words made Rex pause. He turned his head, his glowing HUD instantly locking onto the source of the voice, a familiar figure standing among the wreckage of a crashed transport ship.


    The man was battered and bloodied, but his uniform, even in its torn state, made his rank clear. His identity shed across Rex''s HUD.


    The general was wide-eyed as he stared up at the towering warrior. There was no mistaking the 2.5-meter frame, the white-and-gold armor, or the iconic ymore.


    It was the same figure who had fought alongside him during the first wave of that hellishary invasion years ago. The same figure who had disappeared after the fighting, leaving nothing but stories behind.


    "It really is you,"


    the general muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.


    "Captain Rex."


    Rex let out a low chuckle, even as he sidestepped another w strike from the experimental soldiers. "


    Well, well, if it isn''t General Kael. I''d say it''s nice to see you again, but under these circumstances..."


    He deflected another strike with his ymore, sparks flying as metal shed against flesh


    . "I think we can skip the pleasantries."


    One of the soldiers roared and lunged at him, its ws outstretched. Rex leapt backward,nding on a cracked section of road just as the soldier''s attack connected with the ground. The impact was catastrophic, creating an explosion of concrete and leaving a gaping hole in the middle of the street.


    Rex sighed, rolling his shoulders as he tightened his grip on the ymore


    . "So, General...


    " he called out, his tone almost conversational despite the chaos around him.


    "Mind telling me what the hell your mayor got himself into this time? Because these guys?"


    He gestured to the regenerating monsters before him.


    "They don''t exactly scream normal citizens.''"


    The general didn''t answer, his focus fixed on the battle before him. Rex turned back to the experimental soldiers, his grin returning despite the odds.


    While the car sped through the rain-slick streets, Cleo''s fingers danced over the holographic interface of her wrist console.


    She was crafting bird drones in real time, sending them one by one into the stormy sky to scout Rex''s location. Her instincts told her something was wrong, and she wasn''t the type to sit idle while chaos brewed.


    Just as her fifth drone shot into the air, Carlos stiffened in the driver''s seat.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Stay updated through empire


    "Cleo, we''ve gotpany,"


    he muttered, his eyes narrowing as several ck armored cars appeared on the road behind them, their headlights cutting through the night like twin des.


    Mounted on top of each car was a heavyser turret, and as soon as they came into range, the guns whirred to life. Bright streams of crimson energy lit up the night, streaking toward their vehicle in a deadly barrage.


    Thankfully, Carlos had learned from thest ambush he survived. His car, once a standard six-seater, was now a fortress on wheels, a two-seater bristling with Cleo''s upgrades. The shields red to life the moment thesers hit, creating a shimmering blue barrier that deflected the onught with ease.


    "Ha! Not this time,"


    Carlos said with a smirk, gripping the wheel tightly as he maneuvered around obstacles at breakneck speed.


    Cleo stood up from her seat without a word, her calm demeanor unshaken by the chaos outside. She reached behind her, grabbing the sma machine gun secured to the back seat. Its sleek, metallic frame glowed faintly as she powered it up, the weapon humming ominously in her hands.


    She leaned out of the car window, her sharp eyes locking onto the vehicles chasing them. With precise aim, she pulled the trigger, unleashing a storm of sma rounds.


    The glowing projectiles tore through the air like miniature suns, mming into the pursuing cars. The unshielded vehicles didn''t stand a chance. One by one, they exploded in fiery bursts, sending debris flying in all directions.


    "That''s what you get for not bringing shields,"


    Cleo muttered under her breath, her expression cold and focused as thest car went up in mes.


    Carlos let out a relieved chuckle, his grip on the wheel loosening.


    "Nice work, Cleo. Now we just need to¡ª"


    "Carlos,"


    Cleo interrupted, her voice sharp.


    "Get ready. Something big ising."


    Carlos didn''t have time to ask what she meant. From the bridge ahead, a massive shadow leapt into the air, its hulking frame silhouetted against the stormy sky. The creaturended directly in their path with an earth-shaking


    boom


    , its sheer weight cracking the pavement beneath it.


    "Shit! No, not my car again!"


    Carlos yelled, mming the brakes with all his strength. The car screeched to a halt just meters away from the monstrous figure, its shields flickering briefly from the sudden jolt.


    Before Carlos could say another word, Cleounched herself out of the car, using the momentum of the sudden stop to propel herself toward the creature.


    As she soared through the air, golden energy flickered around her body. Her power armor materialized piece by piece, her sleek white wings unfurling with radiant light. In her hand, a long golden spear formed, its edges glowing like molten fire.


    The creature, a massive, gori-like beast, roared as she closed the distance. But Cleo was faster. With a single, precise strike, she drove her spear through the creature''s thick torso, piercing what should have been its head. The sheer force of the impact created a shockwave that echoed across the bridge.


    She flipped gracefully in midair,nding on the ground with a practiced ease. Behind her, the golden spear embedded in the creature''s body began to glow brighter and brighter until it detonated in a powerful explosion.


    The creature''s upper body was obliterated, leaving nothing but a smoldering stump where its head once was.


    Cleo scanned the remains with her wrist console, her system sweeping for any signs of life. But it detected nothing. Satisfied, she turned and began to float back toward Carlos, her wings leaving faint trails of light in the air.


    But before she could reach him, a deafening


    thud


    made her stop in her tracks.


    The headless creature, which should have been lifeless, mmed its massive fist into the ground. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the road, cracks spiderwebbing outward. Cleo barely had time to react as the creature''s other fist came swinging toward her with terrifying force.

 Chapter 108 Unknown Enemy. (2).

    The blow connected, mming into her side and sending her flying like a ragdoll. She crashed into the ground with bone-jarring force, tumbling end over end before finally skidding to a stop. Smoke and debris surrounded her, but she forced herself to her feet, pain radiating through her body.


    Her glowing wings flickered for a moment before stabilizing as she steadied herself, coughing slightly. She turned her gaze back toward the creature, her eyes narrowing.


    It was regenerating...


    The massive stump where its head once was began to reform, sinew and muscle weaving together at an rming speed.


    The process was grotesque, unnatural, and impossibly fast. Within moments, a new head, if it could even be called that, had grown in ce of the old one, its grotesque features snarling with primal rage.


    Cleo stared at the creature in silence for a moment, her expression unreadable.


    "Of course,"


    she muttered finally, brushing dust off her armor as she prepared for round two.


    While Cleo was locked inbat with the massive beast, Rex found himself in an equally dire situation. What had started as a two-on-one battle against the experimental soldiers had quickly spiraled out of control.


    A third enemy, one of the massive, hulking creatures like the one Cleo was fighting, had entered the fray, its sheer size and power forcing Rex to the defensive.


    Pinned between wild, unrelenting strikes from the monstrous creature and the rapid, albeit poorly-aimed, attacks of the two experimental soldiers, Rex had no choice but to activate his Overdrive.


    A golden glow erupted from his armor as his Kaelzar core surged with energy, pushing his physical and mental capabilities to their peak. His wings expanded, glowing fiercely, their metallic feathers acting as both weapons and shields.


    Each p sent a shockwave through the air, and when the massive creature mmed its fists toward him, Rex brought his wings forward, shielding himself from the crushing blows. The impacts were deafening, the ground beneath him shattering with each strike, but Rex stood firm.


    "Enough of this!"


    Rex snarled, spinning out of the creature''s reach. In a single, fluid motion, he severed the head of one of the smaller experimental soldiers with his ymore, its body crumpling before the head began its cursed regeneration process.


    He turned, shing at the other soldier with precise strikes, cutting through its arms and head repeatedly to keep it at bay.


    But therger creature wasn''t so easily deterred. Its massive fist swung at him with terrifying force, sending shockwaves that knocked even the smaller creatures back. Rex barely managed to leap away, his wings carrying him higher into the air as the beast roared in frustration.


    "Guys!"


    Rex shouted, his voice booming over the chaos.


    "Are you just going to stand there watching the show, or are you actually going to help me?!"


    Below him, the general of the city military and his surviving soldiers stood near their crashed transport ship, watching the carnage unfold. The general''s face was grim as he raised his voice to respond.


    "I''m sorry, Captain,"


    the general said, bowing his head slightly.


    "While we don''t understand why you''re Nexum Dynamics'' target, our orders are clear. We cannot intervene. All we can do is... nothing. Not help you, and not help them."


    Rex''s eyes narrowed, his frustration boiling over.


    "Then get the hell out of here! Because things are about to get ugly!"


    He pped his wings once, rocketing into the sky, dodging the massive creature''s wild swipes as it tried to grab him mid-air. Rex soared above the battlefield, taking a moment to assess the situation.


    Below him, the ground was a war zone, with smoke, fire, and debris everywhere, with the massive creature wreaking havoc as the two regenerating soldiers regrouped.


    But before he could formte a n, a sharp beeping from his HUD caught his attention. Rex''s eyes darted to the iing threat: a swarm of missiles, their glowing trails streaking through the stormy sky.


    "Great. As if this wasn''t bad enough,"


    Rex muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on his ymore. He recognized the pattern immediately: swarm missiles deployed from the Wraith-ss fighters.


    "I hope this works,"


    Rex said to himself, his voice edged with doubt.


    "And I hope it doesn''t kill me in the process."


    The first missile closed the distance, mere meters from his back. Rex took a deep breath, summoning the golden artifact on his back, the


    Radiant Circlen/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    , a gift from the King of the Kaelzar during his time on that hellish first-wave.


    The glowing ring materialized behind him, its intricate patterns pulsating with energy as it boosted his Overdrive even further. His senses sharpened, time seemed to slow, and his movements became almost impossibly precise.


    As the missile came within centimeters of him, Rex twisted his body in mid-air, extending his hand. The Radiant Circle glowed brighter, its power allowing him to grasp the missile''s trajectory with pinpoint precision. In one swift motion, he redirected it downward, aiming straight for the massive creature below.


    The missile streaked toward the beast''s head, and even as the creature raised its massive arms in an attempt to shield itself, it was too slow. The projectile hit its mark, exploding with devastating force. The shockwave rocked the ground, scattering debris and even knocking the smaller experimental soldiers off their feet.


    But Rex wasn''t done.


    Five more missiles were closing in, their glowing trails weaving through the air like serpents. With each one, Rex repeated the maneuver, redirecting them toward the massive creature. Each missile found its mark, detonating with devastating precision.


    One hit its torso, tearing through its armored skin; another struck its leg, forcing it to kneel under its own weight. The remaining missiles created a cascade of explosions around it, sending mes and smoke shooting into the air.


    The battlefield was a chaotic mess of fire and destruction. The massive creature was barely visible through the thick smoke, its bellowing roars echoing even as its body was ravaged by the missile barrage.


    Rex hovered in the sky, his wings glowing faintly as he caught his breath. The radiant circle flickered behind him, its energy spent but its purpose fulfilled.


    "Messy,"


    Rex muttered, watching the ground below.


    "But effective."


    As the smoke began to clear, however, his confident smirk faded.


    Through the fog, the massive creature''s hulking silhouette began to emerge. Its body, though scorched and battered, was regenerating rapidly. The limbs that had been blown apart were already reforming, sinewing, and muscle knitting back together at an unnatural speed.


    Rex''s hands tightened on his ymore as he watched the creature stand tall once more, its regenerationplete. It let out an earth-shaking roar, its glowing eyes locking onto him with renewed fury.


    "Of course,"


    Rex said dryly, shaking his head.


    "Because why wouldn''t it still be alive?"


    The two smaller experimental soldiers regrouped alongside the massive creature, their own wounds fully healed. All three stared up at Rex, their primal rage almost palpable.


    Rex took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders.


    "Alright,"


    he muttered, his white wings ring as he readied himself.


    "Round two it is."


    Below, the general and his soldiers could only watch in stunned silence as the battle raged on, knowing full well they had no ce in a fight of this magnitude.


    As Cleo tumbled across the pavement, her glowing wings flickering in and out of focus, Carlos stepped forward, shrugging off his suit jacket with a huff.


    The tattered remains of his dress shirt clung to his shoulders, but he didn''t care. He cracked his knuckles loudly, the sound echoing through the air as he stared down the hulking creature regenerating before him.


    "Now it''s my turn, ugly beast!"


    Carlos yelled, mming his fists together.


    With a metallic sound, two fist-sized rocketunchers emerged from his shoulders, tearing through the fabric of his shirt in the process. Theunchers clicked into ce, glowing faintly as they locked onto their target.


    "Let''s see how you like this!"


    he growled, and with a sharp hiss, eight missilesunched in quick session, streaking through the air like fiery darts. The creature, still roaring in primal fury, charged straight at him, its massive body absorbing the hits head-on.


    The missiles detonated on impact, releasing tiny bursts of me and smoke that barely even scorched the creature''s skin. The massive beast didn''t slow down, barreling through the explosions like they were nothing more than firecrackers.


    Carlos blinked, his bravado faltering for just a moment.


    "Cleo¡­ you scammed me!"


    he shouted, activating the energy shields embedded in his shoulders. A shimmering blue barrier expanded around him just as the creature''s massive form mmed into it, the impact sending a deafening shockwave across the battlefield.


    Carlos gritted his teeth, bracing himself as the creature''s ws raked across the shield, the force of its blows pushing him back slightly.


    "Alright, big guy,


    " he muttered, raising his right arm as it shifted and transformed into a sleek machine gun.


    "Let''s see how you like this!"


    But before he could open fire, the creature let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing violently. From the points where the missiles had struck earlier, small ck voids began to form, eight perfectly circr ck holes that pulsed with an ominous energy.


    Carlos''s eyes widened as the ck holes expanded, consuming chunks of the creature''s massive body. Flesh and bone were sucked inward, vanishing into the voids like sand being pulled into a vortex. The beast let out an anguished howl, copsing onto the ground as its massive frame was torn apart from the inside.


    Carlos lowered his shield and gun-arm cautiously, watching the writhing creature with a mix of confusion and disbelief. As the ck holes faded and the creature''s pained cries subsided, he turned to see Cleo standing beside him, calm and collected as always.


    Her glowing wings were once again fully extended, and her white and gold armor shimmered faintly in the dim light. She gave the regenerating beast a quick nce before turning her attention to Carlos.


    "Cleo¡­"


    Carlos began, his voice low and almost usatory.


    "I was carrying that kind of weapon inside my body this whole time?"


    Cleo''s gaze shifted away from him, her face obscured behind her mask, but the way she tilted her head made it clear she wasn''t about to answer.


    Carlos sighed, rubbing his temples.


    "Unbelievable. You put ck-hole missiles in me without telling me? What if I sneezed too hard and identallyunched one?!"


    "You didn''t sneeze,


    " Cleo replied matter-of-factly, her tone as neutral as ever.


    "Not the point!"


    Carlos snapped, throwing his arms up in exasperation.


    "Anyway, what is this thing?


    " he asked, gesturing to the massive creature as its torn body began to knit itself back together.


    He poked at one of its regenerating limbs cautiously with the barrel of his gun-arm. "Shouldn''t we, like, kill it again before it''s back on its feet?"


    "There''s no need,"


    Explore more stories with empire


    Cleo said calmly, gesturing toward the road ahead.

 Chapter 109 Unknown Enemy (3)

    Carlos turned to look, his brow furrowing as the ground beneath them began to tremble. From the distance, he could make out the unmistakable forms of several Aegis unitsing toward them. Their glowing energy cores pulsed with light as they sprinted toward the scene, their massive frames closing the distance with terrifying speed.


    "They''ll be here in a few minutes,"


    Cleo continued, her tone unbothered.


    "Let them handle it." Stay tuned for updates on empire


    Carlos raised an eyebrow, watching as the Aegis units moved with deadly precision, their weapons systems already powering up.


    "Well, that''s great and all,"


    he muttered,


    "but maybe warn me next time when I''m carrying ck-hole bombs inside my body."


    Cleo didn''t respond, simply folding her arms as she watched the approaching machines.


    Carlos sighed again, shaking his head.


    "I swear, working with you is going to give me gray hair."


    "You don''t have hair,"


    Cleo replied tly, her eyes still on the road.


    Carlos paused, pointing a finger at her.


    "Exactly."


    "By the way, were you able to contact Rex?"


    Carlos asked, pacing anxiously beside the regenerating corpse of the massive beast. His fingers twitched, itching to get behind the wheel and go after hisrade.


    Cleo, kneeling beside the creature''s mangled body, didn''t even nce up as she continued collecting samples. Her tools worked with mechanical precision, slicing throughyers of grotesque flesh and storing fragments into small vials.


    "Yes,"


    she replied in her usual neutral tone.


    "He informed me that he''s currently engaged with three creatures. Two are smaller, humanoid variants, while the third is identical to this one."


    Carlos froze mid-step, his eyes widening.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "What?!


    That means we should be heading to help him right now! Why are you so calm about this?"


    He demanded, already moving toward his car, his voice rising with urgency.


    "There''s no need for us to intervene, Carlos. Stay put."


    Cleo''s tone was asposed as ever, her focus still entirely on her work.


    "I''ve already dispatched the most powerful reinforcements avable."


    Carlos stopped, his hand hovering near the car door, staring at her in disbelief.


    "Most powerful reinforcements?"


    He let out a frustrated groan, throwing his arms into the air.


    "You can''t just leave him alone with three of these things and expect reinforcements to solve it! What if¡ª"


    "Carlos."


    Cleo finally looked up from her work, her cold gaze locking onto his.


    "I said stay put."


    Carlos frowned but didn''t push further, muttering something under his breath as he leaned against the car, tapping his foot anxiously.


    Meanwhile, Rex was barely holding on.


    The battlefield had descended into chaos, the rain pouring heavier than ever. It drenched his golden and white armor, the once-pristine sheen dulled by scratches, dirt, and blood.


    Each drop felt heavier, almost dragging him down, and the darkness of the stormy night was broken only by the asional sh of lightning, illuminating his three attackers.


    The two smaller creatures darted around him like predators, their movements erratic but feral. Every time hended a solid hit with his ymore, they regenerated within seconds, their twisted bodies snapping back into form as if mocking his efforts.


    But the real problem wasn''t them.


    It was the massive ck bird, a grotesque, winged version of the regenerating beasts he''d already been fighting. The creature soared through the storm, its shrill, bone-rattling screech piercing the night.


    It wasn''t just fast; it was cunning, ambushing him whenever he tried to gain altitude to escape. Its dark, oily feathers blended with the shadows of the storm, making it almost impossible to see, even with Rex''s enhanced bionic eyes.


    "Damn bird,"


    Rex muttered under his breath, narrowly dodging another dive-bomb attack. The creature''s talons shed through the air just inches from his head, sending a gust of wind that almost knocked him off bnce.


    Rex twisted in mid-air, trying to regain control, but the relentless rain made flying even harder. His wings were strong, but they weren''t designed for extendedbat in the sky. He''d never trained for aerialbat; his strength had always been on the ground.


    He tried once more to retreat into the air, pping hard to gain altitude, but just as he thought he might escape, a deafening roar cut through the storm.


    Out of nowhere, another massive creature leapt into the fray, its hulking frame barely visible in the rain. Its powerful fist mmed into Rex with brutal force, hitting him square in the chest before he could react.


    The impact was devastating, sending Rex hurtling downward like aet. He crashed into the road with an earsplitting


    boom


    , shattering the pavement and sending chunks of debris flying in every direction.


    "Cough, cough¡ªcough!"


    Rex groaned, spitting blood as he rolled onto his back. His ymore ttered uselessly to the ground beside him.


    Deactivating his helmet with a shaky hand, he gasped for air, letting the freezing rain ssh against his face. His long hair clung to his skin, drenched and heavy, the cold biting into him as hey there for a moment.


    "Another one? Really?"


    He muttered, his voice raspy and strained. "


    Were these things on discount or something? Buy one, get one free."


    He chuckled bitterly, wincing as pain red through his ribs.


    Through the rain, he saw the three creatures closing in, the two humanoids and the new, hulking beast that had just sucker-punched him. Their glowing eyes burned with murderous intent, their movements primal and filled with bloodlust. They wanted to end him.


    "Well, then,"


    Rex growled, forcing himself to his feet, his armor sparking slightly as it struggled to keep up with the damage.


    "If you bastards want me, you''re going to have to earn it."


    He gritted his teeth, crafting a second ymore into his left hand. The des gleamed faintly in the darkness, their golden edges still sharp and deadly despite the rain. With a determined re, Rex nted his feet firmly on the ground, ready to make hisst stand.


    But before he could even swing his des, the ground behind him exploded.


    The deafening crash shook the battlefield, sending a shockwave that threw Rex off his feet and hurled him forward. He tumbled across the shattered road, gritting his teeth as debris pelted him from all sides.


    "What the hell now?!"


    Rex roared, coughing as he struggled to get back on his feet. A massive cloud of dust and debris hung in the air, obscuring whatever had justnded behind him.


    Lightning shed, briefly illuminating the scene. Rex turned, his glowing eyes narrowing as he tried to make out the shape through the dust. Whatever it was, it was


    huge


    .


    The creatures that had been charging toward him stopped in their tracks, their primal growls reced with a moment of hesitation. Even they seemed unsure of what had just arrived.


    As the dust began to clear, Rex gripped his ymores tightly, his breathing ragged but steady.


    "Alright,"


    he muttered under his breath.


    "Let''s see what fresh hell this is."


    And then he saw it.


    Standing tall amidst the wreckage, its sleek metallic frame glinting in the rain, was one of the Mauler juggernauts Cleo had created.


    The towering battle mech radiated power, its glowing blue energy core humming with barely contained energy. Its multi-barreled cannon rotated into ce, and its glowing optics locked onto the regenerating creatures ahead.


    Rex couldn''t help butugh, his voice dripping with relief and exhaustion.


    "About damn time."


    The Mauler unit took a single step forward, the ground trembling beneath its massive weight. Its weapon systems began to glow brighter, charging up for what could only be described as overkill.


    The creatures roared in defiance, but the mech''s cold, mechanical voice cut through the storm, issuing a singlemand:


    ["Hostiles detected. Neutralizing targets."]


    And then, all hell broke loose.


    From the swirling dust cloud, six golden sma sts erupted, cutting through the rain-soaked battlefield like burningets.


    Each shot struck with pinpoint precision, mming into the two smaller humanoid creatures. The sheer heat and force of the sma left nothing behind but a cloud of ashes, carried away by the storm''s winds.


    The remaining massive dark creature let out an earsplitting roar, its primal fury shaking the ground as it charged recklessly at the Mauler Unit. But the towering mech didn''t flinch.


    Instead, the Mauler Unit''s engines roared to life as it charged forward to meet the creature head-on. Its massive, multi-barreled sma cannon glowed brightly, rotating as it built up another shot.


    The ground trembled beneath its heavy metal feet as it moved, its glowing optics locked on the oing beast.


    As they closed the distance, the Mauler Unit fired its cannon at the creature to its left, the golden sma beam slicing cleanly through its shoulder, leaving a molten wound that bubbled and smoked.


    At the same time, it swung its other arm, a massive weaponized cannon straight into the second creature on the right. The impact sent the beast hurtling into a nearby building, the crash shaking the structure as chunks of concrete and ss rained down.


    The Mauler didn''t stop. Its cold, mechanical precision gave it the advantage, and it wasn''t about to waste it.


    The creature that had crashed into the building let out a low growl as it attempted to pull itself from the rubble, its twisted body already beginning to regenerate. But before it could get far, the Mauler Unit stepped forward, its massive metal foot mming down onto the creature''s head with a resounding


    crunch


    .


    The beast thrashed wildly beneath the weight of the mech, but it was no match for the Mauler''s overwhelming strength.


    Without hesitation, the Mauler Unit aimed its sma cannon downward and fired repeatedly into the creature''s torso. Each shot sizzled and hissed as it burned through flesh and bone, the intense heat overwhelming the creature''s regenerative abilities.


    It let out one final guttural scream before its body fell limp, its regeneration permanently halted.


    The second beast, now burning with rage, charged toward the Mauler Unit at full speed, its ws scraping against the pavement as it roared.


    But the Mauler Unit was already prepared. With an almost effortless motion, its torso rotated to face the creature, and a barrage of missiles fired from its shoulder-mountedunchers.


    The missiles detonated on impact, the shockwaves forcing the creature to halt its charge as it howled in pain, its body riddled with smoldering wounds.


    The Mauler Unit didn''t let up. With a heavy step forward, it unleashed a relentless flurry of blows, its cannon arms doubling as brutal melee weapons. Each punchnded with bone-shattering force, driving the creature back with every strike.


    The sound of metal meeting flesh echoed through the storm, and the beast''s cries grew weaker with each blow.


    When the creature finally staggered, the Mauler Unit aimed both of its cannons at point-nk range and fired simultaneously. The twin sma sts tore through its body, reducing it to a lifeless heap.


    The battlefield fell silent except for the soft hum of the Mauler Unit''s systems and the steady patter of rain. The towering mech scanned the area for any remaining threats, its glowing optics sweeping through the haze of smoke and rain.


    Then, in its cold, mechanical voice, the Mauler Unit announced.


    ["Objectives eliminated."]

 Chapter 110 Awaken.

    The words echoed through the ruined streets, a stark reminder of the machine''s ruthless efficiency.


    From a safe distance, Rex sat up, coughing as he wiped the rain from his face. His ymoresy discarded beside him, and his white wings flickered weakly as he struggled to his feet.


    "Damn,


    " he muttered, staring at the Mauler Unit as it stood over the smoldering remains of the creatures. "And I thought I was overkill."


    The Mauler Unit didn''t react to his words. It simply turned, its massive frame moving with eerie precision, and began its slow march back to Cleo and Carlos''s location.


    Rex stood amidst the destroyed battlefield, his eyes drawn to the sky. The massive ck bird, still writhing as it tried to stay airborne, was being pursued relentlessly by several Wraith-ss fighters.


    Their sleek, predatory forms zipped through the storm, trailing the monstrous bird like wolves hunting wounded prey.


    Lightning shed, illuminating the scene as one of the fighters broke formation andunched a missile unlike anything Rex had seen before. It didn''t explode upon contact. Instead, the missile expanded into a swirling ck void, an artificial ck hole.


    The bird let out an ear-piercing screech as the ck hole consumed arge chunk of its abdomen and tore away one of its wings. The monstrous creature spun uncontrobly, spiraling downward before crashing into the ground with a deafening boom.


    The impact shattered the earth, sending debris and smoke billowing into the air.


    As the dust settled, one of the Wraith-ss fighters descended, hovering just above the downed creature.


    A bomb dropped from its underbelly, a sleek metallic device that seemed unassuming at first. But when it touched the regenerating bird''s body, it ignited into a zing inferno, forming a fiery mushroom cloud that lit up the stormy sky.


    The heat was so intense that the bird''s flesh evaporated into ash within seconds, leaving nothing behind but a charred crater in the earth.


    Rex sniffed the air, wrinkling his nose as the scent of burned meat wafted toward him. He chuckled, wiping the rain from his face


    . "Funny enough, it does smell like chicken,"


    he muttered, his voice tinged with exhausted humor.


    Activating hismunicator, he pressed a button on his neckpiece. "


    Cleo, the enemies on my side have been dealt with. I''m heading to the extraction point."


    Cleo''s voice came through, as calm andposed as ever


    . "Understood. We''ll rendezvous in the underground city."


    In her own zone, Cleo stood with a collection of test tubes in hand, filled with samples from the massive beast she had defeated. She nced at the still-twitching body of the creature as the Aegis units surrounded it, their weapons at the ready.


    "Kill it,"


    she ordered tly, sliding the test tubes into her belt pouch.


    "It''s no longer useful."


    At hermand, the Aegis units unleashed a storm of firepower. Their sma rifles tore through the creature''s body, filling it with glowing holes as the heat burned through flesh and bone. The beast let out one final, low groan before copsingpletely, its regenerative abilities overwhelmed by the onught.


    Satisfied, Cleo climbed into the car, where Carlos was waiting at the wheel. The two began their drive back to the underground city. Behind them, the Aegis units deployed swarms of jamming drones around the battlefield, ensuring that no curious reporters or civilians would be able to investigate what had urred there.


    A heavy transport ship descended from the clouds, its engines rumbling as it approached the Mauler Unit. Massive mechanical mps extended from its belly, locking onto the Mauler and hoisting it aboard before retreating back toward Cleo main ship in orbit.


    Meanwhile, in the city, the chaos was far from over. Firefighters, rescue teams, and local guards swarmed the streets, working tirelessly to contain the damage left in the wake of the battle. News stations arrived in droves, their cameras capturing the destruction and spection running rampant about what had transpired.


    Back at the mansion, the silence was broken.


    Deep in the underground city mansion, Ys moved. The cocoon in which she had been resting for so long began to peel open, its dark organic material folding back like petals of a sinister flower.


    The cocoon''s remnants melted into her skin, seamlessly bing her clothing, a sleek, ck, form-fitting ensemble that pulsed faintly with green bio-energy.


    Ys stretchedzily, her small body moving with feline grace as she opened her striking green eyes. A small, satisfied smile spread across her lips.


    "Mmm¡«, that was a good sleep,"


    she said, her voice soft and sweet, carrying an undertone of something far more dangerous. She tilted her head to the side, rolling her shoulders as her smile widened.


    "Now... let''s see if my bio-weapons are still working."


    Extending her arms, her hands shifted, morphing into two long, razor-sharp ck des. They gleamed ominously in the dim light as she admired them, giving a few experimental swings.


    "Aha¡«,"


    she said with a giggle, the sound oddly innocent despite the lethality of her appearance.


    "Not bad at all."


    She continued testing her body''s modifications, her limbs transforming into a variety of weapons, spiked tendrils, wed gauntlets, and even a cannon-like structure that glowed with pulsating energy. She was about to experiment further when she suddenly froze, her sharp senses picking up on a presence.


    Someone had entered the mansion.


    Ys''s smile faded, reced by a look of intrigue. Her green eyes narrowed as she focused on the approaching figure. The energy signature was familiar, and her lips curled into a mischievous grin.


    "Well, well..."


    she purred, her voice dripping with excitement.


    "It seems my darling¡« has finally arrived. I''ve been waiting so long to meet you again."


    Her arms shifted back to their normal form as she turned toward the mansion''s entrance, her movements slow and deliberate. The sound of her bare feet against the cold floor echoed eerily through the corridor as she stepped into the shadows, anticipation radiating from her with every step.


    "Let''s see,"


    she whispered to herself, her grin widening.


    "Have you gotten stronger, or are you just as fragile as before?"


    Rex was the first to arrive at the mansion, stepping off the private transport ship with a sense of calm that contrasted sharply with the chaos of the night.


    As he entered the mansion halls, he deactivated his armor with a flick of his wrist. The sleek white and gold ting dissolved into thin streams of light, leaving him in his usual attire, his fitted ck pants and simple, weathered shirt.


    His steps echoed softly against the cold marble floors, and a faint smile crossed his lips as he wiggled his toes, enjoying the cool, grounding sensation of the floor beneath his bare feet. It had been a long, violent night, but here, in the familiar halls of the mansion, there was an oddfort.


    He wandered through the corridors, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, until he reached the long hallway that led to the grand dining room. Just as he began to cross it, the sound of hurried footsteps reached his ears.


    He didn''t need to turn to know who it was; the yful energy radiating from the person was unmistakable.


    And then, the voice he been waiting to hear rang out, teasing and familiar:


    "Daaaaarrrrrliiiinnnggg¡«!"


    Rex chuckled softly, his shoulders rxing just a little. Ys was awake.


    As expected, Ys was running toward him, her arms outstretched as if to leap onto his back, as she always did. But this time, she stopped short, her steps faltering. Her bright energy wavered for a moment, reced by hesitation.


    Ys stood frozen, her green eyes wide with shock as she stared at Rex. To her, it wasn''t just Rex standing there anymore. As a Khryssari, a species deeply attuned to mental and spiritual energies, Ys could see his aura clearly, and it wasn''t what she remembered.


    Before, his aura had been a soft, white mist, calm and steady, enveloping him like a quiet, protective glow. But now... it was something far more intense.


    The aura had taken on a massive, humanoid form, a towering figure of brilliant white, with eyes that shimmered like stars, exuding a presence that felt almost divine. But what unsettled Ys most was the way the aura flickered.


    From time to time, the radiant white shifted, darkened, and became pitch ck. The transformation was brief, but in those moments, the figure became a terrifying void, radiating an otherworldly power that sent shivers through her core.


    For the first time in her life, Ys felt a twinge of fear when looking at Rex.


    But then, his familiar, warm voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to reality.


    "Ys! You''re finally awake!"


    Rex said, his usual grin spreading across his face as he stepped toward her, oblivious to what she had just seen. He reached out and ruffled her light green hair affectionately.


    "I missed you, little devil. I thought you were going to sleep longer."


    The sound of his voice, the warmth in his tone, it melted away the unease that had gripped her moments before. Ys blinked and shook her head, brushing the strange vision aside.


    Whatever changes had urred in Rex, she reminded herself that she was his wife, and no matter how much his power grew or how frightening it seemed, it wouldn''t change the bond they shared.


    "Hehe¡«, missed me that much, huh?"


    Ys said, her yful nature quickly resurfacing as she smiled up at him, ignoring the lingering tremor in her chest.


    "Of course I did,"


    Rex replied, his grin softening.


    "My back got so used to you being there 24/7. After you went to sleep, it felt... empty. Lonely, even."


    He rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepishugh, his golden eyes glinting with affection.


    Ys tilted her head, her smile teasing as always.


    "Lonely without me¡«? How sweet. I didn''t think you''d be so sentimental."


    Rex chuckled.


    Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    "Don''t let it go to your head, little devil. Anyway, enough of the mushy stuff. I was heading to the dining room to grab something to eat while waiting for the others. Wannae?"


    He extended his hand toward her, his grin as inviting as ever.


    For a moment, Ys hesitated, her sharp mind still lingering on the strange, shifting aura she had seen moments earlier. But then she smiled, her soft, teasing expression returning as she ced her hand in his.


    "Sure,"


    she said, her voice light and melodic.


    "Lead the way, darling."


    Together, they walked down the corridor, their footsteps echoing softly in the silence. Ys nced at Rex out of the corner of her eye, her smile remaining steady even as questions began to swirl in her mind.


    Whatever had changed in Rex, she would find out eventually. But for now, she was content to let things be, to enjoy the quiet moment with him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After all, Rex was still Rex. And no matter how much power he wielded, or how his aura shifted between divine and monstrous, he was hers just as she was his. And that would never change.

 Chapter 111 Aftermath.

    Several hourster, everyone had gathered in themand room. The atmosphere was tense yet familiar, with the group seated around the massive circr table in the center of the room.


    Carlos leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his cybeic fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. A grin crept across his face as his eyes settled on his.


    "Well, look who''s finally awake; our pocket-sized grandma is back."


    Ys, seated across from him with her legs crossed, didn''t miss a beat. Her green eyes sparkled mischievously as a devilish grin spread across her lips


    . "And I see you''re still as insufferable and bald as ever,"


    she shot back, her tone sugary sweet.


    Her gaze flicked over Carlos''s heavily cybeic frame, and after a moment, she tilted her head, her grin widening


    . "Wait a second... Every time I see you, you''re missing more body parts. At this rate, you''re more machine than man. You nning to leave anything human intact, Carlos?


    "


    Carlos chuckled, unbothered by her jab.


    "Of course I''m losing body parts, pocket-sized immortal grandma. Unlike you, I''m just a normal human,"


    he said, gesturing toward his heavily modified cybeic limbs.


    "We mortals actually take damage, you know. Not all of us get to hibernate in a cocoon for decades like some pint-sized relic of the past."


    She raised an eyebrow, feigning offense, though the yful glint in her eye betrayed her amusement.


    "Relic? I''ve forgotten more about warfare than you''ll ever learn, and I''m still cute enough to get away with it. Meanwhile, you''re one bad upgrade away from being mistaken for a toaster."


    Before Carlos could fire back, Rex pped his hands sharply, cutting through their banter.


    "Alright, you two, enough. Save the arguing forter. Cleo has something important to discuss, so let''s focus for now."


    He gestured toward Cleo, who sat at the far end of the table, her expression as stoic andposed as ever.


    "Thank you, Rex,"


    Cleo said with a slight nod. She tapped a control on the table, and arge holo-screen materialized in the center, casting a pale blue glow over the room.


    "Please direct your attention to the screen,"


    Cleo began, her calm voice carrying just enough authority to silence any lingering chatter


    . "This is thetest report following the skirmish we had yesterday. The situation is escting, and I want you all to see the consequences of our actions."


    The holo-screen flickered to life, disying a recording from the Intergctic News Network. The screen showed a polished news anchor standing outside the ruins of the mayor''s mansion. The oncevish estate was now a smoldering husk, surrounded by emergency response teams and heavily armed guards.


    "As you can see,"


    Cleo narrated as the footage yed,


    "the media has spun the events as a terrorist attack and a kidnapping. They''re keeping the details intentionally vague, but the damage to our reputation and the increased bounty on our heads will be unavoidable."


    The anchor''s voice filled the room, apanied by scrolling text at the bottom of the screen:


    <<"Breaking News: Terrorist Attack Rocks Commercial City Mayor Kidnapped by Extremists.">>


    "This is the aftermath of what officials are calling an unprecedented act of terrorism,"


    the anchor reported, her tone somber.


    "The mayor of themercial city remains missing after a violent attack on his mansion. Witness ounts are scarce, as all known footage of the attack was mysteriously deleted, and signals from news drones in the area were jammed. However, we do know that the perpetrators acted with extreme ruthlessness."


    Cleo paused the video, letting her team absorb the weight of the situation before continuing.


    "The media is painting us as extremists, which works to their advantage. And while the footage was erased, they''ve managed to find witnesses who were near the area at the time of the assault."


    The video resumed, showing the anchor approaching two individuals: a young maid in a uniform and a man dressed like an average civilian.


    "Here we have two witnesses,"


    the anchor said, turning toward the maid with a sympathetic smile. "


    Hello there, miss. Could you please introduce yourself and tell us what you know about the terrorist attack that urred yesterday?"


    The maid hesitated, clutching her hands nervously before taking the microphone.


    "Y-yes,"


    she stammered.


    "I''m a maid who works at the mayor''s mansion. What happened yesterday was horrible... Just horrible!"


    Her voice broke as she continued, her eyes welling with tears.


    "Ady in white and her human ve attacked the mansion! They killed the guards and assaulted the mayor without warning. It was... so cruel! They were merciless!"


    She choked on a sob, her shoulders trembling as the anchor offered her aforting hand.


    The room was silent as the video continued to y, the tension in the air thick. Carlos leaned back in his chair, shaking his head with a mix of frustration and disbelief.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "''Human ve''?"


    Carlos muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm


    . "I guess that''s me. Great. They couldn''t even give me a badass nickname or something."


    "Focus, Carlos,"


    Cleo said without looking at him, her gaze still fixed on the screen. She fast-forwarded the footage to show the anchor interviewing the second witness, a man who imed to have heard explosions and screams but saw nothing concrete.


    Cleo shut off the video and turned back to the group, her gaze sharp. "


    This is the narrative they''re building against us. No footage, no evidence, just hearsay and emotional testimony. But it''s working. Public opinion is shifting, and we''ll face more resistance moving forward. We need to be prepared for that."


    Rex nodded thoughtfully, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table.


    "So what''s the n? I''m guessing this isn''t just about damage control."


    Cleo tapped the table again, bringing up a new disy.


    "No, it''s not. The mayor''s disappearance wasn''t the endgame; it was the opening move. What happens next will determine whether this operation seeds or copses. But before we get into specifics, I need everyone here fullymitted and focused. There''s no room for distractions."


    Ys smirked, her green eyes gleaming with a yful glint as she nced at Carlos.


    "Hear that, Carlos? No distractions. Try not to lose any more body parts, okay?"


    Carlos rolled his eyes but grinned.


    "And you try not to fall asleep for another century, grandma."


    Rex pped his hands again, shaking his head with a sigh.


    "You two are impossible."


    "And?"


    Rex asked, his tone steady as he skimmed through the data pad Cleo had handed him before the meeting. His golden eyes flicked up briefly to meet hers.


    "Did we get anything useful out of our guest in the underground prison?"


    Cleo shook her head, her calm demeanor unshaken.


    "Negative. The mayor was either too cautious or too uninformed. The only useful piece of information we extracted was that whoever is targeting usmunicated with the mayor exclusively through encrypted cards. No names, no aliases, no traceable identifiers."


    Rex let out a low hum, his gaze dropping back to the data pad as he processed her words.


    "Hmph. Figures,"


    he muttered, flipping to the next page on the pad.


    Carlos leaned forward in his chair, his curiosity piqued.


    "Then what did we get?"


    he asked, his tone more hopeful.


    Cleo tapped the holo-console on the table, pulling up arge star map of the sector. A specific location on the asteroid belt shed in red, drawing everyone''s attention.


    "We uncovered another lead from the mayor''s personal records. There''s a trading station on the asteroid belt in this sector. Four days ago, it came under attack by pirates. The station sent multiple distress calls to the mayor, requesting reinforcements."


    "And?"


    Carlos raised an eyebrow, leaning closer.


    Cleo nced at him. "


    The mayor sent none."


    Carlos frowned.


    "Why would the mayor ignore that? Isn''t it his job to protect ces like this?"


    This time, Rex answered, his tone thoughtful but cold.


    "He didn''t ignore it, Carlos. He probably sent the pirates himself."


    The room fell silent for a moment. Carlos blinked in confusion.


    "What? Why the hell would he¡ª"


    "Think about it,


    " Rex continued, his voice firm as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes still scanning the data pad.


    "A trading station on the asteroid belt is a perfect target. It''s where miners go to sell their ore, and merchantse to buy it in bulk. To pirates, it''s heaven."


    He set the data pad down, resting one arm on the table as he exined further.


    "If the mayor sent the pirates, it''d be to disrupt the trade flow. Pirates could hijack merchant ships before they buy the minerals, steal the credits, or destroy the ships outright to loot the cargo."


    "Then, they''d sell the stolen minerals right back to the station, keeping the cycle going. And since the mayor has control over the station''s operations, he''d take a cut of whatever profits the pirates make."


    Carlos''s mouth opened slightly, stunned by the detailed analysis. Even Ys, who had been loungingzily in her chair with her usual devilish grin, raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    Cleo crossed her arms, nodding once.


    "It''s exactly as Rex said,"


    she confirmed, her neutral voice tinged with a faint hint of approval. "


    The station is being used as a tool for profit and maniption. That''s why this information is critical to our next move."


    She tapped the console again, bringing up a full schematic of the asteroid belt, highlighting the trading station and nearby mining routes.


    "The underground city ispromised. The enemy knows where we''re based. Relocating is no longer a question of ''if'', it''s a necessity. The trading station presents an ideal option."


    Carlos furrowed his brow, leaning forward. "


    Wait. You''re saying we''re just going to take over the station? How does that even work?"


    Rex, still sitting back with his arms crossed, chuckled lightly.


    "Simple, Carlos. We go in, save them from the pirate attacks, and offer them a deal they can''t refuse."


    He smirked, his golden eyes gleaming with confidence.


    "We eliminate the pirates and protect the station in exchange for their cooperation. They''ll give us resources and support while we build a base in the asteroid belt. It''s a win-win.


    "


    Carlos blinked at Rex.


    "You figured all that out already?"


    Rex shrugged, resting his head on the back of his chair.


    "Didn''t seem thatplicated. It''s justmon sense."


    Ys let out a yful whistle, her sharp green eyes narrowing as she leaned on the table, resting her chin in her palm.


    "My, my, darling¡«. Look at you, thinking three steps ahead. Maybe that sleep deprivation is finally working in your favor."


    Rex rolled his eyes but smirked.


    "What can I say? Crisis brings out the best in me."

 Chapter 112 Station Siege

    Cleo, unfazed by their banter, nodded once more.


    "Rex''s assessment is urate. If we can secure the station, it will give us a significant strategic advantage. The asteroid belt''s naturalyout will provide cover, and the station itself has docking facilities that we can repurpose forrger-scale operations."


    Carlos finally sat back, processing everything.


    "Alright, so let me get this straight. We head to the station, wipe out the pirates, and convince the traders to let us stay. Sounds... ambitious."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Affirmative,"


    Cleo replied simply.


    Rex pped his hands together, the sound cutting through the room.


    "Then what are we waiting for?"


    he said, standing up with a grin.


    "Let''s get to it."


    Cleo turned off the holo-disy, her sharp gaze sweeping across the team.


    "We''ll move out immediately. Rex, Carlos, and Ys prepare for deployment. I''ll coordinate the fleet to ensure backup is ready if needed."


    She stretchedzily, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.


    "Oh, this should be fun. Pirates, asteroid fields, traders begging for our help, it''s practically a vacation.


    "


    ["Asteroid belt, principal mineral source in the sector"]


    "Sir! We can''t hold on any longer!"


    The frantic voice of the station''s lead engineer echoed through themand room.


    His face was pale and drenched with sweat as he gripped a console for support. "


    The shields are down, and we''ve run out of parts and energy to bring them back online! Where are the reinforcements?!"


    The trading station administrator stood silently by the reinforced observation window, his gaze fixed on the void of space beyond.


    The darkness was punctuated only by distant stars and the faint shes of pirate ships circling the station like vultures. His shoulders sagged under the weight of his years, and his expression was grim.


    "There won''t be reinforcements,"


    the administrator said finally, his voice low and heavy. Without turning, he reached for a data pad on the desk beside him and tossed it to the engineer.


    The young man caught it clumsily, his hands trembling. He stared at the screen in disbelief as the administrator spoke.


    "Those are all the calls I''ve sent to the mayor for help. Every one of them went unanswered. Not a single response."


    The administrator finally turned, his tired eyes meeting the engineer''s.


    "We''ve been left to die."


    "No¡­"


    The engineer''s voice cracked as he scanned the data pad.


    "That can''t be true. Maybe... maybe the pirates are jamming themunications! Yes, that has to be it!"


    His voice rose, desperation creeping into his tone.


    "That''s why the requests aren''t reaching the mayor. He doesn''t know we need help!"


    The administrator sighed, rubbing a hand over his weathered face. "


    Give it up, kiddo,"


    he said softly.


    "Face the truth. They''ve sold us out. The mayor let the pirates have us, probably for a cut of the profits."


    The engineer shook his head violently, his breathing quick and shallow.


    "No, no, that can''t be! He wouldn''t."


    The administrator stepped forward and ced a firm hand on the young man''s shoulder, forcing him to meet his gaze


    . "Listen to me. We can''t waste any more time clinging to false hope. The shields are down, the pirates areing, and we have no backup. It''s time to fight."


    The engineer stared at him, tears welling in his eyes as his trembling lips tried to form words. But the administrator didn''t wait for a reply. He let out a long, tired sigh before walking toward therge storage locker in the corner of the room.


    "Send the order to the guards,"


    the administrator called over his shoulder. "


    Tell them to prepare for a siege. The pirates will board soon, probably today. That''s how they operate. They disable the shields, thene for the kill. If we''re going down, we''re taking some of those scum with us."


    The administrator opened the locker, revealing an old suit of armor that bore the insignia of the station''s defense force. It was scratched and battered, but it still fit as he donned it piece by piece.


    Finally, he reached for aser rifle mounted on the wall. Its barrel was worn, but it had been meticulously maintained over the years. He cradled it in his hands for a moment, the weight both familiar and nostalgic.


    Once fully suited up, he turned back to the engineer, who stood frozen in ce. The administrator crossed the room and ced a hand on the young man''s head, ruffling his hair gently.


    "


    I''m sorry, kiddo,"


    he said, his voice thick with emotion. "


    I promised your parents I''d keep you safe, but... it looks like I failed."


    The engineer''s lips quivered, and tears began streaming down his face.


    "Gramps,


    " he choked out, his voice barely audible.


    The administrator turned toward the automatic doors, his armored boots nking against the metal floor. As the doors slid open with a hiss, he prepared to join the other guards in the station''s lower levels.


    "Wait!"


    the engineer shouted, his voice breaking as he wiped his tears with his sleeve.


    "Gramps, wait!"


    The administrator paused, ncing over his shoulder.


    "If... if this is the day we''re going to see my parents,"


    the engineer said, his voice shaking,


    "then it''s better if we go together.


    " He straightened his back, taking a deep, unsteady breath before grabbing hisser rifle from a nearby rack.


    The administrator''s weary expression softened into a rare smile.


    "Hah. That''s more like it,


    " he said, pping the young man on the back.


    "I expected no less from my grandson."


    The two of them strode toward the door together, the faint sounds of rms and distant gunfire growing louder as they made their way toward the station''s main defenses.


    On the lower levels, the station''s guards were scrambling to strengthen their positions. Makeshift barricades had been erected along the main docking corridors, and the sound ofser rifles being charged filled the air.


    The tension was palpable, each person fully aware that they were outgunned, outnumbered, and likely out of time.


    The administrator and his grandson entered the room, their presence immediatelymanding attention.


    "Listen up!"


    the administrator barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. The guards turned to face him, their expressions a mix of fear and determination.


    "I won''t lie to you,"


    he continued, his tone firm.


    "Reinforcements aren''ting. This fight is ours and ours alone. But if those pirate bastards think they can take this station without a fight, they''ve got another thinging."


    He raised his rifle, the barrel glowing faintly in the dim light.


    "We hold the line here. For the station. For our people. For everything they''ve taken from us!"


    A cheer rose from the guards, shaky but resolute.


    The engineer tightened his grip on his rifle, standing beside his grandfather with a look of steely determination.


    "We''re with you, gramps."


    The administrator smiled faintly, then turned to face the docking bay doors. The sound of metal grinding against metal echoed through the station as the pirates began to breach the airlocks.


    "Here theye,


    " he muttered.


    "Hold your ground!."


    With a deafening explosion, the docking bay doors were blown apart, sending a shockwave that rattled the station''s walls and sent debris flying in every direction. The pirates stormed in, their blood-curdling war cries filling the air as they opened fire withser rifles and electric cannons.


    The station guards and desperate civilians returned fire from behind the makeshift barricades, theirser shots streaking through the smoke-filled air. The room was chaos, shes of light, the sharp crackle of electric discharges, and the screams of both the living and the dying reverberating off the steel walls.


    "Hia hia hia! The top five beauties on the station are mine tonight!"


    said one of the pirate leaders, a grotesque figure dressed in mismatched armor adorned with crude trophies, bits of jewelry and scraps of clothing stolen from past victims.


    His grin revealed jagged yellow teeth as he crouched behind a group of pirates wielding siege shields.


    One of his underlings, a wiry man with wide, nervous eyes, turned toward him cautiously.


    "But boss, uh¡­ the big boss said the most beautiful ones are his to y with first. You know, before¡­"


    The underling trailed off, shuddering as he remembered the


    "torture sessions"


    their leader was infamous for.


    The pirate leader let out a shrillugh, licking his cracked lips as his bloodshot eyes gleamed.


    "Hia hia hia! Who said I want the most beautiful girls?"


    He leaned toward the underling, his voice dropping into a disturbingly flirtatious tone.


    "Mmm, you''re not so bad yourself. How about it, pretty boy? Care to keep mepany tonight?"


    The underling''s face turned pale as a sheet. Without saying another word, he bolted toward the front line, grabbing the nearest weapon he could find. Better to risk death than endure


    that


    .


    "Hia hia hia, what a shame!"


    the pirate leaderughed, watching with amusement as his underling tried to prove his bravery on the battlefield. A momentter, aser st from the station''s defenders blew the poor man''s head clean off, sending a spray of blood and charred flesh across the floor.


    "Pfft! Guess he didn''t have much of a head for battle!"


    the pirate leader jeered, throwing his head back in cruelughter as his men pressed forward.


    Meanwhile, the station''s administrator ducked behind a stack of cargo crates, his old guard armor scratched and battered from stray shots.


    "Don''t stop firing!


    " he barked, his voice rough but steady.


    He peeked out from cover, carefully aiming his oldser rifle. His shot struck true, sting through the helmet of one of the pirates and sending the man crumpling to the ground.


    The engineer, crouched nearby, shouted over the chaos.


    "Gramps! There''s too many of them! They keep pushing forward!"


    "


    Then we push harder


    !" the administrator snapped, his rifle glowing as he lined up another shot. He fired again, taking out another pirate before ducking back behind cover as a volley of return fire peppered the crates.


    But before the defenders could regroup, a new threat entered the fray.


    "Wait¡­"


    The engineer froze, his eyes widening as he spotted a new group of pirates entering through the breach. They carried long, tube-like weapons slung over their shoulders, the distinct shape was unmistakable.


    His heart sank as realization hit him like a freight train.


    "Are those¡­ ROCKET LAUNCHERS?!"


    His voice cracked as he screamed,


    "EVERYONE, TAKE COVER!"


    The administrator''s head snapped toward the engineer, and his eyes widened in rm.


    "Missiles!"


    he bellowed.


    "TAKE COVER NOW!"


    The pirates holding the rocketunchers took aim, their grins wicked and bloodthirsty. A secondter, the room was filled with a cacophony of


    whooshing


    sounds as the missilesunched.


    The defenders scrambled, diving behind whatever cover they could find as the rockets streaked through the air, leaving trails of smoke in their wake.

 Chapter 113 Station Siege (2).

    Explosions rocked the docking bay, tearing through barricades and throwing debris in every direction. The force of the sts sent several guards flying, their bodies mming into walls with sickening thunder.


    Cargo crates shattered into splinters, and clouds of dust and smoke filled the room, choking the air and obscuring vision.


    The administrator gritted his teeth, shielding the engineer with his body as chunks of metal and debris rained down around them.


    "Damn it!"


    he hissed, coughing as the smoke burned his lungs.


    "They''re tearing us apart!"


    The engineer peeked out from behind the administrator, his face pale as he surveyed the carnage. Several defendersy motionless, their bodies twisted and broken, while others struggled to crawl back behind cover.


    The pirates were advancing again, theirughter and jeers echoing through the ruined bay.


    Find your next adventure on empire


    "Gramps, what do we do?!


    " the engineer asked, panic seeping into his voice.


    The administrator clenched his fists, his old body trembling from the exertion. But his eyes burned with determination as he turned to his grandson.


    "We don''t back down. Not now."


    He grabbed the younger man by the shoulder, locking eyes with him. "


    Get ready. We''re going to make these bastards regret ever stepping foot on this station."


    The engineer nodded shakily, gripping his rifle tighter.


    "R-Right¡­"


    The administrator raised his rifle once more, ring at the approaching pirates.


    "For the station! For our people!"


    "For our people!"


    the remaining guards echoed, rallying behind him as they readied themselves for another wave.


    The pirates roared as they charged through the smoke, but the defenders opened fire once more, theirser sts lighting up the darkness. The battle raged on, the station''s fate hanging by a thread.


    The battle in the cargo bay was reaching its grim climax. The defenders were barely holding on, their numbers dwindling with every passing minute. Smoke filled the air, choking the lungs of those who still fought.


    The walls were scorched, riddled with holes fromser fire and missile sts. The sound of screams, the sharp crack of gunfire, and the cruelughter of the pirates created a nightmarish melody.


    The station''s guards were spread thin, their once-solid defensive lines now little more than scattered pockets of resistance.


    Most of the civilians who had joined the fight were either dead or incapacitated, their makeshift weapons no match for the pirates overwhelming firepower. And still, the pirates poured in, their numbers seeming endless.


    "Fall back! Regroup at the secondary barricade!"


    the administrator yelled, his voice hoarse as he fired another shot at a charging pirate. His old armor was dented, his movements slower than they had been at the start of the fight.


    Around him, the guards fought valiantly, but their exhaustion was evident. They were battered and bloodied, their ranks thinning with every passing second. The missiles had scattered them across the bay, leaving gaping holes in their defenses.


    The pirates seized the opportunity, pushing further into the station.


    "Grab everything you can!"


    one pirate shouted, his voice gleeful as he and hisrades looted crates of supplies. Others fanned out, searching for civilians hiding in the shadows.


    "Find the prettiest ones first!"


    another pirate called, hisughter echoing as he kicked over a cargo container.


    The defenders could only watch as the pirates advanced, stealing, destroying, and dragging civilians from their hiding spots. Hope was slipping through their fingers, reced by the grim certainty that this was the end.


    And then it happened.


    High above the station, space seemed to ripple and tear. A wormhole opened with a burst of light, its edges shimmering like molten gold.


    Emerging from its depths came a massive vessel, its sleek white and golden hull dwarfing the trading station below. The ship was a symbol of power and precision, its radiant design in stark contrast to the cold darkness of space.


    The pirates paused, their looting momentarily forgotten as they turned their eyes skyward.


    "What the hell is that?"


    one of them muttered, his voice filled with unease.


    Before anyone could answer, the shipunched dozens of drop pods. They descended rapidly, streaking toward the station like falling stars, their trails burning bright against the void.


    The pods mmed into the station''s roof with thunderous impacts, their heavy metal frames punching through the structure. A brief silence followed, save for the hiss of cooling metal. Then, with mechanical precision, the pods activated their cuttingsers, carvingrge circr openings into the station''s hull.


    Inside the cargo bay, the defenders and pirates alike stopped in their tracks, their attention drawn upward as the screeching sound of metal being sliced apart echoed through the station. The pirates began to mutter nervously, their confidence shaken.


    "


    What the hell is that noise?


    " One pirate snarled, his eyes darting to the ceiling.


    A secondter, the answer came.


    The circr sections of the hull fell inward with a resounding


    ng


    , and from the drop pods emerged the Aegis units, towering mechanized warriors of gleaming white and gold. Each pod held five of the fearsome machines, their glowing optics scanning the surroundings as they moved with military precision.


    The Aegis units wasted no time. With powerful strides, they began sprinting toward the cargo bay, their heavy footsteps reverberating through the station''s corridors. The faint hum of their energy cores grew louder as they approached, a harbinger of salvation for the defenders and destruction for the pirates.


    Back in the cargo bay, the defenders were barely hanging on. The administrator had been forced to retreat behind a fallen cargo crate, his grandson beside him, clutching his rifle with trembling hands.


    The pirates were advancing rapidly, looting as they went, and thest of the barricades had all but crumbled.


    "Gramps,"


    the engineer whispered, his voice shaking.


    "We can''t stop them. There''s too many of them."


    The administrator didn''t respond immediately, his eyes fixed on the chaos in front of him. He knew the boy was right. This fight had turned into a massacre, and there was no hope left. But before he could speak, the sound of heavy footsteps filled the air, growing louder with each passing second.


    The pirates turned toward the sound, their weapons raised.


    "What the hell is that?"


    One of them barked, his voice tinged with panic.


    And then the Aegis units entered the bay.


    The first unit stepped into the smoke-filled room, its white and gold armor gleaming even in the dim light. Its glowing optics locked onto the pirates, and a booming, synthetic voice echoed through the room:


    ["Hostile forces detected. Commencing elimination protocol."]


    The pirates hesitated for a fraction of a second. Then, the Aegis units opened fire.


    Blinding streams of sma erupted from their weapons, cutting through the pirates like a scythe through wheat. The energy sts burned through armor and flesh alike, leaving no chance for regeneration or survival.


    One pirate, bold or foolish, charged toward an Aegis unit with a makeshift rocketuncher. The machine turned its torso, raised its sma rifle, and fired a single shot that obliterated the pirate and the rocketuncher in an instant.


    The pirates panic was immediate and overwhelming.


    "Fall back! Fall back!"


    one of the pirate leaders screamed, scrambling for cover as more Aegis units poured into the bay, their weapons zing.


    The administrator watched in awe as the machines systematically dismantled the pirate forces.


    "By the stars,


    " he muttered, his grip on his rifle loosening.


    "Gramps!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    the engineer eximed, his face lighting up with hope.


    "We''re saved!"


    The administrator nodded, a faint smile crossing his tired face.


    "It looks like reinforcements have arrived after all."


    The Aegis units continued their relentless advance, pushing the pirates back with devastating firepower. For the defenders, it was a miracle. For the pirates, it was a nightmare. And above it all, the massive white and gold ship hovered silently, watching as the tide of battle turned.


    It became painfully clear within minutes that the pirates were no match for the might of the Aegis units. Their mismatched weapons and improvised tactics wereughable against the heavy energy shields and devastating firepower of Legion 201.


    What had once been a chaotic battlefield was now a systematic, one-sided purge.


    The unit that arrived was no ordinary squad of Aegis units.


    Thanks to Rex''s vision and Cleo''s precision engineering, the 201st had undergone aplete overhaul, evolving into something far more formidable. Now known as Legion 201, the force consisted of 200 upgraded units, split into two specialized groups.


    The first 100 were heavily modified for close-quartersbat. Equipped with reinforced energy shields capable of withstanding sustained missile fire, these units carried two-handed energy swords mounted on their backs, glowing faintly with a pulsing blue light.


    These new weapons turned them into deadly close-rangebatants, cutting down enemies with surgical precision. While adept at both melee and rangedbat, the power consumption of these upgraded units was immense, limiting their deployment duration.


    The other 100 remained as standard Aegis units, versatile and efficient. Their role was to provide suppressive fire and logistical support, bncing the Legion''s firepower with sustained endurance.


    Together, these units formed a cohesive and unstoppable force, a testament to the 201st''s evolution under Rex''s leadership.


    The pirates didn''t stand a chance.


    Inside the station, the remaining defenders watched in stunned silence as the 201st systematically dismantled the pirate forces.


    The upgraded units moved like a well-oiled machine, their heavy shields absorbing iing fire while their energy swords carved through pirate barricades and armor like butter. The standard units provided covering fire, their sma cannons cutting down any pirate foolish enough to resist.


    The pirates'' screams filled the air as their ranks were decimated. Within minutes, the cargo bay was cleared, and the once-dominant marauders were reduced to fleeing survivors, running for their lives through the station''s ruined corridors.


    The defenders, exhausted and battered, could only watch in awe as their saviors turned the tide of the battle with precision and ruthlessness.

 Chapter 114 Greed.

    With the immediate threat neutralized, the 201st seamlessly transitioned to cleanup operations. Some units deployed their built-in medical drones, releasing swarms of small, white machines that tended to the injured defenders.


    The drones scanned wounds, administered first aid, and stabilized those in critical condition.


    Other units began patrolling the station, their glowing optics scanning for any remaining pirates or signs of sabotage. Their heavy footsteps echoed through the hallways as they methodically secured the trading station, ensuring no threat was left behind.


    At themand center, Cleo stood beside Rex, her eyes fixed on the holographic disy projected from her wrist console. The map showed the surrounding sector in vivid detail, highlighting dozens of red markers rapidly converging on the station.


    "Rex,"


    Cleo said, her calm voice cutting through the room''s tense atmosphere.


    "It''s as you predicted."


    Rex leaned over the console, his golden eyes narrowing as he studied the approaching forces.


    "They''re regrouping faster than I thought,"


    he muttered, crossing his arms.


    "Looks like the pirates weren''t the only ones in on this."


    The hologram disyed a variety of ships, pirate raiders, mercenary frigates, and even what appeared to be a repurposed military cruiser. The hostile fleet wasn''t massive, but it was enough to pose a serious threat, especially given the station''s current state.


    Cleo tapped her console, zooming in on the approaching ships.


    "The pirate leaders must have called for reinforcements the moment they realized they couldn''t hold the station. Judging by the speed of their approach, they''ve been on standby nearby."


    She nced at Rex, her expression unreadable.


    "What''s the n?"


    Rex smirked, his confidence unshaken despite the odds


    . "We''ve already taken the station. That means we dictate the battlefield now."


    He straightened, gesturing toward the hologram.


    "We have the high ground, literally. If they want to take this station back, they''re going to have to fight through us to do it."


    "Your usual approach then,"


    Cleo said with a faint hint of amusement as she pulled up the station''s internal schematics.


    "The defenders are too injured to provide much assistance, but we still have the Legion. We can hold." Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    Rex nodded, his grin widening. "The Legion was built for situations like this. Let''s see how long those bastardsst against the full force of the 201st."


    Meanwhile, inside the station, the administrator and his grandson stood among the wreckage of the cargo bay. The younger man was still processing what he had just witnessed, the sheer efficiency and power of the 201st units that had turned the tide of the battle.


    The administrator leaned heavily on his rifle, his old body trembling slightly from exhaustion. But his eyes remained sharp as he watched the Aegis units patrol the area.


    "I''ve never seen anything like it,"


    he muttered.


    "Whoever these people are, they just saved the station, and us along with it."


    His grandson nodded silently, his gaze fixed on one of the heavily armored units as it passed by. The machine briefly turned its glowing optics toward them, scanning them for injuries before moving on without a word.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Gramps,"


    the younger man said hesitantly,


    "do you think... do you think we can really trust them?"


    The administrator was quiet for a moment, then let out a tired chuckle.


    "Son, at this point, I don''t care if they''re angels, demons, or something in between. They''re the reason we''re still breathing. That''s good enough for me."


    The sound of distant rms brought their conversation to an abrupt halt. The administrator''s smile faded as he turned toward the source of the noise.


    "Looks like it''s not over yet."


    From above, the white and gold vessel loomed, its presence a silent guardian as the Legion prepared for the next phase of the battle. The pirates reinforcements were closing in, but the defenders of the station weren''t alone anymore.


    "Rex, I don''t see why you''re letting the pirate transport vessels leave the station,"


    Cleo said with her neutral voice carrying just the faintest edge of disbelief.


    She stood at themand console, her golden eyes locked on the holographic disy showing the pirate ships retreating toward their battle cruiser.


    "There''s no logic in this maneuver. We should''ve destroyed them already."


    Rex stood near the reinforced ss viewport of the bridge, his arms crossed behind his back. His white and golden armor gleamed faintly in the ambient light of themand room. He watched the pirate fleet with a calm, almostzy smile.


    "Of course there''s no logic,"


    he replied, his tone light but purposeful. "


    This isn''t about logic. It''s a gamble. And gambles don''t follow logic, they follow instincts. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. That''s how gambles work."


    Cleo turned her head toward him, one eyebrow raised slightly.


    "And what is this gamble of yours?"


    she asked, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity now.


    Rex smirked and turned halfway toward her, still keeping one eye on the hologram of the pirate gship.


    "I''m gambling on the greed of the pirates. You see, everything we do, everything you design, you paint it in white and gold."


    He gestured to the ship around them with a sweep of his hand.


    "These pirates are going to think our Aegis units, our ships, hell, even this station is made of real gold. And that''s enough to bait them intoing back."


    Cleo narrowed her eyes, processing his words.


    "Why would they do something so reckless for something as cheap as gold? There are plenty of minerals far more valuable than gold. Pirates aren''t that stupid."


    Rex chuckled and shrugged, turning back to the viewport


    . "Ah, but that''s the thing. It''s not about stupidity; it''s about what the megacorps value. The corps decided long ago to use gold as the standard for their credit systems. They could''ve picked rarer minerals, but stockpiling those in vaults would''ve been a waste."


    "Gold''s shiny, pretty, and rare enough to be valuable without being impractical. And because the corps made it valuable, these pirates see it as treasure. Simple, really."


    Cleo tilted her head slightly, considering his words.


    "Mmm. That logic does make sense... barely. But I''ll research the topic more thoroughlyter.


    "


    She adjusted a few controls on her console, and a new set of holographic screens materialized around her. After a moment, her golden eyes gleamed as she scanned the disys.


    "It seems your gamble has paid off. They''re turning back."


    Rex smirked, his eyes shing with satisfaction as he turned fully toward themand console.


    "So they took the bait, huh?


    " He straightened, his tone sharpening.


    "Cleo, send the Wraith squadrons to intercept their fighters. We''ll give them a show they won''t forget."


    "


    Understood,"


    Cleo replied, her fingers moving swiftly across the console. "


    Launching Wraith squadrons one to five now."


    Momentster, the hangar bays of the main ship roared to life. The sleek, deadly Wraith fighters, beganunching in waves. Each squadron consisted of five fighters, their engines glowing faintly as they soared into formation.


    The pirate fleet surged forward, disorganized and undisciplined, their fighters flying haphazardly in clumps with no clear strategy. In contrast, the Wraith squadrons formed precise, deliberate formations, slicing through the void with calcted grace.


    The lead squadron flew in an X-formation, their movements tight and synchronized. As they approached the disorganized pirate fighters, the five Wraiths split into three groups.


    Two squads climbed upward in an arc, disappearing into the dark expanse of space, while two others dove low beneath the pirates. The lead squadron, however, remained on a direct course, tightening into a circr formation as they closed the distance.


    The pirates hesitated, confused by the sudden, multi-directional maneuver. Theirck of coordination left them vulnerable, and the Wraith fighters wasted no time capitalizing on it.


    The lead squadron was the first to strike. As soon as the pirates entered missile range, the five fighters fired their payloads in unison. A swarm of missiles streaked through the ckness, their trails glowing bright as they spiraled toward their targets.


    Before the pirates could react, the Wraith fighters broke formation and peeled away, retreating at high speeds back toward the gship.


    The missiles hit their marks with devastating precision. Explosions lit up the void as entire clusters of pirate fighters were obliterated in the blink of an eye, their debris scattering like sparks in the wind.


    The pirates barely had time to regroup before the second wave struck. The Wraith squadrons that had climbed above the pirate fleet swooped down from the darkness like predatory birds, firing streams of sma rounds that tore through the disorganized ships.


    At the same time, the squadrons belowunched their counterattack, firing upward into the pirate ranks with ruthless efficiency.


    Caught in a pincer maneuver, the pirate fighters disintegrated into chaos. One by one, their ships were torn apart, their uncoordinated movements no match for the Wraiths'' precision.


    Rex watched the holographic disy with a satisfied grin, his hands sped behind his back.


    "Beautiful,"


    he muttered.


    "Absolutely beautiful."


    Cleo stood beside him, her expression calm as always, though a faint glimmer of approval crossed her golden eyes. "


    The Wraith squadrons are performing as expected. The pirates won''t recover from this."


    Rex nodded, leaning slightly closer to the disy as the battle continued to unfold.


    "Good. Let them feel the weight of their greed. We''ll cripple their forces here and make sure the survivors remember one thing: white and gold means untouchable."


    As thest of the pirate fighters exploded in a brilliant sh, the remaining pirate transport ships began retreating toward their battle cruiser in desperation. The Wraith squadrons regrouped, returning to the gship in perfect formation, their job done.


    Rex turned toward Cleo with a confident smirk


    . "Call it a gamble if you want. But I''d say we just hit the jackpot."


    Cleo''s holographic disys shifted, showing the pirate battle cruiser hesitating in its position.


    "Their cruiser is holding back. It seems they''re weighing their options."


    "They''ll think twice before trying something like this again,"


    "Now my dear wife, prepare the warp jump, were going to say hello to that ugly looking ship."

 Chapter 115 First space battle.

    "How is this possible?!"


    The piratemander, known among his crew as the "Big Boss," roared, his voice booming across the bridge as he struck the trembling pirate officer in front of him. The force of the punch sent the man staggering backward, clutching his bleeding nose.


    "Can someone exin to me,"


    the Big Boss continued, his voice seething with fury, "


    how in the void our fighters outnumber theirs three to one, and yet not a single one of theirs goes down?! Instead, we''re the ones getting ughtered out there! Look at that!"


    He gestured wildly at the holographic disy showing the ongoing dogfight, where the sleek Wraith fighters of Cleo''s fleet tore through the pirates'' disorganized ships with ruthless precision. The pirates'' numbers dwindled by the second, their formations reduced to scattered chaos.


    "My Lord, please calm yourself,"


    the pirate leader from the failed trading station assault interjected, bowing slightly in deference. His face was pale, his confidence clearly shaken.


    "This isn''t this poor bastard''s fault,"


    he said, pointing to the officer who had suggested the ill-fated raid.


    "This is all because of that damn mayor. He told the King there wouldn''t be any military intervention at the trading station, but it''s clear as day now that he betrayed us. He''s the one to me."


    The Big Boss''s fist clenched, his knuckles cracking loudly. His yellowed teeth ground together as he spat out his fury.


    "That damn octopus-headed fool! When I report to the Lord about the losses we''ve suffered because of him, he''ll be the one begging for mercy. I''ll see to it that his slimy little head gets cleaned, permanently."


    Turning on his heel, the big boss marched to his grotesque, jewel-encrusted throne, copsing into its plush cushions with an exaggerated groan.


    "Helmsman! Take us out of here! We''re retreating! Warp back to base immediately!"


    Just as the helmsman began keying in themands, an automated voice red from the ship''sbat system:


    ["Warning: medium-sized ship warp detected."]


    "What!?"


    The Big Boss bolted upright, his bloodshot eyes snapping toward the viewport. His jaw dropped in disbelief as he saw the spot where the white and gold enemy vessel had been, only to find empty space.


    "Where did they¡ª"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    A secondter, the space beside the pirate battleship rippled and distorted, as though reality itself were being stretched. Within moments, Cleo main ship emerged from the warp, its massive form shimmering in the void, positioned just


    one kilometer


    off the pirate ship''s starboard side.


    The sheer audacity of the maneuver left the pirate bridge in stunned silence.


    "They''re insane!"


    the Big Boss shouted, his voice cracking as he leapt to his feet.


    "All stations prepare forbat! Redirect the wormhole energy to the shields! Now!"


    Though a pirate, the Big Boss was no fool. He had decades of experience in space warfare, and his orders reflected the logic of a hardened veteran. His crew scrambled to obey, rerouting power to the ship''s shielding systems as rms red throughout the battleship.


    But the pirate boss''s orders barely registered with Rex, who was watching the entire scene unfold from the bridge of the Legion gship. His golden eyes sparkled with amusement as he leaned casually against themand console, a wide grin stered across his face.


    "Hahahaha! We''ve got them now, Cleo!"


    he said, pointing dramatically at the pirate ship through the viewport.


    "Let''s show these fools what happens when you cross us. Cleo! Unleash the power of the turrets!"


    Cleo''s voice echoed softly through the bridge, her tone icy yetposed.


    "Understood."


    Within moments, the ship''s automated systems sprang to life. The rows of kic turrets mounted along the main ship hull rotated with mechanical precision, locking onto the pirate battle cruiser''s starboard side.


    The first salvo of kic rounds erupted from the cannons, streaking toward the pirate vessel with deadly speed. The impact rippled across the battleship''s shields, causing bursts of bright blue energy to spark and ripple along its hull.


    "Return fire!"


    the Big Boss bellowed, gripping the armrest of his throne as he barked orders.


    "All batteries¡ªfire everything we''ve got! Missiles,sers, sma, throw it all at them! Tear those shields apart!"


    The pirate ship''s weapons sprang to life,unching a chaotic barrage of firepower. Missiles streaked across the void, sma bolts sizzled through the darkness, andser beams carved erratic paths toward the white and gold gship. But the disorganized attack wasughably ineffective.


    On the main ship bridge, Cleo tilted her head slightly, her holographic avatar flickering faintly as she observed the iing fire.


    "Do they truly believe such outdated, poorly calibrated weaponry could breach my shields?"


    she muttered to herself, her voiceced with disdain.


    "Their ipetence is an insult to the concept of warfare."


    Her holographic form suddenly disappeared from the bridge, reappearing momentster


    outside


    the main ship, standing atop one of the three massive main cannons. Her translucent, shimmering figure radiated a faint glow as she raised one hand, pointing toward the pirate battle cruiser like a queen passing judgment.


    The main cannons began to rotate, their massive barrels aligning with the pirate vessel. The movement was slow, deliberate, and menacing, each rotation apanied by the faint hum of charging energy.


    Back on the pirate bridge, panic was beginning to set in. The Big Boss watched the cannons turn toward his ship, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple.


    "What are they doing?"


    he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Cleo''s voice rang out across themunications, cold and resolute.


    ["Loading explosive shells."]


    The pirate crew froze, their faces pale as Cleo''s voice continued.


    ["Ammo loaded. Status: all green. Target locked. Ready to fire in 3... 2... 1..."]


    The glow of the three cannons intensified, the barrels radiating an almost blinding golden light.


    "BRACE FOR IMPACT!"


    the Big Boss screamed, clutching his throne as the pirate crew scrambled to hold on to anything solid.


    A deafening roar filled the void as the Legion gship''s main cannons fired in unison. Three massive explosive shells streaked across the distance, their trajectories precise and unerring. The pirate battleship''s shields red violently as the shells impacted, but they were no match for the sheer power behind Cleo''s weapons.


    The first shell shattered the shields entirely, detonating against the cruiser''s side with a fiery explosion. The second shell punched through the armor ting, tearing a massive hole in the hull. The third shell hit the cruiser''s core, triggering a catastrophic chain reaction.


    The pirate ship erupted into a massive fireball, chunks of molten debris scattering into the void as secondary explosions rippled across its length. The once-mighty battle cruiser was reduced to a smoldering wreck in mere seconds.


    Back on the main ship, Cleo''s hologram flickered back onto the bridge, her golden eyes glowing faintly.


    "Target neutralized,"


    she said calmly.


    Rexughed, throwing his arms in the air in triumph


    . "Now, that''s what I call firepower! Beautiful work, Cleo."


    "Of course,"


    Cleo replied, her tone asposed as ever.


    "And now, the pirates will think twice before crossing us again."


    Rex smirked, leaning against the console.


    "Or maybe they won''t. Greed makes people stupid, after all. Either way, I''d call this a win."


    Cleo mainship hovered silently over the wreckage, a testament to its unmatched power and the folly of those who dared challenge it.


    "I wonder who the real viin is here,"


    Carlos said, leaning back with a smirk as he watched Rex bask in the moment like a king on his throne.


    "Oh, shut up. You''re the one with the evil face,


    " Ys snapped, her eyes narrowing dangerously.


    "Leave my adorable darling alone. He''s just having fun!


    " Without warning, sheunched herself at him, her leg arcing in a perfect flying kick.


    But Carlos was ready. A shimmering energy shield materialized around him, blocking her attack with a loud


    ng


    . The force of the impact sent a sharp ripple through the air.


    "Heh,"


    Carlos chuckled, his smirk growing wider as Ys staggered back.


    "That all you got?"


    "Oh, so that''s how we''re ying it?"


    Ys hissed, her lips curling into a wild grin. Before anyone could stop her, her right arm twisted and warped into a massive ck de, its razor-sharp edge glowing with an eerie green light.


    "Both of you stand down. Right now,"


    Cleo yelled, her voice cutting through the chaos like a whip.


    "If you start a fight on my ship, I''ll toss you both out into space myself."


    Her re was so sharp it could''ve sliced through steel.


    "She''s right,"


    said Rex, who was still lounging like he didn''t have a care in the world.


    "Come on, guys, stop being so dramatic. I promise we''ll build an arenater where you two can blow each other to pieces. But for now, maybe try not to destroy Cleo''s ship? You know how she gets."


    Cleo shot Rex a look but didn''t argue. Instead, she turned back to the controls. "


    Taking us to the trading station now,"


    she said tly, still radiating the kind of energy that made everyone want to behave.


    As the crew settled down, the ship hummed softly, its engines powering them forward. But for the group of rescued passengers watching all this unfold, the scene felt nothing short of surreal. Not only had this crew taken on a notorious pirate lord, but they''d also wiped out his infamous gship in what felt like seconds.


    The trading station administrator stood frozen, staring out at the docked ship from the observation window. Even in his decades of military service, he had never seen anything like it. The vessel''s sleek design, its unmatched firepower... it was enough to make his stomach churn.


    "Gramps, you think we''re safe with them here?"


    the young engineer asked, his voice trembling as he gently touched his grandfather''s shoulder.


    "I don''t know, kid,"


    the administrator replied with a heavy sigh. He straightened up, his face lined with worry.


    "Go gather everyone in the cargo bay. We''ll wait there and see what kind of envoy they send."


    He gave the boy a reassuring pat on the back, though his own thoughts were far fromforting.


    He couldn''t shake the growing sense of dread. Someone with that kind of firepower didn''t just show up for a friendly visit. They were either a noble or worse....


    A conqueror.

 Chapter 116 The old administrator.

    The moment I gave the order to my grandson to assemble everyone in the cargo bay, I found myself lingering by the station''s massive observation window, unable to tear my eyes away from the scene outside.


    In the distance, the shattered debris of the pirate battleship drifted silently through space. This was the ship that merchants had feared for decades, the predator that left countless vessels in ruins, now reduced to nothing more than a lifeless scrap.


    It felt unreal, like watching a myth dissolve into smoke. If I told anyone about this moment, they''d think I had finally lost my mind or that senility had taken its toll. But there it was, in as day. The terror of the trade routes, destroyed so effortlessly, might as well have never existed at all.


    I knew I should head to the cargo bay to greet the ones who saved us, but my old heart wouldn''t stop hammering. This wasn''t relief. It was dread. We didn''t know if these neers were saviors or wolves wearing the skin ofmbs.


    By the time I arrived at the cargo bay, the air was thick with anticipation. The metallic saviors who had arrived earlier were already in perfect formation, their glowing visors reflecting the dim lights of the station.


    Everyone else, station guards, civilians, and engineers, stood silently, their eyes fixed on the transport ship descending toward the bay.


    I had expected something massive like a fortress of steel bristling with cannons, the kind of ship you''d associate with nobles, but whatnded instead was shockingly... ordinary. Small, sleek, efficient. It looked more like a courier than the herald of destruction.


    As the ship''s ramp lowered, tension rippled through the crowd. You could practically hear the collective gulp as we waited to see who would step out. Then, finally, they appeared.


    The first was a man in heavy gray armor, his helmet concealing his face, though his movements were unmistakably human. He was arguing with a much smaller figure, a girl in sleek ck armor that seemed to ripple and shimmer like it was alive.


    Her emerald-green wings red out behind her in annoyance, their faint glow casting shadows on the walls.


    "I told you to let me handle it!"


    the girl snapped, her voice sharp and impatient.


    "And I told you to stop acting like a walking demolition crew!"


    The man shot back. His voice was muffled by the helmet, but his exasperation came through loud and clear.


    Before their bickering could escte, a third voice called out from within the ship.


    "That''s enough. Behave."


    The voice was soft and melodic but carried a weight of authority that made both of them freeze on the spot. And then she appeared.


    The woman who stepped out was unlike anything I had ever seen. She was dressed in radiant white and gold armor that shimmered in the cargo bay''s harsh lights.


    Her white wings stretched elegantly behind her, every feather catching the light in a way that made them look like they were carved from pure starlight. She moved with a grace that seemed almost unnatural, her ck hair flowing like it had a life of its own.


    Even my old heart skipped a beat. I couldn''t imagine what the younger men were feeling, but at least no one dared to make a crudement. Thank the stars for that, because what happened next could have silenced them forever.


    Without a word, the woman strode to the center of the cargo bay. The air around her seemed to hum, almost as if the space itself was responding to her presence. Then, with a casual flick of her wrist, she created a throne, a towering construct of white marble and gold that materialized out of thin air.


    The sight alone was enough to leave the crowd awestruck, but then it happened.


    The pressure.


    It hit all of us at once, like an invisible wave crashing over the bay. My knees buckled, and I wasn''t the only one. Several of the guards fell to the ground, their weapons ttering uselessly beside them.


    Civilians clung to each other for support, their faces pale and wide-eyed. It wasn''t fear, not exactly. It was something deeper, something primal.


    And then he appeared.


    He was a giant of a man, stepping out of the transport ship with an aura somanding it felt like the room itself was bowing to him. His armor gleamed white and gold, matching the woman''s, but there was something about him that set him apart.


    A pair of powerful white wings extended from his back, each feather seeming to glow with its own inner light. A golden halo floated on his back, humming faintly like a low, distant choir.


    But it was his face that struck me most.


    There was no anger there, no malice, no disgust. He was smiling, a calm and gentle expression, like he had just walked into a reunion with an old friend. It was almost enough to make you forget the sheer weight of his presence, the way it filled every corner of the room and left no space for doubt.


    He walked slowly, purposefully, his boots echoing against the metal floor. When he reached the throne, he sat down with a kind of effortless authority, his gaze sweeping over all of us as if he were taking stock of the entire station.


    That was when it hit me.


    This man wasn''t a noble. Nobles don''t carry themselves like that. Nobles don''t silence rooms with their presence or make entire stations tremble just by existing.


    No, this man was something else entirely. Something I had only heard about in stories, whispered by those who imed to know the truth.


    He wasn''t a Savior. He wasn''t a noble.


    He was a conqueror.....


    As Rex eased himself onto the throne, just as Cleo had instructed before they arrived at the cargo bay, he surveyed the scene before him. It was a strange mix of awe and chaos.


    Some of the residents of the station were frozen in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief, while others were already on their knees as if worshiping him.


    "Why is everyone so surprised? There''s no need for that. Come on, stand up,"


    Rex said, waving his hand casually in a gesture for them to rise. His words, however, seemed to have the opposite effect.


    Despite hismand, no one moved. Some even looked like they were trembling, rooted to the floor as if an invisible force was keeping them down.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Cleo let out a soft sigh, the kind of sigh that suggested this sort of thing happened more often than she cared to admit. She walked toward him with her usual calm, her boots clicking softly on the cargo bay''s metal floor.


    Once she reached him, she gently tapped his shoulder with one slender finger, trying to get his attention.


    "Hm? What''s the matter?"


    Rex asked, his voice low and rxed as he turned to face her, his golden halo glowing faintly above the throne.


    Cleo didn''t speak right away. Instead, she pointed at him, then turned to point toward the kneeling residents of the station. Her intent was clear, she was trying to exin that his overwhelming aura was the reason they couldn''t stand.


    Rex, however, had a different interpretation entirely. With his unparalleled intellect (or so he often liked to boast), he nced at her gestures and, in his infinite logic, reached the


    perfect


    conclusion.


    Without a word, he grabbed Cleo''s hand with one smooth motion, pulling her onto hisp in an effortless disy of strength.


    "Wh¡ªwhat are you¡ª"


    Cleo barely had time to react as she found herself unceremoniously seated on his legs, her usuallyposed face now frozen in shock. Her wide eyes stared up at him, trying to process what just happened.


    The residents of the station, who had been struggling toprehend Rex''s divine presence moments earlier, now looked on in stunned silence. Cleo darted her gaze between Rex and the dumbstruck crowd, trying to piece together how this had spiraled out of control so quickly.


    Rex gave her a proud smile, as if he had just solved the greatest mystery in the universe. He even gave her a casual thumbs-up, as if to say,


    Don''t worry, I''ve got this under control.


    "You¡­ are an idiot,"


    Cleo muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible. Only Rex and Ys, thanks to their enhanced hearing, caught it.


    Cleo buried her face in her hands, her cheeks zing red as she tried to erease herself out of existence. She could feel the heat of embarrassment radiating from every cell in her body.


    Cleo''s logical mind, the one that prided itself on precision and efficiency, hadpletely short-circuited. Her systems were frozen. She had no idea how to salvage this situation. But she had to focus. She had a job to do.


    Leaning in closer to Rex, her voice trembling, she whispered into his ear.


    "Deactivate your overdrive. It''s boosting your aura too much. They can''t stand because it''s overwhelming their mental energy."


    "


    Ahhh, no wonder,"


    Rex said, tilting his head like a child finally understanding why the puzzle piece didn''t fit. "


    Thanks, honey."


    Cleo''s face somehow turned even redder at the casual term of endearment, and she resisted the urge to smack him in front of everyone.


    Rex, blissfully unaware of her mortification, casually deactivated his overdrive. His enormous wings vanished in an instant, leaving only the golden halo hovering above him.


    With the suffocating aura gone, the tension in the room lifted. The residents of the station began to rise shakily, exchanging wary nces as they tried to regain theirposure. Rex, as oblivious as ever, chuckled and leaned forward.


    "Haha, sorry about that, everyone. Didn''t mean to make you kneel or anything. Honest mistake. Anyway, who''s in charge around here?"


    he said, pulling Cleo closer with one arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.


    Cleo let out a quiet groan, her face still buried in her hands, while Ys, who had been watching everything unfold, was turning a deep shade of red as well. But hers wasn''t embarrassment. No, hers was pure, unfiltered envy. Her emerald-green wings twitched behind her as she clenched her fists.


    Carlos, meanwhile, was having the time of his life. His shoulders were shaking as he struggled not to burst intoughter. Every time Ys shot a re his way, she only made it harder.


    Finally, an elderly man stepped forward. The station administrator, his steps slow but steady, approached the throne. His face was lined with years of experience, though his expression was one of wariness.


    "I''m the one in charge,"


    the old man said, his voice firm but tired. His eyes flicked between Rex, Cleo, and the rest of the group. He stopped just short of the throne, his hands sped behind his back as he tried to mask his unease.

 Chapter 117: Negotiations

    "Ohh, hello there!"


    Rex greeted him warmly, his voice carrying a friendly and almost disarming tone. He leaned back on the throne, still casually holding Cleo on hisp like it was the most natural thing in the world.


    "My name is Rex. We¡¯re just a normal mercenary group that happened to be passing through when we saw themotion. Thought we¡¯d lend a hand."


    The old administrator, whose weathered face betrayed years of hard-earned wisdom, narrowed his eyes. Despite Rex¡¯s smile and casual demeanor, there was something unsettling about him. Something that made every instinct in the old man¡¯s body scream for him to run.


    "If you¡¯re mercenaries,"


    the administrator began cautiously, his voice steady despite the cold sweat forming on his back.


    "Does that mean you¡¯re here to demand a reward?"


    Rex tilted his head slightly, as if amused by the question.


    "Mmm, I like people who catch on quickly,"


    he said with a grin, his golden eyes gleaming.


    Without missing a beat, he began patting Cleo¡¯s head like she was some kind of house pet. This, of course, caused Cleo¡¯s face to flush an even deeper shade of red.


    The administrator¡¯s frown deepened.


    "I see. Unfortunately, we don¡¯t have enough credits to pay for your help. The pirate blockade and their attacks havepletely halted trade traffic for over a year now. We¡¯re barely scraping by."


    His voice carried the weight of exhaustion and sorrow, a man who had seen his station struggle against impossible odds.


    Rex raised a hand, wagging his finger as if to stop the man mid-thought


    . "Oh no, no no, I think there¡¯s been a slight misunderstanding here."


    He leaned forward, still smiling, as though he were about to share some wonderful secret.


    "We¡¯re not here for your credits. What we want is your full cooperation with what we n to do in this region."


    The administrator stiffened.


    "Full cooperation? And what exactly does that mean?"


    His voice carried a sharp edge now. Years of dealing with shady merchants and opportunistic contractors had taught him to be wary of vague promises.


    Rex gesturedzily to Cleo, who was still very much trapped in his arms.


    "Well, you can talk out the detailster with my wife here. But, uh... judging by the look on her face, I don¡¯t think she¡¯s quite in the mood for negotiations right now."


    Cleo, who had been struggling to free herself from Rex¡¯s iron grip, let out a barely audible groan of protest.


    Her flushed face was buried against his chest as if trying to disappear entirely, and her muttered


    "idiot


    " didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Ys, who was now covering her mouth to stop herself fromughing.


    Rex ignored Cleo¡¯s predicament entirely and turned his attention back to the administrator.


    "But if I remember correctly,"


    he continued,


    "the deal was something like this: permanent discounts for us on all goods and services, priority when buying or selling, and maybe a few other perks. You know, nothing too crazy.


    "


    He smiled brightly, as if offering a friendly handshake.


    "What do you say? Sounds good, no?"


    The administrator didn¡¯t flinch.


    "You say you want full support, but I can¡¯t agree to something like that if I don¡¯t know exactly what it entails."


    His years of experience had made him cautious, and his sharp mind was already calcting the potential risks.


    Rex chuckled, leaning back as if the man¡¯s concern was nothing more than an amusing quirk.


    "Fair enough,"


    he said, giving Cleo another yful squeeze, which only made her face somehow turn even redder.


    "But really, it¡¯s pretty straightforward. Just cooperate with us, and we¡¯ll make sure your station is protected. No more pirate attacks, no more blockades. We¡¯ll secure the trade routes all the way from the asteroid belt to themercial world. You get stability; we get priority. Win-win."


    The old man¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver.


    "And what if we refuse?"


    The room grew still. The air seemed to grow heavier, though not from Rex¡¯s aura this time. He tilted his head, his smile still firmly in ce, but there was something dangerous in his eyes now.


    "Mmm, well, that would be unfortunate," Stay connected with empire


    he said, his tone light but chilling.


    "Because that would mean I ced my hopes too high. And if that¡¯s the case..."


    Before he finished speaking, the soldiers of the 201st shifted into action, their weapons raised and aimed at the residents of the station.


    The sudden movement sent a ripple of fear through the crowd. Some gasped, others froze, and the old administrator clenched his fists tightly behind his back to stop them from trembling.


    Rex shrugged.


    "...then we¡¯ll just have to kill everyone here. You know, tie up loose ends."


    There was no anger in his voice, no malice. He spoke as if he werementing on the weather, his smile never faltering.


    The old man¡¯s lips curled into a bitter smile.


    "You¡¯re no different than the pirates,"


    he said, his voice tinged with quiet fury.


    Rexughed, a deep, heartyugh that echoed through the cargo bay.


    "Come on, gramps, don¡¯t be like that. Nothing in this gxy is free. The difference is, I¡¯m giving you a choice. Trust me, most people wouldn¡¯t even bother talking to someone like you. They¡¯d just take what they want and leave you to rot."


    He leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes glinting.


    "At least I¡¯m polite about it."


    The administrator closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his shoulders rising and falling as he considered the options. He had seen enough of the gxy to know that Rex was right.


    Trading stations like his were little more than pawns, passed from one owner to the next. At least with this man, there was the faint hope of survival.


    "Very well,"


    the old man said atst, opening his eyes to meet Rex¡¯s gaze. "I choose the first option. But I hope you¡¯ll keep your word."


    Rex¡¯s grin widened. "


    Now that¡¯s what I like to hear!"


    he said cheerfully. He snapped his fingers, and the 201st immediately lowered their weapons.


    "Don¡¯t worry, old man. You¡¯ve got my word. From now on, this station is under our protection. You¡¯re part of the family now."


    The administrator didn¡¯t respond. He simply nodded, his expression grim but resolute. In his heart, he knew he had made the right choice... or at least, the only choice that wouldn¡¯t end in bloodshed.


    "Well, now that we¡¯ve taken care of the negotiations, I have a little gift for you all,"


    Rex said, his voice cheerful and carefree as he signaled Carlos with a casual wave of his hand. Carlos, who had been waiting near the transport ship, gave a polite bow and disappeared inside without a word.


    Momentster, Carlos returned, followed by two towering Aegis units. Between them, they dragged a figure whose head was concealed by a ck bag.


    The person¡¯s once-pristine white suit was now tattered and smeared with grime and blood, giving the impression of someone who had been through hell. The metallic footsteps of the Aegis units echoed ominously through the cargo bay as they brought their prisoner forward.


    "Thanks, Carlos,"


    Rex said with a nod.


    "Before you leave, though, would you mind uncovering the gift we brought with us?"


    Carlos gave a sly grin, stepping forward to grab the bag. In one swift motion, he yanked it off, revealing the prisoner¡¯s face to everyone present.


    The moment the bag was removed, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The residents murmured among themselves, their voices a mixture of shock, anger, and confusion.


    Even the old administrator, who had worked hard to maintain hisposure during the entire ordeal, faltered. His eyes widened as he recognized the man in front of him, and for a brief moment, his mask of calm authority cracked.


    "W-what is the meaning of this?"


    The administrator stammered, his voice shaking as he struggled to process what he was seeing.


    Rex, as always, remained utterlyposed, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement.


    "What? You don¡¯t like my gift?"


    he said, feigning a pout.


    "You¡¯re hurting my feelings, you know. I went out of my way to bring you the one responsible for all your recent pest problems here at the station."


    The administrator¡¯s hands trembled as he stepped closer, his gaze fixed on the battered prisoner who was now slumped between the Aegis units.


    "But... that¡¯s not possible,"


    the old man muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Then, louder, with growing anger:


    "How could the mayor... of all people, be behind this?!"


    The crowd erupted into chaos at his words.


    "What? The mayor?!"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Is that really him?"


    "It can¡¯t be! This station belongs to him! Why would he attack it?"


    "He must¡¯ve been framed!"


    "No way, look at him! He looks guilty!"


    The crowd¡¯s reactions ranged from disbelief to fury, and even a few voices of sympathy. The revtion that the man lying in a broken heap on the floor was none other than the station¡¯s mayor sent a shockwave through the room.


    The once respected leader, the man they had trusted to protect and guide them, was now exposed as a traitor.


    Rex leaned back in the throne, watching the unfolding chaos with a grin that bordered on smug amusement. The reactions were exactly what he had expected, and he seemed to be enjoying every second of it.


    "How... dare you?


    " The administrator hissed, turning his attention back to Rex.


    "You expect us to believe that he, the man who built and ran this station, was behind the attacks? What proof do you even have?"


    Rex raised an eyebrow, his smile never fading.


    "Proof? Oh, old man, you wound me. Do you really think I¡¯d drag this sorry excuse of a leader here without something to back it up?"


    He motioned toward Carlos, who stepped forward and tapped a small device on his wrist.

 Chapter 118: End of the road.

    From the Carlos device, an hologram sprang to life in the center of the cargo bay, casting a bluish glow across the room. It disyed a recording of the mayor in his office, seated behind his polished desk as he passed out orders.


    "Increase the pressure on the station,


    " the mayor¡¯s voice snarled.


    "We need them desperate. The more chaos, the better. They¡¯ll have no choice but to sell to us at a fraction of the value. Those merchants will crawl back to me on their knees, begging for salvation."


    The room fell silent as the recording yed. The residents watched in stunned horror as their leader, the man they had trusted for so long,id bare his treachery.


    "That¡¯s not all,"


    Carlos said, his voice cutting through the silence. He tapped the device again, bringing up another recording. This time, it showed the mayor standing on the bridge of a pirate cruiser, nked by several of the station¡¯s most infamous attackers.


    "You will blockade the station and allow nothing through without my approval,"


    the mayormanded.


    "No supplies, no weapons, no reinforcements. The longer they suffer, the easier it will be to control them. Do you understand?"


    As the second recording ended, the room erupted again, this time with anger and outrage.


    "That bastard sold us out!"


    "How could he?! We trusted him!"


    "I knew something was off when the pirates left certain shipments untouched!"


    The administrator, still staring at the mayor, closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. He had suspected something was amiss for months, but he hadn¡¯t dared to entertain the possibility that it was the man he had once respected as a friend.


    Meanwhile, the mayor, still slumped on the floor, lifted his head weakly. His lips curled into defiant sneers.


    "You think... you¡¯ve won,"


    he rasped, his voice barely audible.


    "You have no idea what¡¯sing. You¡¯re all... dead men walking."


    Rexughed, the sound rich and booming as he stood from the throne.


    "You really don¡¯t get it, do you?


    " He said, his voice light but dripping with condescension.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Your little schemes are done. Your pirate fleet is scrap metal floating in space. Your leverage is gone. You are nothing."


    He gestured toward the administrator with a grand sweep of his hand.


    "Consider this a favor, Gramps. I¡¯ve not only taken care of your pirate problem but handed you the very man who caused it on a silver tter. Do with him what you will. Lock him up, put him on trial, toss him out an airlock, or whatever helps you sleep at night."


    The administrator looked at Rex, his face a mix of exhaustion and gratitude, though there was still a flicker of unease in his eyes.


    "I don¡¯t know what to say,"


    he admitted quietly.


    "How about ¡¯thank you¡¯?"


    Rex replied with a grin, his golden halo shimmering faintly above his throne.


    The administrator gave a slow, reluctant nod.


    "Thank you,"


    he said atst, though his voice carried the weight of a man who had just lost a great deal of his faith in humanity.


    Rex pped his hands together, his tone bright and cheerful once more.


    "Now that¡¯s what I like to hear! Alright, folks, let¡¯s wrap this up. Carlos, clean up the mess. Cleo, make sure our dear administrator here has the proper documents for our little agreement. And Ys¡ª"


    "Don¡¯t even think about giving me a job,


    " Ys snapped, folding her arms as she red at him.


    Rexughed again, already heading toward the transport ship.


    The residents of the station watched them go, their emotions a chaotic mix of relief, anger, and unease. Their lives had been turned upside down in the span of an afternoon, and none of them could shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.


    Even as Rex made his way back to the transport ship, he carried Cleo in his arms, who by this point had resigned herself to her fate.


    Her face burned brighter than a supernova, redder than a ripe tomato, her usualposed demeanorpletely shattered. She buried her face in Rex¡¯s chest, hoping that somehow this moment would be erased from existence.


    Behind them, the rest of Rex¡¯s team filed into the transport ship. Carlos was smirking like he¡¯d just witnessed the funniest thing all week; Ys was still muttering under her breath about how unfair it all was.


    Without another word, the transport¡¯s doors hissed shut, and the sleek vessel lifted off, leaving behind the trading station and the shattered remnants of its once-proud mayor.


    As the sound of the engines faded into the void, the cargo bay fell silent for a moment. The residents stood there, staring at the mangled and moaning man lying on the floor, their emotions a tangled mix of shock, disbelief, and growing rage.


    The old administrator was the first to break the silence.


    "Quickly! Send a message to the military on the! Tell them to get here immediately and take care of this bastard!"


    He yelled loudly, already moving to steady himself as he prepared to issue further orders.


    But one of themunication officers nearby hesitated, wiping his hands nervously.


    "I¡¯m sorry, sir. We¡¯ve tried to contact theary military before. Multiple times. But ourmunicationswork has been offline ever since the pirate attacks began."


    The administrator froze mid-step, his hands gripping the edge of a console. He slowly turned to face the officer, his expression grim.


    "Our lines are still down."


    The officer nodded solemnly.


    "Yes, sir. I¡¯m afraid so."


    Hearing this, the mayor, who had been clutching at his injuries and moaning on the floor, suddenly stiffened. His trembling grew more violent as realization set in. He tried to muster a nervousugh, but it came out weak and hollow.


    "Ah, I see. That¡¯s... that¡¯s unfortunate. Truly unfortunate,"


    the mayor stammered, his voice shaking as he tried to push himself up onto his knees. "


    Well, no matter! Just get me to a medical bay, and we can sort all this outter. A patrol wille eventually, and then¡ª"


    His rambling was cut off by the sharp


    whine


    of aser pistol charging.


    The sound echoed through the cargo bay, followed by the crack of a single shot.


    The mayor¡¯s scream pierced the air as he copsed back to the ground, clutching his leg, where a smoldering hole now burned through his white pants.


    "Hiiiiia! My leg! My leg! Someone help me!"


    The crowd turned toward the source of the shot, and there, standing amidst the gathered residents, was one of the station¡¯s militia. The man was trembling, tears streaming down his face, but his hands were steady as he aimed hisser pistol at the writhing mayor.


    "You... you damn monster,"


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    the militia officer spat, his voice choked with grief and fury.


    "You took my son from me. You... disgusting creature! Return him to me!"


    Before anyone could stop him, the man fired again, this time hitting the mayor¡¯s other leg. Another agonized scream filled the room.


    "Wait, stop! What are you?"


    The administrator started, but his voice was drowned out by another shout from the crowd.


    "Because of you, I¡¯ll never walk again!"


    one of the guards yelled, dragging his mangled leg forward as he raised his weapon. He fired, the st striking the mayor¡¯s shoulder and sending him sprawling onto his back.


    "My ship! My livelihood! My family!


    " a merchant screamed, his face twisted in rage. "


    You destroyed everything I had! Return them to me!"


    His shotnded squarely on the mayor¡¯s arm, seizing itpletely.


    And then, chaos erupted.


    One by one, the residents of the station stepped forward, their grief and fury boiling over as they unleashed it all on the man who had betrayed them. Shots rang out in rapid session, each st tearing away a piece of the once-proud mayor.


    His screams grew weaker and weaker as his body was reduced to little more than a bloody, mangled husk.


    Some shouted curses as they fired. Others wept openly, their voices trembling as they vented months of frustration, grief, and loss. Even those who had initially hesitated eventually joined in, their pent-up anger pushing them to pull the trigger.


    The old administrator watched it all unfold in grim silence. He knew there was no stopping this. The people needed this¡ªneeded an outlet for their pain, their hopelessness, their fury.


    By the time the shooting stopped, there was nothing left of the mayor but a broken, motionless figure on the cold cargo bay floor.


    His limbs were gone, his body barely recognizable, and the once-pristine white suit he had worn as a symbol of power and authority was now little more than shredded, bloodied rags.


    The crowd stood in stunned silence, their weapons lowered, their breathsing in ragged gasps. For a moment, no one moved. No one spoke.


    Then, slowly, the old administrator stepped forward. He reached for the sidearm holstered at his waist, his movements steady and deliberate. Standing over the broken man who had caused so much suffering, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.


    "This is for the people you betrayed,"


    he said quietly.


    He raised his weapon and fired a single, final shot. The mayor¡¯s body jerked once before falling still.


    The room remained silent, the only sound being the faint hum of the station¡¯s systems. Slowly, the administrator turned to face the crowd. His shoulders were slumped, and his expression was one of deep weariness.


    "It¡¯s done,"


    he said softly, his voice carrying through the bay.


    "Let¡¯s clean this up... and start rebuilding what we¡¯ve lost."


    The residents nodded silently, their anger spent, their hearts heavy. The nightmare was over, but the scars it had left behind would take much longer to heal.


    Above them, Rex¡¯s transport ship disappeared into the ckness of space, carrying with it a crew that couldn¡¯t have cared less about what they¡¯d left behind. For them, this was just another stop on their journey. Another conquest. Another step toward whatever grand n Rex had in mind.

 Chapter 119 Surprise [R18]

    As the transport ship drifted through the silent void toward the main vessel, Rex leaned back in his seat, a content smile stered across his face.


    While everyone else was either brooding, fidgeting, or reviewing the events at the trading station, Rex''s mind was already miles ahead. He was calcting, scheming, and preparing for the next move in his ever-expanding n.


    This next step wouldn''t be easy. It would require a delicate bnce of strategy, charisma, and boldness, something only a figure of legend could pull off.


    But Rex? Rex didn''t fear challenges. Whether it wasmanding a battlefield or engaging in tense negotiations, he lived for the thrill of the impossible. Even if the next move turned out to be hisst, he wouldn''t bat an eye.


    At least, that''s what everyone assumed he was thinking.


    In reality, Rex''s focus was entirely elsewhere.


    His hands, ever so subtly, had found their way to Cleo''s butt, where they had been "working" this entire time. While his crew had been assuming he was lost in deep thought, Rex was quietly enjoying the soft, squishable feeling beneath his palms.


    Explore new worlds at empire


    His fingers gave the asional squeeze, and Cleo, who was still trapped in his arms, could do little more than bury her face deeper into his chest to hide her flushed expression.


    Cleo was trying her best not to make any noise or to draw any attention, but her trembling shoulders betrayed her embarrassment. She gritted her teeth, her hands gripping Rex''s shirt as her entire body burned with the heat of mortification.


    This, of course, was the


    real


    reason Rex had been able to maintain that rxed smile during the intense negotiations at the trading station. To him, the tense situation had been no more nerve-wracking than a quiet stroll.


    After all, what was the fear of political deals and pirate threatspared to the glorious, uplifting joy of squeezing his wife''s butt?


    By the time the transport ship finally touched down in the main ship''s hangar, Cleo looked like she had been through an emotional warzone. Her usualposure was shattered, her face was still red, and she couldn''t even lift her head to meet anyone''s gaze.


    The ramp lowered with a hiss, and everyone began filing out.


    "I''ll see you allter,"


    Rex announced, walking down the ramp with Cleo still firmly in his arms. His tone was light, but there was a smugness to his words that didn''t go unnoticed.


    "I''m going to put Cleo to bed. She''s not feeling well, or maybe she just ran out of energy."


    Carlos, who had been standing near the ramp, raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk creeping across his face.


    "Ran out of energy, huh?"


    he muttered under his breath, the corner of his mouth twitching as he fought back augh.


    Ys, meanwhile, crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.


    "You''re not even trying with these excuses anymore, Rex,


    " she muttered, shaking her head.


    "Ha, yeah, sure,"


    Carlos replied, giving Rex a mock salute as he walked past. His smirk widened as he turned to Ys.


    "Alright, pocket-sized grandma. Let''s head to the training area. I need to burn some steam. Maybe I''ll finally get lucky and beat you for once."


    Ys whipped her head toward Carlos, her emerald-green wings twitching in irritation.


    "Ha! You? Beat me? What a joke! But fine, challenge epted! Let''s go!"


    She jabbed a finger toward the hallway, already marching toward the gym.


    Carlos followed behind her, a single, glistening manly tear sliding down his cheek. He already knew this was going to hurt a lot. But sometimes, a friend''s duty required enduring pain for the sake of distraction. If Rex was going to live the dream, Carlos figured he could at least enjoy the satisfaction of pushing Ys''s buttons.


    Back in the hangar, Rex strolled casually toward the hallway that led to his quarters, Cleo still clinging to him like a ragdoll. Her entire body was limp, her face still burning red from the sheer audacity of what had transpired on the transport ship.


    "You''re the worst,"


    Cleo finally mumbled, her voice muffled against his chest.


    "Aw,e on, honey,"


    Rex replied with a chuckle, giving her onest yful squeeze.


    "Admit it, you wouldn''t have me any other way."


    Cleo groaned in response, her hands weakly smashing against his chest. She knew he was right, and that only made it worse.


    Back in the gym, Carlos stood across from Ys, who was already cracking her knuckles and smirking like she''d already won.


    "Better give it your best shot, Carlos,


    " she teased, rolling her shoulders as she stepped into the sparring ring.


    "I''d hate for you to embarrass yourself too quickly."


    Carlos stepped in after her, stretching his arms as he muttered to himself.


    "Alright, buddy, you can do this. She''s only a couple of feet shorter than you. How bad could it be?"


    The answer, as always, was


    very, very bad.


    While Carlos was being killed by Ys in the gym, Rex waspletely lost in the warmth of Cleo''s lips. He kissed her as though they were the sweetest candy he''d ever tasted. The moment they got to their room, he couldn''t hold back anymore. He threw her gently onto the bed and leaned in.


    Cleo had given him that yful, slightly mischievous look, the kind that made his heart race. He couldn''t resist. Without hesitation, he deactivated his armor, the metallic tes clinking softly as they fell away.


    He climbed on top of her, grabging her face in his hand as he kissed her gently at first, then deeper, slower, with more intensity. His hand slid from her chin to the back of her head, pulling her closer.


    Their lips finally parted, just barely, and for a moment, they lingered, connected by a thin string of saliva that broke as they pulled away. They stared at each other in silence, their breaths uneven but synchronized.


    Rex''s eyes dropped to her armor, and he gestured for her to deactivate it. Cleo hesitated for only a second before obeying. With a soft hum, her armor disappeared, leaving her in nothing but a pair of shorts and a thin, almost sheer white nightdress.


    Rex''s hand moved under the hem of the dress, his fingers brushing over the soft skin of her stomach. Slowly, they explored upward, gliding over her abdomen, until they reached the curve of her chest. He let his fingers linger, his touch light but deliberate.


    "Ah¡­"


    Cleo gasped softly, biting her lip as she squirmed under his touch. Her golden eyes, now wide and glowing faintly in the dim light, locked onto his.


    "Rex, wait,"


    she murmured, her voice trembling just slightly.


    "No, I won''t,"


    Rex said with a sly grin. Before Cleo could say anything else, he leaned in and pressed his lips to her neck, leaving soft kisses that turned into yful, teasing licks.


    "Ah... not there, wait,"


    Cleo murmured, her voice trembling as her fingers tangled in his hair. She shut her eyes tight, her breathing uneven.


    A sharp gasp escaped her lips.


    "Haaa¡ª"


    she cried out softly when Rex nipped at her neck, his teeth grazing her skin, his hand slowly exploring the curve of her body under her nightdress.


    "Cleo,"


    Rex whispered, his voice low and teasing.


    "You''re just too adorable. I can''t stop myself from wanting to tease you more."


    He slid his hand out from beneath the fabric, his touch trailing lightly across her skin as he withdrew.


    Now kneeling before her, Rex nced down at Cleo''s legs, still pressed together. Without a word, he gently lifted them, his lips brushing against the soft skin of her thighs. Slowly... almost torturously... he nudged her legs apart, his movements deliberate, until he settled between them.


    When his eyes met hers, he froze for a moment. Cleo had her hands behind her head, grabbing her hair; her bottom lip caught between her teeth. That look... shy yet enticing... was enough to send a rush of heat through him. Unable to resist, he gripped her hips firmly and tugged her closer, positioning her against him.


    "Kya! Wait, wait¡ªwhat are you¡ª"


    Cleo tried to protest, her voice wavering. But Rex didn''t give her a chance to finish. He raised her left leg, his hand strong but careful, and brought his lips to her skin. His tongue traced a slow, deliberate path along her calf before his teeth gently pressed down, leaving faint marks in their wake.


    Every sound she made only fueled him further. Each bite, each kiss, left her squirming under his touch, her flushed face only adding to her allure.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex froze for a moment, his gaze locking onto Cleo. Her flushed cheeks, her half-lidded eyes, the way her chest rose and fell with every shaky breath... it was almost too much. She looked just as worked up as he felt, maybe even more. His lips curled into a slow, teasing smile.


    "Cleo,"


    he murmured, his voice low and rich with temptation,


    "I''ve learned something new with that halo I got before. Wanna see it?"


    She didn''t answer, not with words, anyway. Her mind seemedpletely lost in the haze, her body trembling faintly, and her eyes begging for him to keep going. Rex chuckled softly, the sound deep and warm.


    He leaned closer, brushing his lips against her ear as he whispered,


    "I''ll take that as a yes."


    Without waiting, Rex summoned the glowing golden halo. It shimmered into existence behind him, casting a soft light across the room. In the center of the halo, a golden orb materialized, pulsating with energy.


    Slowly, the orb began to draw something from Rex''s body. His towering frame, once an imposing 2.5 meters, began to shrink down, his powerful form condensing until he was back to his regr height of 1.85 meters.


    "Cool, huh?"


    he said, his voice tinged with yful mischief as he stepped back slightly, pulling his shirt over his head.


    The fabric slid away, revealing the firm, chiseled lines of his chest and the way his muscles moved with every subtle shift.


    "Now I can finally do what I''ve always wanted... but couldn''t before. I was too scared I''d hurt you."


    Cleo''s breath hitched, her gaze following his every movement. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but all that came out was a soft whimper. Rex smirked, leaning down again, his fingers grazing the waistband of her shorts. He moved slowly, deliberately, savoring the moment.


    "


    Let''s get rid of these, shall we?


    " he whispered, his voice thick with desire.


    Cleo arched her hips off the bed, her body practically offering itself to him, making it easier for him to slide her shorts down her thighs. His hands lingered on her bare skin, his fingertips tracing slow,zy circles as he tugged the fabric away.


    Every touch sent a shiver through her body, and Rex couldn''t help but admire the way her skin reacted to him... how her body seemed to crave him as much as he craved her.

 Chapter 120 Surprise (2) [R18]

    Without hesitation, Rex removed thest of his clothing, his gaze locked on Cleo. Her eyes widened, a mix of curiosity and apprehension flickering across her face.


    This was new, uncharted territory for someone who had lived lifetimes but had never experienced the depths of physical connection in this way.


    Though her people once engaged in such intimacy, it had be a forgotten practice, leaving her both intrigued and captivated by the forbidden nature of it all.


    "R-Rex... wait, I..."


    Cleo''s voice faltered, uncertain. She tried to express her hesitation, but before the words could form fully, she felt the warmth of his touch and the closeness of his presence.


    A soft gasp escaped her lips as she instinctively gripped the sheets beneath her, her body responding to sensations unfamiliar and overwhelming.


    "What... is this?"


    she whispered breathlessly, her voice trembling with wonder. The unfamiliarity of it stirred something deep within her, a sensation both strange and maic.


    Rex''s eyes softened as he watched her, noting every subtle shift in her expression¡ªthe way her brow furrowed slightly, the way her lips parted in surprise. Gently, his hands found her waist, steadying her as they navigated this moment together.


    She was stunning in her vulnerability, her purity shining through even as she surrendered to something unknown. The contrast of her innocence ignited something primal within Rex¡ªa desire to protect, to cherish, and to guide her through this experience.


    Slowly, he moved closer, each action deliberate, each touch measured. He could feel her body tense, then gradually rx as she limated to the sensations washing over her. Their connection deepened, and the rhythm between them became a silent conversation, one of trust, discovery, and unspoken desire.


    Cleo''s breaths came in soft, uneven waves, her hands reaching out to steady herself, though she was unsure if she sought to hold on or to ground herself in the reality of this moment.


    "Is it... always like this?"


    She murmured, her voice barely audible, as if afraid the question itself might break the spell surrounding them.


    Rex responded with quiet intensity, his movements slow and deliberate, as if savoring every second. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her temple in a gesture of reassurance.


    "It''s different... because it''s us,"


    he whispered softly, his words carrying a weight of sincerity.


    Cleo''s heart raced at his response, the vulnerability of the moment weaving them closer together. As their connection grew more profound, she felt a warmth blooming within her¡ªa sensation that spread from the core of her being outward, enveloping them both in its glow.


    Each moment felt infinite yet fleeting as they explored this new dimension of their bond. Time seemed to blur, the world outside fading into irrelevance. There was only this¡ªtheir shared vulnerability, their growing intimacy, and the quiet, powerful connection that bound them together.


    When the intensity of the moment reached its peak, Cleo''s fingers tightened around his, her breath catching in her throat as a wave of warmth coursed through her. She exhaled slowly, her body trembling with the aftershocks of their shared experience.


    Rex held her close, their foreheads touching as they remained entwined, savoring the lingering intimacy.


    "It''s... so warm,"


    Cleo whispered softly, a hint of wonder still in her voice, as if she were discovering something precious and rare for the very first time.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "


    It''s you,


    " he said quietly, the words carrying a depth of meaning that neither of them had fully understood before now.


    In that instant, the world outside ceased to matter. There was only this... their shared discovery, their bodies and souls intertwined, exploring a depth neither of them had ever known before.


    Once it was over, Rex remained on top of Cleo, both of them breathing heavily, their eyes locked in a lingering gaze. Unable to resist, he kissed her again, soft, slow, and deep.


    Their lips eventually parted, leaving them both flushed and silent. Rex rested his head on Cleo''s chest, which was slick with sweat, and closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of her body with their connection still intact.


    "So... did you, well, you know, like it?"


    Rex murmured, his voice quiet, almost hesitant, as he nestled closer.


    Cleo didn''t respond with words. Instead, she wrapped one arm around his head, pulling him in tighter, while the other hand gentlybed through his hair.


    For reasons she couldn''t fully exin, after everything they had just shared, all she wanted was to hold him. The warmth, the closeness... it was enough. Words felt unnecessary.


    An hour passed, maybe more. They had cleaned up and nowy together in bed. It was different tonight. Instead of retreating to their usual sides, they found themselves in the center, wrapped around each other.


    Cleoy sprawled on top of him, skin against skin, her head resting on his chest. Rex had one arm around her waist, the other tucked behind his head as he stared at the ceiling in thoughtful silence. The room felt still, heavy with unspoken emotions, until he finally broke it.


    "So... I''ve been thinking,"


    Rex said softly, running his fingers gently through her hair.


    "Everything we''ve been through, it''s been wild, right?


    "


    Cleo tilted her head slightly, her voice softer than usual, almost tender.


    "What do you mean?"


    Rex let out a breath, as if gathering his thoughts.


    "A few years ago, I was just a ve. Then I became a corporate worker, an office worker ve. Not much of an upgrade if you think about it. But then they shipped me off with the bald guy to that desert. And... that''s where I met you. And Ys."


    Cleo''s lips curled into a small smile as memories surfaced.


    "Yes, you were half dead when we found you."


    "Ha. Yeah, I was pretty messed up,"


    Rex admitted with a chuckle, though the memory still sent a shiver through him.


    "I thought I was done for. Honestly, I was sure I was about to die, or maybe I did, in a way. But that''s not the point."


    He paused, his hand resting lightly on her back.


    "What I really want to know is... why? Why did you choose me?"


    His voice grew quieter, as if he''d been holding onto that question since the day they fled the unforgiving sands of the desert.


    "Well¡­ at first, the n was for me to take over your body once you died, in exchange for a painless death,"


    Cleo began, her voice trembling slightly as she avoided Rex''s gaze.


    "But you refused me. And since you were the onlypatible body I had found in hundreds of years..."


    Her arms tightened around him as she continued.


    "I wasn''t going to let you go, no matter what. I didn''t want to stay in the dark any longer, waiting for my energy to fade and for me to stop existing altogether. So... all I can say is that you''re my savior."


    Rex blinked in surprise before breaking into a soft smile. He ced aforting hand on her head, ruffling her hair gently.


    "Well, I could say the same to you, Cleo. You saved me too, you know? If it weren''t for you, I''d be dead. So I guess that makes us even."


    He paused, his expression turning thoughtful as he shifted the conversation.


    "Oh, right. That reminds me, have I told you about the weird dream I had? I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out first."


    Cleo tilted her head curiously, her golden eyes locking onto his.


    "A dream? Go on."


    Rex nodded and began recounting the details of what he had experienced. He told her about the strange, vivid encounter with thedy in white who imed to be his mother, how she spoke of the twins being in danger, and how it all felt far too real to be just a dream.


    Cleo listened intently, her brow furrowing as she processed his words. Once he was finished, she crossed her arms, her mind already racing with possibilities.


    "Mmm... there are indeed many races with powerful mental abilities.


    "


    she said while summoning a series of glowing holo-screens with a flick of her wrist. The screens floated in the air, disying various alien species, each with unique traits and abilities.


    "But,


    " Cleo continued, scrolling through the data, "


    I don''t have any record of a race strong enough to create an entirely fictional world tomunicate with someone. That kind of psychic feat would require a staggering amount of mental energy on the scale of a small star."


    Rex leaned closer to the holo-screens, his eyes widening slightly as he scanned the alien races disyed before him. He was amazed by the sheer variety of creatures, some with shimmering, crystalline forms, others with glowing eyes and flowing, ethereal bodies.


    It was a visual feast, even for someone like Rex, who had grown up on a bustlingmercial where countless alien species came to trade.


    "You''re telling me no one fits the bill? Not a single one of these guys could pull it off?" Rex asked, gesturing to the screens with a hint of disbelief.


    Cleo shook her head.


    "None of these species match the description of thedy in white from your dream. And even if one of them could manipte mental energy at that scale, there''s another problem..."


    Rex raised an eyebrow.


    "What kind of problem?"


    "Your astral image,"


    She brought up another screen, showing a glowing humanoid outline with faint energy radiating from it.


    "Your astral image is what your soul truly looks like. It''s the essence of your being. Even the most powerful psychic can''t manipte or change that, it''s an immutable part of who you are."


    Rex leaned back, his hand rubbing his chin thoughtfully.


    "Huh. Never thought about that before. I''ve never really paid attention to what my astral form looks like. Can you see it?"


    Cleo hesitated for a moment, her expression faltering slightly. "


    Negative,


    " she said finally.


    "While my race does possess strong mental powers, we aren''t capable of perceiving astral images. But there is someone you could ask..."


    Rex noticed the hesitation in her voice and tilted his head, a smirk creeping onto his face.


    "Oh? And who''s that?"


    Cleo nced away, clearly reluctant to answer. She fidgeted slightly, her golden eyes darting back to Rex before she spoke.


    Experience new tales on empire


    "...Ys."

 Chapter 121 Collapse

    "Wait. Ys? As in Ys Ys?"


    Rex asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Why her?"


    Cleo sighed, her cheeks puffing out slightly as she crossed her arms in frustration. "


    Her race has one of the most advanced psychic abilities in the gxy,"


    she exined reluctantly.


    "She can not only perceive astral images but interact with them directly. If anyone could identify what your astral form looks like or tell you more about thisdy in white, it''s her."


    Rex chuckled, leaning back with a grin.


    "You don''t sound too thrilled about this, Cleo. What''s the matter? Jealous?"


    Cleo''s face turned an adorable shade of red as she red at him, her wings twisting slightly.


    "Of course not!


    " she huffed, clearly flustered.


    "I just don''t trust her to not... to not say something stupid, that''s all!"


    "Right,"


    Rex teased, his grin widening.


    "Totally not jealous."


    Cleo groaned, covering her face with her hands


    . "Just... just go ask her and get it over with,"


    she muttered, her voice muffled by her palms.


    Rex stood up, stretchingzily.


    "Alright, alright, I''ll go talk to her. But if she starts teasing you while we''re at it, don''t me me!"


    Cleo peeked at him through her fingers, her golden eyes narrowing slightly.


    "I''m ming you already, Rex."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Laughing to himself, Rex turned and made his way out of the room, leaving Cleo behind to stew in her mixture of irritation and embarrassment.


    Meanwhile, in the training area, Ys was busy throwing Carlos across the room for the third time, her emerald-green wings ring with excitement as sheughed. Carlos groaned as he struggled to his feet, muttering,


    "Why do I do this to myself?"


    Rex strolled down the dimly lit corridors of the ship, his boots softly echoing against the metallic floor.


    The faint hum of the vessel''s engines reverberated through the walls, steady and reassuring. Passing by one of the massive reinforced windows that lined the corridor, he paused, his eyes drawn to the endless expanse of dark space outside.


    But something changed.


    His golden eyes, so full of life and mischief, suddenly dimmed and shifted to an abyssal ck, as if all the light within them had been snuffed out. His expression turned eerily nk, and yet his gaze remained fixed in one direction, unyielding, as if piercing the void of space itself.


    His hand rose slowly, pressing against the cold surface of the reinforced window. His low and hollow voice broke the silence.


    "I''ming for you,"


    Rex murmured, the words almost inaudible but filled with an unsettling weight.


    Then his body gave out. His legs buckled, his hand slid from the window, and he copsed onto the cold floor without another sound.


    When Rex finally opened his eyes, the warm glow of the room''s ceiling lights greeted him. He blinked a few times, groaning as the stiffness in his body made itself known.


    "Ugh... how did I get here?"


    he muttered to himself, rubbing his face with one hand. His body ached in ways he hadn''t felt in years.


    "Why do I feel so damn sore? We need a new bed. This one''s so stiff it feels like I got into a wrestling match with Ys and lost."


    He stretched, his muscles protesting loudly, when suddenly the sound of the dormitory''s automatic doors opening caught his attention.


    "Rex!"


    The familiar voice made him sit up, or at least attempt to. Before he could even swing his legs over the edge of the bed, Cleo rushed into the room, her usualposure momentarily slipping. She stopped just short of his bedside, visibly controlling her emotions. Find adventures at empire


    "I... see you''re finally awake,"


    she said, her voice quieter now but still trembling slightly.


    "Do you feel any pain? Can you remember anything?"


    Rex tilted his head, a little thrown off by her unusually frantic demeanor


    . "Mmm, no... I don''t think so. I remember walking toward the gym to meet Ys, and that''s about it. After that, nothing. Next thing I know, I''m waking up here. Why? Did something happen?"


    Cleo''s hands moved fluidly, crafting several small robotic birds from her palms. They flitted around Rex like glowing fireflies, scanning him with beams of blue light while emitting soft, rhythmic hums.


    She studied the results on the translucent holo screens floating around her, her expression unreadable.


    "Don''t move,"


    she finally said, stepping closer and gently cing a hand on his chest to stop him as he tried to sit up again. "


    You''ve been unconscious for three months. Your organic parts are severely weakened. You''ll need to take it slow for at least a few weeks before you''re back to full strength."


    Rex blinked, the words taking a moment to sink in. Then his eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.


    "Hold on. Three months?! I''ve been out for three months?!"


    He attempted to get up again, rmed now, but Cleo firmly ced both hands on his shoulders, her strength easily pinning him back down onto the bed.


    "Rex, stop,"


    she said, her voice calm but with a hint of exasperation.


    "You''re not fully recovered. Moving around recklessly will only make things worse."


    Rex frowned but didn''t resist her, slumping back against the pillows. "


    Alright, alright. I''ll stay put. But you''ve got to tell me what''s going on, Cleo. Three months is a long time. Did something happen while I was out? Did I do something weird before I passed out?"


    Cleo hesitated for a moment, her golden eyes studying him carefully. She sat down on the edge of the bed, her usualposed demeanor finally softening.


    "I''ll exin what I know,"


    she said gently.


    "But first, let me ask you again, are you sure you don''t remember anything? Anything at all?"


    Rex furrowed his brow, trying to think back.


    "I told you, I was heading to the gym to meet Ys. I don''t remember anything after that. Why? Did I ck out or something?"


    "You didn''t just ck out,"


    Cleo said, her voice quiet.


    "When we found you, you were copsed in one of the corridors near the main observation windows. Your vitals were stable, but your neural readings were... strange."


    "Strange how?"


    Rex asked, his curiosity piqued despite the lingering grogginess.


    Cleo''s gaze hardened slightly, her hands folding in herp as she continued.


    "Your brain activity spiked to levels I''ve never seen before, beyond what any normal human or hybrid should be capable of. It was like your consciousness was... elsewhere."


    "Elsewhere?"


    Rex echoed, his golden eyes narrowing. "


    What do you mean by that?"


    Cleo summoned a holo-screen, showing aplex graph of spiking neural activity alongside faint traces of an energy signature


    . "It''s hard to exin,"


    she admitted.


    "Your neural patterns matched something simr to a deep mental connection, a psychic link, almost. But the energy signature we detected didn''t match anything on record. It was like you were connected to... something, or someone not of this ship, not even of this ne."


    Rex stared at the screen, his expression unreadable.


    "And you have no idea what it was?"


    Cleo shook her head.


    "No. I''ve run every scan I can think of,pared it to every species in the database. There''s nothing. Whatever it was, it wasn''t normal."


    Rex leaned back, his mind racing. He didn''t remember any of what Cleo was describing, but the pit in his stomach told him that whatever had happened wasn''t just some random ckout. The words he had spoken before passing out suddenly echoed faintly in the back of his mind.


    "I''ming for you."


    Cleo reached out and ced a hand on his arm, snapping him out of his thoughts.


    "You don''t have to figure this out right now,"


    she said softly.


    "Your recoveryes first. Whatever happened, we''ll figure it out together."


    Rex looked at her for a long moment before finally nodding.


    "Alright, fine. I''ll take it easy for now. But Cleo... I have a feeling this isn''t over. Not by a long shot."


    Cleo''s gaze lingered on him, her golden eyes filled with quiet determination. "


    I know,"


    she said simply.


    As Rex rested back against the pillows, the hum of the ship seemed to grow louder, as if the very vessel itself was holding its breath. Somewhere out there, in the infinite darkness of space, something was waiting. And whatever it was, it wasn''t done with Rex yet.


    After the strange events that left Rex bedridden, his life had slowed to an unusual, almostical pace. He could do nothing but lie in bed, waiting for his strength to return, all while being doted on and, frankly, fattened up, by Cleo and Ys.


    They visited him at different times each day, always bringing food, drinks, and endless attention. Cleo made sure he ate full, nutrient-packed meals, constantly monitoring his vitals with her little robotic assistants.


    Meanwhile, Ys, true to her fiery personality, always brought snacks, insisting that


    "junk food is part of a warrior''s recovery regimen."


    Even Carlos stopped by from time to time, though his visits were less about nurturing Rex and more about keeping himpany in a more...


    rxed


    way. Instead of encouraging Rex to eat more, Carlos made it his mission to steal Rex''s snacks, particrly the chips.


    "Too much salt is bad for your health,"


    Carlos would say with a grin, shoving another handful of chips into his mouth as the two watched holo-screen series together.


    One time, Carlos even tried to sneak in a couple of beers for them to


    share,


    iming that


    "a little booze never hurt anyone."


    But before they could pop them open, the ever-vignt Aegis Units intervened, confiscating the contraband and dragging Carlos away.


    What followed was far worse than any scolding or punishment Carlos could have imagined. Cleo, with her usual calm but no-nonsense demeanor, forbade him from entering the ship''s bar until Rex was fully recovered. For a man like Carlos, who practically lived for his evening drinks, it was a fate worse than death.


    "I can''t believe you snitched on me to the bots, Rex,"


    Carlos groaned during his next visit, flopping into a chair next to the bed.


    "I didn''t say a word,"


    Rex replied with a chuckle,zily tossing a chip into his mouth.


    "I guess the bots just have better judgment than you do."


    Carlos narrowed his eyes suspiciously before sighing.


    "Fine, but the second you''re back on your feet, you owe me a drink or ten."


    Despite the lighthearted moments, there was something... strange about those days. Something Rex noticed but never dwelled on too much. Every time Ys came to visit him, she would always, without fail, stare at the empty space behind him.


    She wouldn''t say anything about it, but her emerald-green eyes would linger just a moment too long, her expression unreadable.


    "Ys, are you zoning out again?"


    Rex asked once, turning his head to look over his shoulder, only to find nothing there.


    "Huh? What are you talking about?" she replied quickly, snapping out of her trance and smirking at him


    . "You must be imagining things, Rex. That bedrest is making your brain soft


    ."


    Rex shrugged it off, chalking it up to Ys being her usual entric self. But what he didn''t notice was how Cleo''s sharp golden eyes were always watching, always paying attention.

 Chapter 122: 5 Years later.

    Later that evening, Cleo was reviewing the daily reports from the maid bots stationed in Rex¡¯s room. While most of the updates were routine, meal schedules, vitals, and exercise rmendations, one report caught her attention.


    Every day, without fail, the maid bots observed Ys staring intently at the same spot behind Rex¡¯s bed. The spot that, ording to their sensors, waspletely empty.


    Cleo leaned back in her chair, her wings twitching slightly as she processed this information. A faint frown crossed her lips, and she closed the reports with a flick of her wrist.


    The next time Ys came to visit Rex, Cleo intercepted her in the hallway outside his room. She raised an eyebrow, her usual smirk ying on her lips


    . "What¡¯s this? Cleo, are you jealous I¡¯m spending so much time with my darling?" Experience more tales on empire


    Cleo ignored the jab; her tone was calm but direct. "


    Y¡¯Ssera,"


    she said, addressing Ys by her full name, which instantly caught the other woman¡¯s attention.


    "I know you can see something that the rest of us can¡¯t. So tell me, What are you staring at so much every time you visit Rex?"


    Ys blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. For a moment, she looked like she was about to deflect with another teasing remark, but something in Cleo¡¯s unwavering gaze made her stop. Her wings shifted ufortably as she nced away, rubbing the back of her neck.


    "You¡¯ve noticed, huh?"


    Ys finally said, her voice quieter than usual.


    "The maid bots noticed,"


    Cleo corrected, folding her arms.


    "And I want answers. What are you seeing?"


    Ys hesitated, her usual confidence faltering for the first time in a long while. She looked back at Cleo, her smirkpletely gone, reced by an expression of mild unease.


    "I... don¡¯t know how to exin it,"


    Ys admitted.


    "It¡¯s not something solid. It¡¯s more like... a shadow. A presence."


    "A presence?"


    Cleo repeated, her voice hardening slightly.


    "Be specific."


    Ys sighed, clearly ufortable with the conversation.


    "It¡¯s not like I can see it in the way you¡¯d see a person. It¡¯s more like I can feel it hovering there, behind Rex. Every time I visit, it¡¯s there, just watching. Waiting. And..."


    She hesitated, her voice trailing off.


    "And what?"


    Cleo pressed, stepping closer.


    Ys finally met Cleo¡¯s gaze, her emerald eyes serious.


    "And it feels old... Really old. And really powerful. Like it doesn¡¯t belong in this world, or maybe it doesn¡¯t belong anywhere."


    Cleo¡¯s wings twitched again, her mind racing with possibilities. If Ys was sensing something beyond their understanding, it could exin Rex¡¯s strange behavior and the faint energy signature from before.


    "Have you told Rex?"


    Cleo asked after a moment.


    "No,"


    Ys said firmly.


    "He¡¯s already got enough on his te. Besides, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s hurting him. If it wanted to, it would¡¯ve done something by now."


    "That¡¯s not reassuring,"


    Cleo muttered, her tone sharp.


    Ys shrugged.


    "Look, I don¡¯t know what it is. I¡¯m just telling you what I¡¯ve sensed. But if you¡¯re worried, maybe you should keep a closer eye on him. And if you figure out what¡¯s going on, let me know."


    Cleo didn¡¯t reply immediately, her golden eyes narrowing as she processed Ys¡¯s words. Finally, she nodded.


    "Fine. But if you sense anything more, anything at all, you tell me immediately."


    "Sure, sure,"


    Ys replied, her smirk slowly returning.


    "But only because you asked so nicely."


    Cleo rolled her eyes, but the unease lingering in her chest refused to go away. Whatever this "presence" was, it had been watching Rex for weeks, possibly even longer.


    And if Ys was right about its ancient and powerful nature, then this was only the beginning of a mystery farrger than any of them had anticipated.


    For now, though, Cleo resolved to stay vignt. Rex¡¯s recovery was her priority, but she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something or someone was watching them all from the shadows.


    Once Cleo left, Ys let out a long, tired sigh and leaned back against the cold metallic wall of the hallway. She ran a hand through her hair, idly twirling a strand around her finger as her emerald eyes stared nkly at the ceiling.


    "I don¡¯t think I should tell her everything,"


    she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible.


    "Knowing Cleo, she¡¯ll just worry even more. And right now, that¡¯s thest thing Rex needs."


    She let out another sigh, but this one carried the weight of frustration and unease. She had held back the full truth from Cleo, not because she wanted to lie, but because even she didn¡¯t fully understand what she was seeing. And trying to exin it to someone else would only make the situation worse.


    The truth was that Ys could


    see


    what others couldn¡¯t. It wasn¡¯t just a vague feeling of something lurking behind Rex. No, she could clearly see the figure that lingered in the shadows, standing silently behind him.


    She had seen it before months ago, when she met Rex again after waking up, and back then, it was something that had left her in awe.


    The first time sheid eyes on it, the figure radiated power and authority, like a divine being pulled straight from the ancient myths. Its presence had been overwhelming,manding respect and admiration, as if it were a god who had descended to walk among mortals. But now... now it was different.


    Now, the figure was broken.


    It was iplete, a shadow of the proud entity it had once been. Its body was ravaged by wounds so severe that even Ys, with her knowledge of astral forms, couldn¡¯t understand how it still existed.


    cknces, jagged and unnatural, pierced its torso, shoulders, and legs, holding it together like pins, keeping shattered porcin in ce. One of its legs was entirely missing, and its right arm was gone, leaving only a jagged stump.


    Its abdomen was partially hollowed out, the missing pieces revealing an abyss-like void within. But the worst part was its face.


    The cracks that ran across its body extended to its head, its once-pristine features marred and broken as if someone or something had gripped it with overwhelming force and mmed it into the ground over and over again.


    From the cracks and wounds, rivers of glowing blood spilled out. But this wasn¡¯t ordinary blood. It shimmered and swirled like liquid space nebs, glowing faintly with hues of deep purples, blues, and golds.


    The blood dripped from the figure, only to dissolve into the air, leaving behind trails of shimmering, colorful space dust that floated away like dying stars.


    Ys couldn¡¯t look at it for long without feeling a deep, gnawing unease. Something about it didn¡¯t belong in this dimension or even in the material world. It was... otherworldly. And yet, she knew one thing for certain.


    That broken, bleeding figure, despite its injuries, its ipleteness, and its sorrowful state, was Rex¡¯s astral image.


    And that revtion chilled her to her core.


    Astral images were supposed to represent the purest form of a person¡¯s soul. They were reflections of one¡¯s strength, potential, and identity.


    For an astral image to be so damaged, so utterly shattered, meant that something or someone had attacked Rex on a level far beyond the material realm.


    Wherever Rex¡¯s consciousness had gone during those missing months, he had encountered something powerful. Something dangerous. And it wasn¡¯t from this dimension.


    "Which means..."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    She whispered, her voice trailing off. Her hands tightened into fists as she tried to push away the spiraling thought


    s. "It means there¡¯s someone or something out there that can destroy an astral image like that. And if it¡¯s not from this dimension, then..."


    She shook her head, trying to banish the thoughts


    . "No point thinking about it too much. If I let my imagination run wild, I¡¯ll drive myself crazy. I¡¯ll just... ask Mama if she knows anything about this."


    Ys paused, her lips curving into a sly smile as she pushed off the wall and adjusted her wings.


    "But that can wait forter. Right now, it¡¯s my time to spend with my darling."


    She stepped toward Rex¡¯s room, her earlier unease momentarily fading as she focused on her own selfish desire to be near him.


    The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing Rex sitting up in bed, clearly trying to sneak a chip from the snack stash Cleo had left behind despite the numerous warnings.


    [Year 5608 Imperial Gctic System]


    In the vast expanse of the gxy, time marched on, indifferent to the lives it touched. Yet somewhere, deep within the fabric of reality, threads were unraveling. Something ancient stirred in the void between dimensions, waiting patiently as fractured pieces began to converge.


    For now, the crew of Rex¡¯s remained blissfully unaware of the growing storm. But for Rex, the visions of broken astral forms and the lingering presence behind him were just the beginning. Somewhere out there, a powerful enemy was waiting.


    Rex leaned back in therge white throne ofmand that now dominated the bridge of the newly upgraded gship.


    The vessel gleamed with cutting-edge technology, its sleek design housing enough firepower to obliterate fleets. The ship had grown significantly in size and capability.


    Its firepower was now three times greater than its former medium-sized incarnation. With twice the number of automated turrets lining its hull and three devastating main cannons, it was a ship to be feared.


    The original main kic cannon remained as a symbol of brute force, capable of shattering enemy gships with sheer impact, but now it was joined by an advancedser cannon, an engineering marvel capable of melting through even the most reinforced hulls.


    With these upgrades, Rex¡¯s ship had be a moving fortress, a beacon of dominance in the sector.


    From the throne, Rex surveyed the bridge, where Cleo stood at a control console, holo-screens illuminating her sharp golden eyes as she reviewed thetest data.


    "Cleo,"


    Rex called, his voice calm yetmanding.


    "Give me the report onst month¡¯s pirate incursions in our territory."

 Chapter 123: 5 years later. (2)

    Cleo turned toward him, her expressionposed as she brought up a series of charts and data feeds on the main bridge holodisy.


    "ording to your suspicions,"


    she began, her tone crisp and professiona


    l, "pirate activity has noticeably increased over the past month. However, the moment they attempt to attack any trading vessel within our patrol routes, our fighters do a warp jump in response to the distress signals. Once the pirates see our ships arrive, they immediately disengage and retreat."


    Rex rested his elbow on the armrest of his throne, his hand moving to his chin as he pondered her report. His sharp golden eyes focused on the holo disy as his mind raced.


    The pattern was clear, the pirates weren¡¯tmitting to their attacks. They were testing boundaries, probing defenses. But


    why?


    "Interesting,"


    Rex murmured, summoning a detailed sector map onto a holo-screen with a quick motion of his hand. The glowing projection materialized in front of him, showing the vast stretch of space under his fleet¡¯s protection.


    Trade routes, patrol paths, and star systems were marked in intricate detail.


    "Cleo,"


    Rex said, his voice steady as his eyes scanned the map,


    "show me the locations where the pirates have been appearing most frequently."


    "Understood,"


    Cleo replied, tapping a fewmands into her console. Red markers began to appear on the sector map, highlighting the points where pirate ships had been detected or intercepted.


    Rex leaned forward slightly, studying the screen with a focused intensity. The markers were scattered across several key trade routes, but there was something off about the pattern.


    The pirate appearances weren¡¯t random, they formed a loose arc around a central area of the map, avoiding direct confrontation with the main fleet.


    "Hmm..."


    Rex¡¯s fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest of his throne.


    "They¡¯re not just attacking aimlessly. They¡¯re testing us. But they¡¯re also avoiding something."


    Cleo¡¯s analytical mind worked in tandem with Rex¡¯s. She spoke up, her tone thoughtful.


    "The data suggests they¡¯re staying just outside the effective range of our fleet¡¯s main patrol routes. It¡¯s possible they¡¯re attempting to map our response times and warp jump capabilities."


    "Or,"


    Rex said, his golden eyes narrowing,


    "they¡¯re deliberately avoiding something in this region. Look here."


    He pointed to the central area of the map, which was conspicuously free of any pirate activity.


    "No incursions. No sightings. It¡¯s like they¡¯re steering clear of whatever¡¯s in this area."


    Cleo nodded, her hands moving quickly to bring up additional data.


    "I¡¯ll run a deeper scan of that region. If they¡¯re avoiding it, there¡¯s a reason. It could be a natural phenomenon, a trap set by another faction, or something entirely different."


    Rex leaned back again, a slight smirk forming on his face.


    "Good. Do it. If these pirates think they can outmaneuver us, they¡¯ve got another thinging. I want to know what they¡¯re running from or what they¡¯re hiding."


    The bridge fell into a focused silence as Cleo worked, her fingers gliding over the controls. Data streams and sensor reports filled the holo-disys, the ship¡¯s advanced systemsbing through every trace of information in the sector.


    "


    Anything unusual yet?"


    Rex asked after a moment.


    Cleo¡¯s eyes flicked to a new screen that appeared in front of her. Her brows furrowed slightly. "


    Preliminary scans show no obvious anomalies in the region, no ck holes, no spatial distortions, no signs of enemy fleets. However..."


    "However?"


    Rex prompted, his smirk fading as he noticed the shift in Cleo¡¯s expression.


    "There¡¯s an unusual energy reading,"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Cleo said carefully, her tone carrying a note of caution.


    "It¡¯s faint, almost undetectable, but it¡¯s there. Something is emitting a consistent energy signature deep within the region the pirates are avoiding."


    Rex¡¯s eyes gleamed with interest.


    "Show me."


    Cleo zoomed in on the map, highlighting the source of the energy signature. It was faint, barely registering on the ship¡¯s sensors, but it was unmistakably there, a pulsating blip of unknown origin.


    "It doesn¡¯t match any known ship or station type,"


    Cleo exined.


    "The signature is... unusual. It doesn¡¯t conform to standard energy outputs. It could be a cloaked ship, a hidden station, or something entirely else."


    Rex studied the disy in silence for a moment before speaking.


    "Whatever it is, it¡¯s enough to spook the pirates. And if it¡¯s scaring them, I want to know why. Cleo, prepare a reconnaissance mission. I want a stealth unit to investigate that location and report back."


    "Understood,"


    Cleo replied, already rying orders to the fleet¡¯s recon division.


    Rex leaned back in his throne, his fingers steepled as he stared at the glowing blip on the map. His mind was already working through the possibilities, calcting risks and strategies.


    If there was something out there powerful enough to influence pirate activity, it wasn¡¯t something he could ignore.


    "Let¡¯s see what you¡¯re hiding,"


    Rex murmured, his voice low but filled with determination.


    "And let¡¯s see if you¡¯re worth my time."


    The bridge buzzed with activity as the crew prepared for the mission, the hum of the upgraded ship filling the air. Outside the reinforced windows, the vast expanse of space stretched endlessly, the sector waiting to reveal its secrets.


    "So, how was I? Did I do good, Teacher Cleo?"


    Rex asked, grinning confidently as he sprawled across the massive white throne that dominated the ship¡¯smand center.


    His golden eyes gleamed with pride, though a faint hint of nervousness lingered in his voice. Over the past five years, Cleo had been drilling him relentlessly in the art of strategy and fleetmand.


    And while the pirates in their sector had provided plenty of opportunities for real-world practice, Rex still had a long way to go.


    Cleo stood a few feet away, her posture as poised as ever, arms crossed and her golden gaze fixed on him. Despite her usual poker face, there was a slight twitch at the corner of her lips that betrayed her thoughts.


    "Mmm,"


    she began, tilting her head slightly as if evaluating a student.


    "I¡¯d give you a 7 out of 10. You¡¯ve improved, but you¡¯re still too tense when giving orders, and you take far too many gambles when fighting the pirates."


    "


    Gambles?"


    Rex said, sitting up straighter in mock indignation.


    "That¡¯s not gambling! That¡¯s called high-risk strategy!"


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, her expression remaining t.


    "And what about that time you almost blew up an entire trading convoy with one of those so-called ¡¯high-risk strategies¡¯?"


    Rex opened his mouth to respond but stopped short, leaning back in his throne with a sheepish grin.


    "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,"


    he muttered, waving a dismissive hand.


    "Anyway, where¡¯s Carlos and Ys? What are they up to?


    " He leaned forward slightly, clearly hoping to steer the conversation in a safer direction.


    Cleo¡¯s wings twitched slightly, her fingers swiping through a holo screen as she answered.


    "Carlos is currently escorting a VIP convoy transporting energy cells and ammunition for the station¡¯s new defense system."


    "Ah, that makes sense,"


    Rex said, nodding.


    "What about Ys? She doesn¡¯t usually miss the chance to rejoice after one of our fights."


    "Ys took one of the smaller ships and went further into the asteroid belt,"


    Cleo said, her tone neutral as she brought up another holo report.


    Rex frowned slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes.


    "What¡¯s she doing out there?"


    Cleo hesitated for a moment before replying.


    "I don¡¯t have all the details. Ys rarely gives full exnations, as you know. But she mentioned something about picking up a ship her mother is giving to her."


    Rex blinked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.


    "Wait. Her mom? You mean one of those hive mind ships?"


    "Correct,"


    Cleo said simply, not even looking up from her reports.


    "Hold on,"


    Rex said, sitting up fully now, his voice tinged with concern.


    "You do realize that a hive mind ship would paint a giant target on our backs if anyone sees us working with it, right? People see those things and immediately think invasion! We¡¯d have the whole sector breathing down our necks!"


    Cleo remained unbothered, adjusting the holo screen with a flick of her finger.


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    "There¡¯s no problem with that,


    " she replied in her usual calm tone.


    "While it¡¯s true that hive minds are considered amon threat across the gxy, there are several races and organizations that engage in peaceful trade with them. Some even rely on hive minds for sector defense, mineral trading,ary protection, and other services. It¡¯s not as umon as you think."


    Rex blinked again, his expression caught somewhere between disbelief and irritation.


    "Wait, what? You¡¯re telling me there are business deals with hive minds? Since when?"


    Cleo turned toward him with her ever-present poker face.


    "Since forever. It¡¯s all documented in the trade reports we receive from the merchants in exchange for protecting their convoys in this sector."


    She swiped her fingers, summoning several holo screens that disyed a list of recent trade agreements, intergctic policies, and reports of hive mind interactions. The data hovered next to Rex, glowing faintly as he scanned it with wide eyes.


    "Hold on,


    " Rex said, pointing to one of the reports. "


    Why didn¡¯t you ever tell me something this important?"


    Cleo¡¯s lips twitched, though she didn¡¯t quite smile


    . "You never asked,"


    she said inly.


    Rex froze, his finger still in midair as he stared at her.


    "...I... guess that¡¯s true,"


    he muttered, slumping back in his throne with a sigh.


    "Fine. I¡¯ll let it slide this time."


    He waved a hand at the holo screens, dismissing them from view.


    "Anyway, do we have any updates from our scouts?


    "


    Cleo tapped at her console again, her sharp eyes flicking between data streams.


    "The scouts have reported back with preliminary findings on the energy signature in the region the pirates have been avoiding,


    " she said.


    "The readings remain faint, but consistent. Whatever is there, it¡¯s still active."


    "And no visuals?"


    Rex asked, his voice taking on a more serious tone.


    "None,"


    Cleo replied


    . "It¡¯s possible the source is cloaked or exists on a dimensional level that standard sensors can¡¯t prate."


    Rex sighed again, rubbing his temples as he leaned back in the throne.


    "Great. Just what we need, another mystery to deal with."


    He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as a thought crossed his min


    d. "You think Ys going to the asteroid belt might be connected to this somehow?"


    "It¡¯s possible,"


    Cleo admitted, though her tone suggested she wasn¡¯t entirely convinced.


    "Ys didn¡¯t mention anything about the energy signature, but she¡¯s not one to share information unless she deems it necessary. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time she acted on her own agenda."


    Rex groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose


    .


    "That woman¡¯s going to be the death of me one day, I swear."

 Chapter 124 Shark tactics.

    Cleo tilted her head slightly, with her expression softening.


    "She''s loyal to you, even if her methods are... unconventional. If she''s pursuing something, it''s likely for your benefit."


    Rex snorted, a faint smile tugging at his lips.


    "Yeah, yeah. I know. It''s just exhausting trying to keep up with her sometimes."


    Cleo didn''t respond, instead returning to her work as Rex stared at the glowing map of the sector still floating in the center of the bridge. Despite the banter and lightheartedness of the moment, a faint sense of unease lingered in the air.


    While Rex and Cleo focused on uncovering the secrets behind the unknown energy signal, Carlos found himself inmand of the convoy protection fleet. His post wasn''t morous, but it was critical, especially given the increasing pirate activity in the sector.


    Today, however, he wasn''t justmanding any ordinary ship. He was seated in themand chair of the Eclipse-ss Dreadnought, the pride of the shipyard Cleo had built over the past two years in the asteroid belt.


    The Eclipse-ss Dreadnought was a marvel of engineering; it was a massive, white-and-golden behemoth that radiated an almost divine presence. Its hull shimmered withyered armor, reinforced to withstand even the most punishing attacks.


    From its sleek design extended glowing energy tendrils that pulsed faintly, like veins carrying lifeblood throughout the ship. At its core, mounted with surgical precision, was the mega-sma cannon, a weapon capable of obliterating enemy capital ships with a single devastating shot.


    The ship also boasted state-of-the-art defensive and offensive systems.


    Energy shields are capable of enduring sustained bombardments. Droneunch bays that could deploy swarms of tactical strike drones. Tactical EMP disruptors are designed to disable enemy electronics. A dark energy reactor, which provided the ship with unparalleled long-range interster capabilities.


    Despite its overwhelming power, the Liberator, as Carlos had nicknamed the ship, was not invincible. Its size and firepower made it formidable againstrge ships and instations, but its bulk and rtively slower speed made it vulnerable to fighter swarms and bombers.


    That was where Carlos''smand and strategy came into y.


    In the past five years, Carlos had been rigorously trained by Cleo''s holographic AI systems in shipmand and fleet strategy. He had grown into apetent admiral, capable of managing the Eclipse-ss ship''s many systems and crews.


    However, Cleo made sure he was aware of his limits, since he wasn''t yet on par with veteran fleetmanders. If he were to face a fleet with firepower equal to the Liberator, he would lose 9 out of 10 times.


    That was why Cleo had assigned him to convoy protection duty, a practical way to gain realbat experience while staying rtively safe.


    Today, however, things wouldn''t be so simple.


    "This is Admiral Carlos of the Liberator,"


    Carlos said, his voice calm and confident as he sat in the captain''s chair, his hands resting on the armrests.


    His sharp eyes scanned the holographic disy in front of him, showing the convoy of trading ships traveling in formation under his protection


    .


    "My systems are detecting multiple wormhole openings around the convoy. All ships enter cruise speed mode and prepare to engage. This is likely another pirate incursion."


    The voice of the convoy''s captain crackled over themunications. "


    This is the captain of the trading convoy. We''ve received your orders, Admiral. Moving into defensive formation under the Liberator''s protection."


    The trading ships, a mix of cargo haulers and freighters, began to cluster closer together beneath the Liberator.


    The dreadnought''s energy shields shimmered faintly as they activated, creating a protective bubble over the convoy. The advanced detection systems of the Eclipse-ss ship gave them just enough time to prepare before the pirates arrived.


    Momentster, multiple wormholes began tearing open across the ck void of space. From them emerged swarms of pirate fighters, small, agile, and bristling with weapons.


    They darted through the void like a swarm of angry hos, their engines glowing faintly red as they made a beacon for the convoy. Almost immediately, they opened fire, theirser cannons pelting the Liberator''s shields with rapid bursts of energy.


    Carlos remained unfazed, his lips curling into a faint smirk. He was used to this by now.


    "Attention all gunners,"


    he said over the ship-widemunications, his voice steady.


    "Switch to anti-fighter ammunition and proceed to take down these mosquitoes."


    The Liberator''s automated systems whirred to life as four Aegis Units took control of the ship''s turret batteries.


    Each Aegis Unit was responsible for four turrets positioned on different sides of the ship, ensuring that all angles were covered. The turbines rotated with mechanical precision, targeting the iing fighters.


    "Load cluster bomb ammunition,"


    Carlos ordered.


    The turrets'' loading systems hissed and clicked as the new ammunition was prepared. Cluster bombs, a recent addition to their arsenal, were specifically designed to counter fighter swarms.


    The sleek, golden shells were fired from the turrets, passing harmlessly through the liberator''s shields before detonating just outside.


    The first cluster bomb exploded in a brilliant sh of light, releasing a cloud of smaller explosives that spread out in every direction.


    The resulting chain of explosions created a deadly sphere of destruction, tearing through the pirate fighters with ruthless efficiency. Ships caught in the st were shredded instantly, while others veered off-course, damaged but still operational.


    "Direct hits on multiple targets,"


    one of the Aegis Units reported in its monotone voice.


    Carlos grinned, leaning back in his chair. "


    Good. Keep the pressure on. Make sure none of them get close to the convoy." Enjoy more content from empire


    The Liberator''s turrets continued firing, releasing wave after wave of cluster bombs. The explosions lit up the darkness of space like miniature supernovas, creating dazzling disys of destruction.


    The pirate fighters, realizing they couldn''t prate the dreadnought''s defenses, began to retreat, zipping back toward the wormholes they had emerged from.


    "Ah, running away already?"


    Carlos muttered, watching the holoscreen with mild amusement.


    "Smart decision."


    "Admiral,"


    one of the Aegis Units interrupted,


    "detecting additional wormhole activity. Larger ships iing."


    Carlos''s smirk faltered as new signatures began appearing on the holo-screen. These weren''t fighters; they were heavier ships, likely frigates or corvettes, equipped with enough firepower to put up a real fight.


    "Alright,"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Carlos said, his voice sharpening as he straightened in his seat.


    "All fighter squadrons, deploy and intercept the iing ships. Gunners, switch to anti-ship ammunition. Let''s show these pirates why they don''t mess with our convoys."


    The Liberator''s droneunch bays opened, releasing swarms of sleek, golden fighters into the void.


    The fighters surged forward like a tidal wave, engaging the enemy ships with coordinated precision. Meanwhile, the Liberator''s main turrets began firing high-energy sma rounds, each shot streaking through space like a bolt of lightning.


    "Confirm the damage to the target,"


    Carlosmanded, his voice steady as he leaned forward in his seat, his eyes locked on the holo-screen disying the aftermath of the Liberator''s first round of high-energy sma fire.


    The glowing streaks of sma had struck true, lighting up the void in brilliant shes of energy but something was wrong.


    "Sir, the impact is confirmed,


    " one of the Aegis units replied in its monotone, robotic voice.


    "However, damage to the target is null. The sma rounds collided with an energy shield."


    Carlos frowned, his brow furrowing as he processed the report.


    "Impossible,"


    he muttered, tapping a finger against the armrest of his chair.


    "The shields on those pirate ships aren''t nearly strong enough to stop sma rounds from the Liberator''s turrets. Something''s wrong."


    He straightened in his seat, his voice sharpening.


    "Scan the area again. Focus on energy distortions. And keep firing, whatever''s out there, we need to give it a reason to reveal itself."


    The Aegis units responded in unison, "


    Understood."


    "Pilot, keep us moving. Fly in circles and don''t stop for anything!


    " Carlos ordered. He had learned the hard way that keeping a dreadnought stationary duringbat was the fastest way to die.


    An immobile ship became an easy target for bombers, capital ships, or worse. Now, he always ensured that the Liberator remained in motion, leveraging its powerful engines to maintain a defensive edge.


    Sometimes, when the odds were desperate enough, Carlos had even resorted to using the Liberator''s formidable energy shields as a battering ram, mming into enemy ships with devastating force. Today wasn''t quite that desperate yet but he wasn''t about to take any chances.


    "Sir,"


    one of the Aegis units interrupted,


    "our sensors are detecting arge ship in stealth mode. Disying its coordinates now."


    The holo-screen updated, marking the location of the hidden ship. Carlos leaned closer, narrowing his eyes at the faint signature. But before he could give the nextmand, the Liberator was rocked violently as something massive mmed into its side.


    The collision sent sparks flying across the bridge, the force causing Carlos to grip the armrests of his chair tightly to keep from being thrown. The ship groaned under the strain, and the glowing shields of the Liberator red brightly as they absorbed the brunt of the impact.


    "Report!"


    Carlos yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos.


    "Sir,"


    an Aegis unit replied calmly,


    "30% of our energy shields have been depleted. The shields are continuing to weaken at an elerated rate due to sustained contact with the enemy vessel."


    Carlos cursed under his breath, his mind racing. Whoever or


    whatever


    had just rammed the Liberator was big, and they clearly weren''t afraid to engage directly.


    "Dammit! Pilot, turn us to the right! Bring the enemy ship fully into contact with our shields. Let''s see how long they can stay cloaked while touching us!"


    The Liberator''s engines roared to life as the massive ship began to pivot. Its shields red even brighter as the hull pressed harder against the unseen vessel.


    The strain was immense, but the gamble paid off. Within moments, the cloaked enemy ship flickered into visibility, its stealth systems overwhelmed by the intense energy feedback.


    Carlos didn''t hesitate.


    "Fire all weapons in that direction! I don''t care what it is, take it out!"

 Chapter 125 Revenant Ascendancy.

    The Liberator''s turrets rotated with mechanical precision, locking onto the exposed target. sma rounds streaked through space, mming into the enemy ship''s hull with devastating uracy.


    Under the relentless barrage, the enemy''s shields faltered, copsing entirely as the massive vessel was torn apart.


    Explosions rippled across its structure as pieces of the ship broke away, scattering into the void. Therger fragments drifted lifelessly, glowing faintly with the heat of the sma impacts.


    Carlos allowed himself a small grin of satisfaction.


    "That''s what you get for ramming my ship,"


    he muttered. But his satisfaction was short-lived.


    "Sir,"


    one of the Aegis units said, its voice cutting through the bridge''s tense silence,


    "sensors are detecting additional energy readings. Another ship has decloaked. It is significantlyrger than the first."


    Carlos''s grin faded instantly.


    "On screen,"


    he ordered.


    The holo-disy updated, and Carlos''s eyes widened as the second ship appeared. It wasn''t like anything he had expected. The massive vessel floated ominously in the void, its design angr and alien.


    It was covered in dark, jagged ting that seemed to shift and shimmer, giving it an otherworldly presence. Energy pulsated through glowing veins along its hull, and its weapon systems glowed with a menacing red hue.


    "What the fuck is that?"


    Carlos muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.


    The librarian''s systems


    scrambled to analyze the vessel, and a stream of data began appearing on the holo-screen. Carlos quickly turned to one of the Aegis units.


    "Quickly! Scan that ship. I need to know who it belongs to!"


    The Aegis unit worked silently for a moment, its systems processing the information. Finally, it spoke:


    "


    Sir, the ship belongs to..."


    It hesitated, as if the words themselves carried a weight too heavy for even its robotic voice.


    "...the Revenant Ascendancy."


    Carlos''s blood ran cold. He had heard stories of the Revenant Ascendancy, nightmarish tales whispered in hushed tones by veteran captains and survivors of deep-space battles. The Revenant weren''t pirates, nor were they a typical faction.


    They were something far worse, an enigmatic force known for their advanced, almost alien technology, their terrifyingly efficient warships, and their ruthless tactics. Entire fleets had disappeared without a trace after encountering them, and their motives remained shrouded in mystery.


    "Of all the damn days..."


    Carlos muttered, gripping the armrests of his chair tightly.


    "Sir,


    " the Aegis unit continued


    , "the Revenant vessel is charging weapons. Iing energy surge detected."


    "Shit,"


    Carlos growled. He knew the Liberator was powerful, but even a dreadnought like this wasn''t guaranteed to survive an encounter with a Revenant warship.


    "All hands, brace for impact! Activate the EMP disruptors andunch the drones! We''re not going down without a fight!"


    The Liberator''s systems roared to life as it prepared for what could only be described as a battle for survival. Swarms of dronesunched from the ship''s bays, their golden hulls glinting as they raced toward the enemy.


    The Liberator''s sma turrets began firing again, their streaks of energy illuminating the darkness of space.


    But deep down, Carlos knew this wasn''t a battle they could win. The Revenant Ascendancy wasn''t an enemy that could be fought head-on, not without suffering devastating losses. He needed a n, and he needed it fast.


    "Comms,"


    Carlos yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos.


    "Get me a secure line to Rex. He needs to know what we''re dealing with!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


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    As the bridge erupted into activity, the Liberator plunged headfirst into the fight of its life.


    Just before Carlos''s encounter with the Revenant Ascendancy, Rex''s ship, Cleopatra, hadpleted its wormhole jump into the heart of the mysterious signal''s origin.


    The trip had been uneventful, silent even, but that silence carried an unsettling weight. For the past several minutes, Rex had been trying to reestablish contact with the scouts Cleo had sent to this location. There had been no response.


    Standing on the bridge, Rex''s golden eyes narrowed as he peered out of the massive reinforced window, scanning the dark expanse of space. Despite the vast capabilities of the ship''s advanced detection systems, something about seeing the stars with his own eyes always felt more reliable, more real.


    "Do the systems detect anything, Cleo?"


    Rex asked, his voice calm but tinged with unease. His instincts were on high alert, the quietness of the area gnawing at him.


    Cleo''s holographic form materialized near the main console, standing with her usual poise. Her golden eyes reflected the streams of data she was analyzing; her tone was clinical.


    "Negative. The long- and short-range scanners detect nothing unusual, other than the faint energy signal that brought us here. It could be a cloaked satellite emitting some kind of residual energy. Other than that, there''s not much to work with."


    Just as Cleo began voicing her hypothesis, the Cleopatra was rocked violently. Sparks flew from several consoles as the energy shields red to life, absorbing sudden, concentrated impacts.


    "Multiple impacts detected,"


    Cleo announced quickly, her voice remaining steady despite the chaos.


    "Locating the source. Targets identified."


    Without hesitation, Cleo made her decision.


    "Deploying EMP missiles to the targets'' coordinates."


    The Cleopatra''s sleek missile bays opened, releasing a barrage of EMP missiles toward the coordinates of the unknown attackers. While EMP attacks were generally ineffective againstrger vessels with advanced defenses, they had a secondary use, exposing cloaked ships.


    As the missiles exploded in bursts of electromaic pulses, the invisible became visible. Two massive ships materialized on the bridge''s holo-disy, their dark, angr hulls reflecting faint streaks of light from the distant stars.


    One was positioned to Rex''s left, and the other to his right. They were enormous,rger than the Cleopatra, and their designs were nothing like the typical pirate vessels Rex had encountered before.


    "Return fire!"


    Rex shouted, his voice cutting through the rising tension.


    The Cleopatra''s turrets immediately turned, their targeting systems locking onto the newly revealed ships. Bolts of concentrated sma surged through the void, mming into the enemy vessels energy shields.


    The shields shimmered under the impact, holding steady as the two hostile ships began their counterattack, unleashing a storm of energy sts toward the Cleopatra.


    "Sending out fighter squads,"


    Cleo announced, her holographic form vanishing from the bridge and reappearing outside the ship, standing on top of the main cannon as though observing the battle firsthand.


    "Objective: target enemy vessel engines."


    As Cleo ryed orders, dozens of fightersunched from the Cleopatra''s bays, swarming toward the enemy ships. Their goal was clear: disable the engines and leave the ships vulnerable.


    But before the fighters could fully engage, Cleo''s voice rang out with another warning.


    "Warning: multiple warp signatures detected. Analyzing... the signatures match known pirate vessels."


    Rex''s jaw tightened as he turned his gaze to the direction Cleo was staring. Space itself seemed to ripple and distort, like a pond disturbed by stones. One by one, smaller wormholes began to tear open, and from them emerged hundreds of pirate fighters, their engines glowing red as they swarmed into the battlefield.


    "Shit,"


    Rex muttered under his breath. "


    They got us."


    He turned toward Cleo, his expression resolved. "


    Cleo, I''m giving youmand of the forces. I''ll be going out with the 201st flying wing."


    Cleo''s holographic form turned to face him, her golden eyes locking onto his. She gave a curt nod.


    "Understood. Enemy weapon systems have been categorized as highly dangerous. Permission to use the main guns has been granted. Locking onto targets... Objective locked. Firing."


    As Rex made his way to the elevator, the ship''s main cannons roared to life. The Cleopatra''s primary weapons systems were a spectacle of destructive power.


    The first two main cannons, mounted along the ship''s spine, fired enormous kic rounds. These shells were designed for pure explosive force, capable of obliterating even heavily armored ships with direct hits.


    The massive projectiles streaked through space, mming into the enemy ship to the right. The explosion was deafening, sending shockwaves ripping through the void and forcing the enemy shields to flicker under the strain.


    The third main cannon, thergest and most advanced of them all, was positioned near the bow. Unlike its counterparts, it was aser-based weapon, designed to unleash a devastating beam of concentrated energy.


    Cleo stood on the cannon in her holographic form, monitoring its charging process. It would take time to fully power up, but when it fired, it would be capable of slicing through even the strongest defenses.


    Meanwhile, the bridge crew worked furiously under Cleo''smand, rying orders to the fighter squadrons. The smaller ships swarmed around the pirate fighters, engaging them in chaotic dogfights. Explosions lit up the darkness as ships on both sides were destroyed.


    While Cleo managed the chaos, Rex had already arrived at the massive hangar, where the 201st Flying Wing awaited him in perfect formation. The Aegis pilots, d in their sleek, gold-trimmedbat suits, stood at attention the moment they saw him enter.


    Their metallic frames shimmered faintly under the hangar''s lights, and their visors reflected the determined glow of Rex''s golden eyes.


    "Listen up!"


    Rex yelled, his voice cutting through the low hum of the hangar''s systems. He strode toward the shield door that separated the hangar from the endless void of space, his footsteps echoing with purpose.


    "It''s our turn to head out there and take the fight to those bastards. Let''s show them what my 201st Legion can really do!"


    The Aegis pilots responded in unison, their voices synthesized but filled with a soldier''s determination.


    "Yes, Commander Rex!"


    As Rex continued walking toward the shield door, a faint golden glow began to emanate from his back. It started as a soft shimmer, but within seconds, a radiant golden halo appeared, floating on his back and pulsing with energy.


    Streams of golden light coursed down from the halo, flowing into Rex''s body and causing his armor to hum with life.


    [Overdrive mode activated.]


    The calm, feminine voice of Cleo''s AI interface echoed in his ears.


    [Spacebat weaponry selected.] [Preparing deployment... please stand by.]


    Rex smirked, his confidence growing as the systems fully engaged. He and Cleo had spent years perfecting this upgrade. Ever since their fusion five years ago, he''d been able to draw on Cleo''s advanced technology and production systems.


    Cleo had installed a portion of her consciousness directly into his internal systems, allowing her to monitor hisbat status and control the deployment of his newly designed weaponry. This freed Rex to focus entirely on the fight.


    As the golden light from his halo continued to flood into him, Rex''s body began to change. His height, already imposing, grew even taller as the nanomaterials stored within his halo began to integrate into his frame.


    His natural build was reinforced,yer byyer, with white and golden mecha-like armor that gleamed under the hangar''s lights.

 Chapter 126 Revenant Ascendancy. (2)

    The transformation was awe-inspiring. Rex now stood a towering three meters tall, his form exuding an overwhelming presence.


    The armor was both elegant and deadly, adorned with intricate gold engravings and glowing lines of sma energy coursing across its surface. A pair of magnificent white wings unfurled from his back, their radiant glow casting long shadows across the hangar floor.


    This was Rex''s upgradedbat form, a miniature version of the fusion he had once achieved with Cleo. Though it was only a fraction of the power they had wielded together, it was still enough to rival and even surpass many pirate ships in raw strength.


    Thanks to Cleo''s efforts, Rex''s Golden Halo acted as both an energy reservoir and a storage device for nanomaterials.


    Over the years, Cleo had utilized the asteroid belt and the trading station''s resources to produce vast quantities of nanomaterials, pure sma energy, and advanced weapon blueprints. These were stored in the halo, ready to be deployed at a moment''s notice.


    "Systems online,"


    Cleo''s AI voice chimed in.


    [Weapons active. Energy reserves are stable. Shields at maximum capacity.]


    "You are clear forbat, Rex."


    Rex flexed his armored fingers, the servos humming smoothly as he clenched his fists. His voice carried a sharp edge as he addressed the 201st Flying Wing.


    "Suit up and get to your fighters! We''re taking the fight to them, and I don''t want a single one of those bastards leaving this battlefield in one piece."


    The Aegis pilots saluted again before breaking formation and heading to their sleek fighters, which were prepped and ready tounch.


    The 201st was no ordinary fighter wing; they were elite, handpicked for their precision and unrelentingbat skill. And with Rex leading them into battle, morale couldn''t have been higher.


    Rex stepped forward toward the hangar shield, his towering frame nearly brushing the ceiling. His wings twitched slightly as he rolled his shoulders, the armor settling perfectly into ce.


    He activated his helmet, which extended from his chest te and snapped into position around his head. The golden visor lit up, giving him a heads-up disy of the battlefield.


    "Open the shield,"


    Rexmanded, his voice calm but filled with authority.


    The hangar''s energy barrier flickered, revealing the ck void of space beyond. The cold light of distant stars spilled into the hangar as Rex stepped forward, his wings spreading wide. With a single powerful motion, heunched himself into the vacuum, his golden armor glowing like a beacon in the darkness.


    The 201st followed closely behind, their fighters roaring out of the hangar in perfect formation.


    As Rex and the 201st entered the fray, the scale of the chaos became clear. Cleo''s voice echoed in hismunications.


    "Current battlefield status: Cleopatra surrounded by two enemy capital ships. Additional pirate reinforcements detected; estimated 200 fighters iing. Main cannon charging sequence at 45%. Reinforcements unavable."


    "Looks like we''re on our own for now,"


    Experience more content on empire


    Rex muttered, scanning the scene. The Cleopatra was holding its own, its shields absorbing heavy fire from the two capital ships. The ship''s turrets fired relentlessly, cutting down pirate fighters and bombers, but the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming.


    "First, listen up!"


    Rex barked over themunications.


    "Your priority is taking out those capital ships'' engines. Focus your fire and disable their mobility. I''ll handle the fighters.


    "


    "Understood, Commander!"


    came the unified response of the Aegis pilots.


    Rex propelled himself into the swarm of pirate fighters, his wings glowing as bursts of sma energy fired from their tips. His targeting systems locked onto multiple enemies at once, and with pinpoint precision, he unleashed a storm of golden energy bolts.


    Fighters exploded around him in dazzling bursts of fire and debris as he weaved through the chaos with ease.


    Two pirate fighters broke off from the swarm, attempting to nk him. Rex twisted in midair, his armor''s servos responding instantly as he drew two sma des from his forearms.


    The des crackled with golden energy as he shed through the first fighter, then hurled the second de like a spear, impaling the second craft before it could fire.


    Cleo''s voice chimed in again.


    "Enemy capital ship engines destabilized. 201st fighters maintaining pressure. Main cannon charges at 75%. Rmendation: Hold the line until the firing sequencepletes."


    "Anything for you, my wife," Rex replied, dodging another volley ofser fire.


    "Keep those shields up, Cleo. We''re not losing today."


    As Rex cut through the pirate fighters, the battlefield began to shift in their favor. The Cleopatra''s main cannon was almost ready to fire, and the enemy capital ships were struggling to maintain their offensive.


    Rex''s white and golden armor gleamed brighter than ever as he soared above the battlefield, his voice cutting through themunications.


    "201st, regroup on me! Let''s finish this!"


    Rex elerated, his white and golden armor glowing brilliantly against the darkness of space as he flew toward the engines of the enemy capital ship. Behind him, the 201st Flying Wing followed in perfect formation, their sleek Wraith-ss fighters darting like predatory birds.


    As seconds passed, more fighters joined the growing swarm, rallying to theirmander. The sight was enough to inspire awe, Rex leading an army of fearless Kaelzar soldiers, the gxy''s ultimate warriors, into the heart of danger.


    [Attention: Enemy vessel defensive turrets have locked onto us.]


    Cleo''s voice chimed in his helmet, calm but urgent.


    "Everyone, evasive maneuvers!"


    Rex shouted over thems.


    The 201st scattered into chaotic yet controlled flight patterns as bright redser fire streaked toward them. Rex, thanks to Cleo''s advanced predictive systems, was weaving through the barrage with precision.


    Arcs of energy missed him by a hair, guided by the holographic trajectories disyed on his visor.


    But not everyone was as fortunate.


    Some of the Wraith-ss fighters were hit, their shields ring brightly before failing. A few fighters exploded, their debris scattering into the void, while others managed to limp away with heavy damage.


    Yet, even in the face of destruction, the Kaelzars pressed forward without hesitation. These warriors knew no fear. They were bred for battle, engineered to be the perfect soldiers, and their loyalty to theirmander was absolute.


    They surged toward the capital ship''s engines, following Rex''s lead as he carved a path through the chaos.


    "Prepare the bombs!"


    Rex ordered through thems, his voice sharp andmanding. He raised his left arm, summoning the internal AI embedded in his systems.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Mini Cleo! Craft theser cannon!"


    [Laser cannon crafting initiated¡­]


    [30%...]


    [50%...]


    [70%...]


    [Laser cannon fully crafted. Energy fully charged. Standing by.]


    The massiveser cannon materialized next to Rex, constructed from nanomaterials stored within his golden halo.


    This was a weapon he had used once before to take down the Khryssari Champion years ago, but now it was stronger,rger, and deadlier, thanks to Cleo''s meticulous upgrades. Its destructive potential was amplified to a level that could rival even the Cleopatra''s turrets.


    "Let''s make this one count,"


    Rex muttered, as he flew directly into the enemy vessel''s energy shield.


    Once inside the shield''s protective bubble, an exploit only small, non-energy-based crafts could achieve, Rex locked onto the massive engines that powered the capital ship.


    "Fire at discretion!"


    Rex yelled, taking aim and unleashing the full power of the cannon.


    The goldenser surged forth, a blinding beam of pure destruction that struck the engines with devastating force. The energy rippled across the ship''s surface, causing its armored ting to buckle and rupture.


    The 201st followed his lead, their Wraith-ss fighters swooping in and peppering the engines with concentrated sma cannon fire.


    As the fighters closed the distance, they released their payloads, precision missiles designed to detonate upon contact with the exposed engine vents. Each missile hit its mark, and within moments, the enemy capital ship''s engines were a zing inferno of destruction.


    Explosions rippled along the ship''s rear, sending debris and shockwaves outward as critical systems began to fail. The once-mighty vessel shuddered violently, its mobility crippled.


    "Cleo, this ship is a sitting duck already!


    " Rex called through thems as his cannon began to disintegrate, the nanomaterials being reabsorbed into the golden halo on his back.


    "I''m taking the 201st to deal with the pirate fighters and keep them off Cleopatra!"


    Cleo''s voice, calm but firm, came back instantly. "


    Negative, Rex. The enemy has deployed multiple transport ships and boarding pods. They''ve already breached the Cleopatra. I rmend you return immediately to reinforce the interior defense."


    Rex''s golden eyes narrowed, his armor glowing faintly as he turned his fighter back toward the Cleopatra.


    "There''s no need for me to do that,


    " he said confidently, dodging another barrage ofser fire from the crippled capital ship as he retreated.


    "The twins are there. They can take care of it."


    Cleo''s response came with a hint of exasperation.


    "While the twins are capable, there are significant numbers of boarding parties. This situation could escte beyond their capacity to manage."


    "Rx, Cleo,


    " Rex replied, smirking as he boosted forward.


    "They''ve got this."


    Deep within the Cleopatra, chaos erupted as enemy boarding pods breached the ship''s hull. The corridors were filled with the sound of rms ring and the sh of weapons as pirate raiders spilled out, their intentions clear: sabotage the ship and kill anyone in their path.


    But the invaders quickly realized that they had made a grave mistake.


    Standing at the entrance to the critical systems room were two humanoid figures, identical in appearance and radiating the same unshakable aura of a predator. The little bats, as Rex affectionately called them, were already trained warriors designed to search and destroy their enemies in seconds.


    "You take the left, I take the right?"


    Nyra asked, her voice steady butced with amusement.


    "Switch it up this time,"


    Lyra replied with a shrug, her bloody ives flicking behind her as she took abat stance.


    The pirates didn''t have time to react before the twinsunched their assault. Nyra surged forward, her greatsword swinging in a deadly arc that cleaved through the raiders like a de through water.


    Her movements were impossibly strong for someone her size, each strike calcted to maximize efficiency and devastation.


    Lyra was no less lethal. She danced through the enemy ranks, her ives spinning in elegant yet deadly patterns. Each strike found its mark, cutting down raiders with brutal precision. The pair moved like a storm, their synergy unmatched as they tore through the invaders.


    "Too easy,"


    Lyra said, tossing one of her ives like a spear and impaling a raider who thought he could escape.


    "Don''t get cocky,"


    Nyra replied, blocking a hail ofser fire with her greatsword''s bloody shield before charging forward and mming into the remaining group of raiders.

 Chapter 127 Revenant Ascendancy. (3)

    "Nyra, Lyra,"


    Cleo''s voice echoed through themunicator, calm yet filled with urgency,


    "leave the current area to the Kaelzar units. They''ll arrive in approximately two minutes. Your priority now is the hangar, enemy transport ships are closing in, and they''re not pirates. Be extremely cautious. We have limited data on them, only their name and superficial details."


    As she spoke, Cleo transmitted the fastest route to the hangar directly to their arm devices. The GPS-like system lit up with a glowing blue path, guiding them through the ship''sbyrinth of corridors.


    "Understood, Teacher,"


    Lyra replied through themunicator, her voice steady. She sprinted after her sister, Nyra, who was already ahead of her, cutting down any pirates unfortunate enough to cross her path.


    The two sisters, moved with lethal precision, their weapons slicing through their enemies like whispers of death.


    Nyra, with her crimson de glowing faintly, didn''t stop to respond. She preferred action over words. With each step, her strikes were so fast and decisive that the pirates barely had time toprehend their fates before copsing into lifeless heaps.


    Inside one of the enemy drop pods that had breached the Cleopatra, a small group of pirates sat nervously, their backs pressed against the walls as they debated their next move.


    "They''ve left the area,"


    one pirate whispered, peeking out of the pod''s window.


    "Yeah, I saw them too,"


    another muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "


    Those... those women¡­ they''re gone."


    "Good,"


    the first pirate said, his voice gaining a shred of confidence.


    "Let''s jump out and search for the shield generator room. That''s the target, right?"


    "Do you think this is a good idea?"


    another pirate asked hesitantly, gripping his weapon tightly.


    "I mean, we don''t even know what kind of soldiers these people have."


    "So what? Anything is better than dealing with those crazy women! If the soldiers haven''t arrived here yet, it means they''re busy with the other teams. We''ll move fast and be out before anyone notices us. Now follow me."


    The lead pirate climbed out of the drop pod, his boots hitting the floor with a metallic thud. The others hesitated but eventually followed, their weapons held close to their chests.


    "Alright, let''s try this side first,"


    the leader said, pointing down a dimly lit corridor. They moved cautiously, their eyes darting to every shadow.


    But something felt... wrong.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After a few steps, the leader noticed the silence.


    "Why are you guys so quiet? Still scared of what might be here?"


    he asked, turning around to look at his team.


    What he saw froze him to the core.


    His teammates were standing still, their bodies upright... but their heads were gone. The clean cuts at their necks were so precise and fast that the bodies hadn''t even copsed yet. Blood began to spill as the headless forms toppled one by one.


    "Wha-what?! What''s going on?!"


    The pirate stammered, stumbling backward, his weapon trembling in his hands.


    As he retreated, his back hit something cold and unyielding. His breath caught in his throat, his entire body freezing in terror. Before he could turn around, he felt the icy touch of something sharp pressing against the back of his neck.


    Thest thing the pirate saw was his own body standing there headless, as his vision faded to the ceiling above him.


    From the shadows, a faint shimmer materialized, revealing a cloaked Phantom Unit, one of Cleo''s most efficient and terrifying creations. Built for one purpose, and one purpose only, the Phantom was the ultimate assassin.


    Its body was sleek and mechanical, its movements silent, its strikes unrelenting. Nothing escaped its cold, calcted precision.


    "Invaders eliminated,"


    the Phantom''s cold, robotic voice announced through its internalmunications.


    "Proceeding to the next zone, Lady Cleo."


    With that, the Phantom disappeared back into the shadows, its cloaking field reactivating. It left behind only silence and the faint smell of blood, a reminder that nothing could escape the cold iron of death.


    On the space battlefield, the enemy capital ship continued to take a relentless beating from the Cleopatra''s turrets and fighter squads.


    sma rounds and missiles hammered the ship''s hull, and after sustained fire, one of its massive energy shields finally crumbled. The once-imprable barrier fell apart in a dazzling cascade of energy, sending ripples through the void like a copsing wall of light.


    "Enemy vessel shield destroyed,"


    Cleo announced, her voice calm yet razor-sharp. Her holographic form, standing atop the mainser cannon, raised a hand to indicate the target.


    "Mainser cannon fully charged. Target locked¡­ opening fire."


    The Cleopatra''srgest weapon roared to life. Thunder rolled through the void as the cannon unleashed a devastating golden ray of death, the beam slicing through the darkness like a de from heaven itself.


    Theser traveled with unrelenting precision, mming directly into the enemy ship''smand bridge.


    The impact was catastrophic. The golden beam punched through the lightly armored bridge with ease, vaporizing everything in its path. Secondary explosions rippled through the ship''s structure as its systems overloaded.


    Fires erupted across its surface, and debris began to break away as the ship listed to one side, itsmand structure annihted.


    For Cleo, it was a calcted decision. Most would call it a war crime, attacking themand bridge of a vessel, ensuring no survivors among its leadership.


    But Cleo didn''t care about such conventions. She was built for efficiency, and if the bridge was the weakest point on the ship, then she would target it without hesitation. To her, it was simple logic: destroy the brain, and the body would follow.


    "The enemy vessel neutralized,"


    she stated.


    "Reallocating turret fire to the remaning capital ship. Updating fighter squadron directives to intercept additional boarding pods. The battle is not yet over."


    From his vantage point in space, Rex saw the golden ray of the Cleopatra''s main cannon pierce through the enemy capital ship. His smirk grew as the hulking vessel began to copse in on itself, consumed by explosions.


    "Nice shot, Cleo,


    " he said over thems, his voiceced with approval.


    "Acknowledged,"


    Cleo replied, her tone as steady as ever. "


    But don''t celebrate yet. We still have pirate reinforcements inbound, and enemy boarding parties are attempting to reach critical systems. The Phantom Units are handling them for now, but additional reinforcements may be required."


    "Got it,"


    Rex said, as he dodged iing fire from a group of pirate ships.


    "Keep the ship intact, and I''ll deal with these pests."


    As he rejoined the 201st Flying Wing, Rex prepared for the next wave of enemies, his golden armor glowing brightly against the cold void.


    "Let''s finish this,"


    Rex muttered, his eyes narrowing as he locked onto another group of enemy fighters.


    "Teacher, we''re now in the hangar. We can already see the enemy transport ships,"


    Nyra said softly, her crimson eyes focused as she crouched atop arge cargo container. Beside her, Lyra knelt, both sisters remaining hidden in the shadows, observing the approaching enemy ships.


    The transport vessels were massive, with bulky hulls and reinforced ting, clearly built for more than just pirates. These weren''t ordinary raiders.


    "


    Understood,"


    Cleo''s voice replied through theirms, calm as ever.


    "You and your Bloody Legion will be in charge of stopping them. Consider this a live training exercise to learn how tomand your forces effectively. Your objective is simple: hold the line and endure until Rex arrives to reinforce you."


    "R-Rex ising?"


    Lyra whispered, a faint flush rising to her cheeks. Her voice was quiet, but it couldn''t escape Nyra''s sharp, vampiric hearing.


    Nyra turned her head slowly, raising an eyebrow at her twin before breaking into a mischievous smirk. Without warning, she raised her hand and delivered a yful


    spank


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    to Lyra''s rear.


    "Ouch! What was that for?!"


    Lyra hissed, rubbing her sore backside as she red at her sister. Her cheeks now burned brighter, both from the sting and the embarrassment.


    "Hehe,"


    Nyra chuckled, striking a proud pose with one hand on her hip and the other pointing dramatically at Lyra


    . "That''s what you get for having such a big butt! It was clearly asking for it!"


    "What big sister?! We''re twins!


    " Lyra shot back, her face still flushed. "


    And you have a big butt too! Maybe even bigger than mine!"


    Nyra smirked even wider, not missing a beat. "


    Don''t be so rude to your big sister, little Lyra!"


    she teased, ignoring the fact that they were the exact same age.


    Lyra stood up abruptly, fuming as she clenched her fists.


    "Oh, that''s it! You''re so getting kicked for that!"


    But before Lyra could make good on her threat, Nyraughed and jumped down from the container, dashing toward the Bloody Legion as if nothing had happened.


    "Catch meter, little sis! Right now, we''ve got invaders to crush!"


    Nyra''s teasing demeanor vanished the moment she reached the Bloody Legion, a force made up of two distinct groups. The Aegis units, upgraded to sport a striking red-and-gold design, stood in disciplined ranks, their advancedbat systems ready to executemands.


    Alongside them were the Blood n Assassins, shadowy and lethal warriors who had once been feared across countless battlefields.


    Now, however, the assassins were bound by the progenitor aura of the twins, serving them with unwavering loyalty. The assassins believed they were merely following the natural order, submitting to the more powerful vampires who had bested them inbat.


    They had no idea that Nyra and Lyra were progenitors, beings of such immense power that their influence was absolute.


    The twins, now 18 years old, were a far cry from the children they had once been. Their once-innocent features had matured into striking, almost ethereal beauty, with sharp, alluring eyes and graceful yet powerful frames.


    Their specialbat armor, developed by Cleo with regenerative technology inspired by the Blood n''s ancient designs, clung to their forms, enhancing their agility and offering unmatched protection.


    The armor''s tight fit and elegant design only entuated their already stunning appearances, a fact that often left their enemies distracted and regretful.


    Nyra strode confidently to the front of the Bloody Legion, her crimson de resting against her shoulder as she addressed the troops.

 Chapter 128 Rocks.

    "Remember everyone!"


    Nyra shouted, her voice ringing out above the chaotic hum of descending engines.


    "Hold your fire! Do not shoot the transport ships! Let themnd; otherwise, Teacher will lose her mind about us wrecking the hangar bay!"


    Her crimson eyes scanned the Bloody Legion, hermand ensuring that discipline remained tight even as the massive transport ships loomed overhead.


    Cleo had made it clear in her instructions that the hangar bay wasn''t just a battlefield; it was a vital operational hub. Damaging it would jeopardize more than just this fight; it could cost lives.


    The transport ships were unlike anything Nyra had seen from pirates before. Their reinforced hulls glinted under the artificial lights, clearly military-grade, not pped-together scrap heaps.


    As the first vesselnded with a metallic groan, its side doors hissed open, revealing rows of heavily armored soldiers, their forms obscured by ck, angr tes that glowed faintly with ominous red energy lines.


    These weren''t pirates.


    Their weapons looked terrifyingly advanced, sleek, and menacing. Not a single crude ster among them. The moment the soldiers disembarked, chaos erupted. The air filled with the deafening roar of gunfire and the shrill whine ofsers.


    Even the manual turrets mounted on top of the transport ships came alive, spraying relentless fire at anything that moved.


    "Return fire!!"


    Nyra shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. She darted out of cover, dodging a hail of metallic bullets while blocking severalser sts with her shimmering red energy shield.


    Lyra, meanwhile, wasn''t faring as well.


    "SIS!


    " she yelled, clumsily ducking behind a nearby container as bullets andsers rained around her. Her personal energy shield red under the constant barrage, flickering dangerously.


    "I don''t think those are pirates!"


    Nyra, even while dodging fire, found time to roll her eyes.


    "I think that''s pretty obvious at this point!"


    she snapped. Then, noticing Lyra''s exposed position, her tone shifted to one of annoyance. "


    And stop talking and find cover! You''re getting shot too much!"


    Without waiting for her sister toply, Nyra crafted a pair of crimson chains from her blood, their metallic sheen glinting under the harsh lights. The chains shot out with incredible speed, wrapping around Lyra''s waist and yanking her backward toward Nyra''s position.


    Lyra let out a surprised yelp as she was dragged behind the same cargo container Nyra was using for cover.


    "Ouch!"


    Lyra whined, rubbing her butt with an indignant expression.


    "What was that for?!"


    Nyra gave her a pointed look, smirking.


    "What? You were about to get shot! Besides, you should thank me. You owe your big sister for saving your big butt!"


    Lyra red, her cheeks flushing.


    "We''re twins! Stop acting like you''re older! And my butt isn''t even that big!"


    Nyra grinned but didn''t respond, her attention already back on the battlefield.


    Above them, the Aegis units stationed on the second floor were proving to be a serious problem for the invaders.


    Their sma rifles tore through enemy ranks, with each shot hitting with pinpoint precision. The enemy soldiers, despite their advanced equipment, found it difficult to deal with the relentless barrage. For every move they made, another sma bolt would cut through their lines.


    The leader of the enemy boarding party, standing just outside one of the transport ships, growled in frustration.


    "Tell the gunners to focus fire on the second floor! Suppress those units, now!"


    One of his subordinates nodded, immediately rying the order through amunication device. Momentster, the transport ships'' mounted turrets swiveled upward, unleashing a rain of bullets andsers at the Aegis units on the second floor.


    The once-dominant sma fire began to falter as the gunners forced the Aegis units to take cover.


    "This is bad!"


    Lyra said, peeking out from behind the cargo container. Her crimson eyes widened as she watched the suppressive fire pin down their allies.


    "The turrets are giving them the upper hand. We have to do something about them, sis!"


    Nyra narrowed her eyes, assessing the situatio


    n. "Since this was your idea, you''re not allowed tointer."


    With a sigh, she dissolved the broad crimson de she''d crafted earlier, the blood flowing back into her body.


    In its ce, six blood-red tentacles erupted from her back, their surfaces glinting like polished metal and tapering into wickedly sharp points.


    "Long-rangebat it is,"


    she said, cracking her neck.


    "I''m ready, sis!"


    Lyra chimed in, mimicking her sister as six simr tentacles sprouted from her back. Her movements were less polished, but the determination in her eyes was unmistakable.


    Nyra smirked at her twin.


    "Good. Then let''s go make some chaos."


    The twins darted out from cover, their movements blindingly fast as they split in opposite directions. Their tentaclesshed out like serpents, carving through the battlefield with ruthless precision.


    "Watch out! Something''sing from the side¡ª"


    one of the enemy soldiers shouted, but his warning came toote.


    "Kuk!! AAAAAAH!"


    The soldier screamed as one of Nyra''s tentacles pierced him cleanly through the abdomen. Blood should have sttered across the ground, but none came. Nyra yanked the soldier toward her with a flick of her tentacle, but as he neared, she realized something was wrong.


    Her tentacle wasn''t absorbing blood.


    "What the hell?!"


    Nyra muttered, frustration shing across her face. To confirm her suspicion, she impaled the soldier with all six of her tentacles, only to discover the same result. No blood flowed.


    "These guys are made of rocks!?"


    With an irritated growl, Nyra whipped her tentacles, tearing the soldier into pieces. Shards of what looked like stone and metal ttered to the ground as she leapt back into motion, dodging renewed enemy fire.


    "They''re not organics!"


    Lyra shouted as she deflected a hail of bullets with her tentacles.


    "No shit!"


    Nyra snapped, darting toward another enemy. "


    We''re fighting goddamn rock golems with guns!"


    Despite the revtion, the twins didn''t let up. They moved like whirlwinds, their tentacles striking with terrifying speed and power. Even if the enemies weren''t bleeding, the sheer force of their attacks was enough to disable or destroy the soldiers entirely.


    On the bridge, Cleo watched the battle unfold through the hangar''s security feeds, her golden eyes narrowing as she analyzed the invaders.


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    "Artificial soldiers,


    " she muttered to herself, her voice cold and calcting.


    "Interesting. They''re not biological, which exins why the twins'' blood absorption isn''t working. Highly durable and immune to psychological warfare... but still vulnerable to overwhelming force."


    She turned to a nearby console, activating the defensive turret of the hangar bay to fire on the transport ships'' mounted gunners. At the same time, she patched into the twins''munications.


    "Nyra, Lyra, listen carefully. The enemy soldiers are synthetic. Their durability is high, but their core energy systems appear to be in their chests. Focus your attacks there for maximum efficiency. Also, the transport ships'' gunners are now under turret fire. You should have a window to disable the ships themselves."


    "Got it, Teacher,"


    Nyra replied, grinning despite the chaos.


    "See, Lyra? Told you it wasn''t just about swinging des around like a maniac."


    Lyra rolled her eyes, spinning her tentacles defensively as she prepared for the next wave.


    "Just focus, sis. We''ve got a lot of ''rocks'' to crush before Rex gets here."


    "Rocks or not,"


    Nyra said, her grin widening,


    "they''re still going to regretnding here."


    [Warning, energy shield at 2%], On the Cleopatra''smand bridge, a red holo-screen suddenly red into existence, glowing ominously beside Cleo''s holographic form. The message was simple yet foreboding.


    [Activating Armored Mode.]


    Cleo''s calm, serene voice echoed across the ship''s systems as she confirmed the order.


    "Initiating transformation to armored mode. All personnel, brace for structural reconfiguration."


    From the outside, the Cleopatra began to undergo a dramatic transformation. Its once sleek and elegant design, a ship of pristine beauty and engineering, was reced by something far more menacing.


    Thickyers of reinforced armor panels emerged from concealedpartments, sliding into ce with mechanical precision. The glowing golden trims and artistic curves were swallowed by angr, utilitarian ting.


    Turrets repositioned themselves behind additional protective covers, and missile bays were fortified.


    The Cleopatra no longer resembled a marvel of craftsmanship, it was now a fortress in space, a vessel designed to endure and retaliate against overwhelming force.


    But the transformation was not instantaneous. As the Cleopatra shifted into its armored configuration, its energy shields began to flicker and finally copsed under the relentless barrage from the remaining enemy capital ship.


    "Shields are down,"


    Cleo noted , her golden eyes narrowing as her sensors detected the enemy ship''s main cannons turning toward her vessel''s most vulnerable area, themand bridge.


    The glowing tips of the enemy ship''s massive cannons unleashed their fury, and in an instant, two titanic energy sts surged toward the Cleopatra''s bridge.


    Theynded with devastating precision, the sheer force of the impact shrouding the entire bridge tower in a thick cloud of smoke and debris. The impact sent tremors rippling through the ship.


    For a moment, the battlefield went silent, both friend and foe watching to see if themand center had been obliterated.


    Through the smoke, Cleo''s voice cut through, calm and confident as always.


    "It seems I''m not the only one who thinks targeting the bridge is the most useful strategy."


    A faint smile graced her lips, even in the face of what seemed like disaster.


    As the smoke cleared, the Cleopatra''s bridge tower was revealed, still standing tall. Its surface was unmarred, glowing faintly with golden energy coursing through intricate patterns etched into the armor.


    Upon closer inspection, a honeb-shaped energy shield shimmered around the structure, reinforcing it further.


    "But I''m not foolish enough to ignore a countermeasure for something I would do myself,"


    Cleo said, her voice carrying a sharp edge of amusement.


    The energy shield surrounding the bridge was one of Cleo''s most advanced defenses, an independent adaptive barrier matrix that only activated when the ship''s shields were down.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Unlike standard shields, this system was designed specifically to protect critical sections of the ship from concentrated fire, ensuring that even a direct hit from a capital-ss cannon wouldn''t breach themand center.


    The enemy ship hesitated, its bridge crew likely stunned by the failed strike. Cleo took advantage of the pause. Her holographic form raised a hand, pointing a single finger toward the now-vulnerable capital ship.


    "Nice try,"


    she said coolly, her expression unchanging. "B


    ut now, it''s my turn to return the gift."


    With hermand, the Cleopatra''s main cannons rotated with mechanical precision, their glowing barrels locking onto the enemy ship. The air on the bridge was tense, the silence before the storm, as Cleo prepared to fire.

 Chapter 129 Rocks (2)

    Meanwhile, elsewhere in the chaos of the battlefield, Rex was locked in a brutal dogfight. His golden armor gleamed as he soared through the void, weaving and twisting to avoid enemy fire.


    The 201st Flying Wing fought valiantly around him, their sleek Wraith-ss fighters engaging both pirate ships and the new enemy fighters, which moved with eerie, almost unnatural precision.


    These new fighters were unlike anything Rex had seen before. Their designs resembled floating rhombuses of jagged rock, glowing faintly with intricate energy patterns etched across their surfaces.


    Their appearance was alien and ancient, and their method of attack was both terrifying and reckless.


    Instead of engaging in traditional gunfire, these strange fighters would ram into their targets, using their reinforced bodies as weapons. The force of their impact was catastrophic, often resulting in theplete destruction of the enemy ship, though at the cost of their own.


    "Rex!"


    Cleo''s voice came through hisms; her tone clipped with urgency.


    "Those fighters are kamikaze-ss drones. Avoid direct engagement. They''re designed to target anythingrger than a shuttle with overwhelming kic force."


    "Yeah, I noticed,"


    Rex replied, narrowly dodging one of the drones as it hurtled toward him. The glowing rhomb scraped against his shields before spinning off into the void.


    "They''re like suicidal meteors with engines. Real friendly."


    Another drone locked onto Rex, its glowing patterns intensifying as it powered up for a final charge. Rex made a sharp dive, his golden wings ring as he increased thrust to maximum. The drone followed, its trajectory locked, closing the distance rapidly.


    "Mini Cleo!


    " Rex shouted.


    "Deploy countermeasures now!"


    [Deploying sma mines] Mini Cleo responded in her cheerful, robotic tone.


    Three glowing golden orbs shot out from Rex golden halo, floating briefly before detonating in brilliant explosions. The pursuing drone was caught in the st, disintegrating instantly as its energy core overloaded.


    Rex let out a breath, his focus never faltering. Around him, the 201st fighters were adapting quickly to the new enemy, using their superior maneuverability to lure the kamikaze drones into traps or crash them into each other.


    Even so, the fight was brutal. Several Wraith-ss fighters had already been lost, their debris drifting silently through the void. But the Kaelzars, true to their nature, pressed on with unrelenting determination.


    "Rex!"


    Lyra''s voice broke through hismunications.


    "How''s it going up there?"


    "Peachy,"


    Rex replied dryly, narrowly dodging another charging drone.


    "What about you and Nyra? You better not be getting yourselves killed."


    "We''re fine!"


    Lyra replied quickly, though the sound of gunfire and explosions in the background suggested otherwise.


    "We''re winning, idiot!"


    Nyra''s voice cut in,ced with her usual confidence.


    "Don''t take too long up there. We''ve got the ground fight under control, but these guys are built like rocks, literally."


    "Yeah, I noticed that too,"


    Rex said, smirking despite the chaos.


    "Keep them busy. I''ll clean up the skies and join you soon."


    Back on the Cleopatra, the main cannons had finished locking onto their target. Cleo''s voice carried across the ship''s systems:n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "The enemy capital ship is locked. Main cannons are fully charged. Opening fire."


    The Cleopatra''s main weapons roared to life. The two kic cannons unleashed devastating rounds, each shot streaking through the void with blinding speed. The rounds struck the enemy ship''s hull, punching through its armor and sending shockwaves rippling across its structure.


    Then, the third main cannon, theser cannon, powered by Cleo''s advanced energy systems, fired its golden beam. The weapon unleashed a blinding ray of concentrated energy, carving through the void and mming directly into the enemy''smand tower.


    The beam didn''t just pierce the hull; it vaporized it. The enemy''s bridge exploded in a cascade of fire and debris, the ship''s systems faltering asmand functions were obliterated. Secondary explosions erupted across the ship''s surface as its core destabilized.


    "The enemy vessel has been neutralized,"


    Cleo said, her voice as calm as if she''d just announced the weather


    . "Redirecting fire to remaining threats."


    As the capital ship broke apart, Cleo''s focus returned to the battlefield inside the ship and the remaning fighters that were now going to retreat after theirst capital ship was destroyed.


    "Rex! Come in! Answer now, or your brother here will be some delicious roasted meat!"


    Carlos''s voice crackled through themunicator, distorted but loud enough to carry his usual mix of sarcasm and urgency.


    Rex immediately frowned, his golden eyes narrowing as he adjusted his fighter''s controls. The 201st Flying Wing was trailing behind him in formation as he made his way back to the Cleopatra''s docking zone.


    "What do you mean, baldy?"


    Rex asked, irritation creeping into his voice.


    "Wait¡­ don''t tell me you''re under attack too."


    "What? You guys were attacked too?! Wait, that doesn''t matter right now!


    " Carlos shouted back, the sound of rms and static filling the background.


    "I was ambushed by two big ships, and my shields are already down. I''m under hea¨D"


    Before Carlos could finish his sentence, the transmission erupted into chaos. Explosions roared through themunicator, so loud and violent that Rex instinctively pulled back from the console. The line crackled with static before cutting off entirely.


    "CARLOS?!"


    Rex yelled into thems.


    "Carlos! Answer me!"


    Silence. Experience tales at empire


    Instead of Carlos, it was Cleo who responded. Her voice was calm but carried a grim undertone.


    "It''s no use, Rex. His ship''smunication array was likely destroyed in the attack. That explosion you heard must''ve hit it directly."


    Rex clenched his jaw, his fists tightening around the controls.


    "Damn it!"


    he growled, frustration boiling over.


    "Cleo, what''s his status? Can we get a visual?!"


    Cleo''s holographic form materialized on the fighter''s HUD, her expression asposed as ever. With a wave of her hand, a holographic projection of Carlos''s Eclipse-ss Dreadnought, the Liberator, appeared.


    The massive ship was marked with multiple critical damage indicators, its hull glowing red in several ces where enemy fire had prated its armor. Red warning lights flickered across the hologram, signaling the ship''s perilous condition.


    "The Liberator is in critical condition,"


    Cleo said, her voice t but with a faint undertone of concern.


    "Its shields havepletely failed, and its hull integrity ispromised. Energy reserves are nearly depleted. At this rate, Carlos has approximately fifteen minutes before the ship is irreparably destroyed."


    "FIFTEEN MINUTES?!"


    Rex shouted, his anger and worry mingling. "


    Can we make a wormhole jump to his location?! We''ve got to help him, Cleo!"


    Cleo shook her head, her holographic eyes meeting Rex''s.


    "Negative,"


    she said bluntly.


    "The Cleopatra used the majority of its energy reserves maintaining the Armored Maiden function and powering its shields during the previous battle. The reactors require at least two to three hours to regenerate enough energy for a long-range jump."


    "Two to three hours?!"


    Rex mmed his fist against some space debris, his frustration palpable. "He doesn''t


    have


    that long!"


    For a moment, themunicator voice chanel was filled only with the sound of Rex''sbored breathing as he struggled to think of another solution. His mind raced, searching for anything,


    anything


    that could be done to close the distance to Carlos in time.


    Before Rex could spiral further into his frustration, a familiar, sultry voice cut through thems.


    "Heheh¡­ I heard everything, darling,"


    the voice cooed, dripping with amusement and mischief.


    Rex froze, his golden eyes narrowing.


    "Ys?!"


    On the other end, Ys''s voice wasced with her usual yful tone, but there was a dangerous edge beneath it.


    "That bald little friend of yours is in trouble, yes? Don''t worry, darling, I''m already en route to his coordinates. I''ll be arriving in five minutes¡­ or less."


    "Five minutes?!"


    he echoed, his voice filled with equal parts relief and irritation.


    "Wait... how the hell are you even there?!"


    "Let''s just say I had a feeling something fun was going to happen in that direction,"


    Ys replied, the sound of herughter echoing faintly through thems.


    "Besides, I''ve been itching to test out the gift my dear mother gave me."


    Rex''s brow furrowed.


    "Gift? Wait, don''t tell me¡­"


    "Oh, I won''t ruin the surprise,"


    Ys purred, her voice practically dripping with glee.


    "Let''s just say that these enemies of yours, these ''big ships,'' as the bald one calls them, they''re about to regret showing up today."


    On the Liberator, Carlos gritted his teeth as the ship groaned under yet another volley of enemy fire. Sparks flew from consoles around him, and the bridge crew scrambled to keep the vessel functional.


    "Status report!"


    Carlos shout, his voice sharp as he clung to his captain''s chair, which shook violently under the strain.


    "Shields are gone, Admiral!"


    one of the Aegis units reported, its robotic voice unwavering despite the chaos


    . "Hull integrity at 32%. Weapon systems at 45% capacity. Reactor output is insufficient to maintain sustained fire."


    Carlos swore under his breath, mming a hand on the armrest of his chair.


    "Damn it! These bastards came out of nowhere!"


    The Liberator was outmatched. The two enemy capital ships that had ambushed him were relentless, their coordinated attacks leaving him no room to maneuver.


    The Liberator''s energy reserves were drained from previous battles, leaving it unable to maintain its shields. Carlos had managed tond a few solid hits on one of the ships, but it wasn''t enough to turn the tide.


    "Admiral,"


    another Aegis unit called out


    , "we are detecting an iing warp signature. Unknown vessel approaching fast."


    Carlos''s eyes widened slightly.


    "Reinforcements?!"


    Before the Aegis unit could respond, the ship shook again as another barrage of enemy fire struck its weakened hull. rms red, and Carlos grabbed the armrests of his chair to steady himself.


    "If it''s not reinforcements, we''re screwed anyway,"


    Carlos muttered, his tone grim.

 Chapter 130 Battle suit Argos.

    "


    Deploy the defensive units! And show me where those bastards are!"


    Carlos shouted, his voice cutting through the ring rms. He took off his coat and tossed it aside, already feeling the adrenaline pumping through his veins. Combat was inevitable, and he was ready for it.


    ["The enemies are moving near the main cannon,"]


    the ship''s AI reported, its calm voice contrasting with the chaos around them. [


    "There is a high probability they are attempting to disable it."]


    Carlos mmed his fist on the console, his jaw tightening.


    "Those sons of¡ª! Start charging the main cannon and aim it at the nearest enemy shield. How are the engines holding up?"


    ["Charging the main cannon... 3 percent and rising,"]N?v(el)B\\jnn


    the AI replied.


    ["The engines are at 60 percent integrity. Our fighters are holding the line, but the asteroid field is causing severe damage. Impact detected. Engine integrity is now 58 percent."]


    Carlos cursed under his breath as the screen lit up with red warnings. Every hit to the engines felt like a punch to his gut.


    "If those engines go down, we''ll be dead in the water. Keep charging the cannon. I''m heading to the main cannon control room. We can''t let those bastards take it!"


    Behind him stood his personal battle suit, Argos, a towering mechanical marvel at 2.5 meters tall. Its sleek frame gleamed under the dim lighting of themand bridge, bristling with weapons and a reserve of nanomaterials for crafting melee weapons.


    This suit wasn''t just a machine; it was his lifeline, custom-built by Cleo under Rex''s personal orders.


    "Battle suit Argos, activate,"


    Carlosmanded, stepping into the cockpit. The suit came alive, a low hum vibrating through the air as the interface synced with him.


    ["Engines at full power. Ammo stocked. Shields at 55 percent and climbing. Awaiting further orders,"]


    the AI intoned.


    Carlos grinned, gripping the suit''s controls. "


    Let''s give them hell. What''s the status of the merchant convoy?"


    "The merchant convoy is secured in the hangar bay. The 198th Legion Argos is protecting them."


    "Good. We lose those assets, and we might as well surrender. Half the Royal Guards, with me! The rest, defend the bridge!"


    Carlos stomped toward the bridge exit, the metallic thud of his battle suit echoing through the halls. The Royal Guards, heavily armed Aegis Sentinels, snapped into action, their glowing visors reflecting the chaos around them.


    From the shadows, the stealthy Phantom Units followed, their movements silent and precise.


    As Carlos and his team advanced, the ship trembled under a barrage of enemy fire. He could already hear the shes ahead, the sound of metal tearing, weapons discharging, and something heavy crashing into the walls. When the enemy came into view, his blood boiled.


    They were massive golems, standing over two meters tall with jagged, rock-like bodies that glowed faintly from within. These weren''t mere soldiers; they were living weapons, stomping through his ship like they owned it. And judging by the way they moved, they knew exactly where to go.


    Carlos smirked, despite the tension tightening his chest.


    "Oh, you think you''ve got me all figured out, huh? You think I''m just some amateur admiral ripe for the picking?


    " He flexed his fingers, the suit responding with a hiss as a massive two-handed hammer materialized in his grip.


    "Big mistake!!"


    The closest golem turned toward him, but before it could react, Carlos was already in motion. He swung the hammer with brutal force, the impact shattering the creature''s torso into a cloud of gravel. The remaining pieces ttered to the floor, lifeless.


    "Who''s next?!"


    Carlos roared, his voice reverberating through the corridor.


    A second golem lunged at him, its massive arm swinging like a wrecking ball. Carlos sidestepped and nted a heavy kick into its chest, sending it crashing into the wall with enough force to dent the metal.


    His shoulder-mountedser cannons whirred to life, unleashing a storm of energy bolts that riddled the creature with holes until it crumbled to dust.


    Behind him, the Royal Guards engaged more of the golems, their energy des shing with the invaders. Sparks flew, the air thick with the smell of burning metal and ozone. One of the guards fell, its armor shattered, but the others pushed on, their resolve unshaken.


    Carlos nced back, his hammer resting on his shoulder.


    "Don''t let up! These things might look tough, but they''re just oversized pebbles!"


    As he moved forward, he heard the AI''s voice in his ear.


    ["Admiral, more golems are approaching the main cannon control room. The Aegis units are holding them off, but their numbers are dwindling."]


    Carlos grated his teeth.


    "Of course they are. These rock piles just don''t know when to quit."


    He broke into a run, the heavy battle suit thundering down the corridor. When he reached the next wave of enemies, they turned to face him, their glowing eyes locking onto his suit.


    One of them let out a guttural, grinding roar, a sound that might have intimidated anyone else.


    Carlosughed.


    "Oh, you think that''s scary? Buddy, I''ve had hangovers worse than you!"


    He charged, his hammer swinging in wide arcs. One golem managed to block with its arm, but the impact still sent it stumbling backward.


    Carlos pressed the advantage, mming the hammer down onto its head and splitting it in two. From his back, a missileuncher popped up and fired, obliterating another golem in a fiery explosion.


    "Keep up, boys!"


    he shouted to the guards.


    "I don''t want to hog all the fun!"


    Despite the chaos, Carlos couldn''t ignore the growing sense of urgency. Every second the enemy dyed him, the closer they came to taking the main cannon. And if they seeded, it wouldn''t matter how many golems he smashed; the ship would be defenseless.


    "AI, status on the cannon charge!"


    he shouted.


    ["Main cannon at 42 percent. Estimated time to full charge: three minutes."]


    Carlos growled. "We don''t have three minutes!"


    He swung his hammer onest time, clearing the corridor. As thest golem crumbled, he turned to his team.


    "We''re almost there! No stopping now!"


    Deep down, Carlos knew the odds weren''t in their favor. His ship was battered, his crew exhausted, and reinforcements were nowhere in sight. But giving up? Not an option. He was human, after all. And if there was one thing humans were good at, it was defying the odds.


    With a smirk, he muttered under his breath,


    "You picked the wrong ship, you rocky bastards."


    Then, gripping his hammer tightly, he charged toward the cannon room.


    [Warning: Carapace-ss Destroyer detected emerging from the warp jump signature. Affiliation: Khryssari.]


    Read thetest on empire


    "What!? A Khryssari vessel? In this part of the gxy?"


    Carlos froze, his eyes darting to the tactical disy. His stomach churned as realization hit him like a hammer.


    "No, no, no. Please, not that. Anything but that!"


    His voice rose in desperation, cutting through the tense silence of the bridge.


    Before the AI could respond, a voice cut through the private long-range channel.


    "Aha¡«, I have arrived to save you, baldy. Couldn''t handle a few pathetic enemies without me¡«?"


    The voice was sharp, teasing, and entirely too familiar.


    Carlos groaned, his head falling into his hands.


    "Oh, for the love of all that''s holy. Not you, Ys. Not now."


    Ys was lounging in the throne room of her bioship, a smug grin on her face as she watched the chaos on Carlos''s end through her tactical interface.


    "I told my darling I woulde to help you, so you should be grateful for my royal intervention¡«,"


    she purred,zily twirling her finger in the air as though orchestrating the entire battle herself.


    On the tactical disy, the Khryssari Carapace-ss Destroyer loomed into view. It was an ominous sight, a kilometer-long vessel resembling a massive beetle with an armored shell that seemed to ripple with life.


    Its reinforced hull gleamed under the faint light of distant stars, its bio-organic nature unmistakable. Unlike standard ships, it had no visible windows or traditional features, it was just a grotesque, pulsing exterior that hinted at the hive mind controlling it.


    Carlos stared at the screen, muttering under his breath.


    "Why does every disaster in my life involve her?"


    Ys, sprawled across her opulent, silk-covered throne, popped a fruit into her mouth and chewedzily.


    "Behold, my magnificent ship,"


    she said, gesturing toward the tactical hologram as if Carlos could see her.


    "Isn''t it glorious¡«? And here I am, lowering myself to save you."


    The front of the Khryssari Destroyer shifted as four massive, organic cannons emerged from beneath its shell, each one pulsating with glowing energy. Ys snapped her fingers with a theatrical flourish.


    "Fire."


    The ship''s cannons unleashed a salvo ofpressed bio-matter at unimaginable speed. The glowing projectiles streaked through the void, mming into the shields of the enemy capital ship.


    Upon impact, the bio-matter dposed violently, spreading corrosive energy that detonated in a blinding explosion. The enemy ship''s shields flickered and cracked under the strain, the shockwave rippling outward.


    Carlos watched the feed, his mouth open wide.


    "What the hell was that?"


    Ys giggled, leaning back in her throne as another servant handed her a fresh piece of fruit.


    "Oh, just a little something I cooked up for pests like these. It seems sturdier than I expected, though. Fire again when ready."


    "Princess, enemy fighters are approaching,"


    the mind of her destroyermunicated telepathically. Its voice was calm, almost indifferent, but Ys could sense the alertness in its tone.


    She raised an eyebrow, barely ncing at the disy.


    "Oh, how boring. Send out the little ones to deal with them. I have no time for such trivial matters."


    The destroyer''s hull shifted again as severalrge sections opened, revealing cavernous, organicunch bays. From them, hundreds of Swarmling-ss Fighters burst forth, each one shaped like a sleek, ck ho with glowing green highlights along their edges.


    The fighters darted through space with insect-like agility, their twin bio-energy cannons firing rapid bursts at the approaching pirate ships.


    On the other end of the battlefield, the pirate wing leader stared at his tactical disy in mounting panic.


    "What the hell is that? What are those things?"


    "Just fighters,"


    another pilot said over thems, his tone dismissive. "


    Let''s take them out and¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the Swarmlings swarmed them. The first pirate ship exploded in a sh of green energy, followed by another and another. The pirate wing was torn apart in seconds, the ho-like fighters darting between them too fast to track.


    "Pull back!"


    the wing leader screamed, his voice breaking. "


    Those aren''t fighters! They''re monsters!"

 Chapter 131 Home run.

    Carlos heard themotion over the openmunications and shook his head.


    "Ys, can you try not to look like you''re having too much fun over there? You''re supposed to be helping me."


    Ys chuckled, clearly enjoying herself.


    "Oh, Carlos, you hurt me¡«. This is me helping. If I wanted to have fun, I''d let you flounder a little longer."


    Carlos groaned again, pinching the bridge of his nose. "


    Just... keep firing at the capital ship and keep your creepy hos away from my fleet. And stop calling me bald!"


    Ys ignored him, waving a hand dismissively at her ship''s disy.


    "Yes, yes, fire again. I want that shield down before I finish my fruit."


    Another barrage of biomatter erupted from the destroyer, mming into the enemy ship with even greater force. This time, the shields copsed entirely, leaving the vessel vulnerable. The pirates scrambled to regroup, their once-confident assault devolving into panic.


    On the corridors of the Liberator, Carlos took a deep breath, trying to suppress his irritation.


    "AI, status on the enemy fleet."


    "Their capital ship''s shields have been destroyed. Enemy fighters are in disarray. The Khryssari forces are overwhelming them."


    Carlos nced at the tactical disy, then back at themunications channel.


    "Ys, I hate to say this, but... thank you."


    "Of course¡«,"


    Ys replied smugly. "


    I''ll be sure to remind Rex that I saved you. Maybe he''ll finally let me redecorate your dull little ship."


    Carlos groaned, muttering under his breath.


    "This woman is going to be the death of me."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    As the Khryssari fighters tore through the remnants of the pirate fleet, Carlos turned back to his own crew.


    "All units, keep pushing forward. The main cannon is almost charged. Let''s finish this fight before Ys decides to ''help'' me even more."


    From her throne, Ys smirked, popping another piece of fruit into her mouth.


    "You''re wee, Carlos. Try not to mess it up from here."


    Carlos charged down the corridor, panting as he finally reached the defensive line outside the main cannon control room.


    The scene was pure chaos; the Aegis units were holding back the golems, their sma rifles lighting up the dark hallway, but the enemy''s numbers weren''t thinning fast enough.


    "Royal Guard! Hold the line!


    " Carlos shouted, his voice booming through thems. "


    Do not let those ugly bastards into the control room! If they get in, we''re all screwed!"


    Without missing a beat, Carlos activated the energy shield on his left arm. It shimmered into existence, wide enough to cover the entire corridor.


    "Out of my way!"


    he roared, barreling forward at full speed.


    The golems, with their unnaturally beautiful yet grotesque crystalline forms, barely had time to react before Carlos mmed into them like a freight train. The impact sent several of them skidding back, crashing into walls, their bodies cracking under the sheer force of his battle suit.


    "Fire! Shoot them down while I hold them!"


    Carlos roared as the golems began to regroup, their glowing eyes locking onto him.


    sma bolts whizzed past him, lighting up the narrow space. The Kaelzar units positioned behind him fired relentlessly, their shots passing harmlessly through the energy shield while obliterating the advancing golems.


    Shards of their rocky bodies scattered like shrapnel, the air filling with the acrid smell of burnt minerals.


    Just as Carlos began to think they might hold the line, the corridor trembled. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed, louder and deeper than anything they''d heard so far. From the smoke-filled end of the hallway, something massive emerged.


    "Oh, no,"


    Carlos muttered, gripping his hammer tighter.


    "What now?"


    The figure that stepped forward was a giant, even among golems. Standing nearly three meters tall, it barely fit within the corridor. Its massive body was made of darker, jagged stone, and faint red cracks glowed across its surface like molten veins.


    When it moved, its every step sent vibrations through the floor. The thing wasn''t just big; it was terrifying.


    The giant golem stopped a few meters away and let out a guttural roar that shook the walls, then raised one of its massive fists and punched the air.


    Carlos blinked, confused.


    "Hah! What the hell is that? Is it blind? It''s punching air, like¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the giant''s fist detached from its arm and rocketed through the air like a missile, mming into Carlos''s shield with earth-shattering force.


    The impact sent him hurtling backward, sparks flying as his suit struggled to absorb the blow. His shield flickered, barely holding together.


    "What the¡ª?!


    " Carlos scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. "I


    t canunch its fists like freaking boulders? That''s cheating!" Stay tuned with empire


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than the detached fist, now floating midair, flew back to the giant and reattached itself as if nothing had happened. The golem let out another roar, its glowing red cracks ring brighter.


    Carlos turned to see his Royal Guards staring at him. One of them tilted their head as if to ask,


    "What did you do?"


    He sighed, throwing his arms up in exasperation.


    "Don''t look at me! It already knew how to do that! It''s not my fault!"


    Before they could respond, the giant golemunched its other fist. This time, it struck one of the Aegis units dead-on. The soldier didn''t even have time to react before the massive stone fist obliterated its upper torso, leaving nothing but a pair of lifeless legs that crumpled to the floor.


    "Everyone, dodge those fists!"


    Carlos shouted.


    "If it hits you, you''re done for!"


    The golem''s attacks grew faster, the fists flying like cannonballs down the corridor. One barely missed Carlos, smashing into the wall beside him and sending debris flying.


    "Damn it! This thing just gets angrier the more I insult it!"


    he muttered, gripping his hammer tighter.


    Then came another fist, aimed directly at him. Carlos didn''t move. He nted his feet, raised his hammer, and grinned.


    "Alright, big guy. Let''s see who''s stronger and better looking!"


    With a roar of his own, he swung his hammer into the iing fist. The collision was deafening, a shockwave rippling through the corridor as sparks flew from his battle suit''s damaged arms. The force nearly knocked him off his feet, but he held firm.


    "Haaaaaa! Home run, baby!"


    Carlos shouted as he swung with all his might, sending the stone fist hurtling back toward its owner. The projectile smashed into the giant golem''s face, causing it to stagger and stumble backward.


    Carlos seized the moment.


    "Now''s my chance!"


    He charged forward, his hammer sparking as it powered up.


    The propulsor on its back red to life, and with a mighty swing, he drove the hammer into the giant golem''s abdomen. The impact cracked its stony surface, faint fissures spreading across its torso.


    But the golem wasn''t done. It roared in defiance, swinging its massive arm at Carlos. He barely managed to block it with his shield, gritting his teeth as the force rattled his entire body.


    "Try again next time, you oversized gravel pile!"


    he taunted, spinning on his heel to deliver another crushing blow to its abdomen.


    This time, the cracks deepened. The glowing red veins dimmed slightly, and the golem staggered again. Carlos didn''t let up. He rained down blow after blow, each strike faster and more precise than thest.


    "I''m not done yet!"


    he shouted, his voice raw with exertion.


    Finally, with onest devastating swing, the hammer connected with the golem''s abdomen, shattering itpletely. The giant stumbled, its body crumbling as the light in its eyes faded. With a thunderous crash, it copsed into a pile of rubble, lifeless atst.


    Carlos stood over the remains, breathing heavily. His suit hissed and sputtered, sparks flying from its damaged joints. He nced at the corridor, littered with debris and fallen enemies.


    "Ha¡­ Ha¡­ Who''s next?"


    Then, almost as if to mock him, the ship AI chimed in. [Main cannon chargingplete.] Target locked. [Firing in ten, nine, eight]


    Carlos groaned, leaning on his hammer


    . "AI... next time, maybe tell me before I almost get killed?"


    [Understood, Admiral.]


    As the countdown continued, Carlos straightened, wiping sweat from his brow. "Alright, everyone. Hold the line! We''re not out of this yet!"


    [Firing the main cannon.]


    The AI''s voice rang out with chilling precision as the dreadnought''s massive sma cannon came to life. A deep hum shook the entire ship, and a blinding light surged from the weapon''s barrel as it unleashed a supercharged ball of sma energy.


    The beam tore through space, a miniature sun zing with unstoppable force.


    The enemy capital ship, already battered and weakened from Ys''s relentless biosma bombardment, stood no chance.


    The sma ball hit its hull dead center, and for a brief moment, there was silence. Then the unthinkable happened.


    The point of impact didn''t simply shatter; it vanished. The hull around it dissolved into nothingness, as if erased from existence.


    The sma ball continued its merciless journey, tearing through the core of the ship like a fiery reaper, carving a glowing, molten path that melted metal and vaporized everything in its wake.


    Carlos watched the destruction unfold on the main disy, his eyes wide.


    "Holy¡ªDid we just... erase half their ship?"


    The massive energy ball reached the heart of the enemy vessel, and then came the explosion. It wasn''t just a regr detonation; it was an apocalyptic chain reaction. The ship''s already fragile structure began to copse in on itself, sparks and fire erupting from every corner.


    Smaller explosions rippled along the remaining sections of the hull, tearing the vessel apart piece by piece.


    And then it happened... the nuclear core went critical.

 Chapter 132 Aftermath

    The enemy ship detonated in a final, cataclysmic explosion, a fiery shockwave radiating outward like the wrath of a dying star. The explosion was so bright it momentarily outshone the surrounding stars.


    The remains of the ship were scattered into countless fragments, glowing like embers as they drifted into the void.


    The bridge of the Liberator shook violently from the shockwave, though the ship''s shields managed to hold. Carlos gripped the edge of his console, blinking away the afterimage burned into his retinas.


    "Damn. When I said to shoot, I didn''t mean obliterate the universe."


    Ys''s voice chimed in through thems, smug as ever.


    "Oh, Carlos, your little cannon is so cute. Did you see how my biosma cannons softened them up for you? You''re wee, by the way."


    Carlos rolled his eyes. "


    Sure, Ys. Your princessly greatness saved the day. Let''s pretend it wasn''t the giant hole I just sted through their ship that did the trick."


    Ysughed, clearly enjoying herself.


    "Oh, Carlos, I do love how you cling to these small victories. They suit you."


    In the background, the sound of her casually munching on another piece of fruit was almost infuriating.


    Ignoring her, Carlos turned to the tactical disy. The remnants of the pirate fleet were in full retreat, scattering in every direction like cockroaches under a spotlight. His crew cheered, but Carlos raised a hand to silence them.


    "AI, status report,"


    he said, his tone firm.


    The enemy capital ship has been destroyed. Remaining enemy forces are retreating. moderate damage sustained to the Liberator. Shields at 2 percent and recharging.]


    Carlos nodded, exhaling a breath he hadn''t realized he was holding.


    "Good. And the merchant convoy?"


    All merchant vessels remain secure in the hangar bay. The 198th Legion Argos sessfully defended them. [No casualties among the convoy.]


    "That''s what I like to hear,"


    Carlos said, slumping back in his chair. His battle suit groaned as he finally let himself rx.


    "Alright, folks. Start cleanup. Let''s round up the retreating pirates and salvage what we can. No point letting their junk go to waste."


    Ys''s voice crackled over themunications again.


    "Carlos, don''t forget to thank me properly. Without me, you''d be space dust right about now."


    Carlos sighed, rubbing his temples. "


    Thank you, Your Royal Laziness. I''ll be sure to send you a fruit basket as payment for your ''heroic deeds.''"


    He gasped dramatically.


    "A fruit basket? Is that all I''m worth to you? I''ll be expecting much better when I visit next."


    Carlos shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself.


    "AI, cut themunications before I lose what''s left of my sanity."


    [Understood, Admiral.]


    As the channel closed, Carlos stood and stretched, the weight of the battle finally lifting from his shoulders.


    "Good work, everyone,"


    he said.


    "But don''t get toofortable. If we survived this, it just means something worse is probably on its way."


    Out in the void, thest remnants of the enemy ship''s glowing debris faded into darkness, leaving nothing but silence and the faint hum of the Liberator''s engines as it powered down from battle mode.


    Meanwhile, in the hangar bay of the Cleopatra, Rex sat casually atop a massive cargo container like it was nothing more than a bench. At three meters tall, the towering warrior looked almostically oversized in the bustling hangar.


    His armor, still hot and battered from the battle, hissed faintly as steam escaped from vents along its joints. His presence dominated the space, and yet he seemed almost bored, leaning back with one arm resting on his knee.


    "Hey, Rex! How was the big, bad battle out there? Anything fun happen?"


    Nyra''s teasing voice cut through the noise of repair crews.


    She gave his boot a yful kick, clearly trying to grab his attention. The petite girl barely came up to his knee, but that didn''t stop her from acting like she owned the ce.


    Rex nced downzily, raising an eyebrow as if noticing her for the first time.


    "Oh, it''s you, Nyra. Fun? Sure, if you count getting lit up by stray bullets and almost roasted alive by a turret as fun. The energy shields held, though, so I''m still here. Guess I''d rate it... a solid six out of ten. Could''ve used more explosions."


    Nyra smirked, crossing her arms.


    "Pfft, only a six? You''re getting soft, Rex. Maybe next time, I''ll let you handle the boring stuff while I take care of the action."


    Before Rex could respond, a softer voice chimed in


    . "H-Hi, Rex


    ," Lyra stammered, standing a little behind her sister. She fidgeted with her gloves, her face pink as she awkwardly nudged his boot the way Nyra had. The motion was hesitant, almost unsure.


    Rex''s golden eyes softened slightly as he looked at her.


    "Hey, Lyra. How''d your first ship siege go? You holding up okay?"


    Lyra''s eyes widened as he addressed her directly, and she immediately froze like a deer caught in headlights. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. She nced nervously at Nyra, who was grinning like a cat that had caught a mouse.


    "Rex,"


    Nyra interjected, pointing a finger at him with mock usation.


    "Could you not stare at my sister like that? You''re going to melt her into a puddle if you keep looking at her with those golden eyes of yours."


    "Melt her? What are you¡ª?"


    Rex paused, realizing how flustered Lyra looked. He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.


    "Ah. My bad. Sorry, Lyra. Didn''t mean to freak you out. Maybe I''m still radiating heat from theser turret shot that almost fried me. Actually, can you find me a maintenance drone to cool me off?"


    Lyra perked up, her nerves momentarily forgotten.


    "Y-Yeah! I''ll get one right away!"


    She bolted, nearly tripping over her own feet as she rushed off into the maze of cargo containers.


    Rex watched her go, shaking his head.


    "She''s sweet, but she''s going to break something if she keeps running around like that."


    Nyra hopped onto a cargo drone that was hovering nearby,mandeering it as her personal floating chair.


    "Don''t worry. She''s tougher than she looks. So, Rex, who were those guys that boarded the ship? They looked like walking jewelry disys."


    Rex leaned back, his armor groaning under the shift in weight.


    "Beats me. Cleo said something about them before the fight, but I wasn''t paying attention. Too busy trying not to get vaporized. We''ll have to wait for her to finish the damage report."


    He nced at her with a smile.


    "


    What about you? Any trouble with those shiny rockheads?"


    Nyra rolled her eyes and stretched her legs, letting them dangle off the edge of the drone.


    "Not really. They didn''t even bleed, which was super annoying. Our ranged weapons were useless, so we had to use the tentacles. Ugh, they were way tankier than I expected."


    Nyra chuckled, reaching into his armored pouch.


    "Speaking of rocks, I figured you''d like this."


    She pulled out a glimmering blue crystal the size of his palm and tossed it toward her.


    Rex''s eyes lit up as she caught it


    . "Ohhh, shiny! You actually thought of me? How sweet."


    He twirled the crystal in his hand, admiring the way it caught the light.


    "Don''t get used to it,"


    Nyra said, smirking.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "But I can''t just take it for free, so tell me what you want in exchange for it." Rex asked while raising an eyebrow


    Nyra hesitated, her usual confidence faltering for just a moment. She nced at the crystal, then at Rex, before clearing her throat and grinning.


    "Well, I didn''t give it to you expecting something in return, but if you insist... how about a hea?"


    "Hey, guys! I''m back!"


    Lyra''s cheerful shout echoed across the hangar, and Nyra immediately froze, her face flushing as if she''d been caught doing something embarrassing.


    Lyra came bounding over, practically skipping as she led a maintenance drone into the area.


    "I found one! It''s already got the freezing system loaded up, so you''re good to go!


    " She hopped off the drone with a surprising amount of energy, patting its metallic side like she''d just tamed a wild beast.


    Rex raised an eyebrow at Nyra, who was ring daggers at her sister for interrupting


    . "What were you saying, Nyra? Something about a head,


    " he teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.


    "Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Let''s focus on getting you cooled down before you start cooking for the rest of us."


    The maintenance drone rolled forward, extending a nozzle toward Rex''s suit. A st of icy mist sprayed over him, causing steam to hiss and swirl around his massive frame. He sighed in relief, leaning back on the cargo container.


    "Ah, much better. Thanks, Lyra."


    Lyra beamed, practically glowing at the praise.


    "You''re wee! Anytime!"


    Nyra groaned, rubbing her temples.


    "Lyra, stop being so cute. You''re making the rest of us look bad."


    The sisters bickered lightly as Rex watched, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. For all the chaos and destruction outside, moments like this reminded him why he fought so hard to protect this crew.


    As the drone finished its work and trundled off, Rex stood up, his towering frame casting a long shadow across the hangar


    . "Alright, enough sitting around. We''ve got a lot of cleanup to do. Let''s get to it."


    Nyra hopped off the cargo drone with a stretch, grinning.


    "Race you to the next fight, big guy."


    Lyra followed closely, her shy smile growing a little braver.


    "I''ll¡­ I''ll do my best too!"


    Rex chuckled, cracking his knuckles.


    "You two keep up. I don''t slow down for anyone."


    "....."


    "Rex, what will you do with the twins?"


    Cleo''s voice came through Rexunicator''s private line.

 Chapter 133 Aftermath (2)

    Rex leaned against a wall, his massive frame casting long shadows in the flickering hangar lights. He tossed a piece of debris onto a nearby pile while the maintenance drones buzzed around, cleaning up the aftermath of the battle.


    Fighter ships were circling outside, waiting for the hangar to be cleared so they couldnd. The scent of scorched metal still hung in the air.


    "Mmm, what do you mean what I''ll do with them?"


    Rex asked, ncing at Cleo''s holographic form as she shimmered into view above the maintenance station. He spoke casually, but there was a faint tension in his voice.


    Cleo, perched on top of the


    Cleopatra


    ''s main cannon in her shimmering projection, tilted her head slightly. Even in her virtual form, she managed to look vaguely amused, or maybe that was just Rex''s imagination.


    "Rex, don''t y dumb with me. You''re not as dense as you pretend to be,"


    she said, her voice cool yet edged with just enough intrigue to push the conversation forward.


    "Even I can see it; those twins don''t just look at you with respect. There''s¡­ something else."


    Rex paused, letting out a long sigh as he tossed another piece of debris aside.


    "Cleo,


    " he muttered,


    "what do you want me to say? You already know the answer."


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, her holographic form shimmering slightly as shemanded drones to patch the


    Cleopatra


    ''s fractured hull.


    "I want to hear your answer, not mine. But if I had to guess, you''d try to dodge the question again. Am I wrong?"


    Rex stopped what he was doing, turning to face her fully. His towering form made even Cleo''s holographic presence seem small.


    "Fine. If you must know, I can''t; I won''t ept their feelings. It doesn''t feel right."


    His voice was calm but carried the weight of something unresolved.


    "I saw them grow up, Cleo. Their father left them in my care. How would it look if¡ª"


    "You''re not their father, Rex,"


    Cleo interrupted, her voice sharper than usual. For a moment, the steady hum of the repair drones filled the silence.


    "And besides, that''s not what this is about. It''s about you. Don''t you think I haven''t noticed? Your sense of responsibility is your armor, but it''s also your prison."


    Rex crossed his arms, his golden eyes narrowing slightly.


    "What''s your point?"


    Cleo shifted her posture, as if trying to find the right words. She didn''t often dip into philosophical territory, but when she did, it was hard not to listen.


    "Rex, you''re not like them anymore,"


    she said quietly.


    "You''re¡­ different. You''ll outlive them. Unless something kills you, and let''s face it, that''s not exactly likely, you''ll still be standing here centuries after they''re gone."


    Rex''s expression darkened, his gaze dropping to the floor. He didn''t respond.


    Cleo softened her tone, though it still carried the weight of her logic.


    "What I''m trying to say is... you can''t keep thinking like a mortal. You''ll only end up hurting yourself. The pain of losing the people you care about¡ª"


    She paused, her voice faltering slightly an odd thing for someone who imed emotions were beyond her.


    "It''ll hollow you out, Rex. I''ve seen it happen to others like you."


    Rex tilted his head, his tone almost defensive.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "And what does that have to do with the twins? You think I should just... what, forget everything? Move past all the reasons it feels wrong?"


    Cleo hesitated for a moment, something uncharacteristic for her.


    "I''m not saying you should forget your past or your responsibilities. I''m saying you should stop closing yourself off from the connections that might actually make your existence meaningful."


    She turned back toward the repair drones,manding them with a flick of her hand.


    "Like it or not, Nyra and Lyra are more like you than anyone else you''ve known. They might not be immortal, but they''ll be here longer than most. And unlike you, they aren''t afraid to reach out."


    Rex scratched the back of his head, his voice carrying a hint of frustration.


    "I get what you''re trying to say, Cleo. But it''s not that simple. I''m not like you, okay? You don''t feel things the way I do. Hell, you just admitted you don''t even fully understand human emotions."


    Cleo''s projection flickered slightly, and for the briefest moment, her neutral tone softened.


    "You''re right. I don''t understand everything about human feelings. They''re messy and illogical."


    She paused, turning to look at him directly.


    "But I''ve been with you long enough to know this: if you keep running from them, if you keep running from yourself, you''ll never be anything more than a soldier waiting for the next battle."


    Rex stared at her for a long moment, then let out a lowugh, though itcked much humor.


    "You''ve really thought this through, huh?"


    "I had a lot of time while you were getting shot at,"


    Cleo replied dryly.


    "And don''t pretend this hasn''t been on your mind, too. You just don''t like it when someone else says it out loud."


    Rex exhaled, the golden halo behind his back dimming slightly as his energy receded.


    "Fine. You win this round, Cleo. But let''s drop it for now, alright? I''ve got enough to deal with without trying to untangle my ''messy human emotions.'' Give me the damage report instead."


    Cleo nodded, her usual tone returning.


    "Fair enough. The Cleopatra sustained significant damage to the hull and engines. Wormhole traveling is currently impossible until we stabilize the core and repair the outer ting. I estimate another twenty hours before we can even consider heading back to the trading station."


    Rex''s body began to shrink back to his normal size as the energy surrounding him dissipatedpletely. He leaned against the wall, running a hand through his hair.


    "Twenty hours, huh? Alright. Plenty of time for you to figure out how to exin all this ''emotional stuff'' better next time."


    Cleo''s projection smirked faintly, a rare expression for her.


    "Don''t count on it, Rex. Human emotions are your problem, not mine."


    Rex chuckled, shaking his head.


    "Yeah, yeah. You win this time. Just... let''s focus on fixing the ship."


    As Cleo returned to her repair duties, the hangar grew quiet again, save for the hum of the drones. Rex nced at the faint glow of the engines in the distance, his mind far from the repairs.


    For all her bluntness, Cleo had a point, one he wasn''t sure he was ready to face.


    After days of travel, the


    Cleopatra


    finally emerged from warp space, its massive form shimmering into view against the backdrop of the bustling trading station. The station had grown considerably over thest five years.


    It was now a sprawling hub of activity, three times its original size, with sleek defensive towers bristling with turrets of various calibers, ready to take on anything from nimble fighters to imposing warships.


    Around it, patrol teams zipped by in tight formations, their engines leaving faint trails of light in the dark void.


    But the real sight to behold was the endless stream of merchant traffic. Ships of all shapes and sizes came and went, their hulls glinting under the artificial light of the station.


    They moved like ants in a massive colony, a continuous flow of trade that underscored the station''s importance in the region. Themunication channels buzzed with chatter, negotiations, and docking clearances.


    When the


    Cleopatra


    emerged, it was as if time froze for a moment. Conversations stopped, pilots paused mid-trajectory, and even the patrols slowed to a crawl.


    Despite the ship''s visible battle damage and scarred, some ting bent and scorched, it radiated an almost otherworldly beauty. Its sleek design, faint golden glow, and elegant lines made it look more like a masterpiece than a vessel meant for war.


    "Hey, look at that!


    " one dockworker shouted, pointing through the observation window. His voice carried through the station''s main promenade, where dozens of merchants and engineers had gathered to watch shipse and go.


    "What the hell is that?


    " another merchant asked, craning his neck for a better view.


    "It doesn''t look like anything from the megacorps. No logos, no fleet markers... nothing."


    "Yes, and look at the damage. What kind of monster could leave a ship like that limping back?"


    A third chimed in, his voice filled with both awe and concern.


    The chatter quickly spread, and soon a small crowd had gathered near the observation deck. Everyone was talking at once, specting about the mysterious ship.


    "Could it be a prototype from one of the outer colonies?"


    "Maybe it''s ck market tech. That golden glow doesn''t look natural."


    "Or maybe it''s alien. That doesn''t look like anything I have ever seen."


    Among the crowd stood a young man, tall and dressed in the grease-streaked overalls of an engineer. His sharp green eyes flicked toward the ship, a knowing smirk spreading across his face.


    It was hard to miss him; he carried himself with the confidence of someone important, though he didn''t unt it. This was the grandson of the station''s old administrator, a skilled engineer in his own right.


    Hearing the murmurs around him, he strode toward the group, hands tucked into his pockets.


    "You''re all pretty fascinated, huh?"


    he said, his voice cutting through the noise.


    "I don''t me you. Not every day you see something like that."


    The dockworkers turned to him, their curiosity shifting toward his confident tone. "


    Oh? You know something about that ship?"


    one asked eagerly


    . "What is it? Who does it belong to?"


    The young man chuckled, taking his time as he walked up to the observation window. He let the question hang in the air for a moment, drawing their attention further. Then, leaning casually against the railing, he nodded toward the


    Cleopatra.


    "They''re not megacorp. Not pirates. Definitely not ck market."


    His voice lowered slightly, as if sharing a secret.


    "That ship? That''s the Cleopatra. And if you don''t know her name, you should. She''s the pride of Admiral Rex''s fleet."


    There was a collective intake of breath.

 Chapter 134 New plans.

    "Wait... the Rex?!"


    someone blurted out.


    "The Immortal Titan? The guy who fought off the Khryssari invasion seven years ago?"


    "The very same,"


    the young man replied, smirking. "


    And if you''re wondering why she''s so beat up, it''s because Rex doesn''t just sit around polishing his medals. Wherever he goes, trouble follows."


    The crowd leaned closer to the window, their awe intensifying as they studied the ship''s elegant, damaged form.


    One of the merchants, an older man with a heavy coat and a cigar tucked behind his ear, let out a low whistle.


    "I heard stories about that guy. They say he''s not even human anymore. More like a walking weapon."


    The engineer shrugged.


    "Depends who you ask. But I''ll tell you one thing: if he''s here, it means something big is about to go down."


    The station inte cracked to life, interrupting the growing buzz of conversation


    . [This is trading station control. Vessel Cleopatra, you are cleared for docking in Bay Alpha-One. Please proceed at reduced speed.]


    The


    Cleopatra


    began its slow approach, its engines humming like the low growl of a predator. As the ship neared the station, the damage it had sustained became even more apparent, with gashes along its hull, exposed wiring, and scorch marks that told a story of intense battle.


    And yet, it moved with purpose, unbothered by its injuries, like a warrior returning home after a hard-fought victory.


    As the ship disappeared into the docking bay, the young engineer pushed off the railing and stretched.


    "Well, I''d better get back to work. I''m sure the Cleopatra''s crew will need all the help they can get fixing her up. You lot better pay attention; this station might be busy, but it''s about to get a lot more interesting."


    The crowd lingered at the observation window, their eyes still glued to where the


    Cleopatra


    had vanished. They spoke in hushed tones now, as if afraid to disturb the gravity of what they''d just witnessed.


    Inside the station, Rex stepped off the


    Cleopatra


    ''s ramp, his heavy boots nging against the metal floor. He nced around, his sharp golden eyes scanning the bustling hangar. Behind him, Cleo''s holographic form flickered into existence, perched on a nearby support beam.


    "Quite the weingmittee,"


    Cleo said, her voice dripping with dry humor.


    "They''re staring at us like we''re celebrities."


    Rex snorted.


    "Let them stare all they want."


    "By the way, what about Carlos and Ys? Have they made it back yet?"


    Rex asked, his deep voice breaking the quiet hum of the trading station''s corridors.


    He strode toward his temporary quarters, his armored boots thudding lightly against the metallic floor. The glow of repair drones in the distance cast fleeting shadows across his broad frame.


    Mini Cleo perched yfully on Rex''s head like an energetic pixie, folded her legs, and leaned forward. Her translucent figure flickered slightly as she processed his question.


    "Thest report I got said that the Liberator sustained significant damage to themunications, engines, and hull. They''reing back slowly, making several warp jumps while Ys''s vessel escorts them."


    Rex sighed, rolling his neck as if trying to shake off the weight of the news.


    "So, they''re crawling home. Typical Carlos. Bet he''s cracking jokes to keep everyone''s spirits up while Ys pretends she isn''t annoyed.


    "


    He smirked faintly at the thought, but it quickly faded.


    "And here I was thinking I''d be busy cleaning up after him. Guess that means we''re stuck with nothing to do, huh?"


    Mini Cleo hopped down from his head and floated alongside him at eye level, her hands sped behind her back. "Affirmative. All scheduled tasks were suspended after the enemy engagement. For the next few days, the original AI will be busy handling upgrades and repairs."


    Rex scratched his chin thoughtfully.


    "Free time, huh? Feels¡­ weird. We''ve been fighting so long, I don''t even know what to do with it."


    His golden eyes brightened as an idea struck him.


    "Mmm, wait. What if we take a vacation? Somewhere fancy. Somewhere we can kick back, drink something fruity, and pretend war doesn''t exist for a few days."


    Mini Cleo tilted her head, intrigued.


    "A vacation? That''s uncharacteristically indulgent of you."


    "Indulgent? Please. It''s called''stress management, and it''s long overdue."


    Rex grinned and threw his arms up dramatically.


    "Mini Cleo, search for the best pleasure cruisers nearby! None of that budget-tier nonsense, VIP treatment only. Five stars. No, make it six stars if it exists!"


    Mini Cleo giggled, her tiny figure zipping around him like an excited assistant.


    "Searching¡­ Done! I''ve found several high-end luxury cruisers within range. Disying options now."


    She conjured four holographic screens that floated in front of him, each one showcasing opulent vessels with glittering destinations: a paradise with crystal beaches, a skycity orbiting a gas giant, and even a private space station with simted gravity pools.


    "Mmm, nice. Let me take a closer look... wait."


    Rex paused as they approached his temporary quarters.


    "Before I pick, I need to wake up Cleo. She''ll want in on this."


    The entrance slid open, revealing a modest but well-furnished apartment. Standing guard outside were a line of Aegis Royal Guards, their golden capes fluttering slightly as they shifted their weight.


    Each one was an imposing figure, their armored forms brimming with energy shields, enhanced reflexes, and enough firepower to take down small armies. Their glowing visors turned to acknowledge Rex as he passed, but they remained silent.


    Inside the room, Cleo''s bodyy on a sleek recovery tform, her features serene, almost doll-like in their perfection. She appeared to be sleeping, her ck hair cascading around her bare shoulders like liquid.


    Mini Cleo floated to the edge of the tform, tilting her head curiously.


    "She always looks so peaceful when she''s in standby mode. Almost like she doesn''t spend half her time yelling at people to follow protocol."


    Rex chuckled, stepping closer. "


    Yeah, peaceful. Except she refuses to wear clothes when she''s out of her body."


    He sighed, shaking his head.


    "She says it''s for ''technical efficiency, but we both know she just likes messing with me."


    He reached out, gently pressing a finger to Cleo''s forehead.


    The moment his finger made contact, intricate tech markings lit up along his hand and her skin, glowing softly as they spread across her body like circuitrying to life. A faint hum filled the room as her systems powered up. Within seconds, her vibrant golden eyes opened, their rity like the surface of a calm ocean.


    "Wee back, my cute wife,"


    Rex teased, handing her a robe before she could sit up.


    "How''s the Cleopatra looking?"


    Cleo blinked a few times, then rolled her eyes at hisment.


    "You''re still calling me that, huh? And the ship''s stable for now, though it''ll take days to finish all the repairs. We''re lucky the core didn''t destabilize after thatst hit.


    "


    She pulled the robe over her shoulders, tying it loosely as she sat up.


    "So, what''s this about you waking me up? Don''t tell me another pirate fleet showed up."


    Rex smirked.


    "No pirates. No emergencies. For once, I woke you up for something fun. We''re taking a vacation."


    Cleo raised an eyebrow; her expression caught somewhere between amusement and disbelief.


    "A vacation? You? Are you feeling alright? Should I run a diagnostic on your brain?"


    "I''m serious,"


    Rex said, crossing his arms. "


    We''ve been fighting non-stop. We''ve earned some downtime, and now that we''ve got the credits, we''re going big. Luxury cruiser, five stars, VIP treatment, and that stuff. Mini Cleo''s already pulled up the options."


    Cleo nced at the hovering screens, her expression softening slightly. For a moment, the corner of her mouth quirked up in a faint smile.


    "Well, I suppose it wouldn''t hurt to take a break. Even I need to rest once in a while."


    She paused, her voice dropping into a teasing tone.


    "Though I''m guessing this is less about stress relief and more about you wanting to sip cocktails while pretending to be the gxy''s most eligible bachelor."


    Rexughed. "


    Hey, if the gxy sees me that way, who am I to argue?"


    Cleo rolled her eyes again but stepped closer to one of the screens. Her holographic twin perched on her shoulder, giving an excited thumbs-up. " Find exclusive stories on empire


    Alright, let''s see what you''ve picked. But if we''re doing this, I''m choosing the destination. You''ll just pick the one with the biggest bar."


    "Deal,"


    Rex said, grinning.


    As Cleo scanned the options, Rex leaned back against the wall, watching her with a faint smile. For all the chaos they''d been through, moments like this reminded him that he remembers that Cleo isn''t just a weapon; she''s something even more human than him.


    "By the way,"


    Cleo said without looking up,


    "if you try to cheap out on the trip, I''ll reprogram your bed to simte turbulence for the next month."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Noted,"


    Rex replied with a chuckle.


    "VIP all the way, I promise."


    While Rex and Cleo were engrossed in scanning through the holo screens, debating the merits of one luxury cruiser over another, Cleo suddenly stopped speaking mid-sentence.


    Her gaze drifted away from the disy, locking onto the far wall as if she were staring at something invisible. Her normally vibrant expression shifted into something sharper, more calcting.


    Rex immediately noticed the change.


    "Mmm? What''s the matter, Cleo?"


    he asked, his tone a mixture of curiosity and caution. He leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms as he watched her.


    Cleo remained silent for a moment, her holographic twin, Mini Cleo, flickering into view on Rex''s shoulder as if equally curious.


    Then Cleo blinked, as if snapping back to the present. She turned toward him, summoning a holo screen in front of them with a wave of her hand. The swirling image of space distorted by a warp jump appeared, rippling like a stone dropped into still water.

 Chapter 135 New plans. (2)

    "The Cleopatra just detected two warp signatures entering the system,"


    Cleo said, her voice returning to its usual calm, measured tone.


    "One of them is the Liberator. The other¡­"


    She paused, narrowing her eyes slightly. "


    The other one doesn''t match any ships in our database."


    Rex raised an eyebrow.


    "Unknown ship? That doesn''t sound good. Could it be hostile?"


    "Unlikely,"


    Cleo replied, her fingers dancing through the air as she pulled up additional data on the distortions.


    "There''s an 80% probability it''s Ys''s vessel. The warp signature has some biologicalponents, which aligns with the Khryssari tech. I''ll need to confirm once they fully exit the jump."


    The screen expanded, showing the area of space near the trading station. The first warp distortion stabilized into the familiar outline of the


    Liberator,


    its battered hull limping into view. Discover exclusive content at empire


    Even from the hologram, it was clear the ship had seen better days; its exterior was pockmarked with scorch marks and fractured ting, and one of its rear engines flickered weakly.


    "Looks like Carlos really took a beating,"


    Rex muttered, studying the hologram.


    "I swear, that guy could find trouble in the middle of an empty gxy."


    Cleo''s lips curled into the faintest smirk.


    "That''s what makes him Carlos, isn''t it?"


    "Fair point,"


    Rex admitted with a shrug.


    "And the other ship?"


    The second warp signature stabilized momentster, revealing a massive, beetle-like vessel. It was unmistakably organic in design, its surface pulsating faintly with an eerie green light.


    The ship''s exoskeletal frame was sleek yet intimidating, its front bristling with biosma cannons that glowed faintly as if charging. Even through the hologram, the ship radiated an aura of raw, predatory power.


    "Ys,"


    Rex said with a knowing grin. "


    She really knows how to make an entrance, doesn''t she?"


    Cleo nodded, her tone neutral but with a hint of amusement.


    "That would be the Carapace-ss Destroyer, Ys''s personal gship. It seems to have taken minimal damage. Typical Khryssari engineering; it''s more alive than mechanical."


    Rex let out a low whistle, tilting his head as he studied the ship''s organic curves.


    "You know, for something that looks like it crawled out of a nightmare, it''s actually kind of... beautiful. In a creepy, flesh-eating beetle kind of way."


    "That''s one way to describe it," Cleo replied dryly, though her eyes lingered on the holo screen as if analyzing every detail of the ship.


    "They''ve just sent a docking request to the trading station. Both the Liberator and Ys''s vessel will arrive within the next ten minutes."


    Rex stood up straighter, cracking his knuckles.


    "Alright. It looks like our vacation nning''s on hold. Let''s go greet them. Knowing Ys, she''s probably already got something weird lined up."


    Mini Cleo floated in front of him, wagging her tiny finger. "A


    nd Carlos probably has an entire monologue ready about how heroically he limped back to safety. Should I prepare an apuse track?"


    Rex chuckled.


    "Save it. I''d rather see the look on his face when I tell him I''ve been browsing luxury cruises while he''s been out getting shot at."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "If Carlos and Ys areing back, it means whatever trouble they ran into out there isn''t over yet. Be ready for anything, Rex."


    Rex''s grin faded slightly, reced by a more serious expression. He nodded. "


    Im always ready... mostly... mornings dont count, anyways, lets go."


    As the


    Liberator


    and Ys''s gship approached the station, the holo screen showed them side by side, one a bruised and battered survivor, the other a terrifying disy of Khryssari might. Rex grabbed his coat, his golden eyes glowing faintly as he headed for the door, Cleo following close behind.


    When Rex and Cleo arrived at the docking bay, the scene was already a mess. Carlos and Ys were in the middle of yet another argument, their voices echoing through the vast hangar. Several engineers and maintenance drones stood frozen nearby, unsure whether to intervene or just watch the chaos unfold.


    Ys, visibly furious, was kicking at Carlos with surprising force. Her delicate frame betrayed none of the raw power behind her strikes, but Carlos, safely encased in his battle suit, barely flinched. The energy shields absorbed every kick, glowing faintly with each impact as if mocking her efforts.


    "I told you to stop calling me that!"


    Ys shouted, her voice like a dagger cutting through the air.


    Carlos, leaning casually against a cargo crate, smirked.


    "What? Pocket-sized grandma? You mean it''s not urate?"


    He pointed at her with exaggerated indifference. "I mean, look at you. You barelye up to my chest, and that''s without the battle suit."


    Ys''s delicate hand morphed instantly into a massive, grotesque fist, ck and green with glowing veins, the signature of Khryssari bioengineering. Without warning, she swung it at Carlos, the force of her punch mming into his energy shield.


    The shield held, but the sheer impact sent Carlos flying across the hangar like a ragdoll. He crashed into a stack of cargo containers with a deafening


    ng


    , scattering cargo and supplies everywhere.


    From across the docking bay, Rex burst outughing, clutching his stomach as he waved at the two.


    "Hey guys! d to see you''re both alive and already causing a scene!"


    Carlos groaned, pulling himself out of the rubble.


    "Alive? Sure. But only I came back in one piece! This pocket-sized grandma isn''t even half a size!"


    He pointed at Ys, his face contorting into a mock scowl.


    Ys emerald eyes shed with rage. "


    Say that again, you overgrown tin can!"


    she growled, cracking her now-returned-to-normal knuckles. Her voice was quiet, almost calm, but her aura radiated murder.


    Carlos, never one to back down, stood up straight, brushing dust off his suit.


    "Oh? You want another go, huh, dwarf grandma? Bring it on!"


    He put on his best thug face, one eyebrow raised, and his mouth curled into a taunting grin.


    Without skipping a beat, Ys stomped toward him, her hand twitching as it threatened to transform again. But before she could get close enough, Cleo''s voice rang out, sharp andmanding.


    "Both of you, that''s ENOUGH!"


    Cleo appeared in the middle of them, her tone slicing through the tension like a de. The hangar fell silent as even the nearby engineers stopped what they were doing, clearly relieved someone had stepped in.


    "I swear, you two are worse than children! You''re lucky we''re on a civilized station."


    Rex, still chuckling, leaned casually against a railing.


    "Aw,e on, Cleo. Let them have a little fun. Builds character, right? Fight! Fight!"


    Cleo spun toward Rex, her eyes narrowing dangerously.


    "And YOU, Rex! Instead of encouraging them, maybe try stopping them for once."


    Rex cleared his throat, standing up straighter.


    "Ahem! Yes, of course. Absolutely. Guys! She''s right. You need to stop fighting. There''s a time and ce for everything!"


    He nced at Cleo, trying to keep a straight face, though his lips twitched dangerously close to another grin.


    Carlos dusted himself off again, ring at Ys but refraining from making anotherment. Ys crossed her arms, looking away with a huff, clearly still fuming but unwilling to push Cleo''s patience any further.


    Rex walked up to Carlos, pping hands on his armored shoulder


    . "Alright, big guy, let''s change the subject before you end up embedded in another wall."


    He gestured toward the


    Liberator


    , its scorched and battered hull now fully visible in the dock.


    The damage was even worse up close: deep gashes along the hull, burnt ting, and an engine that was barely holding on.


    "Seriously, though. What the hell did you fight out there? The Liberator isn''t some transport ship; it''s a damn dreadnought. What could do that to you?"


    Carlos sighed, the bravado in his expression fading into something closer to exhaustion. He leaned back against a crate, crossing his arms as he nced at the


    Liberator


    .


    "Trust me, I''ve been asking myself the same thing,"


    he muttered. "


    We got ambushed on our way back. First, it was just pirates, nothing we couldn''t handle. But then... something else showed up."


    "Something else?


    " Rex repeated, his golden eyes narrowing.


    "Yeah."


    Carlos''s voice grew more serious, the usual humor absent now. "


    A ship. I''ve never seen anything like it before. No markings, no identification, nothing. It didn''t move like a normal ship, it hunted us. Every time we thought we''d shaken it, it would show up again, tearing through our defenses like they were nothing."


    Rex exchanged a nce with Cleo, who was already pulling up schematics and reports on a holo screen. Her brows furrowed as data streamed in.


    "No known configuration matches that description,"


    Cleo said, her tone clipped.


    "What about its weapons? Did you get any scans?"


    Carlos shook his head.


    "We tried, but whatever tech it''s using... it''s beyond anything we''ve seen. It hit us with some kind of energy weapon that fried half our systems before we even knew what was happening. If Ys hadn''t shown up when she did, we''d be scrap metal by now."


    Ys, who had been silently fuming nearby, finally spoke up, her voice icy.


    "You should be thanking me, you ungrateful tin can. If I hadn''t intercepted thatst volley, your shields would''ve copsed, and you''d be space dust."


    Carlos shot her a side nce.


    "Yeah, yeah. Thanks, grandma. I owe you one."


    His voice was sarcastic, but there was a flicker of sincerity in his eyes.


    "But next time, try not to punch me into a pile of crates, okay?"


    Ys smirked, clearly satisfied.


    "No promises."


    Rex rubbed his chin, staring at the


    Liberator


    with a more serious expression now.


    "Unknown tech, no ID... and it hunted you. Sounds like more than just a random attack.


    " He nced back at Cleo.


    "What do you think?"


    "I think,"


    she said slowly,


    "that this ship, whatever it is, wasn''t just after the Liberator. It''s testing something. And if it''s capable of doing this to a dreadnought, we need to be prepared for the next encounter."


    The tension in the docking bay grew palpable as Rex, Cleo, Carlos, and Ys all fell into a rare moment of silence, the weight of the unknown pressing down on them. Outside, the


    Cleopatra


    and Ys''s gship stood docked, their presence a silent reminder that the gxy had far bigger threats waiting just beyond the next jump.


    "Alright,"


    Rex said finally, breaking the silence.


    "Let''s get to work. Cleo, I want a full analysis of the Liberator''s damage and whatever data Carlos managed to scrape together. Carlos, Ys, try not to kill each other in the meantime."


    Ys crossed her arms and rolled her eyes while Carlos smirked.


    "No promises,"


    they said in unison.

 Chapter 136 Templars.

    While Rex''s crew was busy preparing for their luxury vacation, far beneath the bustling trading station, in the shadowy depths of the underground city now under Emilia''s administration, darkness stirred.


    The city had transformed into a hive of activity over the years, a mixture of legitimate trade and shady dealings. Tonight, however, it wasn''t business as usual.


    In the dimly lit industrial sector, a group of vers arrived with theirtest haul. A chain of ves was dragged out of a transport vehicle, their wrists bound with crude energy cuffs.


    Among them were several humans, their faces weary and dirtied from days of captivity. The vers shouted orders, shoving the ves toward a caged transport whileughing at their plight.


    "Hey boss, where did you even get humans?"


    one of the ver merchants asked as he inspected the new arrivals. His scaled hands brushed over a datapad, taking stock of the cargo.


    "Humans don''t sell well here. Only the nightclubs and the red district might take the females, but even then, they won''t fetch much. You''d get more credits hauling scrap."


    The ver leader, a broad-shouldered alien with rough, reptilian features, sneered.


    "These ones? They''re just fillers. We hit a merchant convoy in the outer sectors. Poor bastards. The whole thing was manned by humans. Isn''t that hrious? It''s like they were asking to be taken."


    The group burst intoughter, their harsh voices echoing in the dim expanse of the underground sector. The ves remained silent, their heads bowed, their shoulders trembling as they shuffled into the cage.


    "It is funny,"


    the merchant officer said, smirking as he walked along the cage''s edge, prodding one of the humans with a shock baton.


    "Humans are pathetic. They''re born to be ves. Train them for a few weeks, and they''ll break. It''s in their blood to serve their superiors."


    The officer''s words were cut short by a sudden, sharp


    crack


    . A sh of red light zipped through the darkness, striking the officer square in the forehead.


    A perfect, smoking hole burned through the center of his skull. His lifeless body swayed for a moment, then copsed to the ground with a sickening thud. His baton rolled out of his hand, sparking faintly before falling silent.


    The ver leader froze, his reptilian eyes wide with shock.


    "W-what the hell?! Everyone take cover!"


    He screamed, diving to the ground and scrambling beneath the transport vehicle.


    His ws scraped against the floor as he wedged himself under the cage that held the ves, his heart pounding like a drum.


    The dimly lit area exploded into chaos. Redser fire rained down from the shadows, illuminating the dark with deadly precision. ver guards shouted in panic, some firing blindly into the darkness, others fleeing for cover.


    Their screams echoed in the night, only to be silenced one by one. The sharp crack of gunfire and the asional hiss of a de cutting through armor reverberated through the space.


    One by one, the ver guards fell. Some copsed with searing holes in their chests; others were cut down in shes of crimson light. The ves, huddled in their cage, watched with wide, fearful eyes as their captors were ughtered before them.


    And then, silence.


    The ver leadery trembling beneath the transport, his ws gripping the ground as his breathing grew shallow. His mind raced.


    (


    What was that? Who were they? Pirates? Mercenaries?)


    He wanted to peek, to see what had happened to his crew, but fear pinned him in ce. He squeezed his eyes shut, praying... begging... to whatever gods might be listening.


    (


    Don''t let them find me. Please don''t let them find me...)


    Metal footsteps shattered the silence...


    The sound was slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. The ver leader felt his heart climb into his throat, pounding so hard it was almost painful. He dared not move, his body stiff with terror. But the footsteps grew louder and closer, each one a death knell.


    Then, the transport shifted slightly. He opened his eyes, realizing with mounting horror that someone or something was on the other side. Before he could react, a cold, metallic hand mped around his ankle.


    "No! No, no, no, no! Let go of me!"


    He screamed, kicking wildly as he was dragged out from under the transport like a helpless insect caught in a web.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    His ws scraped against the ground, leaving jagged marks as he thrashed and screamed.


    "Please! Don''t kill me! I''ll pay you! I''ll pay you anything!"


    His voice cracked as he pleaded, tears streaming down his scaly face.


    But the grip on his ankle didn''t waver. A second figure stepped forward and looped a rope around his legs, securing him in ce.


    The ver leader was pulled upright and thrown onto the ground in front of them. His eyes widened in sheer terror as he finally got a good look at his attackers.


    There were five of them, humanoid figures d in jet-ck armor with crimson ents glowing faintly across their chest tes.


    Their helmets were angr, smooth, and featureless, save for a single red visor that glowed ominously like the eyes of a predator. Sniper rifles were slung across their backs, sleek and deadly, while curved des rested at their hips.


    Long crimson cloaks hung from their shoulders, the hoods partially obscuring their helmets.


    They stood still, silent, like specters of death.


    The ver leader whimpered, trying to crawl backward, but one of the figures stepped forward, nting a heavy boot on his chest to pin him down. The weight was crushing, stealing the air from his lungs.


    "Who... who are you?"


    He gasped, his voice trembling.


    The figure standing over him didn''t respond. Instead, it raised a hand, its gauntlet glinting faintly in the dim light. A mechanical voice cold and devoid of emotion finally broke the silence.


    "Designation: Temr. Task: termination of hostile elements. Verdict: guilty."


    The ver''s eyes widened. "No! No, wait¡ª!" His protests were silenced as the figure raised its rifle. A sh of red light filled the air, followed by the hiss of energy dissipating.


    The remaining guards nced at each other, their red visors glowing faintly as they surveyed the area. One of them approached the cage of ves, scanning the frightened faces inside. A quick gesture, and the energy cuffs binding the humans fell away with a faint


    clink


    .


    Another figure stepped forward, its voice slightly distorted but calmer than the first.


    "The area is secure. Notify Lady Emilia. The operation isplete."


    The ves stared at their rescuers, still unsure whether they were saviors or something far worse.


    Without another word, the five figures disappeared into the shadows as quickly as they had appeared, their footsteps fading into silence. The ves, now freed, stood trembling in the dim light, the bodies of their captors lying cold on the floor around them.


    Far above, in her administration tower, Emilia received the notification. She leaned back in her chair, her lips curling into a faint smile.


    "Good. Send word to the survivors: very has no ce in my city. Those who try will face judgment."


    She turned to her assistant.


    "Prepare for their integration into the workforce. Make sure they''re treated properly."


    "Yes, Administrator," the assistant replied, bowing before leaving the room.


    Emilia stared out of the tower window, her gaze fixed on the glittering lights of the underground city.


    Emilia turned her attention to the young woman seated gracefully on the luxurious sofa before her. The woman had an otherworldly beauty that seemed almost out of ce in the stark, utilitarian surroundings of the underground city.


    Her golden hair fell in perfect waves down her back, shimmering faintly in the dim light. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, with a softness that seemed untouched by the harshness of life below.


    Find your next adventure on empire


    Her figure was voluptuous, curving in ways that would ignite desire in even the most disciplined of men, but it was her eyes that stood out most of all.


    Cloudy and gray, her gaze was unfocused, yet they radiated an eerie calm. To those who knew her, they knew that she was blind. Yet her blindness didn''t seem to hinder her; if anything, it added an air of mystery and quiet power to her presence.


    Standing behind her, to her left, was a female soldier in ck armor identical to the temrs who had dealt with the vers. Her posture was rigid, her crimson visor glowing faintly as she stood like an unmoving sentinel.


    To Li''s right, a male temr stood equally still, his imposing helmet distinguished by two sharp, wing-like protrusions that jutted out like ears, giving him an almost mythic appearance. Both temrs exuded the same lethal precision as theirrades, their silent presence amplifying the tension in the room.


    Emilia leaned back into the sofa opposite Li, her crimson dress pooling elegantly around her. She regarded the blind woman carefully, her piercing gaze as sharp as ever.


    "I must admit, Lady Li,"


    she began, her voice smooth yet edged with curiosity.


    "Your soldiers, how did you call them? Ah, yes, temrs; they''re truly remarkable. Effective, disciplined, and so precise. No one would ever believe that all of them are... human."


    She let thest word hang in the air, almost as if testing for a reaction.


    Li''s lips curled into a soft smile, one so serene it could calm even the most anxious of hearts.


    "Thank you for your kind words, Lady Emilia. My teachers work tirelessly. They dedicate every waking moment to their training, striving to prove themselves worthy of serving our savior."


    "And, of course, we owe much of our advancement to Lady Cleo''s generosity. Without her assistance, our frail human bodies would be inadequate for the tasks before us."


    After saying that, Li just kept smiling while staring at Emilia, even though she was blind; it was as if she could see even more than others.

 Chapter 137 Templars. (2)

    "Ah, yes," Emilia said, her tone shifting slightly, her sharp intellect now on full disy. She crossed one leg over the other, resting her chin lightly on her hand.


    "That reminds me. The treaty you signed with Lady Cleo, wasn''t it something to the effect of her allowing you to purchase advanced technology as a favor to My Lord? But as I recall, there was a condition, wasn''t there? You were required to secure the funds yourselves."


    Emilia''s lips curled into a sly smile, her curiosity brimming. "


    I have to say, I''m quite curious. Just how do you and your people manage to make that much money? Especially enough to equip all of this?"


    She gestured lightly toward the temrs, their equipment a gleaming testament to their wealth and efficiency.


    Li tilted her head slightly, her blind eyes seeming to fixate on Emilia in a way that felt deliberate.


    Her gentle smile didn''t waver, but there was something enigmatic behind it, a hint of amusement as if she enjoyed keeping her secrets close.


    "Oh, Lady Emilia,"


    Li said softly, her voice as melodic as a distant bell,


    "the truth is quite simple, though not particrly exciting."


    Emilia leaned forward slightly, her curiosity now fully piqued.


    Find your next read on empire


    "Do tell,"


    she pressed, her voice dripping with anticipation.


    Li rested her delicate hands in herp, her smile deepening


    . "We are traders at heart,"


    she began, her tone light and calm.


    "We travel, we negotiate, and we capitalize on opportunities that others overlook. With Lady Cleo''s permission, we''ve built awork that spans across several systems. Resources, information, artifacts, whatever holds value, we find it and ensure it finds the right buyer."


    She paused, tilting her head slightly.


    "It helps, of course, that humans are often underestimated. Few see us as a threat, which makes it all the easier to surpass their expectations."


    Emilia raised an eyebrow.


    "Artifacts? Information? That''s a vague way of saying you deal in things most others wouldn''t dare touch. Are you implying yourwork deals in... less-than-legal activities?"


    Her voice was probing but yful, her expression calcting.


    Li let out a soft, almost musicalugh, shaking her head.


    "Not at all, Lady Emilia. Everything we do is above board... or at least, as above board as it needs to be. After all, we must operate within the boundaries of Lady Cleo''s approval. But as you well know, legality is a flexible concept in certain corners of the gxy."


    Her smile turned coy.


    "I assure you, we''re quite adept at... interpreting those boundaries."


    Emilia chuckled, leaning back into her seat.


    "Interpretation, hmm? Clever. And profitable, by the look of it. I suppose that exins how you can afford to maintain such a well-equipped force."


    Her gaze drifted briefly to the two temrs standing behind Li, their silent presence as imposing as statues. "


    Still, I imagine that level of sess requires more than just sharp negotiation skills and market understanding."


    Li''s expression didn''t waver, but her smile took on an almost imperceptible edge.


    "Oh, it does,"


    she said softly.


    "It requires faith, discipline, and a singr purpose. My temrs are more than soldiers; they are devotees. Every credit, every victory, every step forward is for the glory of our savior."


    Emilia''s yful demeanor faltered for a brief moment, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly.


    "Your savior,


    " she repeated, her voice quieter now, as if testing the waters of Li''s conviction.


    "You speak of him with such reverence. Tell me¡­ is it faith, or something more practical, that inspires this devotion?"


    Li''s cloudy gray eyes seemed to flicker with something deeper, though it was impossible to tell if it was real or imagined. Her smile remained, but her tone dropped just enough to carry a weight that hadn''t been there before.


    "It is both,


    " she said simply.


    "And in time, Lady Emilia, you maye to understand why."


    Emilia regarded Li for a long moment, her calcting gaze meeting the blind woman''s unseeing eyes. A silent tension passed between them, unspoken but palpable. Finally, Emilia let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head.


    "You''re a fascinating woman, Lady Li,"


    she said, her voice returning to its usual smoothness.


    "And your savior is fortunate to have such... capable followers."


    Li bowed her head slightly, her smile as serene as ever.


    "And I am fortunate to serve


    ."


    The room fell quiet for a moment, the weight of their conversation lingering in the air like the aftermath of a storm. Behind Li, the two temrs remained still as statues, their glowing visors betraying no emotion.


    Emilia finally broke the silence, rising gracefully from her seat.


    "Well then, I suppose I''ll leave you to your faith and your mysteries. Do let me know if there''s ever anything you need from this city. My door is always open."


    "Your generosity is appreciated, Lady Emilia," Li said, her voice soft but unwavering. "And rest assured... should we need anything, you will be the first to know."


    The female temr stepped forward silently, her imposing armor seeming lighter as she moved to stand before Li. She reached out slowly, her gauntletted hand brushing against Li''s delicate fingers. Li, as graceful as ever, took the temr''s hand, allowing herself to be gently guided to her feet.


    Once standing, Li turned toward Emilia, her expression calm andposed, though there was a faint trace of hesitation in her otherwise serene demeanor.


    "Before I go, Lady Emilia, may I ask... is there any news of Lord Rex?"


    Her words carried a softness, but beneath it was something deeper, hope, or perhaps reverence. She paused mid-step toward the exit, waiting for Emilia''s answer.


    "Mmm? News of My Lord?"


    Emilia replied, tilting her head slightly. Her sharp gaze flickered to Li''s cloudy gray eyes, as if trying to read the subtle meaning behind her question.


    "Nothing new, I''m afraid. I only receive updates from him asionally, when he deems it necessary. Why do you ask?"


    Li''s delicate features shifted into a small, polite smile.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Oh, it''s nothing significant,"


    she said, her voice light yet tinged with warmth.


    "It''s just that he is one of us, and we owe him everything. Please deliver a message to him when you can let him know that, should he ever need us for anything, he has but to ask. We will be honored to obey his orders."


    Emilia studied Li for a moment, her crimson eyes lingering as if weighing her words. Then, with a slight bow of her head, she responded.


    "Understood, Lady Li. I will ensure your message reaches My Lord."


    Li gave a graceful nod before continuing toward the exit. The female temr followed her silently, her every step measured and purposeful.


    Before leaving, the male temr turned back to Emilia and gave her a deep, respectful bow, his crimson cape brushing the floor. Emilia returned the gesture with a small, polite nod, watching as the two temrs escorted Li out of the mansion.


    Outside, the underground city was bathed in artificial light, the glow of neon signs and holographic advertisements flickering across the darkened streets. Li''s private transport ship waited for them, sleek and minimal in design, its engines humming faintly as the trio boarded.


    Once inside and en route to their base, the silence of the cabin was broken by the faint hiss of a helmet being removed. The male temr lifted his helmet off, revealing golden hair that fell slightly across his sharp, noble features.


    His piercing blue eyes shone with the same intensity as Li''s cloudy gray ones once had, back when she could still see.


    He was none other than Li''s brother.


    "Sister,"


    he began, setting his helmet down on the seat beside him,


    "do you think it was wise to hide the truth about our ie and the size of our forces from Emilia?"


    His tone was calm, but there was a thread of concern woven into it. He stared directly at Li, his expression serious.


    Li''s serene smile didn''t falter as she turned her unseeing gaze toward her brother. Her fingers lightly brushed over the armrest of her seat, and her voice was gentle but firm. "


    My silly brother,"


    she said with a softugh.


    "Even if Emilia is our ally now, we cannot be certain that will always remain the case. Humanity has suffered long enough. Only now are we beginning to stand on our own two feet again, thanks to our savior. We cannot afford to be reckless with our trust."


    Her brother''s expression softened slightly, though his concern lingered.


    "I understand your reasoning,"


    he said, his voice quiet.


    "But what if hiding things creates problemster? What if she suspects us of deceit?"


    Li reached out and ced her hand on his, giving it a reassuring squeeze.


    "If Lord Rex asks, I will hide nothing. But to outsiders¡­ no, they do not need to know everything. Trust in your big sister, my silly brother."


    He sighed, leaning back in his seat.


    "I do trust you, Li. It''s just¡ª


    " He paused, running a hand through his golden hair.


    "Wait, hold on a second. Big sister? I''m the older one here!"


    Li tilted her head, her expression yful now.


    "Ara? Where''s your proof?"


    she asked, a small pout forming on her lips.


    Her brother''s jaw dropped slightly.


    "Proof? There''s no need for proof! I was the one who took care of you after our parents passed away! Who do you think changed your diapers, huh? Of course I''m the older one!"


    Li let out a softugh, but her brother wasn''t done. He reached over and ruffled her hair, hisrger hands making aplete mess of her carefully arranged golden locks.


    "And this is what big brothers do!"


    "Ahhh! Stop, stop, stop!"


    Li squealed, batting at his hands with her own as she tried to fend him off.


    "You savage! Do you know how long it takes me to fix my hair?!"


    Her brother grinned, thoroughly enjoying her flustered reaction.


    "Maybe next time you''ll show some respect to your big brother, huh?"


    "You barbarian!"


    Li huffed, straightening her hair as best she could.


    "You''re lucky I don''t order the temrs to throw you out of this transport!"


    Their yful bickering filled the cabin, the tension from their earlier conversation melting away.


    If anyone were to witness this scene, they would never believe that the blind, delicate woman sparring verbally with her brother was a figure powerful enough tomand the loyalty of human nobles, soldiers, and political yers alike.


    Nor would they believe that her influence extended to the very foundations of the cult that worshiped the


    "Bloody Angel,"


    a symbol of humanity''s rise from envement and despair.

 Chapter 138 Luxury Cruiser.

    Meanwhile, far above in the trading station, Rex stood in his quarters, deep in thought. On the table in front of him were two holo screens disying swimsuits. One was a sleek, sexy design that would highlight Cleo''s every curve. The other was a more modest but elegant piece that left a little more to the imagination.


    Rex let out a heavy sigh, scratching the back of his head.


    "This is impossible,"


    he muttered.


    "If I pick the sexy one, I''ll have to deal with everyone ogling her and probably fighting half the passengers by the end of the day."


    He frowned, leaning closer to the screens. "


    But if I pick the modest one, she''ll just call me boring and pick the sexy one anyway. Damn it. Why is this soplicated?"


    Behind him, Cleo''s holographic form flickered into view. She tilted her head, watching him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.


    "Rex, are you really stressing over a swimsuit? You''ve fought wars, survived impossible odds, andmanded armies. But this?"


    Rex spun around, startled


    . "Cleo! Don''t sneak up on me like that!"


    Cleo smirked, crossing her arms.


    "You''re lucky I didn''t record this and send it to Carlos. He''d never let you live it down."


    Rex groaned, covering his face with one hand.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Just¡­ don''t. I''ve got enough problems already."


    Cleo stepped closer, her smirk softening into something more yful.


    "Rx, Rex. Just pick the one you like best. It''s not thatplicated."


    Rex nced at the holo screens again, then back at Cleo. A slow grin spread across his face.


    "You''re right,"


    he said, his tone suddenly mischievous.


    "But I think I''ll just make you pick for me."


    Cleo''s smirk vanished, reced by a look of mild rm


    . "Wait... what? No! That''s cheating!"


    But Rex was already walking out of the room,ughing to himself. "


    Your problem now, Cleo!"


    After days of preparation, everything was finally set. Cleo had booked a one-week trip on one of the most luxurious cruisers in the sector.


    The first two days of the journey would be spent aboard the cruiser itself, indulging in its vast array of entertainment like casinos, pools, nightclubs, gyms, event rooms, everything one could imagine.


    On the third day, they would visit a naturally protected world, staying there for two days and three nights to enjoy its pristinendscapes. Finally, they would end their vacation on an oceanic world renowned for its hunting games, where thrill-seekers could hunt massive beasts while others rxed or spectated.


    When the day finally arrived, Rex and his crew approached the cruiser discreetly. Instead of arriving aboard the


    Cleopatra


    and drawing unnecessary attention, they opted for a more subtle approach, traveling in a standard tourist transport ship.


    To ensure their safety, several Wraith-ss fighters escorted them in stealth mode, their presencepletely undetectable to civilian systems.


    From the observation window of the station, Rex stood with Cleo, staring at the massive luxury cruiser docked ahead of them. Its sleek white hull gleamed under the station''s lights, its curved design exuding sophistication and elegance.


    Massive viewports ran along its sides, offering glimpses of opulent interiors bustling with activity.


    "So, we''re finally here!"


    Rex said, his tone more cautious than excited. He crossed his arms, his golden eyes narrowing as he studied the cruiser.


    "I know this whole trip was my idea, but... just how safe is this thing? I mean, it''s a luxury cruiser. No defenses, no mounted cannons... not even an escort?"


    Cleo stood beside him, her ck hair catching the light. This time, she wasn''t in her holographic form; she had chosen to travel in her physical body, a rare urrence. Her calm, confident demeanor hadn''t faltered since they left.


    She nced at Rex, her golden eyes glinting with amusement.


    "They''re perfectly safe. Don''t let theck of visible defenses fool you. While they aren''t armed, cruisers like thise equipped with military-grade shield generators, and they''ve got squadrons of powerful fighters docked inside to deal with smaller threats. Pirates won''t bother them."


    Rex frowned, unconvinced.


    "Won''t it bother them? You''ve seen what pirates are like. Some of those guys have frigates or cruisers of their own. I''ve seen ships like that punch right through so-called''military-grade shields. If one of those shows up, it could end badly... fast."


    Cleo smiled softly, letting out a quiet giggle. She turned to him, her gaze meeting his.


    "Rex, you worry too much. These cruisers are high-value assets. Do you know why? They''re filled with rich individuals and nobles. That makes them extremely profitable for administrators and megacorps alike. No one''s stupid enough to attack one. The bacsh would be... unpleasant."


    Rex arched a brow, waiting for her to borate.


    Cleo continued, her tone patient and reassuring.


    "If anyone tried to attack, the cruiser would send out a distress signal. Within minutes, the area would be swarmed by patrol fleets from every nearby megacorp. The pirates wouldn''t stand a chance. Their entire operation would be wiped out before they could even fire a second volley."


    Rex rubbed his chin, still staring at the cruiser.


    "Hmm. You sound pretty sure about this."


    "Because I am,"


    Cleo replied, her smile growing slightly.


    "Trust me. These cruises are among the safest modes of travel in the gxy. The megacorps make sure of that."


    Rex finally sighed, his shoulders rxing slightly.


    "Alright, I''ll take your word for it. But if pirates do show up, don''t me me for saying, I told you so.''"


    Cleo chuckled softly.


    "Duly noted."


    At that moment, Carlos and Ys returned, maneuvering a small electric cart piled high with luggage. Carlos was driving, wearing an exasperated expression as Ys lounged casually on the cart''s passenger seat, flipping through a datapad.


    A single bag sat in herp while the rest were crammed haphazardly into the back.


    "Here we are!"


    Carlos called, parking the cart next to Rex and Cleo. "


    You guys pack enough stuff? It looks like we''re relocating to a whole new instead of just going on vacation."


    Ys didn''t even nce up from her datapad.


    "If you didn''t spend all your time in that bulky battle suit, maybe you''d know the value of traveling with style. Some of us like options."


    Carlos rolled his eyes, hopping off the cart.


    "Yeah, well, some of us like to travel light. You know, in case we have to run from trouble."


    Ys smirked, her emerald eyes gleaming mischievously as she finally looked up.


    "If trouble shows up, Carlos, I''ll make sure you have plenty of time to run... while I deal with it myself."


    "Yeah, yeah, keep dreaming,"


    Carlos grumbled, grabbing one of the suitcases and slinging it over his shoulder. He turned to Rex. "


    So, boss, are we finally ready to board this thing? Or are you still busy inspecting it like you''re some safety inspector?"


    Rex smirked, shooting Carlos a sidelong nce. "


    I''m just making sure we''re not about to walk into a death trap. You''ve seen what our luck''s like."


    Carlos shrugged.


    "Fair point. But honestly, if pirates show up, I''ll just let Ys deal with them. She''s been itching for a fight ever since she lost to me at poker."


    Ys scoffed, crossing her arms. "


    You didn''t win. I let you have that game to spare your fragile ego."


    Carlos grinned, clearly enjoying her irritation. Continue reading on empire


    "Whatever helps you sleep at night, princess."


    "Enough, you two,"


    Cleo said, her voice calm but firm.


    "Save the banter forter. Let''s get our things loaded before we miss the boarding call."


    Carlos and Ys both muttered under their breaths butplied, unloading the rest of the luggage from the cart. Rex shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips as he watched them bicker.


    As they approached the boarding ramp, Rex nced back at the cruiser onest time. Its sleek design and bustling interiors still didn''t entirely put him at ease, but Cleo''s confidence was reassuring.


    For once, it seemed like they might actually get to rx, no battles, no pirates, no intergctic crises.


    (Hopefully,)


    Rex thought,


    (this vacation won''t turn into another disaster.


    )


    As Rex, Cleo, Carlos, and Ys stepped into the cruiser, they were immediately struck by its grandeur. The main lobby was a dazzling disy of luxury, blending vintage elegance with cutting-edge technology.


    Intricate chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their crystalline designs refracting light in every direction, while the walls were adorned with expensive art pieces that seemed straight out of an intergctic museum.


    Under their feet, the marble-like flooring gleamed with subtle energy lines that pulsed faintly, guiding passengers to their destinations.


    High-tech touches were seamlessly integrated into the aesthetic: sleek holo-terminals hovered near the walls, offering information and entertainment options, while tiny drones floated gracefully through the air, assisting passengers or delivering refreshments.


    The fusion of old-world luxury and futuristic design was breathtaking.


    "Woah,


    " Carlos said, his jaw dropping as he turned in circles, trying to take everything in.


    "Yeah,"


    Rex muttered, equally stunned as he gazed at the opulent surroundings.


    "I wasn''t expecting this. It''s like stepping into another world."


    Carlos, however, wasn''t focused on the decorations for long. His eyes shifted to the crowd milling about the lobby. Elegantly dressed passengers walked by, their expensive outfits practically screaming wealth and status.


    Among them were countless stunning women, their polished appearances turning the heads of almost every man in the room.


    Carlos grinned like a kid in a candy store.


    "I know what you mean! Look at this ce! I wasn''t expecting to see so many high-end butts walking around either. Damn, look at all those beauties."


    Rex turned to him, his brows furrowing.


    "What are you¡ª"

 Chapter 139 Luxury Cruiser.(2)

    Carlos gestured subtly with his chin toward a group of elegant women nearby, their flowing gowns shimmering as they chatted amongst themselves. Theirughter was melodic, their presence exuding an effortless confidence that only came with wealth and nobility.


    Rex sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "


    Carlos, those ''high-end butts'' you''re ogling are probably nobles. You do know what happens if one of them hears you, right? Nobles don''t take kindly to being disrespected. They''d send assassins after you just for looking at them wrong."


    Carlos shrugged,pletely unbothered.


    "Worth it. At least I''d die with a great view."


    Rex rolled his eyes, about to respond, when Carlos elbowed him lightly.


    "Come on, Rex, take a look. I know you''re curious. Don''t leave me hanging here."


    Rex hesitated for a moment before giving in to the temptation.


    "Alright, fine. What are you talking about?"


    He began to turn his head to see what Carlos was looking at.


    Before he could even get a good nce, Ys suddenly leapt onto his back like a yful predator, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist to keep herself from falling.


    "Nope! Not happening!


    " she dered, her tone light but possessive.


    "Ys, what are you doing?!


    " Rex asked, startled as she sped her hands over his eyes, blocking his view.


    "You can''t look at them, darling,"


    Ys purred, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper as she leaned close to his ear.


    "If you want to see something beautiful, you don''t need them. I can show you something much betterter... tonight."


    Rex froze, his face immediately turning several shades redder.


    "Ehem,"


    he coughed, clearing his throat and attempting to regainposure.


    "Carlos, you... uh, enjoy the view. I''ll handle the suitcases and wait for someone to show us to our rooms."


    Ys giggled softly, still clinging to his back. Rex stood stiffly like a soldier, trying to endure the situation without further embarrassing himself. Her hold on him tightened yfully, and Rex realized he wasn''t going to win this particr battle anytime soon.


    Meanwhile, Cleo, who had been silently observing the scene with her usualposed expression, finally spoke up.


    "If the two of you are done being ridiculous,"


    she said dryly


    "The concierge bot will be here shortly to escort us. Rex, perhaps you''d like to... I don''t know; set a better example for Carlos."


    Rex sighed heavily.


    "Noted."


    He stood straighter, his hands now clutching the handle of one of the suitcases as if grounding himself.


    "Ys, seriously, can you let go? People are starting to stare."


    Ys leaned her chin on his shoulder, her voice teasing.


    "Let them stare. I don''t mind."


    Carlos, who had been thoroughly entertained by the whole situation, leaned back against one of the luggage carts and grinned. "


    This is the best vacation ever, and we haven''t even left the station yet."


    Cleo shot him a warning look. "


    Carlos, if you keep this up, you''re going to spend the rest of this trip locked in your room. And trust me, I''ll make sure you don''t have any ''views'' to enjoy."


    Carlos immediately straightened, though his grin didn''t disappear entirely.


    "Alright, alright. I''ll behave."


    As if on cue, a sleek concierge bot floated toward them, its polished silver surface gleaming under the lights. It projected a soft blue holographic interface above its head as it stopped in front of the group.


    [Wee aboard, esteemed guests,]


    the bot said in a pleasant, melodic voice.


    [Please allow me to escort you to your private suites. Your luggage will be transported separately.]


    "Finally,"


    Rex muttered, shaking his head. He nced over his shoulder at Ys.


    "Are you going to let go now, or do I have to carry you all the way to our room like this?"


    Ys smirked, resting her cheek against his back. "


    Hmm, tempting. But I suppose I''ll let you off the hook... for now."


    With a graceful hop, she released him andnded lightly on her feet.


    Rex straightened his jacket and grabbed the remaining suitcase, muttering something about how he needed to rethink this whole vacation idea.


    As they followed the concierge bot toward the private suites, Carlos leaned toward Rex and whispered,


    "You know, you''re really bad at pretending you''re not enjoying yourself."


    "Shut up, Carlos,


    " Rex muttered, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.


    After several minutes of walking through opulent hallways and taking a few elevators lined with gold ents and glowing energy panels, the group finally arrived at their private suites. The concierge bot hovered politely as it handed over keycards and verified their room assignments.


    Carlos, unsurprisingly, imed his own VIP room, a sprawling space with a king-sized bed, private balcony, and even its own mini-pool. Rex, on the other hand, found himself sharing a suite with Cleo and Ys, much to his quiet dismay.


    The tension between the two women was palpable, both of them clearly determined to not let the other have any extra alone time with him.


    This


    "living arrangement"


    Enjoy new adventures at empire


    had be increasinglymon ever since Ys had picked up the faint, lingering scent of Rex on Cleo''s physical body after they did it. From that day forward, Ys made it her personal mission to stick to Rex like glue, leaving Cleo little room to monopolize his attention.


    As Rex hauled thest of the luggage into their shared suite, he nced over at Carlos, who was lounging against the doorframe of his own room with an easygoing grin.


    "So, Carlos, what''s the n for you tonight?"


    Rex asked, brushing some imaginary dust off his hands.


    Carlos pushed off the doorframe and grabbed a nearby suitcase to help Rex.


    "You know me,


    " he said, puffing his chest out a little.


    "


    I''m either hitting the pool or heading straight for the nightclub. Unlike you, I don''t have anyone to ''keep mepany,'' so I''ll be putting this rugged charm of mine to work, seducing some of these rich girls!"


    He finished his deration with a proud, almost heroic pose, his hands on his hips.


    Rex burst outughing, shaking his head.


    "Rich girls? Seriously? You do realize everyone on this ship is either filthy rich or nobility, right? Both optionse with...plications. Dangerous ones."


    Carlos grinned and waved off Rex''s concern. "


    And that''s exactly why I''m going for it! Think about it¡ªthese ''daddy''s girls'' are probably bored out of their minds. They''re used to the same old polished nobles and spoiled trust-fund types. But me? I''m something they''ve never seen before. I''m wild. I''m rugged. I''m unpredictable!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He struck a pose again, running a hand over hispletely bald head.


    "They won''t stand a chance against my raw charm."


    Rex leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed, trying not tough too hard.


    "Right. I''m sure yourck of hair will have them swooning in no time. But hey, good luck with that. Just try not to get stabbed by one of their bodyguards, or worse, assassins sent by their fathers."


    Carlos smirked and pped Rex on the back.


    "I''ll take my chances, brother. What about you? What''s the n for tonight?"


    Rex nced back at the shared suite where Ys and Cleo were already unpacking, well,


    arguing


    while unpacking. Cleo appeared to be organizing her belongings with precision, while Ys was casually tossing her things into a pile on the bed and looking unimpressed by Cleo''s fussiness.


    "T


    he girls want to hit the casino tonight,"


    Rex exined.


    "They''ve been bickering about the best strategies to win big all day. And, well¡­ I''ve never been to a real casino before, so I thought I''d check it out too."


    Carlos blinked, his expression turning incredulous.


    "What are you talking about? We have been to a casino before. Back when we were ves, remember? We used to sneak out at night and gamble to save up money for our freedom."


    Rex frowned, scratching his head.


    "That wasn''t a casino, Carlos. That was¡­ pretty sure that was an illegal betting den. I just realized thatst night while Cleo was exining how casinos work."


    He chuckled, shaking his head. "


    Still, I guess it did the job back then."


    Carlos folded his arms, leaning back with a nostalgic grin. "Ah, the good old days, huh? It might''ve been illegal, but those nights were fun. Just a couple of kids, making bad bets and dreaming of freedom."


    "Yeah,"


    Rex said, his tone softer now as the memories came rushing back.


    "We''vee a long way since then, haven''t we?"


    Carlos smiled, but then his grin widened again as he pped Rex on the back.


    "Damn right, we have. Now get out there, brother, and enjoy yourself. Don''t let those two fight over you too much, alright?"


    Rex snorted.


    "Easier said than done. Anyway, I should go get ready for the casino. Good luck out there with your... wild charm strategy."


    Carlos gave him a mock salute.


    "And good luck surviving those two."


    He turned and disappeared into his VIP room, already muttering something about needing to pick the right outfit to dazzle the nobles.


    Rex returned to the shared suite, opening the door to find Cleo and Ys still bickering over something trivial, probably which dress would look better in the casino. He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself.


    After a few hours of preparations, they were finally ready for the big event. The casino was one of the most anticipated attractions aboard the luxury cruiser, and Cleo, ever meticulous, had made sure that their night would be nothing short of perfect.


    "Here we go,"


    Rex muttered under his breath.


    "Let the games begin."

 Chapter 140 Casino night.

    The cruiser itself was enormous, so massive, in fact, that it operated more like a floating city than a ship. Moving from one end to the other on foot was practically impossible.


    To amodate the vast distances, the cruiser offered public transportation for its passengers, sleek, automated shuttles that zipped along dedicated tramways, ferrying guests to and from the many entertainment venues.


    But for those fortunate enough to be traveling under VIP status, the experience was on another level entirely.


    Private luxury transports were avable,plete with plush seating, chilled drinks, and even a dedicated concierge bot to cater to their every whim. Unsurprisingly, Cleo had made sure their group qualified for this exclusive treatment.


    As Rex and the others stepped into their private transport, the difference was immediately noticeable. The interior was sleek and futuristic, with soft lighting that set a rxed ambiance.


    The walls shimmered faintly with embedded holo-disys showing scenic views of the gxy outside. The seats were oversized and cushioned, upholstered in a material that seemed to adjust itself for maximumfort as soon as they sat down.


    "Wow,"


    Rex muttered, sinking into one of the seats.


    "This... is ridiculous. In a good way."


    Carlos flopped down in the seat across from him, spreading his arms wid


    e. "Now this is what I''m talking about! VIP treatment, baby!"


    He leaned back, letting the seat practically swallow him whole.


    "Man, I don''t know why we don''t do this kind of stuff more often."


    Ys, already seated next to Rex, crossed one leg over the other with a small smirk.


    "Because someone keeps getting us into fights with pirates and alien death cults, that''s why."


    Carlos shot her a mock re.


    "Hey, those pirates attacked us first. I was just making sure they regretted it."


    "By blowing up half their fleet and nearly taking you down too?"


    Cleo interjected, her tone as sharp as ever as she stepped into the transport behind them.


    She gave Carlos a pointed look before gracefully taking the seat on Rex''s other side.


    "Honestly, sometimes I wonder how you even made it to adulthood."


    Carlos shrugged, grinning.


    "Luck, mostly. And this charming personality."


    He gestured to himself with a flourish.


    Cleo rolled her eyes but chose not to dignify that with a response. Instead, she turned to Rex, her expression softening.


    "What do you think of the VIP experience so far? Comfortable enough for you?"


    Rex leaned back, ncing around the sleek transport.


    "Yeah, I''ll admit, this is nice. A little too nice, actually. I''m starting to wonder if I should be worried about the bill at the end of all this."


    Cleo gave him a reassuring smile.


    "Don''t worry about that. It''s all covered. Consider it my treat."


    "Your treat?"


    Rex raised an eyebrow.


    "How exactly does that work? Aren''t we technically one?"


    "We are,"


    Cleo said with a faintly amused tone.


    "But that doesn''t mean I can''t manage the budget efficiently enough to set something aside for special asions."


    Rex opened his mouth to respond but thought better of it.


    "You know what? I''m not even going to question it. Thanks, Cleo."


    Carlos leaned forward, grinning.


    "You''re spoiling him, Cleo. Next thing you know, he''s going to expect VIP treatment everywhere we go."


    Rex smirked, shrugging.


    "Not my fault I''m this charming."


    Ys huffed softly, leaning closer to Rex.


    "You don''t need charm, darling¡«. You''ve got me to make sure you''re taken care of."


    Cleo''s eyes narrowed slightly, her smile tightening, but she didn''t say anything. Carlos, meanwhile, was doing his best to hold backughter as he watched the subtle tension between the two women escte.


    "Alright, alright,"


    Rex said, raising his hands in mock surrender.


    "Let''s just enjoy the ride, okay? No fighting before we even get to the casino."


    As the transport began to move, the soft hum of its engines added to the rxed atmosphere. Outside the windows, the glowing lights of the cruiser''s many entertainment districts whizzed by, showcasing the sheer scale of the ship. The view was almost hypnotic.


    "


    So,"


    Carlos said, breaking the silence as he looked at Rex.


    "Any ns for what you''re going to do first at the casino? Slots? Cards? Maybe roulette?"


    Rex shrugged.


    "Honestly? I have no idea. I''ve never been to a real casino before, remember? I figure I''ll just follow Cleo and Ys''s lead and see what happens."


    Carlos raised an eyebrow.


    "You''re going to let them lead? Dude, you''re going to get cleaned out."


    "I heard that,"


    Cleo said without looking up, her tone calm but icy enough to make Carlos sit back in his seat.


    "For your information, I''ve run simtions on mostmon casino games. Statistically speaking, I''m far more likely to win than someone like you."


    Ys snorted.


    "Simtions? That''s cute. Winning in a casino isn''t about stats; it''s about instinct. You''d know that if you weren''t so... mechanical."


    "Mechanical?"


    Cleo''s gaze flicked to Ys, her tone sharp. "


    I''ll have you know that."


    "Okay, okay!"


    Rex interjected, raising his hands again to cut off the brewing argument.


    "Let''s just get there first before you two startpeting over who can bankrupt the casino faster."


    Carlosughed, leaning back in his seat. "


    I''m putting my money on Cleo. No offense, Ys."


    Ys rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath. Cleo, for her part, looked rather smug.


    As the transport slowed to a halt, a smooth voice emanated from the onboard speaker.


    [Now arriving at the VIP entrance to the Grand Ster Casino.]


    [We hope you enjoy your evening.]


    The doors slid open, revealing a grand entryway that glittered with gold and light. A red carpet stretched out before them, leading into a massive atrium where the sounds ofughter, music, and the rhythmic clinking of chips filled the air.


    Carlos let out a low whistle.


    "Now this is a casino."


    Rex adjusted his jacket, taking a deep breath.


    "Alright. Let''s see what all the fuss is about."


    "Well then, you guys go and enjoy yourselves. I''m off to the nightclub to find some lonely, destedies who can''t resist a taste of this delicious ck chocte,"


    Carlos dered with a dramatic smirk, striking a Casanova pose that made him look more ridiculous than charming.


    Rex burst outughing, shaking his head.


    "Hahaha, yeah, sure. Just try not to get killed while you''re there, alright? And don''t drink so much that you wake up in someone''s storage closet."


    "Please, Rex. A man of my caliber doesn''t ''wake up'' in closets. I wake up in luxury, surrounded by admirers.


    " Carlos shot Rex a yful wink before heading off toward the private vehicle that would take him to the rmended nightclub.


    Meanwhile, Rex barely had time to wave Carlos off before Ys grabbed one of his arms and Cleo took the other. Without missing a beat, the two women started dragging him into the glowing entrance of the casino.


    "Guess I don''t have a choice here,"


    Rex muttered, ncing at both of them.


    "Alright, lead the way,dies."


    Inside the casino, Rex found himself momentarily stunned. The ce was massive, like a grand pce dedicated to one thing... wealth. Rows of brightly colored machines lined the floors, their screens shing in dazzling neon patterns as passengers tried their luck.


    Holo-disys floated above the machines, advertising jackpot winnings and showing statistics that only seemed to tempt yers into losing more money.


    The smell of expensive cologne and freshly made food lingered in the air, blending with the faint hum of machinery and the sounds ofughter, cheering, and groaning from the tables.


    Rex''s eyes traveled further,nding on an unexpected sight, arge arena sunken into the floor, surrounded by high-tech barricades and energy fields.


    Spotlights lit the center of the arena, where twobatants were fighting viciously, one clearly a seasoned diator, the other an unlucky criminal who was wildly swinging a rusted de.


    The roar of the crowd above them was deafening as the diator easily sidestepped his opponent''s clumsy attacks.


    "


    Wait¡­ is that an arena?"


    Rex asked, pointing toward it.


    "They actually have people fighting down there?"


    Cleo, who had been casually analyzing the surroundings, nced at the arena and nodded.


    "Affirmative. That''s the casino''s personal diatorial arena. It''s a popr attraction for the VIPs. The fighters are usually criminals or pirates captured by the megacorp patrols. Since they''ve already been sentenced to death, the arena is where they meet their end, while entertaining the guests, of course."


    Rex frowned, his golden eyes narrowing slightly.


    "That¡­ feels sketchy. Is this even legal?"


    Cleo tilted her head toward a group of men stationed around the arena, all dressed in sleek ck uniforms with a small megacorp emblem stitched onto their sleeves.


    "


    See those individuals in ck? They''re agents from the megacorp patrols. Their job is to ensure that the criminals don''t try to escape. If someone tries to run, they''re authorized to shoot on sight. It''s not exactly legal¡­ more like a gray zone. Officially, it''s a form of ''entertainment'' for those who can afford it, and technically, the participants are condemned criminals."


    Rex shook his head slowly, his gaze lingering on the arena.


    "Gray zone or not, that''s messed up."


    As Cleo continued exining the rules of the arena which she had downloaded in detail before arriving, a man dressed in expensive but casual attire approached the group.


    He had the smug confidence of someone who thought himself important, though his piercing gaze wandered a bit too freely over Cleo and Ys before finally settling on Rex.


    "Hello, my friend,"


    the man said, his voice smooth but carrying an oily undertone. "


    I see you''re interested in the arena. Perhaps you''d like to do more than watch? How about joining a match yourself?"


    His smile stretched a little too wide, revealing perfect teeth that looked suspiciously artificial.


    Rex turned to face him, his expression neutral.


    "And you are?"


    The man straightened, cing one hand over his chest as if preparing to deliver a grand speech


    .


    "Ah, where are my manners? I am Darius Tameron, the esteemed manager of this fine arena. While it is primarily used for hosting matches between convicted criminals, we also allow those confident in their strength to enter the ring. Champions have the opportunity to win not only glory but significant prizes as well."


    Rex raised an eyebrow.


    "Prizes? Like what?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Darius grinned

 Chapter 141 Casino night. (2)

    Darius grinned, clearly pleased that Rex was taking the bait. He made an exaggerated gesture, as if revealing some great treasure.


    "This is a casino, my friend! Naturally, the prize is credits. But not just any credits; the champion takes 50% of all the bets ced on their match. Depending on the crowd and the stakes, that can add up to a lot of money."


    Rex''s interest was piqued, though he wasn''t entirely convinced. "And what are the rules?"


    Darius sped his hands together, leaning in slightly. "Simple! You fight in a series of matches against the arena''s most dangerous opponents. Each match gets progressively harder, of course, and you must win to advance. Lose, and, well, that''s the end of the road."


    He chuckled, though the humor in his voice felt forced. "But someone as capable-looking as you shouldn''t have a problem. So, what do you say? Interested?"


    Ys immediately tightened her grip on Rex''s arm, ring at Darius with open hostility. "No, he''s not interested," she snapped. "Find someone else to y your blood sport."


    Cleo, however, remained calm, though her piercing golden gaze was locked on Darius. "While the offer is intriguing, I believe mypanion would prefer to enjoy his evening without being dragged into your arena."


    Darius''s smile didn''t falter, though his eyes flicked between Cleo and Ys before returning to Rex. "Come now; no need to decide so quickly. Surely you''ve thought about testing yourself inbat. Why not make a spectacle of it? Imagine the cheers, the thrill, the glory, and, of course, the reward."


    Rex scratched the back of his neck, ncing between the arena and the man before him. The idea of entering didn''t sit well with him, not because hecked the skill, but because he had a sinking feeling there was more to this arena than what Darius was letting on.


    After a moment of thought, Rex shook his head. "Sorry, not tonight. I came here to rx, not to fight. Maybe next time."


    Darius''s smile tightened, but he bowed his head politely. "Of course, my friend. Should you change your mind, the arena is always open to those with the courage to step inside." With that, he turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Rex, Cleo, and Ys standing near the edge of the arena.


    "That guy gave me the creeps," Ys muttered, still ring in the direction Darius had gone.


    Cleo nodded. "Agreed. I suggest we avoid him for the rest of the evening. He''s clearly trying to lure you into something."


    Rex exhaled deeply, ncing back at the glowing casino floor. "Yeah, let''s stick to the n. No fighting tonight. Just games, drinks, and... hopefully no more weird invitations."


    Ys and Cleo exchanged a brief look; one of the few times they seemed to agree and nodded. Together, the trio moved away from the arena and toward the heart of the casino, ready to enjoy the night on their own terms.


    While Rex and hispanions enjoyed their time in the casino, Carlos had finally arrived at the nightclub. The outside of the club was alive with vibrant lights and the faint pulse of bass-heavy music that could be felt even before stepping inside.


    Discover hidden content at empire


    The line to get in stretched far down the corridor, packed with elegantly dressed individuals, each waiting impatiently for their turn to enter.


    Carlos, however, didn''t seem to mind. He stood in the line for VIP guests, casually leaning against the wall while ying the ssic Snake game on his arm device to pass the time. His thumb moved with precision as he directed the tiny snake around the screen, trying to break his own record.


    Suddenly, one of the nightclub guards stepped out and began shouting above the noise. "Those with VIP passes, please move to the right! If you don''t have a VIP pass, stay on the left!"


    Hearing this, Carlos slipped his arm device back into standby mode and shifted to the VIP line. As he moved over, he noticed something surprising, the VIP line was almost empty. In fact, there was only one other person standing there, a strikingly beautiful woman just ahead of him.


    Curious, Carlos strolled up with his trademark confidence and called out to her. "Hello there! First time here?"


    The woman turned around at the sound of his voice, and Carlos had to do a double take. She was absolutely stunning... her long golden hair shimmered under the neon lights, cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall of gold.


    She was mature, refined, and exuded an effortless grace. Her figure was voluptuous, with curves that would make any man''s jaw drop, and the way her green, feline-like eyes gazed back at him carried a mix of charm and mystery.


    Carlos immediately recognized her species. She was a Felinex, a humanoid race with subtle feline features that made them one of the gxy''s most sought-after individuals, whether aspanions or, tragically, ves in certain corrupt circles.


    This particr woman had lynx-like ears atop her head that twitched slightly as she regarded him with an amused smile.


    "Oh, hi there," she replied, her voice smooth and melodic. "No, it''s not my first time. I''ve visited this cruiser a few times before. I love the cocktails they make here, so I like toe back whenever I can."


    She paused, a touch of mischief entering her smile. "Since my husband is always busy, I spend the time meeting new people and enjoying myself."


    Carlos raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what about you, Sir?" she added politely, tilting her head slightly as her ears twitched.


    Carlos waved her off with an easygoingugh. "Oh,e on now. No need to call me ''Sir.'' Just Carlos will do. If you''re here to meet people and make friends, I''d be honored if you''d consider me one of them."


    The casual, carefree way he spoke left the woman momentarily speechless. She was so used to people either addressing her with overbearing formality or falling over themselves in an attempt to impress her.


    This man, however, didn''t seem fazed by her presence at all, and that was refreshing.


    After a moment, her lips curled into a genuine smile. "Well then, Carlos, you may call me Sharon. It''s a pleasure to meet you." Her green eyes sparkled with warmth as she extended her hand to him.


    Carlos took her hand lightly, offering a charming grin in return. "The pleasure''s all mine, Sharon."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Those in the VIP line, please proceed inside!" the guard shouted, signaling that it was finally their turn.


    Carlos looked back at Sharon with a wide smile. "Well then, Sharon! Since this is my first time here and you''re officially my first friend on this cruiser, I''d like to give you the honor of escorting me inside."


    Sharon blinked, then let out a soft, melodious giggle. It had been years since someone spoke to her with such yful candor. "This will be my first time escorting someone," she replied, her smile as charming as ever. "So please be patient with me."


    Carlos gestured dramatically toward the entrance, stepping aside as if presenting her with the path. "Lead the way, mydy. And don''t worry, I promise to be a very patient guest."


    Together, they entered the nightclub, the pulsating music growing louder as they stepped past the velvet ropes and into a dazzling disy of lights and sound.


    Inside, the club was a spectacle of extravagance. The lighting was dim but vibrant, with swirling neon patterns illuminating the dance floor, where patrons swayed and moved to the rhythm of a live DJ stationed on an elevated tform.


    Holo-disys of shimmering visuals floated above the crowd, adding to the hypnotic energy of the space.


    The VIP section was cordoned off by a sleek energy barrier, where tables adorned with crystal sses and exotic drinks were spread out in a semi-private area overlooking the main floor.


    Servers moved gracefully between the tables, delivering trays of colorful cocktails to the well-dressed elite lounging on plush chairs.


    Sharon led Carlos toward one of the tables in the VIP area, gesturing for him to sit across from her. "Since it''s your first time here, let me order for us," she said confidently, waving down a server.


    Carlos leaned back in his seat, his grin never faltering. "A bold move, Sharon. I like it. But I have to warn you, I''ve got high standards when ites to drinks."


    Sharon raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh, do you? Well, let''s see if I can impress you." She turned to the server and whispered her order, leaving Carlos in suspense.


    As they waited for their drinks, Carlos decided to press his luck. "So, Sharon, do youe here often to escape the boring life of the ultra-rich, or am I just lucky enough to catch you on your day off?"


    Sharon chuckled, her green eyes sparkling with amusement. "Something like that. It''s not often I get to rx like this, so I take the chance when I can."


    Carlos tilted his head, studying her carefully. "You know, you don''t seem like the type who needs a distraction. You''ve got that¡­ effortless confidence thing going on. Like someone who knows exactly what she wants."


    Sharon''s lips curved into a sly smile. "And what makes you think I don''t want a distraction every now and then?"


    Carlosughed. "Fair enough. Everyone needs one, I guess. Lucky for you, I happen to be a world-ss distraction."


    Their conversation was interrupted by the server returning with their drinks, two elegant sses filled with vibrant, glowing liquid that seemed to shimmer in the dim light.


    "Here''s to distractions," Sharon said, raising her ss toward Carlos.


    "And to meeting new friends," Carlos replied, clinking his ss against hers.


    As they sipped their drinks, the music thrummed around them, and Carlos couldn''t help but think that maybe this vacation wasn''t such a bad idea after all.

 Chapter 142 Hangover.

    "By the way," Rex said casually, ncing at Ys as the trio strolled across the bustling casino floor, weaving between rows of shing machines and excited gamblers.


    Ys was walking on his left; her arm looped lightly around his as if staking her im. "What were you two arguing about earlier? Something about instinct versus statistics?"


    "Oh, that?" Ys smirked, puffing her chest out slightly as if she had already won the debate.


    "It''s simple, darling. Cleo here keeps insisting that the best way to win at these games is to use probabilities, statistics, and all that boring nonsense. But I say it''s all about instinct! You just know where to bet if you''ve got good instincts. It''s a gut thing, you know?"


    Cleo, walking on Rex''s other side with her usualposed grace, didn''t even open her eyes as she replied. "Instinct is just a euphemism for guessing," she said calmly, her tone tinged with a hint of superiority.


    "These games are designed with probabilities in mind. Winning is a matter of understanding the logic behind them, not trusting your ''gut.''"


    "Tsk, there you go again!" Ys said, shooting Cleo a re. "You''re so stuck up with your data and calctions. Are you seriously too arrogant to admit you''re wrong for once?"


    "Hmph," Cleo responded, finally opening one eye to nce at Ys. "Right back at you. You''re the one in the wrong this time, as always."


    The two women locked eyes, the tension crackling between them like static electricity. Rex, caught in the middle, both literally and figuratively, could already see where this was going.


    And, sure enough, Ys turned to him, grabbing his arm. "Darling¡«! Who do you think is right? Clearly, you agree with me, don''t you?" She said, her cat-like grin practically daring Cleo to react.


    Cleo didn''t miss a beat. "No need to ask him," she said coolly. "I know he''ll side with logic. He''s not reckless enough to endorse Ys''s, shall we say, ''imaginative'' approach to gambling."


    Rex paused for dramatic effect, a small smirk spreading across his face. "Well,dies," he said, looking between the two of them, "I hate to break it to you, but neither of you are right."


    Both women stopped dead in their tracks, staring at him in unison. "What?!" they said at the same time, their voices filled with disbelief.


    "The truth is," Rex said, crossing his arms and putting on an exaggeratedly smug expression, "the only thing you really need to win at games like this... is pure, unadulterated luck."


    "I disagree!" Cleo and Ys shouted in unison, their protests echoing through the casino.


    Rex chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Alright, alright," he said, holding up his hands.


    "How about this? Let''s settle this once and for all with a littlepetition. We''ll head to the ckjack table. Each of us will start with 100,000 credits. After 10 rounds, whoever has the most credits wins. And to make things interesting, the losers will have to face a punishment."


    Ys''s eyes lit up at the word "punishment." "Oh, now this I like. What''s the punishment, darling¡«?"


    Rex''s grin widened. "Every time you lose, you take a shot of the strongest liquor they have at the bar. And none of that cheating by using your desintoxication abilities to sober up. You drink; you deal with it. That goes for both of you."


    Y''s smirk grew. "Deal!"


    Cleo hesitated for only a moment before giving a confident nod. "I ept. Though I hope you''re prepared to lose, Rex." Find your next read on empire


    "Alright then," Rex said, cracking his knuckles. "Let''s do this."


    The trio made their way to the nearest ckjack table, where Rex''s bold deration immediately drew attention. A small crowd began to gather, intrigued by the energy of the group. Some joined in as yers, while others stood back to watch the spectacle unfold.


    The game began, and the rounds flew by. Sometimes Rex won, sometimes he lost, though he always seemed to be having fun, even as his face reddened from the growing number of shots he''d taken.


    Cleo yed with her usual calcting precision, analyzing every hand and ring daggers at the dealer when the odds didn''t go her way. Ys, on the other hand, yed with reckless abandon, trusting her instincts and loudly celebrating every win, no matter how small.


    By the ninth round, the three of them were already visibly tipsy. Cleo, though stillposed, had a faint flush on her cheeks. Ys was grinning more than usual, her voice a little louder and slurred at the edges. And Rex? Rex was grinning like an idiot, clearly feeling the effects of the liquor.


    The crowd around the table had grown considerably, with people cheering them on or cing their own side bets on who woulde out on top. The energy in the air was electric.


    "Alright, this is it!" Rex announced, mming the rest of his credits onto the table for the tenth and final round. "Let''s bet everything we''ve got! Go big or go home!"


    "Let''s do it!" Ys shouted, her enthusiasm infectious.


    "I''m in," Cleo said, herpetitive streak shining through.


    The other yers at the table, caught up in the moment, also pushed their chips forward, creating a massive pot of over five million credits.


    The dealer dealt the final hands, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife. One by one, the yers revealed their cards.


    "Oh no, I lost!" groaned a man with six points.


    "Guess I''m out," said another, busting with 28 points.


    It was Ys''s turn. She dramatically pped her cards onto the table, revealing 19 points. "Hah! Beat that!" she said, grinning triumphantly.


    Cleo raised an eyebrow and revealed her hand: 20 points. "Easily done," she said with a small smirk. "I suppose that makes me the winner."


    But before she could bask in her victory, Rex leaned back in his chair, putting on an overly dramatic pose. "Not so fast, my dear wife," he said, dragging out the suspense. "The real winner is... me!"


    With a flourish, he revealed his cards: an Ace and a King. "21 points! ckjack, baby!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers andughter as Rex stood up, raising his hands like a champion. "I told you all! The only thing you need to win is luck!"


    And then, without warning, he wobbled slightly, his face turning an even deeper shade of red. "Uh oh..." was all he managed to say before copsing onto the floor in a drunken heap andpletely passing out.


    Cleo and Ys stared down at him, their expressions a mix of amusement and exasperation.


    "Well," Cleo said dryly, folding her arms. "I hope he enjoys his ''luck'' when he wakes up with a hangover."


    Ys justughed, crouching down to poke his cheek. "You gotta admit, though, he earned that win. Too bad he couldn''t stay awake to celebrate it."


    The crowd dispersed, still chuckling and talking about the wild game, leaving Cleo and Ys to figure out how they were going to haul their drunken champion back to their suite.


    As the morning cycle began aboard the cruiser, the artificial environment came to life. The holographic sky disyed a breathtaking 4D sunrise,plete with warm golden rays and a serene blue backdrop.


    Soft bird-like chirps echoed faintly throughout the corridors, enhancing the illusion of a peaceful morning. The sunlight streamed through the luxurious windows of the suites, gently coaxing passengers from their slumber.


    Carlos groaned softly as the light hit his face, causing him to stir. He rubbed his temples, his eyes still half-shut, before muttering, "Mmm, where the hell am I?"


    He blinked a few times, his brain slowly catching up with reality. A sharp throbbing in his skull reminded him of the previous night. "Damn, just how much did I drink yesterday?" he muttered, massaging his temples tobat the pounding hangover.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    His surroundings didn''t look familiar. The room he was in wasvish, with soft silken sheets, a massive king-sized bed, and elegant decor that looked far more extravagant than his VIP suite. Golden-framed paintings hung on the walls, and a faint floral scent lingered in the air.


    "Wait... seriously, where the hell am I? This definitely isn''t my room," Carlos said, squinting at the unfamiliar furnishings.


    When he tried to sit up, he felt something... someone wrapped around him. His heart skipped a beat as he frozen.


    A soft weight pressed against his chest, and a pair of arms were draped loosely over his torso. His breath caught in his throat as he slowly, very slowly, lifted the edge of the nkets to see what, or who, was holding him.


    "..."


    Carlos''s eyes widened as he stared at the figure curled up next to him. Long golden hair spilled across the pillow like a shimmering river, and her delicate feline-like ears twitched slightly as she shifted in her sleep.


    Her bare shoulders peeked out from under the covers, rising and falling with each soft breath she took. Her face, rxed in slumber, looked impossibly serene, and unnervingly familiar.


    "Oh shit¡­" Carlos whispered, his voice barely audible. He felt a cold sweat break out on the back of his neck as the memories ofst night started to trickle back into his mind, though they were blurry at best.


    His inner monologue went into overdrive. "Okay, okay, calm down, Carlos. Think. Don''t panic. Who is this? Oh no¡­ wait. Is this... Sharon?!" He nced again at the sleeping woman, her lynx-like ears twitching slightly as if in response to his racing thoughts. Yep. That''s definitely Sharon. Thedy from the nightclub.

 Chapter 143 Hangover. (2)

    He gulped, his eyes darting around the room, searching for answers or an escape route. "What the hell happenedst night?" He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force the hazy memories into focus.


    He remembered the nightclub... the drinks... Sharon''sughter as they toasted to "distractions"... and then... nothing. Aplete ckout.


    "Crap. Crap. Crap," Carlos muttered under his breath, careful not to wake her. His mind raced through the possibilities. Did we¡­? He didn''t dare finish that thought, his panic doubling at the implications.


    Before he could spiral any further, Sharon stirred beside him, letting out a soft, sleepy hum. Her green cat-like eyes fluttered open, their glow catching the light of the artificial sun.


    For a moment, she seemed disoriented, but then her gazended on Carlos, and a small, amused smile spread across her lips.


    "Good morning, Carlos," she said in a warm, teasing tone, her voice carrying that same melodic charm as the night before.


    Carlos froze, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Uh¡­ good morning, Sharon. Uh¡­ nice weather we''re having?" He stammered, his voice cracking slightly as he desperately tried to find his footing.


    Sharon chuckled softly, propping herself up on one elbow as she regarded him with an amused expression. "You look like you''ve seen a ghost. Rx, darling. You didn''t do anything inappropriate. Well¡­" She trailed off, a yful glint in her eyes. "Mostly."


    Carlos''s face turned a deep shade of red. "What... what does that even mean?" he asked, his voice higher-pitched than usual.


    Sharon stretchedzily, her movements graceful and cat-like as she yawned. "You had a lot to drinkst night. I found you passed out in one of the lounge booths, mumbling something about chocte and rich girls."


    She giggled at the memory, her lynx ears flicking. "You were so pitiful that I couldn''t leave you there. So, I brought you back to my room to keep an eye on you."


    Carlos blinked, processing her words. "Wait¡­ so nothing happened?"


    Sharon raised an eyebrow, her teasing smile widening. "I didn''t say nothing happened." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "But let''s just say you were a perfect gentleman... after you passed out."


    Carlos groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why do I feel like I''m never going to live this down?"


    Sharonughed, sitting up fully now. "Oh, don''t be so dramatic. You were adorable, in a drunken, clueless kind of way. Besides, you did keep me entertained. Not many people talk to me the way you didst night. It was refreshing."


    Carlos peeked at her through his fingers. "Yeah, well, I''m d you had a good time. Meanwhile, I''m over here trying to piece together what''s left of my dignity."


    Sharon stood up, wrapping herself in a silk robe that had been draped over the chair beside the bed. She nced back at him with a mischievous smile. "Oh, don''t worry, Carlos. Your dignity is intact. For now."


    He groaned again, flopping back onto the pillows. "Great. Just great."


    "Now then," Sharon said, her tone shifting to something more casual. "Why don''t you freshen up? There''s a coffee bar downstairs that makes an excellent hangover cure. My treat."


    Carlos sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I don''t have much of a choice, do I?"


    Sharon winked at him. "Nope. Besides, I think you owe me a proper breakfast after all the trouble I went throughst night."


    Carlos stood frozen in the middle of thevish room, staring at the bathroom door Sharon had just closed behind her. The faint sound of running water confirmed that she was about to take a shower. Panic gripped him as the reality of his situation hit him like a freight train.


    "Okay, Carlos, don''t freak out," he muttered to himself. "Maybe nothing happened. Maybe it''s all a misunderstanding. Just breathe¡­" He took a deep breath before immediately activating his arm device.


    "Rex, I need you, man. Come on,e on, answer!" He hissed under his breath as he paced back and forth, the sound of the shower in the background sending his anxiety into overdrive.


    Meanwhile, minutes earlier in another part of the cruiser, Rex was waking up to his own personal nightmare. His head throbbed from the hangover, the dull ache pounding in time with his heartbeat. Groaning, he rubbed his temples before slowly opening his eyes to assess his surroundings.


    "What the hell did I dost night?" Rex muttered, his voice groggy. But as his vision focused, his eyes widened in sheer horror.


    To his left, Ys was sleeping peacefully next to him, her light green hair cascading across the pillows. She waspletely, unmistakably naked.


    And as if that weren''t bad enough, beneath her, pressed snugly against Ys''s body, was Cleo, alsopletely naked, her ck hair fanned out like a halo across the bed. Both women were tangled in the sheets, their soft breaths the only sound in the room.


    Rex stared at the scene in front of him, his jaw dropping. "No way," he whispered, his heart racing. He nced down at himself to confirm the worst: he was also naked.


    His body ached all over, his muscles sore, and his hips throbbing as if he''d been hit by a freight train. His brain tried to process the situation, but the mounting panic wasn''t helping. "No, no, no. This couldn''t have happened. There''s no way this actually happened."


    But the dull, aching protest of his body told him otherwise. His entire lower half felt like it had been put through the wringer. And judging by how deeply Ys and Cleo were still sleeping, with peaceful expressions on their faces, he had a sinking suspicion that things had, in fact, happened.


    Rex ran a hand through his hair, trying toe up with a n. "Alright, alright," he whispered to himself. "Just stay calm. Don''t wake them up. Grab your clothes, sneak out, and pretend this never happened. Yeah, good n."


    He scanned the room, spotting his underwear near the foot of the bed. Slowly, carefully, he slid out from under the sheets, doing his best not to disturb the two sleeping women. Every movement sent a fresh wave of pain through his hips, making him grind his teeth.


    He had just reached his underwear and was about to pick them up when his arm device suddenly lit up, ring an iing call.


    "Shit!" Rex hissed, scrambling to silence the device. But it was toote. The noise had already shattered the serene silence of the room.


    Both Ys and Cleo stirred, their eyes fluttering open at the same time. Rex froze, his hand hovering over the arm device as he realized he was officially out of luck.


    The two women stared at each other, their eyes wide, as the memories of the previous night came flooding back.


    Meanwhile, Rex reluctantly answered the call, keeping his voice low. "Carlos, this is really not a good time."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    On the other end, Carlos was whispering frantically. "You think you have problems? I''m in deep shit over here! I woke up in someone else''s room, and I don''t know how I got here! There''s a woman in the shower right now, man!"


    "Yeah, well, I''m naked in a bed with two women who are also naked, so take a number!" Rex hissed back, still whispering.


    "Wait, WHAT?!" Carlos''s voice rose slightly before he quickly lowered it again. "How the hell did you manage to screw things up that badly?"


    "I don''t know, Carlos!" Rex shot back, ncing nervously at Ys and Cleo, who were now fully awake and staring at each other. "I don''t even remember what happened! Just... just deal with your mess, and I''ll deal with mine!"


    Carlos groaned. "Fine, fine! But don''t die before I figure out what to do!" The line went dead, leaving Rex to face the aftermath of the previous night.


    Back in the room, Ys and Cleo were still processing what had happened. Unlike Rex, they both remembered everything... every detail, every moment, every sensation.


    Cleo''s perfect memory reyed the events of the night with unflinching rity: the way Rex had taken control, how he''d utterly dominated them, how they had practically melted under him, powerless to resist.


    Her cheeks flushed slightly at the thought, though her expression remained calm on the surface.


    Ys, on the other hand, had a mix of emotions swirling in her head. She nced down at Cleo, who was still pinned beneath her, before breaking the silence.


    "Just how long do you n on staying beneath me?" Ys asked, her tone blunt butced with tension.


    Cleo, still staring up at her, maintained her usual poker face. "That depends," she replied coolly. "How long do you n on crushing me with your weight?"


    Rex, still crouched near the foot of the bed, could feel the tension rising. His eyes darted between the two women, and he knew he had to say something before things escted. But before he could speak, Cleo turned her head slightly, her icy golden eyes locking onto Rex.


    "And you," she said, her voice calm but with an edge that sent a shiver down Rex''s spine. "Do you have anything to say for yourself after what you did to usst night?"


    Rex froze, his mind going nk as he struggled to form a coherent sentence. "I, uh¡­ I don''t¡­ I mean, I didn''t¡ªuh.


    Ys sat up slightly, still keeping one hand on Cleo to pin her down. Her green eyes gleamed with mischief, though her voice carried a dangerous undertone. "You don''t remember, do you, darling? Well, we do. Every. single. thing.¡«"


    Rex gulped, feeling the weight of their gazes pressing down on him. His hangover was the least of his worries now.


    I''m so screwed, he thought miserably.

 Chapter 144 Sharon.

    After a few hours of rtive peace, the chaos from both Rex''s and Carlos''s earlier situations had finally settled, well, somewhat. Rex''s room had gone from being an active war zone to a fragile ceasefire, while Carlos somehow managed to keep Sharon entertained withoutpletely losing his mind.


    Now, the group was gathering at the hangar bay, preparing for the second event of the cruise: camping on a pristine, naturally protected world.


    The hangar was bustling with activity as passengers and crew loaded up supplies and prepared for the scenic expedition. Carlos, however, barely had time to admire the spectacle before Rex grabbed him by the neck and dragged him behind a cargo crate, out of earshot of Ys, Cleo, and most importantly Sharon.


    "Hey, man! What the hell?!" Carlos protested, rubbing his neck once Rex released him.


    Rex leaned in, whispering urgently. "Carlos. How did you end up with that woman? And who is she?"


    Carlos nced nervously toward Sharon, who was standing a short distance away, casually chatting with Ys and Cleo as if she didn''t have a care in the world. "I told you, man! I don''t know!" Carlos whispered back.


    "All I remember is meeting her outside the nightclub. We hung out inside, had a great time, and then... poof. ckout. Nothing. Total void after that."


    Rex groaned, running a hand down his face. "So you don''t remember anything? Like, how you ended up in her room?"


    Carlos shook his head helplessly. "Not a damn thing. But she seems like a nicedy, you know? She''s ssy, and she''s been really chill about everything. So why were you in such a panic when you called me earlier?"


    Carlos hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, the thing is..." He leaned closer, lowering his voice even further. "She told me she''s married. And apparently, people are terrified of her husband. Like, they avoid her because of him."


    Rex''s eyes widened. "Married?!" he hissed, ncing at Sharon again. She wasughing softly at something Ys had said,pletely unaware of the two men''s panicked conversation. "Do you have any idea who her husband is?"


    Carlos shrugged helplessly. "I don''t, man! That''s why I called you! Maybe Cleo can look her up or something? You know, do her tech wizard thing?"


    Rex sighed, ncing at his arm device. "Fine. Let me call her and see what she can dig up." He tapped a few buttons, initiating the call. After a moment, Cleo''s calm, neutral voice came through the device.


    "Yes, Rex?" Cleo answered, her tone betraying no hint of the chaos happening in the background.


    "Cleo, I need to talk to you in private. Can youe over here where Carlos and I are?" Rex said, waving his hand so Cleo could see him from across the hangar.


    Cleo''s gaze flicked to him, then to Carlos, whose face was practically radiating distress. "Understood. I''ll be there shortly," she replied before ending the call. Turning to Ys and Sharon, she smiled politely.


    "Ys, can you keep Sharonpany for a moment? Rex and Carlos require my assistance with something."


    Ys, who had been listening intently with her advanced hearing, smirked knowingly. "Sure, I''ll hold down the fort. Just don''t take too long. The transport ships will be taking off soon."


    Cleo raised an eyebrow at Ys''s unusually cooperative response but decided not toment. "Understood," she said before heading over to where Rex and Carlos were waiting.


    "Finally!" Carlos said as Cleo approached. "Cleo, you gotta help me. I''m in deep trouble here."


    Cleo nced between Carlos, who looked like he was on the verge of a meltdown, and Rex, who looked more exasperated than anything. "What exactly is the situation?" she asked, crossing her arms.


    Carlos quickly exined everything: the nightclub, the ckout, waking up in Sharon''s room, and, most importantly, the fact that Sharon was married to someone powerful enough to make people fear even talking to her.


    When he finished, Cleo let out a small sigh, closing her eyes. "Very well. Give me a moment. I''ll ess the relevant databases and see what I can find."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Carlos and Rex watched as Cleo stood perfectly still, her eyes closed as she worked. For several minutes, she said nothing, her expression calm but focused. Then, without warning, she opened her eyes, fixing Carlos with an amused look.


    "Well," Cleo began, her tone carrying a faint hint of mischief, "it seems you''ve managed tond a critical hit, as Rex would say, on one of our less friendly acquaintances."


    Rex and Carlos exchanged confused nces. "What do you mean?" Rex asked.


    Cleo''s lips curled into the faintest of smirks. "The woman you so carelessly spent the night with, Carlos, is none other than Sharon Tameron. She is the wife of the current CEO of Nexum Dynamics."


    The words hung in the air like a grenade waiting to go off.


    Carlos blinked. "Wait, you mean, like, Nexum Dynamics? The megacorp that builds warships and high-tech weapons? Those that want us dead? That Nexum Dynamics?"


    "Affirmative," Cleo replied, her expression perfectly neutral.


    "And to rify, it wasn''t exactly easy to confirm this information. I had to bypass multiple military-grade firewalls, disable tracking programs, and delete several highly advanced viruses just to ess the relevant data. That level of security is only applied to individuals of significant importance."


    Carlos paled, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Oh no."


    Rex groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Cleo, please tell me you''re joking. There''s no way Carlos could''ve been that unlucky."


    Cleo shrugged lightly. "I do not joke about matters of this nature. And yes, he was that unlucky."


    Carlos''s knees nearly gave out. "I... I slept in the same room as the wife of Nexum Dynamics'' CEO?!" His voice cracked as panic overtook him. "Do you know what he''ll do to me if he finds out?!"


    Rex grimaced, patting Carlos on the shoulder. "Yeah, this is bad. Really bad."


    Cleo tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. "On the bright side," she said, "you may have inadvertently created an opportunity. If Sharon holds any influence over her husband, we could potentially use this situation to¡ª"


    "Nope!" Carlos interrupted, shaking his head violently. "Nope, nope, nope! I''m not getting involved in any corporate espionage or sabotage or whatever you''re thinking! I just want to survive this trip without getting assassinated!"


    Rex sighed deeply. "Alright, alright. First thing''s first: we keep this under wraps. No one else finds out about this, got it?"


    Cleo nodded. "Understood. But I would suggest that Carlos maintain a respectful distance from Sharon for the remainder of the trip."


    "Respectful distance?!" Carlos hissed. "I''m staying light-years away from her!"


    As the group prepared to board the transport, Carlos couldn''t shake the feeling that his vacation had taken a very dangerous turn.


    "I don''t think you''ll be able to stay away from her, Carlos," Rex said with a teasing grin as he patted Carlos''s shoulder.


    His hand then gestured toward the far end of the hangar, where Sharon stood, looking effortlessly elegant even in casual camping attire. She was holding a datapad and chatting pleasantly with Ys, her lynx-like ears twitching slightly as sheughed at something.


    Carlos turned to look, his stomach sinking when he realized what Rex was pointing out. "No, no way," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Rex chuckled. "Yep. It looks like Sharon''s on our team for the camping event. Congrattions, buddy. You''ve hit the jackpot."


    Carlos groaned, running a hand down his face. "I can''t believe this... Why me, man? Why does it have to be me?"


    "Haha! Hey, look on the bright side," Rex said as they started walking toward the transport ship. "You delivered the single most powerful hit to one of our enemies. I mean, sleeping in the same room as the wife of Nexum Dynamics'' CEO? That''s next-level sabotage!"


    "Yeah, next-level sabotage that''ll probably get me vaporized," Carlos muttered, shooting Sharon a nervous nce. She caught him looking and gave him a warm smile, waving slightly. He immediately looked away, his face heating up.


    Cleo, walking next to Rex, nced at Carlos with her usual neutral expression, though there was a faint glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "Try not to embarrass yourself too much, Carlos. We''re supposed to be on a peaceful outing, after all."


    "Peaceful?!" Carlos hissed under his breath. "I''m one wrong word away from getting assassinated, and you call this peaceful?"


    Cleo didn''t bother responding, simply stepping onto the transport ship with Rex, leaving Carlos to reluctantly follow.


    Once inside the transport ship, the passengers settled into their designated seats. The interior was spacious andfortable, with padded seats andrge windows offering stunning views of the below.


    The girls, Ys, Cleo, and Sharon, sat on one side, chatting away about various topics while Carlos and Rex sat on the other, their heads bent over their arm devices as they pretended to ignore the ongoing conversation.


    "Why does it feel like my vacation is turning into a survival mission?" Carlos muttered to Rex as he scrolled through his arm device, likely searching for some way to calm his nerves.


    "Could be worse," Rex replied casually, not looking up from his device. "At least she seems to like you. If she didn''t, you''d already be dealing with her husband''s goons right now."


    Carlos shot him a re. "Not helping, Rex. Not helping at all."


    A chime echoed through the cabin, and a cheerful voice from the event announcer came over the inte.


    <<one, two, three!Can you all hear me? Im the guide that will be in charge of you guys! Are you all ready to spend an extraordinary time surrounded by nature?>>

 Chapter 145 Camping.

    << Everyone, please pay attention. We are now beginning the second event of the cruise: a camping adventure on the beautiful protected below us! As you may have noticed, you''ve been ced into teams of five for safety purposes.


    Carlos''s face fell. "Five-person teams? Of course it had to be five," he muttered bitterly, ncing at the "fifth person" on their team: Sharon, who was sitting next to Ys with an air of elegance that seemed wildly out of ce for a camping trip.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    She caught Carlos''s eye again and gave him another warm smile. He quickly looked away.


    Rex stifled augh and gave Carlos a teasing nudge. "Cheer up. At least she doesn''t seem angry aboutst night. If anything, she looks like she''s having fun."


    Carlos groaned. "I''ll trade you ces. You take my seat, my problems, and my team."


    "No deal," Rex replied with a grin.


    << Your transport ship has been equipped with enough resources and tools tost five days, though you will only be staying for three nights and two days. Should you feel unwell or unable to continue, you may contact us using themunicator onboard, and we will arrange for your immediate return.


    The announcer paused for a moment before continuing.


    << With that said, please enjoy the trip. We hope this will be a rxing and memorable experience for all of you!


    The moment the announcement ended, the transport ship''s autopilot engaged, and a soft hum filled the cabin as the ship began its descent. Outside the windows, the vibrant blue-green grewrger as they approached. It was breathtaking, with sprawling forests, shimmering rivers, and mountain ranges bathed in golden sunlight.


    Carlos leaned back in his seat, staring out the window. "I just need to get through this trip without dying. That''s all I''m asking for," he muttered.


    Rex smirked, leaning closer to whisper. "You''ll be fine. Just think of it as a bonding experience."


    Carlos nced at him, deadpan. "If I survive this, you owe me so many drinks."


    "Deal," Rex said with a grin.


    Across the aisle, Ys and Cleo were deep in conversation, though Ys''s sharp hearing meant she was likely eavesdropping on Rex and Carlos. She turned to Sharon with a yful smirk. "So, Sharon, are you excited about camping? I''m sure Carlos will be thrilled to help you set up your tent."


    Sharon giggled, her feline ears twitching slightly. "Oh, I wouldn''t want to trouble him too much. But he does seem like a dependable sort of man, don''t you think?"


    They nced at Carlos, who was pretending not to hear them but was clearly sweating bullets. She smirked. "Oh, definitely. You should rely on him as much as you want."


    Cleo shot Ys a warning nce. "Don''t encourage her, Ys. We''re here to enjoy the event, not cause unnecessary drama."


    "Oh,e on, Cleo," Ys replied, leaning back with a mischievous grin. "A little drama makes everything more fun."


    Rex nced between the girls and Carlos, who looked like he was actively praying for the ship tond so he could escape. Rex shakes his head, chuckling softly.


    The transport ship gently touched down on the lush surface of the, its engines humming softly before powering down. The artificial breeze created by its descent rustled the strange crystalline trees nearby, sending tiny motes of light scattering like fireflies.


    As the doors opened, the warm, earthy smell of the forest greeted them, mixed with the faint metallic tang of the alien environment.


    The announcer''s voice chimed through the transport''s speakers onest time.


    << You will begin your journey approximately two kilometers from the designated camping spot. This short trek is designed to enhance your immersion and allow you to fully experience the natural beauty of the area. Please follow the coordinates on your arm devices to reach your site safely. Have fun, and enjoy the adventure!>>


    Carlos groaned, already feeling the weight of the trek ahead. "Two kilometers? Did we really need the extra hike? Couldn''t they have just dropped us on the spot?"


    Rex ignored his whining and moved to the transport''s cargo chest, opening it to grab their camping supplies. "Quitining and help me get this stuff. We''re carrying the food and water, so make yourself useful."


    "Fine, fine," Carlos said, reluctantly stepping forward to help as Rex dragged out a heavy chest filled with supplies.


    Rex nced at the girls, who were chatting nearby. "Alright, you two," he called out. "You''ll be carrying the camping gear and that thing." He gestured toward a bundle of copsible tents and a strange cylindrical device that looked like a high-tech generator.


    Cleo raised an eyebrow at the mention of "that thing." "The atmospheric regtor?" she asked, her tone sharp.


    "Yeah, that thing," Rex said casually, already hauling the food crate onto his shoulder.


    Cleo sighed but didn''t argue, instead motioning for Ys to help her secure the gear. Ys, of course, looked less than thrilled about carrying anything butplied after a small grumble.


    "Alright," Rex said once everyone was loaded up. "Let''s move. The sooner we get to the site, the sooner we can set up camp."


    The team began their trek through the alien forest, following the glowing path disyed on their arm devices. The world around them was breathtakingly beautiful, almost otherworldly in its perfection.


    The crystalline trees glowed faintly, their leaves refracting the sunlight into delicate rainbows that danced across the forest floor. Patches of bioluminescent fungi grew in clusters at the base of the trees, emitting a soft blue-green glow.


    Above them, the twin moons hung in the vibrant sky, their reflections shimmering faintly in a nearby river. The river itself was mesmerizing, a liquid that looked like molten mercury, faintly shimmering and reflecting the light in strange patterns.


    The air was fresh and cool, carrying a faint floral scent mixed with the earthy smell of the forest.


    Carlos whistled as he looked around, his earlierints forgotten. "Man, this ce is incredible. If it looks this good during the day, I can''t even imagine how it''ll look at night."


    Sharon, who had been quietly taking in the scenery, moved closer to Carlos and gently slipped her arm around his. "It truly is breathtaking," she said, her soft voice tinged with wonder. "I''ve been to many beautiful ces in my life, but this might be one of the most enchanting."


    Carlos, already nervous from what he''d learned about Sharon''s identity, tensed as her arm wrapped around his. But all his rational thoughts quickly melted away when he realized her ample chest was pressing against his arm.


    The warmth of her touch and her proximitypletely short-circuited his brain, leaving him staring dumbly at her for a moment.


    "Uh¡­ yeah," he stammered, trying to regain control of his thoughts. "It''s, um, really nice. We can, um, check it out togetherter tonight... if you want to."


    Sharon let out a soft, melodic giggle, her green cat-like eyes sparkling as she rested her head lightly on his shoulder. "Well, that sounds like a lovely proposition," she said, her voice carrying just a hint of yful teasing.


    Behind them, Rex watched the entire interaction unfold with a mix of amusement and disbelief. Carrying the heavy food cage on his shoulder, he sighed and shook his head. "This guy," Rex muttered to himself, unable to stop a small smirk from creeping onto his face. "He''spletely done for."


    Cleo, walking beside Rex, nced at him briefly. "Do you think he realizes the precarious situation he''s put himself in?" She asked in her usual calm tone, though there was a faint hint of judgment in her voice.


    Rex snorted. "Not even a little. His brain''s clearly been hijacked by... other priorities." He nodded toward Sharon, who was still clinging to Carlos''s arm.


    Cleo frowned slightly, her icy golden eyes narrowing. "This will likely end badly if he doesn''t proceed with caution. Sharon is not an ordinary woman."


    "No kidding," Rex replied, shifting the weight of the food crate. "But hey, maybe this is all part of Carlos''s master n to sabotage Nexum Dynamics from the inside."


    Cleo gave him a t look. "I highly doubt Carlos is capable of formting a ''master n.'' He''s acting on pure instinct. Or rather¡­ recklessness."


    Rex chuckled. "You''re probably right. Still, let''s give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he''ll surprise us."


    "Or he''ll get us all killed," Cleo muttered under her breath.


    Ys, who had been eavesdropping with her enhanced hearing, smirked and called back over her shoulder. "You two really should give Carlos a little more credit. Who knows? Maybe he''s charming enough to pull this off."


    Rex and Cleo exchanged skeptical looks but said nothing more as the group continued their trek.


    As they neared the designated camping site, the alien forest began to open up, revealing a clearing surrounded by crystalline trees and a sparkling stream. The coordinates on their arm devices confirmed that they had arrived.


    Alright, let''s get to work," Rex said, setting down the heavy food crate with a relieved sigh. "Carlos, you set up the fire pit. I''ll handle the supplies. Cleo and Ys, you two take care of the tents and the atmospheric regtor."


    "And what about Sharon?" Carlos asked, ncing nervously at her.


    Rex smirked. "She''s your responsibility, buddy. Good luck."


    Carlos groaned, rubbing his temples. "Great. Just great."


    Sharon, meanwhile, watched the group with a serene smile, clearly enjoying the dynamic. "Don''t worry, Carlos," she said, cing a hand on his shoulder. "I''m sure you''ll do wonderfully."


    As the group began setting up camp, Rex couldn''t help but nce back at Carlos and Sharon every so often, shaking his head with a mix of pity and amusement.


    This is going to be one hell of a camping trip, Rex thought.

 Chapter 146 Camping. (2)

    After some effort, the campsite was finallyplete, a harmonious mix of futuristic technology and traditional camping vibes. Hovernterns floated above, casting a soft, warm glow across the clearing.


    At the center of the camp was a holographic fire pit, a brilliant piece of tech that projected flickering mes while doubling as a heat source.


    Though itcked the smoky aroma of a real fire, Cleo had insisted on adding authentic crackling sounds for ambiance, programming it herself to replicate the soothing noise of burning wood.


    Due to the''s unique ecosystem, burning the native wood was strictly forbidden, not to mention dangerous, as it could release toxic fumes. To preserve the camping experience as much as possible, the provided holo-fire pit and other camping gear were state-of-the-art, creating the perfect blend of nature andfort.


    Carlos stretched his arms as he sat back on one of the copsible chairs, admiring their handiwork. "Alright, everything''s set up. This ce looks perfect," he said, clearly proud of the teamwork that went into building their little temporary home.


    Rex flopped onto the ground, propping his head up on a nearby rock. "Okay, now what? We''ve got everything ready, and we''re here for three nights. What are we even supposed to do to kill the time? Anyone got any ideas?"


    Sharon, who had been gently brushing dirt off her outfit, looked around thoughtfully. "Hmm, I have to admit, this is my first time camping like this. I''m not sure what people usually do in these situations," she said, her feline ears twitching as she scanned the forest.


    Ys perked up, her green eyes gleaming with excitement. "What if we go hunting? The native species on this must be fascinating, and I''d love to bag a few trophies!" She rubbed her hands together, clearly thrilled at the idea.


    Cleo immediately shot her a sharp re. "We can''t," she said firmly. "This is a protected world. Hunting is strictly forbidden." She crossed her arms and added with a cutting edge to her tone, "But I guess a princess like you wouldn''t care about rules, would you? Or the delicate bnce of ecosystems, for that matter."


    She rolled her eyes and smirked. "Oh,e on, Cleo. Don''t pretend you''re worried about the ecosystem. You''re just scared I''d catch something cooler than anything you''ve ever done."


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "No, I''m worried you''d destroy half the forest while trying to catch it. You race have a reputation, after all."


    The tension between the two women crackled like an actual fire, but Rex decided to nip it in the bud by ignoring them entirely. Turning to Carlos, he said, "What about you, Carlos? Got any brilliant ideas for how to pass the time?"


    Carlos rubbed his chin deep in thought before a mischievous grin spread across his face. "How about we tell some stories? I mean, it''s nighttime, we''ve got a fire... well, sort of, and it''s the perfect setting for some spooky tales. What better way to spend the evening?"


    Rex''s eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Damn, that''s actually a solid idea! I''m in!" He quickly sat up and moved to sit closer to the holo-fire pit, patting the ground next to him.


    "I think that sounds fascinating," Sharon said as she gracefully sat down next to Carlos. Her green eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I''ve never told campfire stories before. I''d love to hear some."


    "Me too, darling," Ys said, plopping down on Rex''s other side with a sly grin.


    Cleo silently joined the group, taking her seat with her usual air ofposure.


    "Alright," Carlos said, pping his hands together. "Who''s going first?"


    Rex smirked, leaning back. "You brought up the idea, so you should go first. It''s only fair."


    Carlos groaned. "Fine, but I''m warning you, I stink at telling stories. Don''t me me if it''s not scary."


    "Don''t worry," Cleo interjected, pulling out a small, round device from her pack. "I have just the thing to help. This is an audio-holo projector. You describe the story, and it''ll generate visuals based on what you''re saying. Think of it as a way to bring your story to life."


    Carlos leaned forward, intrigued. "Oh? That sounds awesome. How does it work?"


    Cleo activated the device, and a soft hum filled the air as a faint holographic mist emerged from it. She began narrating an example story, describing a magical forest filled with fantastical creatures.


    The projector instantly created a vivid 4D image, disying glowing trees, mythical beasts, and even a light drizzle that seemed to hang in the air around them.


    "Wow¡­" Sharon said, her mouth slightly open as she watched the holographic forest shimmer and shift before her. "This is incredible! Where did you get it? I need one of these in my life."


    Cleo smiled faintly, her inner saleswoman shining through. "It''s still in its beta phase and not avable for public purchase yet. But if you''d like, I can order one for you as a gift. All I''d ask is that you help us promote it. A rmendation from someone like you would go a long way."


    Sharon beamed. "You''ve got yourself a deal! Let me add you to my contacts, little Cleo."


    As the two exchanged contact information, Rex couldn''t help but grin. "Well, it looks like Cleo''s already making business deals during our camping trip. ssic."


    Carlos cleared his throat, standing up and cracking his knuckles. "Alright, fine. Let''s see what this thing can do. I''ll try my best to scare the pants off you guys."


    The group settled in closer to the fire, their anticipation growing as the night deepened and the strange, alien forest around them seemed to close in. The twin moons above bathed the clearing in an eerie glow, setting the perfect stage for Carlos''s first attempt at a campfire tale.


    "Alright," Carlos began, his voice lowering dramatically. "This is the story of the haunted mining ship Eclipse."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The projector hummed softly, the mist swirling as it began forming shapes in response to Carlos''s words.


    Rex smirked, leaning forward with a grin. "This better be good, Carlos. Don''t embarrass yourself."


    Carlos rolled his eyes. "Shut up and let me work my magic."


    Carlos leaned closer to the holo-fire pit, his face lit up by the flickering glow of the holographic mes as he began his story. His voice dropped an octave, carrying a mix of drama and tension that immediately caught everyone''s attention.


    "This mission took ce not long after I became the boss of the Thunderdes," he began, his tone heavy with foreboding.


    "The request seemed simple enough: head to a crashed trading ship, secure the cargo, and deliver it to the ship''s owner back in the city. Easy, right? That''s what I thought too. Everything looked straightforward, until we got there."


    Carlos paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. The small holo-projector Cleo had set up responded to his voice, creating a 4D hologram of arge, smoking wreckage surrounded by an eerie wastnd.


    "So," he continued, leaning back slightly, "I put together a team and headed out to the crash site. By the time we arrived, the wreck had already been sitting there for three days."


    "There were no fires left, just the scorched husk of the ship smoldering in the distance. But with the risk of radiation hanging in the air, we didn''t take any chances; we suited up in power armor before we even got close."


    The hologram shifted, showing a group of armored figures approaching the wreckage. The forest around them was quiet now, everyone drawn into the vivid imagery of Carlos''s tale.


    "The ship''s interior was exactly what you''d expect after a crash like that, burned-out walls, twisted metal, debris everywhere. It looked like a damn oven in there, the heat from the crash cooking everything. But as we moved deeper into the ship, things started to get... weird."


    Carlos leaned forward, lowering his voice for effect. "At first, it was the bodies. Crew members or what was left of them, anyway, lying all over the ce, burned so badly their skin had turned to charcoal. Most of us were used to seeing bad stuff on missions, but this... He shook his head, letting the memory hang in the air.


    The projector shifted, creating ghostly images of charred bodies strewn across the floor of the wreck.


    "Then one of my men pointed something out, something we''d missed at first." Carlos''s voice dropped to a whisper, and the campfire flickered as if reacting to his tone.


    "The bodies weren''tplete. Arms, legs, even parts of their torsos¡­ gone. It wasn''t just the crash that tore them apart. There were bite marks all over them."


    "Bite marks?" Sharon asked, her feline ears twitching as she hugged her knees to her chest.


    Carlos nodded grimly. "Yeah. Even with their skin burned to coal, you could still see the bite marks, deep, jagged, and deliberate. Like something had been... eating them."


    The group shivered slightly as the holo-projector disyed a burned body with unsettlingly clear bite marks etched into its flesh.


    Carlos gave them a moment before continuing. "While we were busy checking the bodies, none of us noticed something was wrong until we heard the sound of metal echoing through the wreck."


    The projector recreated the sound, a sickening metallic ng followed by a heavy thud.


    "One of my men copsed onto the floor right behind us. At first, we thought maybe he''d tripped or passed out from the heat. But when we turned him over... " Carlos paused for dramatic effect, his voice heavy with dread.


    "He was already dead. And just like the crew, his chest had been ripped open, his heart and lungs were gone."


    The hologram showed a shadowy figure lying in a pool of blood, his chest cavity disturbingly hollow.


    "That was when everything went to hell," Carlos said, shaking his head.


    "Some of my men panicked. One of them bolted, screaming something about how we were all going to die. I yelled after him to stop ande back, but he didn''t listen. Secondster, we heard the sound of gunfire, then his screams... then silence."

 Chapter 147 Camping.(3)

    The projector''s mist swirled, forming the ghostly outline of a shadowy hallway filled with faint, distant echoes of gunshots and screams.


    "I ordered the rest of my team to move fast. We ran to where we''dst heard him, and when we got there... Carlos''s expression darkened. "It was already toote. His body was crumpled on the ground, and his chest hollowed out like the others. But then we saw it. Him."


    "Him?" Rex asked, leaning in, his voice edged with curiosity and unease.


    Carlos nodded, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "In the shadows at the edge of the hallway, there it was, a humanoid figure. At least, it looked humanoid at first. But it was twisted, wrong. It had long, gangly limbs, with legs and arms so oversized they looked like they didn''t belong on a person. It was moving on all fours, slowly, like some kind of stalking predator."


    The projector disyed a dark, shadowy corridor, and in the distance, the blurry outline of a humanoid figure on all fours could be seen, its glowing eyes faintly visible in the dark.


    Carlos''s voice grew quieter, more intense. "It stopped and stared at us. Its eyes glowed faintly in the dark, like an animal watching its prey. And it didn''t move, not at first. It just crouched there, waiting, sizing us up."


    The group around the fire was silent now, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. The hologram shifted to show the creature''s glowing eyes fixating on the team.


    Ys broke the silence, her voice filled with excitement rather than fear. "And then what happened? Did you kill it?"


    Carlos shook his head. "Not yet. We froze. We didn''t know what the hell we were dealing with, and I wasn''t about to start a fight with something that had already ripped through two of my men without a sound. We stood there, weapons raised, staring it down."


    He paused again, ncing at the group. "And that''s when it smiled."


    "Smiled?" Cleo asked, her normally calm tone tinged with disbelief.


    Carlos nodded, his voice grim. "Yeah. It bared its teeth, wide and sharp, like it was enjoying the fact that we were scared. And then, before we could do anything, it disappeared into the dark."


    The projector showed the creature vanishing into the shadows; its glowing eyes were thest thing to fade.


    Carlos leaned back, exhaling heavily. "That''s when I knew we were screwed. Whatever that thing was, it wasn''t human anymore. And it wasn''t just hunting us; it was toying with us."


    Carlos leaned closer to the holo-fire, his voice taking on a graver tone as the tension around the campsite grew. The projected holograms shifted in response to his words, showing shadowy figures lurking in the burned corridors of the crashed ship.


    "Some of my men couldn''t handle it anymore," Carlos continued, his eyes narrowing as if recalling the vivid memory.


    "The fear... it was too much for them. They raised their electric rifles and started shooting at the creature. The shots hit it; I''ll give them that. The bullets tore through its flesh, spilling dark, inky blood all over the floor."


    The holo-projector responded, showing a distorted humanoid figure jerking under the impact of rifle fire, ck liquid spraying against the walls.


    "But here''s the thing," Carlos said, leaning back slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "That damn thing didn''t flinch. It didn''t scream or retreat. It just stood there, taking the shots, and staring at us with that terrible smile on its face."


    The projector rendered the creature''s haunting smile, an unnaturally wide grin full of sharp, gleaming teeth, with glowing eyes that radiated malice.


    Carlos took a deep breath. "And in that moment, I thought, ''Oh sh*t. We''re so dead.'' Because I''ve seen enemies like that before, the kind that take a beating just to get your hopes up, only to regenerate their injuries like it''s nothing. And that smile? That was the smile of something that knew it was going to win."


    The campsite was eerily quiet now, the sound of the holographic crackling fire the only thing breaking the silence.


    "So," Carlos said, straightening up slightly, "I did what any smart man would do when faced with something like that." He smirked faintly and tapped his chest.


    "I used the adrenaline shot built into my power armor, turned tail, and ran like hell. And while I was at it, I screamed at my team to do the same."


    Rex, who had been sipping water from a canteen, choked on his drink. "What?! That''s what I taught you?!"


    Carlos grinned sheepishly. "Well, you always told me, ''If it looks like a losing fight, live to fight another day.'' So¡­ yeah. I took your advice."


    Ys burst outughing, clutching her stomach. "Oh, Carlos, you''re priceless. Running away while yelling at your men to follow, ssic leadership material!"


    Cleo, however, simply raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Running away is a viable tactic if it saves lives. Did it?"


    Carlos''s smirk faded slightly as his tone grew somber again. "Not for everyone." He looked at the fire, his gaze distant.


    "We ran for our lives, sprinting through those dark corridors, and that thing just... let us go. It didn''t chase us. Not right away, anyway. Maybe it was just watching, enjoying the sight of us panicking. I don''t know."


    The holograms shifted, showing the frantic team rushing through the twisted halls of the crashed ship, their shlights bouncing wildly in the dark.


    "But when we finally made it to the cargo bay," Carlos continued, his voice heavy, "that''s when things went from bad to worse. The cargo containers we were supposed to secure? They were destroyed. Torn open like tin cans. And on top of them..." He paused, letting the tension build.


    The projector shifted, showing broken cargo containers littered across a massive room. On top of them, shadowy, humanoid figures crouched like predators.


    "There weren''t just one or two creatures anymore," Carlos said, his voice shaking slightly. "There were twenty of them. Maybe more. All of them just like the one we saw before: long limbs, glowing eyes, and that same twisted smile."


    The hologram intensified, showing the horrifying sight of dozens of glowing eyes staring hungrily at the team from the darkness.


    "When they noticed us," Carlos continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "they didn''tugh like the first one. They didn''t toy with us. They just stared. And the hunger in their eyes." He shivered slightly. "Even now, I still remember it. It was the kind of look that chills your blood."


    Sharon hugged her knees tighter, her feline ears ttening slightly. "What did you do?" she asked softly.


    Carlos let out a bitterugh. "What do you think I did? I knew we were outnumbered, so I took out my hammer and prepared to go down swinging. I told my men to hold the line, but..." He shook his head.


    "They didn''t stand a chance. The creatures charged us all at once, and it was chaos. My men started dropping one after another. They didn''t even have time to scream."


    The projector disyed a horrifying scene, the creatures leaping from the shadows, overwhelming the team in a brutal, frenzied attack. The sounds of gunfire, screams, and metal tearing filled the air as the holographic figures fought desperately for survival.


    Carlos clenched his fists, his voice trembling slightly. "My power armor shields held out just long enough for me to stay alive. I swung my hammer like a madman, taking out as many of those things as I could. But there were just too many. I thought I was done for... until reinforcements finally arrived."


    The hologram shifted, showing a team of heavily armed soldiers sting their way into the cargo bay. Explosions rocked the scene as the reinforcements fired heavy weapons, cutting down several of the creatures.


    "My special unit breached the cargo bay, blowing a hole in the wall to get in," Carlos said. "With their firepower, we managed to kill some of the creatures. But not all of them. The rest of the bastards ran through the new hole, escaping into the wilderness outside."


    The projection showed the remaining creatures fleeing into the dark, their glowing eyes disappearing one by one.


    "And just like that," Carlos said, letting out a long breath, "it was over. The mission was a bust, the cargo was destroyed, most of my team was dead, and we had no idea what the hell those things even were."


    The group around the fire was silent, hanging on to Carlos''s every word.


    "After we got back to the city," Carlos continued, "I tried contacting the guy who''d hired us to secure the cargo. But guess what? He''d vanished. No trace of him anywhere. It turns out someone had been spying on us the whole time. The moment we realized the mission waspromised, the contact erased all their information and disappeared."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Cleo frowned, her gaze sharpening. "A cover-up."


    "Exactly," Carlos said, nodding. "We reported the creatures to the city guards, but as far as I know, no one''s ever seen them again. At least not in the city. Every now and then, I check in with the guards to see if there''ve been any sightings, but the answer''s always the same: nothing."


    Sharon tilted her head, her green eyes wide. "Do you think they''re still out there? On the?"


    Carlos stared at the fire, his expression dark. "Oh, they''re out there. Somewhere. And if anyone''s unlucky enough to cross their path..." He shook his head. "Let''s just say I hope they''re faster runners than I was."


    The holo-fire crackled softly as Carlos finished his tale, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air.


    "Well," Rex said after a moment, breaking the silence, "remind me never to take a job from you, Carlos."


    The group let out a nervousugh, though the unease lingered. Somewhere out there, on some distant, those creatures were still waiting... and hunting.

 Chapter 148 Cooperation

    While Rex and his crew were enjoying their time aboard the luxury cruiser, Nyra and Lyra were embarking on a very different kind of mission.


    At Cleo''s request, the twins had traveled to the bustlingmercial world of Nakor to assist Emilia with a problem she was facing in the underground city, a problem Cleo had deemed significant enough to require the twins direct involvement.


    After several days of navigating the wormhole aboard the sleek private frigate Cleo had gifted them, the twins finally arrived. The frigate docked smoothly in the underground city''s private docking zone, its crimson lights cutting through the dim industrial haze of the station.


    Waiting for them on the tform was Emilia, dressed impably in her usual maid uniform,plete with her pristine white headpiece. She stood with her hands sped in front of her, radiating her usualposed, authoritative presence.


    As the transport vessel''s ramp descended, Nyra was the first to bound down the steps, her energy infectious. "Emilia! It''s so nice to see you again!" She called, running up to embrace the maid warmly.


    Behind her, Lyra followed at a slower, more reserved pace, bowing slightly from a distance. She wasn''t as ustomed to physical contact as her sister, preferring her own quiet brand of politeness.


    "Wee back, youngdies," Emilia said warmly, returning Nyra''s hug with a small, patient smile. Her sharp eyes flicked briefly to the six members of the Blood n who followed behind the twins, their presence adding an air of quiet menace to the group.


    Nyra released her hug, her crimson eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, what''s the problem, Emi? Teacher didn''t tell us anything about it, just that you''d exin the details once we arrived."


    Emilia straightened her posture, her expression bing more serious. "It''s a delicate matter," she replied, lowering her voice slightly. "We shouldn''t discuss it out here. Please follow me to the mansion. We can talk more freely in themand room."


    "Okay!" Nyra said cheerfully, while Lyra nodded silently. The twins fell into step behind Emilia, their Blood n escorts shadowing them with military precision.


    The twins couldn''t help but take in sight of the mansion as they entered. Despite its luxurious design, the atmosphere was notably tense. The corridors were crawling with heavily armed guards who moved with purpose, their patrols carefully coordinated.


    The security presence was much more intense than thest time the twins had visited, which made them exchange a quick, knowing nce.


    After a brief elevator ride, they arrived on the third floor, where themand room was located. The room was dominated by arge, high-tech holo table in the center, surrounded by chairs and monitors that lined the walls, constantly feeding data and surveince footage.


    Inside, they weren''t alone. Sitting at one of the chairs near the table was Li, the leader of the human army that had allied with Cleo and Rex. She was sipping from a steaming cup of something that smelled faintly like herbal tea.


    Standing behind her were two imposing guards d in ck and red armor, their visors glowing faintly with red energy.


    Li noticed the twins as soon as they entered, and for a moment, her usually calm expression faltered as her blue-gray eyes widened slightly in surprise. She wasn''t easily impressed, but the twins were a sight to behold.


    Nyra''s confident demeanor and bright golden eyes, paired with Lyra''s quiet grace and silvery gaze, created an almost ethereal aura around them. There was a charm to them, an almost hypnotic allure that could overwhelm anyone whocked strong mental defenses. For a moment, even Li found herself slightly captivated.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    But as a leader, Li was quick to regain herposure, setting down her tea with a soft clink.


    Before anyone could speak, Emilia stepped forward, her professional tone cutting through the room''s charged atmosphere. "Now that everyone has arrived, let me begin with introductions," she said, gesturing toward each side of the table.


    "To my right, we have Lady Li," Emilia began. "She is the leader of a human army and a trusted ally of Lady Cleo and Lord Rex."


    Li offered the twins a warm smile. "Hello there, girls," she said in her usual friendly tone, her hands resting lightly on the table.


    Nyra, always the bolder of the two, gave her a slight nod of acknowledgment, though her crimson eyes were scanning Li with a curiosity that was hard to miss. Lyra, on the other hand, looked down shyly, barely managing to whisper, "Hello," as she kept her gaze averted.


    Emilia continued without missing a beat. "And to my left, we have the youngdies Nyra and Lyra. They are disciples of Lady Cleo and have been sent here to assist with the matter at hand."


    "Disciples of Cleo, huh?" Li said, her smile widening as her curiosity grew. "Well, I''m d to finally meet you both. I''ve heard quite a bit about you."


    Nyra tilted her head, her curiosity now openly evident. "All good things, I hope," she replied with a yful grin.


    "Of course," Li said smoothly, taking another sip of her tea.


    Lyra stayed quiet, fidgeting slightly as she shifted closer to Nyra forfort.


    Seeing that the introductions had run their course, Emilia pped her hands lightly to draw everyone''s attention. "Now that we''re all acquainted, let''s get down to business. I''ll exin the situation in full so we''re all on the same page."


    She turned toward the holo table and activated it with a gesture, causing the room to dim slightly as the table''s surface came to life. A 3D hologram appeared, showing a map of the underground city with several sections marked in red. As the projection spun slowly, everyone''s expressions grew more serious.


    "This," Emilia said, pointing to the glowing red areas, "is where the recent disturbances have been concentrated. Over the past few weeks, we''ve had reports of several disappearances in these zones, workers, residents, even a few members of our security forces. Normally, I''d write this off as typical underground city crime, but..."


    She zoomed in on one of the highlighted areas, revealing footage of a shadowy figure moving through a dark alleyway. The image was blurry, but the figure''s unnaturally elongated limbs and glowing red eyes were unmistakable.


    "The nature of these incidents suggests something far more borated. Our initial investigations revealed signs of unknown forces lurking in these areas. They''re fast, silent, and leave almost no traces behind. If this sounds familiar,"


    She said, ncing at Nyra and Lyra, "It''s because their descriptions match the enemies Rex and Carlos encountered during their first days on the."


    Nyra''s yful grin faded instantly. "Wait¡­ those things are here?"


    Lyra''s crimson eyes widened in rm, her hand clutching her sister''s sleeve. "But... I thought they were supposed to be searching on another since we already left here."


    "Apparently, they''ve made their way here," Emilia said grimly. "And they''re using the underground city as their hunting grounds."


    Li folded her hands, her expression serious but calm. "Which is why we''ve called you here. Lady Cleo believes that you, along with myself and my forces, are uniquely suited to deal with this threat."


    Emilia nodded. "Exactly. You''ll be working together to eliminate these enemies and ensure the safety of the city."


    Nyra cracked her knuckles, a dangerous glint returning to her crimson eyes. "Well, that''s all I needed to hear. Let''s hunt these bastards down."


    Lyra hesitated, her voice soft but steady. "If they''re like the ones Carlos fought... we''ll need to be careful."


    Li smirked slightly. "Careful, yes. But with ourbined skills, I''m confident we can handle them."


    Emilia crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping over the group. "Good. Then let''s get to work."


    With the preparationsplete, the group set out in three heavily armored vehicles, specially designed for missions requiring stealth and durability. Flying in on ships was deemed too risky since any aerial approach would likely alert the enemies, giving them time to scatter or burrow deeper into hiding.


    Ground vehicles offered the advantage of discretion, and these cars, built in Li''s factories, were top of the line.


    Each car was equipped with reinforced armor, energy shields, and noise-dampening tech to keep their approach as silent as possible. The first car carried the Blood n assassins, their presence exuding quiet lethality.


    The middle car housed the twins, Nyra and Lyra, along with Li and her two personal guards. Thest car trailed close behind, carrying Li''s elite Techno Knights, battle-hardened soldiers equipped with advanced exosuits and weaponry designed for urbanbat.


    The convoy moved quietly through the dim,byrinthine roads of the underground city, the eerie stillness of the environment heightening the tension.


    Despite the vehicles silent operation, the oppressive air of the underground weighed on them, the dim neon lights of the city casting long, flickering shadows on the cracked concrete walls.


    Inside the middle car, Nyra leaned back in her seat, her crimson eyes flicking toward Li, who sat across from her with her usualposed smile. Behind Li, her two guards sat inplete silence, their ck-and-red armor reflecting the dim light from the dashboard.


    Nyra crossed her arms, breaking the silence. "So, Li, right? Why haven''t you guys been able to deal with these enemies yet? I mean, you''ve got Aegis units backing you up, and those things are practically walking death machines."


    Li''s smile didn''t falter, though there was a faint trace of frustration in her otherwise calm demeanor. "Because these enemies aren''t just mindless beasts," she said, her voice level.


    "They''re highly intelligent and exceptionally skilled at evasion. They know theyout of the underground city better than we do. Every time we''ve closed in on them, they''ve either ambushed us or vanished entirely before we could finish the job."


    Nyra tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. "What do you mean, ''vanished''? Don''t the Aegis units have advanced tracking systems? Thermal imaging, motion detection, all that fancy tech?"


    Li nodded. "They do. And the enemies have somehow found ways to counter it. They''ve been targeting and destroying our tracking drones, jamming our signals, and evenying traps for our squads. It''s¡­ unprecedented."


    Her smile softened, though her eyes were still sharp. "Even some of the Aegis units that tried to track them have been destroyed. And that''s no small feat."


    Nyra let out an annoyed huff, tapping her fingers against the car''s interior. "Tch. These guys sound like a pain. If we already know they''re from Nexum Dynamics, wouldn''t it make more sense to hit the source? Go after their buildings or their factories instead of chasing these inferiors around the city?"


    Li chuckled lightly at Nyra''s impatience

 Chapter 149 Cooperation. (2)

    "You sound like someone who''s used to taking direct action. Unfortunately, that''s not an option, at least not yet." Li leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on her knees.


    "Attacking a megacorporation like Nexum Dynamics outright would be suicide. Their resources, their private armies, their political connections... Even with Lady Cleo and Lord Rex backing us, we simply aren''t strong enough to handle the retaliation they''d unleash. Not yet."


    Lyra, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her soft voice cutting through the tension. "So... this is about endurance. Wearing them down little by little."


    Li nced at her, her smile growing slightly. "Exactly. For now, all we can do is endure. Take out their operatives here, disrupt their ns as much as possible, and survive long enough to build our strength. Every enemy we kill weakens their grip on this city, even if only by a fraction."


    Nyra scowled, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. "Hmph. It feels like we''re just ying defense. I hate defense."


    Li chuckled again. "I can see that. But patience is as much a weapon as any de, youngdy. And trust me, there wille a time when we''ll strike at Nexum Dynamics directly. When that timees, I''ll dly have you by my side."


    Nyra''s expression softened slightly, though she still looked annoyed. "Fine. But don''t expect me to sit still forever."


    Lyra nced at her sister, then at Li, her silver eyes filled with quiet determination. "We''ll help however we can."


    Li nodded approvingly. "I''m d to have you both here. With your abilities, I''m confident we can finally turn the tide."


    The car hit a slight bump as the convoy continued down the winding road, the dim glow of the underground city lights flickering through the windows.


    Outside, the environment began to shift; the clean, industrial architecture of the upper levels gave way to darker, more decrepit surroundings. The air felt heavier here, the shadows deeper, as if the very walls of the city were watching them.


    Li nced at her wrist device, pulling up a 3D map of their destination. "We''re almost there. Once we arrive, the Blood n will take point and scout ahead. The Techno Knights will secure the perimeter, and we''ll be ready to move in."


    Nyra cracked her knuckles, her crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Finally. I''ve been itching to get some action."


    Lyra stayed quiet but ced a hand on her sister''s shoulder, her touch grounding her slightly.


    Li smiled faintly. "Just remember, these enemies are dangerous. Don''t underestimate them, no matter how many of us there are."


    The convoy slowed as they approached their destination, the vehiclesing to a stop in a wide, deste section of the underground city. The surrounding buildings were crumbling, their windows shattered, and the air was thick with dust.


    As the group disembarked from their vehicles, the Blood n assassins immediately melted into the shadows, their presence almost imperceptible. The Techno Knights took up defensive positions around the convoy, their exosuits humming softly as they powered up their weapons.


    Li turned to the twins, her expression serious now. "Alright. This is where it begins. Let''s find these creatures and put an end to them."


    Nyra grinned, drawing her dual des. "Oh, I''m ready."


    Lyra took a deep breath, her hands glowing faintly with energy as she prepared herself. "Let''s make sure we all make it back."


    As the team moved into the darkened streets, the faint sounds of the city faded behind them, reced by an eerie silence that seemed to stretch endlessly.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Everyone, be on high alert," Limanded, her voice calm but firm as her eyes swept across their surroundings.


    "The enemies we''re facing are Void Assassins. They''re not run-of-the-mill threats. These bastards are elusive, highly coordinated, and very, very dangerous. Report any movement or suspicious¡ª"


    Before she could finish, a deafening explosion ripped through the air, cutting off her words. The first st erupted beneath the road where their convoy had stopped, sending chunks of concrete and metal flying like deadly rockets. Almost simultaneously, additional explosions detonated in the nearby abandoned buildings.


    The sts were coordinated perfectly, bringing the decrepit structures down in a catastrophic chain reaction. Massive chunks of debris tumbled down like meteors, raining destruction on the team.


    "Shit!" Nyra yelled, her instincts kicking in. She reached out for her sister. "Sis!"


    Lyra immediately grabbed Nyra''s hand, her crimson eyes glowing faintly as their connection ignited. The twins'' synchronized powers surged, their blood thrumming withtent energy.


    "Blood dome!" Nyra shouted, and the two of them wove a protective dome of crimson energy around themselves and those nearest to them, including Li and her guards.


    The dome shimmered with a bloody hue, its surface alive with swirling currents of nanomachines mixed into the twins unique blood.


    Cleo''s engineering brilliance had enhanced their abilities, making the dome strong enough to withstand both the crushing weight of debris and the concussive force of the explosions.


    The sts tore through the air for what felt like an eternity. mes roared, the ground quaked, and the falling debris smashed down against the bubble, but it held firm.


    When the explosions finally subsided, a strange, eerie silence settled over the area. The dome pulsed once before retracting, its surface splitting as bright red tentacles shot outward, piercing through the debris to clear a path.


    Nyra stepped out first, her crimson broadsword in hand, its de glinting ominously in the dim light. The blood-red tendrils receded behind her as she scanned the area, her crimson eyes glowing faintly with an unnatural light.


    "Do you see anything, sis?" Nyra asked, her voice low and tense.


    Lyra emerged behind her, four glistening red tentacles writhing and flexing from her back like living extensions of herself. She turned her crimson gaze across the rubble, her expression calm but focused.


    "Nothing," Lyra replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Her tentacles coiled protectively, ready tosh out at the first sign of danger.


    Nyra nced down at the hole left behind by the copsed debris. "You guys okay down there, or do you need some help to climb out?" She called down.


    A faint metallic nk echoed from below as one of Li''s guards activated their exosuit. "No need for that," Li''s voice replied, smooth as ever. "We can manage on our own, but thank you for the offer."


    Secondster, Li emerged, carried effortlessly by her brother. Using the gravitational boosters built into their techno armor, he leaped out of the pit with powerful, calcted movements. His boots emitted faint pulses of energy as he ascended in three smooth jumps,nding gracefully on solid ground.


    The other guard followed close behind, her exosuit humming softly as she cleared the debris with the same efficiency. Once on the surface, Li''s brother gently set her down. Without hesitation, he pulled a metallic rod from his back.


    The device unfolded with a smooth, mechanical hiss, transforming into apact, high-tech shield. A honeb-like energy barrier shimmered to life over its surface, ready to absorb iing attacks.


    The other guard mirrored his actions, her shield deploying with the same precision. Together, they formed a protective circle around Li, their stances disciplined and unyielding.


    "How are your losses?" Li asked, her tone calm but edged with urgency as she nced toward the twins.


    Nyra smirked, resting her broadsword on her shoulder with a casual air. "Losses? None." Her voice carried an edge of pride. "Don''t worry about us. Our people are harder to kill than roaches."


    Lyra winced slightly, ncing at her sister. "Sis¡­ I don''t think they like beingpared to roaches."


    From the shadows near the rubble, one of the Blood n assassins emerged, his glowing red eyes narrowing slightly. "We can hear you, you know," he muttered dryly, though there was no real malice in his voice.


    Nyra waved him off with a grin. "I meant it as apliment! You guys are survivors, right?"


    The assassin didn''t reply, instead vanishing back into the shadows with a faint huff.


    Li stepped forward, brushing dust from her uniform as she surveyed the area. The once-stable road was now a jagged wastnd of craters and rubble, and the surrounding buildings were reduced to smoking ruins.


    "This was a trap," Li said, her eyes narrowing as she studied the carnage. "They knew we wereing. They''ve been watching us."


    Nyra twirled her broad sword, the weapon''s edge glinting ominously. "If they wanted to scare us, they''d have to try harder than this."


    Lyra, still scanning the area, frowned. "This wasn''t just to scare us. It was to iste us. Split us up. If we''re not careful, they''ll pick us off one by one."


    Li nodded in agreement, her sharp gaze flicking toward the shadows. "You''re right. Stay close. Everyone, maintain formation and keep your eyes open. Void Assassins thrive in chaos. Don''t give them what they want."


    As if on cue, a faint, unnatural clicking sound echoed from the rubble. It was soft, almost imperceptible, but enough to send a chill down their spines.


    Did you hear that?" Lyra asked, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Nyra''s eyes gleamed with excitement as she tightened her grip on her sword. "Oh, I heard it. It looks like the party''s about to start, and we were the guests of honor."


    From the shadows, shapes began to emerge: twisted, humanoid figures with elongated limbs and glowing red eyes.


    Their movements were unnaturally smooth, almost serpentine, as they slithered closer. Each of them carried jagged, curved des that shimmered faintly with an eerie, violet energy.


    Void Assassins.

 Chapter 150 Cooperation (3)

    The battle erupted into chaos as the Void Assassins made their move. Their reputation as relentless killers was well-deserved; the way they darted in and out of stealth with seamless precision made them a nightmare to deal with.


    Their attacks came in swift, coordinated waves; one assassin would retreat just as another leaped forward to strike, creating a relentless rhythm of attack and vanish.


    "Sis! They''re so annoying! I can''t hit them properly! Do something!" Lyra yelled, her voice tinged with frustration as she narrowly dodged a de aimed for her neck.


    Her red tentaclesshed out in response, trying to grab the assassin, but the figure dissolved into stealth before she couldnd a blow.


    "What do you want me to do?!" Nyra shouted back, her voice equally exasperated.


    "It''s even harder for me!" She spun around just in time to block a dagger aimed at her back, the de bouncing off the honeb-shaped energy shield generated by her nanofiber clothing.


    "Annoying mosquito!" Nyra growled, swinging her blood-red broadsword in a wide arc. The de whooshed through the air, narrowly missing the assassin as it blurred back into stealth.


    The Void Assassins weren''t just quick; they were cunning. They moved like shadows, their jagged, curved des gleaming faintly before vanishing again.


    Their armor, optimized for stealth rather than defense, made them nearly invisible to conventional tracking methods. The twins'' enhanced senses helped, but even they were struggling to keep up with the constant onught.


    Li stood calmly within the protective sphere of energy created by her guards shields, observing the chaos around her as though it were a mere spectacle.


    The two guards, d in their techno armor, stood at her side, their shields shimmering like honeb-patterned barriers, unyielding to the assassins'' attacks.


    "Brother," Li said, her voice steady despite the frenzied battle. "Where are our men?"


    Her brother, standing at attention with his spear still folded on his back, scanned the area quickly before responding. "There''s nomunications," he said grimly. "The explosions or the falling debris must''ve taken them out."


    Li closed her eyes briefly, herposed demeanor unwavering. "Mmm, as expected," she said softly. "We''re outnumbered."


    She opened her eyes and turned to her brother. "Prepare to engage. Leave my protection to her," she said, gesturing toward the female knight beside her. "I''ll focus my faith on uncovering their positions."


    Her brother nodded, stepping forward. "Got it. Leave it to me."


    He reached for the folded spear on his back, pulling it free with a swift motion. With practiced precision, he flicked his wrist, and the spear extended to its full length with a metallic snap. He mmed the butt of the spear against the ground, causing the tip to crackle with red electricity.


    Taking his ce at the front, he raised his shield and pointed the electrified spear forward, his stance unshakable. "I''m ready when you are," he said confidently.


    Li knelt on the cracked ground of the destroyed building, intecing her fingers as she closed her eyes. A faint silver glow began to radiate from her body, pulsing softly at first before growing stronger.


    Then, without warning, the aura exploded outward in a wave of energy, scattering silver dust into the air.


    This was one of Li''s psychic powers, teleesthesia, a technique she had honed through years of practice under the guidance of Doctor Oscar. The ability allowed her to see distant or hidden targets using extrasensory perception, a skill that was invaluable in situations like this.


    The silver dust lingered in the air, subtly clinging to the outlines of the hidden Void Assassins. To the untrained eye, they were still invisible, but to Li and her allies, the faint shimmer was enough to mark their positions.


    "I see them," Li''s brother said, his voice sharp with anticipation.


    One of the shimmering figures stood with its back turned, preparing to lunge at Nyra while she was preupied with another attacker.


    Without hesitation, Li''s brother charged forward. His spear crackled with intensified red lightning as he closed the distance in a blur of speed, his techno armor amplifying his movements.


    The Void Assassin barely had time to react before the electrified spear pierced through its torso like a hot knife through butter. The force of the attack lifted the assassin off its feet, impaling it and holding it aloft for all to see.


    The Assassin let out a gurgling hiss, its jagged de falling from its hand as its body convulsed violently from the electric current surging through it.


    The other Void Assassins froze for a split second, their stealth faltering as they momentarily revealed themselves, startled by the sudden loss of one of their own.


    "Gotcha," Nyra said with a wicked grin. She swung her broadsword with brutal force, its de glowing crimson as her blood-infused energy enhanced its power. The de sliced cleanly through the air, cutting down one of the revealed assassins before it could retreat into stealth.


    Lyra wasted no time either. Her red tentacles shot forward, wrapping around another assassin and mming it into the ground with enough force to crack the concrete. The assassin struggled, its de shing as it tried to cut itself free, but Lyra tightened her grip, squeezing the life out of it.


    "They''re faltering!" Lyra shouted, her crimson eyes zing with determination.


    Li''s brother pulled his spear free from the impaled assassin, letting the lifeless body crumple to the ground. He turned to face the remaining Void Assassins, his shield raised as electricity danced along the edge of his spear. "They''re fast," he said, his voice calm but focused. "But now we''ve got them."


    From her position, Li remained kneeling, her psychic energy still radiating outward. Her voice was calm yetmanding as she spoke. "Don''t let up. They rely on stealth and confusion. Now that we can see them, we have the advantage. Strike quickly, before they regroup."


    Nyra and Lyra nodded in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized as they advanced on the remaining assassins. The Blood n assassins, emerging from the shadows like ghosts, joined the fray, their crimson des shing as they closed in on the disoriented Void Assassins.


    "Tch! Everyone, retreat!" one of the Void Assassins shouted, his voice sharp andmanding as he darted back into the shadows, his movements fluid and impossibly fast.


    "What!? Don''t even think you can escape!" Nyra yelled, her crimson eyes ring with anger. Without hesitation, she bolted after the assassin, her broadsword gleaming as her blood-red energy tentacles shot out to propel her forward like a crimson blur.


    "Wait! Don''t follow them! We don''t know if¡ª" Li tried to warn, her voice rising in rm, but before she could finish, a deafening explosion erupted beneath Nyra''s feet.


    The st sent Nyra flying, her body hurtling through the air before mming into the ground with a sickening thud. She tumbled across the debris-littered street, the impact kicking up a cloud of dust before she finally came to a stop.


    "Nyra!" Lyra screamed, her crimson eyes wide with panic as she immediately started toward her sister.


    Nyra coughed violently, her body trembling as she forced herself to her knees. "Cough, cough, what was that!?" she muttered, spitting dirt from her mouth and clutching her stomach.


    "There are hidden mines on the road!" Li called out, her usually calm toneced with urgency. She stood nearby, her silver glow dimming as the toll of her psychic abilities began to show in her unsteady breathing.


    "It''s too dangerous to pursue them. We''re falling into their trap. It''s better if we pull back and regroup!"


    Nyra gritted her teeth, ring in the direction of the fleeing assassins. "Tsk! Fine!" she spat, though the frustration in her voice was clear. She turned and leaped back toward the copsed building, where Lyra was already waiting.


    "Sis! Are you okay?!" Lyra rushed to Nyra''s side as soon as shended, her hands moving quickly to inspect her sister for injuries.


    "I''m fine," Nyra said gruffly, brushing off the dirt from her clothes as her tentacles retracted into her body. "It was just the impact. These bastards are ying dirty."


    Lyra didn''t look convinced but nodded reluctantly, her concern still evident.


    "So, what now?" Nyra asked, her gaze shifting to Li, who had taken a seat on a piece of debris nearby.


    Li sighed, her sharp eyes scanning the surrounding rubble onest time before pulling out a high-calorie protein bar from her pack. She unwrapped it with steady hands, her calm demeanor belying the strain she was under.


    "Nothing," she said, taking a bite. "If they''ve retreated, it means they''ll either change their operational zone or leave the underground city entirely. Either way, they''ll be back, but with more troops next time."


    Nyra''s frustration boiled over, and she swung her sword angrily at a nearby chunk of debris, cleaving it in two. "Tch! So we''re just letting them get away? That''s it?"


    Li nodded, her expression unchanging. "Chasing them now will only get more of us killed. And we''ll lose the chance to regroup and prepare. Patience is a weapon, Nyra. You should learn to wield it."


    Nyra muttered something under her breath, clearly dissatisfied, but before she could respond, her arm device began vibrating.


    "Hmm?" Nyra raised her wrist, tapping the disy to check the message. Her crimson eyes quickly scanned the screen, and her expression darkened.


    "This is bad," she said, her voice tight with urgency.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "What is it?" Lyra asked, her concern returning instantly.


    Nyra grabbed Lyra''s hand, her grip firm. "No time to exin! We need to get back to the mansion, now!" Without waiting for a response, she activated her blood-enhanced speed, and in an instant, the two of them disappeared, leaving only a crimson blur behind.

 Chapter 151 Lurking.

    Li and her guards watched as the twins vanished, the silence of the battlefield filling the void they left behind.


    "What was that about?" Li''s brother asked, his spear still crackling faintly with residual energy.


    Li stood slowly, brushing the dust off her uniform. Her psychic abilities had drained her significantly, and her breathing was stillbored, but herposure remained intact. "I don''t know," she admitted, frowning slightly.


    "But if it''s urgent enough for them to leave like that, it must be serious."


    Her brother nodded, retracting his spear and folding it back into itspact form. "Then we should leave too. It''s unwise to linger here. If the Void Assassins regroup or leave traps behind, we''ll be sitting ducks."


    Li adjusted her gloves, her sharp eyes scanning the wreckage onest time. "Agreed. Let''s fall back to base. There''s no point staying here now."


    She turned to her guards, gesturing for them to move out. The group quickly fell into formation, the two guards nking her as they began their retreat.


    Two days before Nyra received the urgent message, Rex and his crew were wrapping up the final day of their camping trip. For most of the rich, spoiled young people aboard the luxury cruiser, the camping experience had been a tedious ordeal.


    With no extravagant parties, holo-lounges, orvish distractions, many of the participants found themselves miserable, bored, and counting down the hours to return to their indulgent routines.


    But for Rex and his crew, things had been different.


    Thanks to Cleo''s resourcefulness and an almost suspiciously well-prepared backpack, her team didn''t suffer from a single moment of boredom. Somehow, Cleo had brought along a collection ofpact gadgets that fit perfectly into the camping theme without feeling out of ce.


    Portable holographic video game consoles had kept Carlos upied for hours, while Ys had been enthralled with the mini projector Cleo had set up to y various ssic and modern movies.


    Even Rex, who wasn''t usually one to indulge in tech distractions, found himself enjoying the quiet downtime,zing around and munching on snacks while watching a particrly absurdedy Ys had insisted on.


    They had spent thest few days eating,ughing, ying games, and enjoying each other''spany, something that had been hard toe by in their normally chaotic lives.


    As the camp settled into the usual quiet of thete morning, an announcement suddenly rang out, the holographic campsite speakers crackling to life.


    <<Attention everyone! This is your cute host talking once more! How was the camping? Did you all have fun!?>>


    The cheerful voice boomed through the speakers, a little too bubbly for some of the tired participants. Rex groaned, pulling a pillow over his head. Carlos let out augh, clearly enjoying his suffering.


    <<I''m here to remind you all that it''s time to start packing! In five imperial hours, the transport ships will take off to bring you all back to the cruiser hangar. So, start tidying up those campsites, packing your things, and making your way to the rendezvous point!>>


    <<And remember, no one wants to be left behind! That''s it from me! See you all back on the cruiser!>>


    The announcement ended with a cheerful chime, and Rex rolled over, groaning as he stretched. "Five hours, huh? Guess it''s time to start packing up."


    Ys, still sprawled on her intable lounge chair, yawned and wavedzily. "Can''t we just stay a little longer? I was finally starting to like this whole ''nature'' thing."


    Cleo, as efficient as ever, was already folding up their tent. "You could stay if you want, but I''m noting back for you when the ship leaves," she quipped, smirking slightly.


    Carlos let out a chuckle as he began gathering their cooking gear. "Nah, I''m with Cleo. I''ve seen enough glowing trees and fake campfires for one trip. Let''s get back to the cruiser and find some real entertainment."


    Once they had packed everything neatly into their transport ship, the crew began the walk back to the rendezvous point. The journey back was uneventful, with everyone in good spirits as they chatted and joked about the past few days.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Upon arriving at the ship, they had to wait a couple of hours for the rest of the campers to trickle in. Finally, the transport ship''s engines roared to life, lifting them off the ground and taking them back to the massive cruiser floating in orbit.


    As the transport ship docked in the cruiser''s hangar and the group stepped off, Rex stretched his arms wide, savoring the feeling of being back in the more luxurious confines of the ship.


    "So," he said, turning to his crew, "did you guys have fun?"


    Carlos stepped down behind him, rubbing his bald head with a grin. "Hell yeah, I did. I don''t even remember thest time I had a chance to justze around like that. It was exactly what I needed."


    Ys nodded, her green eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Same here. It''s been so long since I got to just rx with you all. I didn''t think I''d like it as much as I did, but... yeah, it was fun."


    "d to hear it," Rex said, smiling at the rare moment of camaraderie.


    Just then, Sharon approached, her elegant figure and natural feline grace making her stand out even in the bustling hangar. She was wearing a sleek white jacket and carrying a small bag, clearly ready to leave.


    "I had a wonderful time too," Sharon said warmly. "I don''t remember thest time I enjoyed myself so much."


    "Heading out already?" Rex asked, noticing the private vehicle waiting for her in the distance.


    Sharon nodded, waving cheerfully. "Yes, my car is here to pick me up. I need to take care of a few things, but thank you all for making this trip so lovely."


    As she walked away, Rex caught Carlos shamelessly staring at her retreating figure, his eyes firmly locked on her swaying hips. Rex smirked, raising an eyebrow as he turned to Carlos.


    "Hey, weren''t you afraid of her before?" Rex asked teasingly.


    Carlos grinned, not even bothering to deny it. "Afraid? Nah, I was never afraid of her. I was afraid of her husband," he admitted, rubbing the back of his head.


    "But you know what?" Carlos added, his grin widening into a cocky smirk. "Even if her husband finds out and decides to kill me, so what? How many people in the gxy can say they cucked the CEO of a megacorporation? I''ll die a legend."


    Rex let out a boomingugh, pping Carlos on the back. "Hahahaha! You''re insane, man. But hey, I''ll give you that; you''re a hero in your own twisted way."


    Carlos puffed out his chest, clearly proud of himself. "Damn right, I am."


    As the crew walked toward the main corridors of the cruiser, Cleo and Ys exchanged a knowing nce, both shaking their heads at the two men''s ridiculous banter.


    "Men are so weird," Ys muttered, though there was an amused smile tugging at her lips.


    Cleo smirked, crossing her arms. "Weird doesn''t even begin to cover it."


    As Rex and his crew made their way out of the bustling hangar bay, Carlos stretched his arms behind his head, shing his usual mischievous grin. "So, guys, what are your ns for tonight?" he asked, his tone light and curious.


    Rex rubbed the back of his neck, his eyelids drooping slightly. "Honestly? I just want to sleep. I miss a real bed. Those camping bags were too damn hot for me," he replied, his voice heavy with exhaustion.


    Carlos let out a loudugh, pping Rex on the shoulder.


    "Ha! So damn true. I think I''ll do the same. Nightclubs are fun and all, but honestly? I''m done flying solo in those ces. It''s a dangerous game for a guy like me. I go in just wanting to be a normal man¡­ and somehow, I end up doing amazing stuff."


    He paused dramatically, cing a hand over his chest like a tragic hero.


    "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, baldy," Ys shot back with a smirk, clearly unimpressed.


    Carlos narrowed his eyes at her, bristling. "Ha? You want to go, pocket-size grandma? I swear it''s been a miracle you''ve kept quiet the past few days. What happened, huh? Did someone finally install a mute button on you?"


    "That''s it¡ª" Ys growled, her green eyes gleaming dangerously as she took a step toward him.


    "Both of you," Cleo interrupted, her calm voice cutting through the brewing argument like a knife. "Don''t cause a scene here. We''re in a public area." She sighed before continuing. "And to answer Rex''s question, I have an appointment with Sharonter. She wanted Ys and me to join her at the spa."


    Carlos blinked, taken aback. "Wait, Sharon invited you both to the spa? What kind of evil plot is that?"


    Rex, on the other hand, yawned, waving the topic offzily. "That''s cool. Just don''t cheat on me, Cleo. You know how jealous I get," he joked with a half-asleep smile. "Anyway, I really need to crash. I''m dead tired, more tired than after some of my toughest fights. I wonder why¡­"


    Ys raised an eyebrow at him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, I can think of a few reasons why," she muttered under her breath, earning a light snicker from Cleo.


    Carlos, oblivious as ever, simply shrugged. "Alright, sleepyhead. Let''s hurry back to the dorms before you pass out right here."


    Hourster, after the hangar bay had emptied and all the passengers had returned to their respective areas, the dimly lit space was quiet, the only soundsing from the faint hum of machinery and the asional shuffle of maintenance bots.


    But the hangar wasn''t entirely empty.


    From one of the transport ships parked near the edge of the bay, a faint metallic click echoed. Hidden in the shadows, a small creature crawled down from one of the ship''s vents.


    It resembled a spider, but its segmented body was sleek and metallic, coated in a glossy red shell. Its eight legs moved with unnatural precision, clicking softly against the floor as it skittered forward.


    The creature paused briefly, its glowing green eyes flickering as it scanned its surroundings. It emitted a faint, rhythmic chittering sound, almost like an electronic pulse, as it searched for prey.


    Its gaze finallynded on two maintenance workers idling near the wall. The workers, oblivious to the predator in their midst, were resting while taking an smoke.

 Chapter 152 Blackout.

    The hangar bay was eerily silent as the red spiderbot skittered across the metallic floor, its movements unnaturally smooth and deliberate. After observing the two maintenance workers from the shadows for a few moments, the bot sprang into action with terrifying speed.


    With a single, fluid motion, it leapt onto the first worker''s head, its sharp, metallic legs piercing through the skull like hot knives through butter. The worker didn''t even have time to scream before copsing to the ground, lifeless.


    The second worker, stunned by the sudden attack, froze in ce, but the spiderbot was already moving. In a sh, it extended a small metallic dart from its underbelly and fired it into the worker''s forehead with pinpoint uracy.


    The dart left a clean hole, and the second worker crumpled to the ground, dead before he even realized what had happened.


    The spiderbot scuttled over to the bodies, its sleek red frame glowing faintly as it extended a thin needle from its abdomen. The needle punctured the chest of the first corpse, injecting a viscous, ck liquid into the body.


    It repeated the process with the second corpse before retracting its appendages and silently disappearing into the shadows, its glowing eyes scanning for its next prey.


    Meanwhile, Rex barelysted a second after hitting the bed. As soon as his body made contact with the soft mattress, he copsed like a felled tree, his deep breathing filling the room as he drifted into a heavy, dreamless sleep.


    Carlos was no different. Despite all his boisterous talk earlier, he was out cold within moments, sprawled across his bed in an unttering pose, snoring loudly.


    Across the cruiser, however, Cleo, Ys, and Sharon were far from rxing. The three of them had spent the past two hours perusing the mall section of the cruiser, browsing for clothes and essories while Cleo and Ys engaged in their usual passive-aggressive banter.


    Finally, they made their way to the spa, eager for a few hours of pampering and rxation. But just as they were settling into their luxurious surroundings, something unexpected happened.


    The warm, calming glow of the spa''s ambient lighting suddenly flickered, and then, in the blink of an eye, every light inside the cruiser shut off. The entire ship was plunged into darkness, the soothing hum of its systems abruptly silenced.


    "Kyaaaa!"


    "What''s happening?!"


    "Where are the guards? Someone! Help us!"


    Panic erupted among the passengers as screams and shouts filled the once serene cruiser. The only source of illumination came from the swirling, multicolored light of the wormhole outside the ship''s windows, casting eerie, shifting patterns on the walls.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But as terrifying as the darkness was, the silence that followed was worse.


    For Cleo, however, the absence of light wasn''t a problem. Her thermal and night vision activated instinctively, allowing her to see the room as clearly as if it were daylight. Her sharp, analytical mind began assessing the situation immediately.


    Ys crouched beside her, her green eyes faintly glowing as her natural night vision kicked in. As a khryssari, she could see just fine in the dark, her serpent-like pupils narrowing as she scanned their surroundings.


    Sharon, with her race''s innate ability to adapt to low light, was also able to see clearly, though her nerves were far from steady.


    "Can either of you see what''s happening?" Sharon asked, her voice tinged with anxiety as they huddled behind the reception desk of the spa.


    "Negative," Cleo replied calmly, her tone neutral as her glowing golden eyes flickered. "Other than the panicked civilians running and falling over themselves, there''s nothing unusual. No sign of an immediate threat in this area."


    "Same here," Ys added, her tone frustrated. "It''s just chaos. People are screaming and trampling over each other like idiots. But that ckout, it''s not normal. What could cause such a sudden loss of power?"


    Cleo''s eyes narrowed slightly as she processed the question. "It''s improbable that the energy core has beenpromised," she said, her voice cold and calcted. "If it had been, we''d all be dead already. The wormhole would have torn the cruiser apart the moment the core failed."


    Sharon''s brow furrowed. "Then what could it be?"


    "That''s what I''m about to find out," Cleo replied.


    Without another word, Cleo moved to a nearby maintenance panel built into the wall. This USB terminal was normally used by the ship''s maintenance crew to ess local systems for repairs and diagnostics.


    She crouched in front of it, her left hand shifting fluidly as her fingers reshaped themselves into a metallic USB connector.


    "Give me a second," Cleo said as she plugged into the terminal. "I''ll see if I can activate the emergency lights. They run on a separate hidden energy battery, so even if the main power is down, they should still function."


    Once connected, her glowing golden eyes began to fill with rapidly scrolling numbers and code, her neural systems syncing with the ship''s local grid. The markings on her arm lit up with golden patterns, and these same markings extended onto the wall, pulsing faintly as they interfaced with the ship''s systems.


    Ys leaned over the counter, her eyes on Cleo. "I swear, if you tell me you packed a portable power generator in your magic backpack, I''m going to lose it."


    Cleo smirked faintly, though her focus remained on the terminal. "Not this time. Let''s hope the cruiser''s emergency systems are as robust as advertised."


    Sharon peeked over the desk, her green eyes scanning the panicked passengers stumbling through the dark spa. "If this is sabotage, it''s extremely precise. The timing, the location... It doesn''t feel random."


    Cleo''s expression didn''t change, but her voice carried a subtle edge. "If it''s sabotage, we''ll know soon enough."


    As Cleo worked to bring the emergency lights online, the faint chittering of metallic legs echoed faintly in the distance, unheard by the trio amidst the chaos.


    While Cleo continued her work at the maintenance terminal, furiously sifting through code to activate the emergency lights and systems, something unexpected began to happen.


    The shift was subtle at first, a faint hum in the background suddenly cutting out, reced by a strange, almost imperceptible silence. Then, chaos erupted.


    "Wow, Cleo, I think you might want to hurry up," Ys said casually, her voiceced with amusement as she suddenly began floating off the ground. She stretched her arms out yfully, spinning slowly in mid-air.


    "Wait... what''s happening?! Someone help me!" A random passenger screamed as they, too, began to float, iling helplessly as they drifted upward.


    All around the mall, people and objects alike began rising off the ground. Bottles of oil, towels, chairs, and even a floating fruit tray driftedzily toward the ceiling. The disorientation caused a fresh wave of panic among the passengers.


    "Who the hell turned off the gravity generator?!" Sharon shouted, her green eyes wide with rm. She clung desperately to one of the desk legs, her golden hair drifting weightlessly around her face.


    Meanwhile, Ys seemed entirely unbothered, a smug grin on her face as she floated effortlessly. In fact, she looked like she was having fun, casually flipping in mid-air as though it were an amusement park ride.


    Cleo, of course, had already adapted. Without saying a word, she reshaped the soles of her feet into gravity boots, locking herself firmly to the floor. She continued typing into the terminal, her golden eyes glowing faintly as streams of data scrolled across her vision.


    "Sharon," Cleo said suddenly, her voice calm but serious. "How long can you survive without oxygen?"


    Sharon froze mid-sentence, her panic escting. "What?! Why are you asking me that? What kind of question is that?! I¡ªI don''t know! I''ve never thought about it before!"


    Cleo didn''t respond immediately; her focus was still on her work. Her tone remained clinical. "If the gravity generator is disabled, it''s highly probable the oxygen generator is next. Whoever or whatever is doing this is taking out critical systems in sequence."


    Cleo didn''t need oxygen, of course. Her body was made of nanomaterial, so that eliminated her need for any kind of oxygen entirely.


    And Cinse Ys was a Khryssari, a race of space-dwelling, atmosphere-independent beings that didn''t need oxygen either. However, for someone like Sharon, who relied on oxygen to survive, the stakes were far more dire.


    Many of the other passengers, who required specific atmospheric conditions to breathe, were already wearing specialized atmospheric suits. But Sharon, as part of a species that relied on oxygen like most of the races, the cruiser atmosphere was of oxygen, so now she didn''t have such protection.


    "Then we need to move," Cleo said decisively, disconnecting her finger from the terminal. She turned and walked toward Sharon, grabbing her mid-panic and scooping her up into her arms like a princess.


    "Wait... what are you doing?!" Sharon yelled, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.


    "Carrying you to safety. If the oxygen cuts off, you''ll suffocate before we reach the medbay," Cleo replied, her tone utterly neutral.


    "Ys, stop ying around and let''s go," Cleo added, turning to her Khryssaripanion. "Something bad is happening, and we don''t have time to waste."


    Ys sighed, her floating grin disappearing. "Fine, fine," she muttered. Her arms extended unnaturally into long, glowing green tentacles, which she used to grab onto nearby furniture and propel herself forward like a strange, elegant spider.


    As they moved, Cleo nced back at Ys, her glowing golden eyes narrowing.


    "What?" Ys asked defensively when she noticed Cleo staring at her.


    "That''s gross," Cleo said tly, her tone as dry as ever.


    "W-what!?"

 Chapter 153 Blackout. (2)

    "W-What?! It''s not like I have a choice, okay?! If I take out my wings, everyone will see us!" She shot back, her cheeks flushing faintly.


    She wasn''t wrong. Her beautiful, green butterfly-like wings glowed brightly whenever she used them, making her incredibly conspicuous in the darkness.


    "And by the way," Ys added indignantly, "why didn''t you activate the emergency lights?"


    "It''s not that I didn''t want to," Cleo replied coolly, her focus still on navigating the floating chaos of the mall while carrying Sharon.


    "The emergency battery system was either disabled or destroyed. Activating it remotely is impossible until we figure out what caused the failure."


    Sharon, still being carried like a princess, frowned, her green eyes darting between Cleo and Ys.


    "What do you mean, ''disabled or destroyed''?" Ys asked


    Sharon dropped to an even colder, more analytical tone. "It means this wasn''t an ident. This is sabotaje."


    Rex was floating peacefully near the ceiling of his room, arms and legs sprawled out like azy starfish. His back lightly bumped against the ceiling panels as he snored loudly,pletely unaware of the chaos unfolding outside his door.


    The zero-gravity environment didn''t faze him in the slightest; he was far too exhausted from the camping trip to care.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Meanwhile, Mini Cleo, perched delicately on his chest, was growing increasingly panicked. The tiny, holographic version of Cleo was waving her arms frantically, her usually calm demeanor reced with utter exasperation.


    "Master! Wake up! The original said, There''s an emergency!" She shouted, her tiny hands pping his cheeks repeatedly.


    But there was no response. Rex didn''t so much as twitch.


    "Masterrrr! Wakeee upppp!" Mini Cleo cried again, practically bouncing up and down on his chest in frustration.


    Still, nothing.


    Mini Cleo frowned, her tiny golden eyes narrowing as she huffed. "You leave me no choice, Master. The original warned me about this," she muttered.


    From her tiny backpack, Mini Cleo pulled out a small, square device with a single red button on it. Her expression turned nervous as she stared at the button, but after a moment''s hesitation, she sighed dramatically and pressed it.


    "WHAAATTTTT THEEEEE FUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKKK!" Rex roared as a jolt of electricity shot through his body. His limbs iled wildly as he was rudely yanked out of his peaceful slumber, his nightshirt practically sparking from the charge.


    Mini Cleo quickly stuffed the device behind her back, her tiny form sweating nervously as she turned her head to the side and whistled innocently.


    Rex spun in the air, clutching his chest and blinking in confusion. "What the hell was that?! And why am I floating?!" he shouted, still feeling the lingering tingles of the electric shock.


    "Good morning, Master! d to see you''re finally awake," Mini Cleo said sweetly, though her voice wavered slightly. She sped her tiny hands behind her back and avoided eye contact, looking everywhere except at Rex.


    Rex''s eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You didn''t have anything to do with this, did you?"


    "Me? Of course not, Master!" Mini Cleo said, her holographic form attempting to whistle again, though it sounded more like a high-pitched beep.


    "Yeah, sure," Rex muttered, rubbing his head. "Whatever. Now tell me why I''m floating, and what the hell is going on?"


    Mini Cleo straightened up, suddenly remembering the urgency of the situation. "Master! The original sent me an emergency message. There''s a problem with the cruiser''s systems! The gravity generator has been disabled, and there might be more failuresing!"


    Rex groaned, his body still slightly tingling from the shock. "Great. And I guess Cleo needs me to fix it, huh?"


    "Actually, no," Mini Cleo said, shaking her tiny head. "The original is already working on it, but she needs you to help Carlos! The oxygen generators might go offline next, and Carlos is... well, you know, human."


    "Ah, crap," Rex muttered, realizing the gravity of the situation. If the oxygen generators failed, Carlos wouldn''tst long without a supply of breathable air.


    "Alright, I''m up. Let''s get out of here and find him," Rex said as he started awkwardly swimming through the air, trying to orient himself.


    But then he paused, narrowing his eyes at Mini Cleo. "Wait a second. You still haven''t told me what electrocuted me. Was it you?"


    Mini Cleo''s tiny form froze, her golden eyes darting nervously from side to side. "W-What? Me? No! Of course not! I didn''t see anything! Maybe it was a freak electrical surge!" she said, waving her tiny arms in an exaggerated manner.


    Rex stared at her, his suspicion growing. Mini Cleo was cute, sure, but she was also an absolutely terrible liar.


    "Uh-huh," Rex said slowly, raising an eyebrow. "You''re lucky I don''t have time to interrogate you right now."


    "Master, now''s not the time to be suspicious! We need to move!" Mini Cleo said, pointing toward the door.


    Using his enhanced night vision and thermal optics, courtesy of Mini Cleo, who had activated his eyes with a quick zap, Rex finally made his way out of the room. The corridor was pitch ck, save for the faint glow of the wormhole lights filtering through the portholes.


    Mini Cleo floated beside him, her tiny form zipping back and forth as she scanned the area. "Master, watch your step! There are passengers floating around everywhere," she said, pointing toward a couple of panicked individuals who had drifted into a cluster near the ceiling.


    Rex shook his head. "Man, this is worse than I thought. Any updates from Cleo?"


    "Not yet," Mini Cleo said, her holographic form flickering slightly. "But we should focus on finding Carlos first. If we don''t get him to a medical bay before the oxygen goes out, it''ll be bad."


    "Yeah, yeah, I got it," Rex muttered, moving quickly through the zero-gravity hallway. "Carlos is probably passed out somewhere, drooling on himself like usual."


    Mini Cleo giggled nervously, but her usual yfulness was muted. "Let''s hope he''s not floating upside down. That''d be... messy."


    As they navigated the dark, disorienting corridors of the cruiser, Rex couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off. He wasn''t sure if it was the eerie silence, the floating debris, or the faint sound of clicking he thought he heard in the distance.


    "Mini Cleo," Rex said suddenly, his voice low. "You hearing that?"


    Mini Cleo tilted her head, her ears twitching like cats''. "Hearing what, Master?"


    Rex stopped moving, his enhanced optics scanning the hallway ahead. The faint clicking sound was growing louder, almost rhythmic, like the tapping of metal legs against the floor or the ceiling.


    "There''s something here," Rex said quietly, his instincts kicking in.


    Mini Cleo floated closer to his shoulder, her tiny body trembling slightly. "Master, be careful."


    "Mini Cleo," Rex said, his voice steady as he crouched slightly to adjust to the zero-gravity environment. "Craft me something so I can step on the ground. I''m tired of floating around like a loose balloon."


    "Understood, Master!" Mini Cleo chirped enthusiastically. Her tiny form began projecting golden streams of holographic energy from her fingertips as she essed Rex''s personal nanomaterial reserves.


    A few secondster, the same gravitational boots Cleo had crafted for herself materialized around Rex''s feet.


    The boots activated with a soft hum, and Rex slowly began descending to the floor, his movements stabilizing as the artificial gravity locked him in ce.


    "Good. That''s more like it," Rex muttered, stretching slightly to shake off the awkwardness of floating. He then extended his hand, summoning apactser handgun. It wasn''t fancy, but it was powered by his own energy core and carried enough firepower to deal with most immediate threats.


    He slid a smallser cell into the weapon with a satisfying click before gripping it tightly.


    "Alright, Mini Cleo," Rex said, his tone shifting into something moremanding. "You''re in charge of defense. I''ll handle the offense."


    Mini Cleo saluted, her small face full of determination. "Understood, Master! Leave it to me! Nothing will get through!"


    The tiny AI linked herself to Rex''s sma shielding system, which Cleo had personally designed as a state-of-the-art defense mechanism.


    The honeb-like energy shield was invisible to the naked eye until something attacked it, at which point the shield would instantly re to life at the point of impact.


    Cleo had fine-tuned the system specifically for Rex, creating a near-perfect secondyer of armor that adapted to almost any threat.


    With his defenses in ce, Rex began moving cautiously down the dimly lit corridor, his gun raised and his senses on high alert.


    As he crept forward, the eerie silence of the cruiser''s hallways only made the faint clicking sound he''d heard earlier feel more sinister.


    Every step he took seemed to echo faintly, even though the ship was eerily devoid of people. The passengers who hadn''t panicked and floated into the ceilings were either locked away in their rooms or unconscious,pletely unaware of the danger stalking the ship.


    Rex finally arrived at the section of the corridor where he''d heard the sound. Taking a deep breath, he pressed his back against the corner and peeked around it. With a sudden burst of energy, he jumped out into the open, hisser gun trained on the long, dark corridor ahead of him.


    But there was nothing there.


    The hall stretched out in both directions, dimly illuminated by the faint, multicolored glow of the wormhole light filtering through a nearby window. There were no people, no floating debris, and no movement at all.


    Rex frowned, lowering his weapon slightly. "Weird," he muttered, his voice tinged with suspicion. "I could''ve sworn I heard something here."


    "Master, are you sure? I don''t see anything either," Mini Cleo said, her small form floating just above his shoulder.


    "Yeah, I''m sure," Rex replied, still scanning the area. He took another cautious step forward, ncing up and down the corridor.


    "It''s too quiet here. Not even a single passerby floating around. Something''s not right."

 Chapter 154 Blackout. (3)

    He tapped the side of his head. "Mini Cleo, activate the scanners. Let''s see if we''re missing anything."


    "Aye, Master!" Mini Cleo responded with enthusiasm, though her tone carried a faint hint of concern. She quickly switched Rex''s thermal vision to scanner mode, causing faint, golden light beams to emit from his enhanced eyes.


    The scanner worked by detecting movement, electrical signals, and energy patterns that thermal vision couldn''t pick up. As Rex swept his gaze across the corridor, the scanner ovey illuminated his vision in a grid-like pattern.


    After a few seconds, something pinged on the scanner.


    "There we go," Rex muttered, his eyes narrowing. A faint red blip appeared on the ovey, pulsing softly about twenty meters ahead of him, near the floor.


    "Mmm? What''s that?" Rex said as he slowly approached the anomaly. His weapon was raised, his finger hovering over the trigger.


    "Master, be careful!" Mini Cleo whispered nervously. "That signal looks strange. It''s not giving off a standard energy reading. It might be... alive."


    "Alive, huh?" Rex muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on the gun.


    As he got closer, the anomaly began to take shape. At first, it looked like a small, dark object huddled against the floor, partially obscured by a piece of floating debris. But as Rex stepped closer, his scanner started picking up more details.


    It was metallic, with a glossy red exterior that reflected faintly in the wormhole''s glow. Small, segmented legs twitched faintly, and the object emitted a faint clicking sound, like tiny gears shifting inside its body.


    Rex stopped dead in his tracks, his heart rate spiking slightly.


    "What the hell is that?" he said quietly, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the strange creature.


    The red metallic spiderbot suddenly twitched, its glowing green eyes flickering to life as if sensing his presence.


    "Master, it''s moving!" Mini Cleo squealed, her tiny hands gripping Rex''s shoulder.


    "Yeah, no kidding," Rex muttered, taking a step back and aiming his weapon at the bot.


    The spiderbot tilted its head toward him, its movements unnervingly precise and deliberate. For a moment, it simply stared at him, the eerie glow of its eyes reflecting off its glossy red shell.


    Then, without warning, it scuttled sideways, disappearing into the shadows with a burst of speed that caught Rexpletely off guard.


    "Shit, that thing''s fast!" Rex said, his scanner struggling to keep up with the bot as it darted out of view.


    "Master, it''s heading toward the engine bay!" Mini Cleo shouted, her voiceced with panic.


    Rex''s eyes widened. "The engine bay?!"


    "Yes! That''s where the main oxygen generator is located! If it does something to the systems there, we''re screwed!"


    "Of course it is," Rex grumbled, already breaking into a sprint. "Alright, Mini Cleo, let''s move. Patch me into Cleo; she needs to know we''ve gotpany."


    "On it, Master!" Mini Cleo said, her tiny form flickering as she activated themunications link.


    Rex didn''t wait for a response. His focus was locked on the corridor ahead as he chased after the mysterious spider-bot, his mind racing. Whatever this thing was, it wasn''t random; it was targeting the ship''s critical systems with precision.


    And if Rex didn''t stop it, they''d all be in serious trouble.


    "How much longer until we reach the medical bay?" She asked, her voice carrying a tinge of impatience. She was now running along the rooftop of the corridors, her lithe form moving with an eerie fluidity that could make anyone who saw her mistake her for a vengeful spirit from a horror movie.


    "Approximately 30 imperial minutes, assuming nothing slows us down," Cleo replied, her tone neutral as usual. She was still carrying Sharon effortlessly in her arms, as though the woman weighed no more than a feather.


    "It could be faster if the elevators were functional, but since there''s no energy, we''ll have to take the stairs."


    Ys groaned, flipping effortlessly over a piece of floating debris. "Stairs? Seriously? This ship is a luxury cruiser, not a dungeon. It should have redundancies for this kind of situation!"


    Cleo nced up at her briefly. "It does," she said. "That''s the problem. Whatever caused this ckout bypassed or destroyed those redundancies. This isn''t just an ident."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Before Ys could respond, Cleo''s earring began to blink softly with a white light.


    "Miss Cleo," Sharon said, noticing the blinking light while peeking nervously over Cleo''s shoulder. "Your earring is shing."


    Cleo turned her head slightly toward Sharon. "Oh, can you press the back of it for me, please? It''s amunicator. I can''t activate it myself while holding you."


    "Sure," Sharon replied, reaching up and feeling for the small button on the back of Cleo''s earring. After a brief pause, she found it and gave it a gentle press.


    "Master!" Mini Cleo said cheerfully, her tiny form bouncing on Rex''s head as if she were riding a mechanical bull. "Themunications link is live!"


    "Good job, Mini Cleo," Rex said, adjusting his position as heunched himself off another corridor wall. Thanks to the modified gravity on his boots, he was able to leap great distances with minimal effort, his movements smooth and precise despite the low-gravity environment.


    "Big Cleo, are you there?" Rex called out through the link, his voice echoing faintly in Cleo''s mind.


    "I hear you, Rex," Cleo''s calm voice responded directly into his thoughts, courtesy of themunicator.


    "Listen up," Rex said, his tone serious. "I detected a small metallic spider-like creature heading toward the engine bay. It''s fast, faster than anything I''ve seen before, and I''m following it now. But I need you girls to go wake up Carlos. If the oxygen generator goes offline, he''s toast."


    Cleo processed the information quickly, her expression unchanging even as Sharon looked at her with concern.


    "Understood," Cleo replied. "I''ll send Ys to retrieve Carlos while I continue to the medical bay to secure oxygen for Sharon and possibly for Carlos as well."


    "Thanks, beautiful," Rex said, a faint smile in his voice. "Take care out there, and if anything weird happens, keep me updated."


    "Understood," Cleo said curtly before disconnecting the call.


    Turning her focus to Ys, Cleo raised her voice slightly to get herpanion''s attention. "Ys, change course. Rex needs you to head to Carlos''s room immediately. I''ll handle the medical bay. Once you''ve secured Carlos, regroup with me there."


    Ys slowed slightly, flipping around mid-run with a pout. "Since my darling said it, I''ll do it," she said with a mischievous grin. Then, without wasting another second, she altered her trajectory, elerating toward the dormitory section at full speed.


    Her movements,bined with her faintly glowing eyes and the way her body clung to the ceiling, made her look more like a demonic entity than a person.


    Cleo watched her disappear down the dark corridor, her golden eyes briefly narrowing. "That girl will scare half the ship to death one day," she muttered before picking up her pace toward the medical bay.


    Meanwhile, Carlos stirred awake as a faint knocking sound echoed through his room. At first, he ignored it, turning over with a groan, but the noise persisted, louder and more insistent this time.


    "Mmm¡­ what? Who could that be?" Carlos mumbled, still groggy as he rubbed his bald head. His thoughts were sluggish, but he instinctively reached for his arm device to check for any messages.


    "Huh," he muttered, noticing there were no missed calls or notifications. "Weird. It''s not like Rex or the girls to just knock without calling first."


    Carlos sat up, blinking groggily in the pitch-ck room. "Wait... why is it so dark in here? I''m sure I went to sleep with the TV on," he said, frowning. He reached over and flicked the light switch next to his bed, but nothing happened.


    "No lights either? Damn, don''t tell me there''s a power outage," he grumbled, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. The knocking continued, steady and rhythmic, as though whoever was outside had infinite patience.


    "Alright, alright, I''ming! Stop knocking, geez!" Carlos shouted, his voice echoing faintly in the dark room.


    Years of living in the slums of amercial city had taught Carlos to always stay on the side of caution. As he shuffled toward the door, he stopped just short of it and leaned down to peer through the small peephole embedded in the metal frame.


    His instincts, honed by years of surviving in dangerous situations, told him something wasn''t right.


    Looking through the peephole, Carlos squinted into the corridor outside. It was dark, too dark to make out anything clearly. But there was movement. A faint shimmer of something metallic caught his eye, apanied by a soft clicking sound that sent a chill down his spine.


    "What the hell..." Carlos muttered, his voice low as he strained to see more.


    The knocking suddenly stopped.


    Carlos froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn''t see anything through the peephole now, just empty darkness. But the clicking sound was still there, faint but growing louder, as though whatever was outside was moving closer to the door.


    Carlos took a cautious step back, his instincts screaming at him to stay quiet. He nced around the dark room, his eyes searching for something he could use as a weapon.


    "Okay, Carlos," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. "Stay calm. You''ve been in worse situations before. Just... figure out what''s out there before you do anything stupid."


    He tightened his fists, his breathing steadying as he prepared himself for whatever was on the other side of the door.

 Chapter 155 Blackout. (4)

    Since the room was pitch dark and the corridor outside wasn''t any better, Carlos let out a quiet sigh, rubbing his bald head. "I really liked this shirt... damn it," he muttered under his breath.


    With a resigned huff, he grabbed the sleeves of his shirt and tore them clean off, leaving his shoulders exposed. The faint, metallic sheen of his cybeic arms glinted faintly in the dim light of his shield generators as they flickered to life.


    Carlos was no ordinary man; his arms were fully cybeic prosthetics, decorated with glowing blue tech lines that pulsed faintly as his systems powered up. The eerie glow only added to the unsettling atmosphere of the dark room, but he smirked anyway, rolling his shoulders as the tiny shield generators on his arm joints became visible.


    "Alright," he said, his voice low and steady. "This definitely makes things scarier, but at least it''s better than beingpletely blind out here."


    His left hand began to morph with a soft mechanical hum, the fingers retracting and reforming into the shape of apact minigun. A small red holographic screen flickered to life on his forearm, disying ammo diagnostics.


    Carlos squinted at the readout, letting out a dryugh. "Only 200 rounds? Tch, well, this will have to do," he muttered. The "bicep" section of his left arm shifted slightly, revealing an ammo magazine embedded where his muscle should''ve been.


    Satisfied, he locked it back into ce with a loud click and aimed the minigun briefly to test its calibration.


    "Locked and loaded," Carlos said, stepping toward the door with a faint grin. He ced his finger over the door''s open button, trying to muster some courage before pressing it.


    But nothing happened.


    Carlos blinked and then frowned. "Huh? Why''s it not working? ¡­Oh, right," he said, pping his forehead. "There''s no damn power." He sighed and nced around the dark room, grateful no one else was there to see his blunder. "At least there''s no audience for this embarrassing moment."


    He crossed his arms, thinking for a second, before a devilish grin spread across his face. "Well, if the door doesn''t want to cooperate, there''s only one way to deal with it."


    Carlos raised his left arm, the minigun spinning to life with a soft whir before erupting into a deafening roar. Bullets tore into the door, carving a crude circle in the middle of the reinforced metal.


    Sparks flew in every direction, the light from the gunfire briefly illuminating the room in strobe-like shes.


    As the minigun clicked empty, Carlos lowered his arm, his grin widening as he admired his craftsmanship. "Now that''s how you knock," he said proudly.


    He stepped up to the door, nted his feet firmly on the ground, and drew back his right fist. With a powerful punch, the circle of metal broke free, ttering loudly as it flew into the corridor.


    Carlos smirked, flexing his cybeic fingers. "Man, I''m too good at this."


    Grabbing hold of the edges of the hole, he nted his feet and began pulling the door apart. The metal groaned in protest, but thanks to the enhanced strength of his cybeic arms, Carlos forced the automatic door open with little effort.


    Once the door was wide enough to step through, Carlos carefully moved into the corridor, his shield generators casting an eerie blue glow that faintly illuminated the surrounding area.


    The corridor was silent, save for the faint hum of the wormhole energy outside the cruiser. Carlos nced left, then right, his cybeic eyes scanning for any sign of movement.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Alright," he muttered. "Where''s the joker that was knocking on my door? Hello? Anyone here?"


    But there was no response. The only thing greeting him was silence.


    Carlos gritted his teeth, the faint unease creeping up his spine, making him shift ufortably. "Damn, why does this feel like one of those cheesy horror videos? I swear, if a creepy doll shows up, I''m calling it quits," he muttered, gripping his minigun tightly.


    He took a cautious step forward, the sound of his boots faintly echoing in the corridor. The shadows around him seemed to stretch endlessly, and even with the faint glow of his shield generators, he couldn''t see far.


    Suddenly, something cold and wet brushed against his shoulder.


    Carlos froze, his body going rigid as his heart jumped into his throat. Slowly, he reached up with his free hand, his fingers brushing against the damp spot on his shoulder.


    "What the hell?" he muttered, pulling his hand back to inspect it. His fingers glistened faintly in the blue light, the substance invisible but undeniably wet.


    He sniffed it cautiously, trying to identify what it might be. "Dafuq? Is this... water?" he asked aloud, his voice low and uncertain.


    But before he could think too much about it, he heard it... faint, rhythmic clicking.


    Carlos''s head snapped toward the sound, his eyes narrowing as his grip tightened on his weapon. The clicking wasing from further down the corridor, just beyond the reach of his light.


    "Alright, I don''t like this," Carlos muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not one bit."


    He took a cautious step forward, his minigun primed and ready to fire at the slightest sign of danger. His shield generators hummed softly, a subtle reassurance in the oppressive silence.


    The clicking grew louder.


    Carlos stopped again, his chest tightening as the sound came closer. It was quick and precise, like the sound of sharp, metallic legs tapping against the floor.


    And then he saw it.


    At the edge of his light, something moved, something big and grotesque. Its glossy, metallic surface caught the faint glow of the blue light, and its glowing green eyes stared directly at him.


    Carlos''s mouth went dry. "Oh, hell no," he whispered.


    The humanoid creature twitched, its legs clicking softly as it tilted its head, as though studying him. For a moment, neither moved, Carlos too stunned to react, and the humanoid creature seemingly waiting for the perfect moment to strike.


    Then, with a burst of speed, the creature darted toward him.


    Carlos didn''t hesitate. "Oh, hell no!" he shouted, opening fire with his minigun. The corridor lit up in a strobe of blue and red as bullets rained down toward the oing threat.


    Not far from the source of the gunfire, Ys was sprinting effortlessly across the ceiling of the darkened corridors, her glowing green eyes scanning the path ahead. She''d heard the unmistakable sound of Carlos''s minigun roaring, and she didn''t waste a second closing the distance.


    Her movements were fluid and otherworldly, her bare feet making no sound as she practically glided across the metallic ceiling like a spectral predator. When she finally arrived at the scene, she stopped abruptly, her gaze falling on the aftermath of what looked like a vicious battle.


    In the middle of the corridor was a mutted humanoid corpse. Its grotesque body was twisted at unnatural angles, its face unrecognizable, shed, burned, and seemingly chewed upon.


    Parts of it skin were missing, and its bald scalp glistened under the faint glow of Carlos''s shield lights. A few of its spider-like limbsy severed nearby, with jagged bone and metal sticking out of the stumps.


    Ys gasped dramatically, pressing her hands to her cheeks. "Oh no¡­ don''t tell me..." she whispered, her voice trembling with exaggerated sorrow. She knelt beside the corpse, brushing one of the remaining strands of flesh with fake delicacy. "Carlos! I arrived toote! I''m so sorry! Look at how you ended up, my poor friend!"


    A voice rang out from behind her, cutting through her theatrical monologue.


    "Cut the crap. I know you can see me," Carlos said gruffly as he stepped out of his room, his cybeic arm still humming faintly. He was holding a weapon resembling a machete, made from his hand morphing into a de.


    Ys immediately dropped the act, her pout morphing into a scowl as she kicked the corpse''s limp body out of frustration. "Ugh, you weren''t dead? Return my tears and joy, baldy. You owe me!"


    Carlos rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "Yes, yes, it''s a touching reunion. d to see you too. Now can we move on to something more important, like figuring out what''s going on here?" He gestured at the grotesque creature sprawled on the ground.


    Ys folded her arms, her glowing green eyes flickering faintly under her hair. "Nope. No clue," she said nonchntly, crouching beside the creature and tilting her head in curiosity. "This is the first time I''ve seen anything like this on the cruiser. Up until now, it''s just been darkness and floating furniture."


    Her slender hands reached down, gripping one of the corpse''s limbs, an unsettling hybrid of bone and metal shaped like a spider leg, and twisting it gently to inspect its structure.


    Carlos flinched slightly. "Do you have to touch that thing? That''s disgusting."


    Ys ignored him, turning the body over with ease. Her gaze fell on the tattered remains of its clothing, now soaked in a dark, sticky fluid. She brushed her fingers over it, her expression growing sharper. "By the look of this uniform, this thing used to be a passenger," she said thoughtfully.


    Carlos blinked, his brow furrowing. "Wait¡ªwhat?"


    Ys nodded as she examined the body further. "Yeah, look. This was someone who was onboard the cruiser. These spider-like limbsing out of its back¡­ they''re made of a mix of bone and metal. Almost like a forced transformation."


    She frowned, her finger trailing along the jagged edge of one severed limb. "Really interesting work, actually. Horrifying, but¡­ impressive."


    Carlos took a cautious step closer, his grip on his machete tightening. "A passenger turning into that? What could even do that to someone?"


    Ys shrugged casually, her glowing green eyes flickering as she continued poking at the corpse. Then, as she shifted its body slightly, her hand brushed against something¡­ unexpected.


    Her expression immediately soured. She froze, her fingers curling tightly around what she''d just found.

 Chapter 156 Blackout. (5)

    "Mmm? What''s this?" Ys muttered, tugging at the appendage and realizing what it was. Slowly, she turned her head to re at Carlos, her glowing eyes narrowing with usation.


    Carlos noticed her stare and immediately raised his hands defensively. "Hey! Don''t look at me like that! I had no choice, okay?!"


    Ys arched an eyebrow, holding up the severed spider leg that had been lodged in a ratherpromising position on the creature''s backside. "Really, Carlos? You stabbed it there? Was that necessary?"


    "It was trying to eat me!" Carlos shouted, pointing at the corpse as if it could defend itself. "I had to use everything I had to fight back! It''s not my fault; that''s where the dended!"


    She sighed heavily, shaking her head. "Sure, let''s call it that," she said sarcastically, tossing the limb aside. "You humans are so weird sometimes."


    Carlos red at her, his frustration mounting. "Hey, I saved myself, didn''t I? You should be impressed!"


    Ys smirked slightly, folding her arms. "Impressed isn''t the word I''d use. But fine. You survived. Good job, baldy."


    As the tension settled, Ys stood, brushing off her hands. Her yful expression grew more serious as she adjusted her stance. "Anyway, enough of this. We need to regroup with Cleo at the medical bay. By the look of things, we don''t have much time."


    Carlos nodded, ncing down at the creature''s mutted body onest time before stepping over it. "Yeah, let''s get moving. I don''t want to deal with any more surprises like this one."


    Ys was about to take off at full speed, but she stopped abruptly, turning her head slightly without looking at Carlos directly.


    "Carlos," she said after a moment, her voice unusually calm.


    Carlos frowned, tilting his head. "Mmm? What is it now?"


    Ys hesitated for a moment before asking, "I''m just curious... How exactly are you walking so normally when there''s no gravity?"


    Carlos froze midstep, his gaze flicking between Ys and his own feet.


    For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then Carlos let out a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his bald head. "Uh¡­ well¡­ I guess I''m just, uh, naturally gifted?"


    Ys finally turned to face him, her expression nk but her glowing eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Naturally gifted, huh?"


    Carlos coughed awkwardly, muttering under his breath. "Yeah, let''s go with that."


    "Uh-huh," Ys said, her lips curling into a faint smirk. Without another word, she turned around and didn''t say anything; she just stood there.


    As Ys turned her head slightly to face Carlos, her sharp gaze caught something unusual. Her yful smirk froze, reced by a look of confusion, then rm.


    Carlos''s mouth... it was changing.


    The edges of his lips twitched unnaturally, stretching wider than they should have been. The skin around his jawline started to split and peel back, revealing something grotesque beneath a jagged, serrated set of spider-like mandibles.


    His teeth sharpened unnaturally as the transformation continued, and a sickening wet sound apanied the grotesque change.


    "What the..." Ys muttered, her glowing green eyes narrowing in disbelief.


    Carlos''s head tilted at an unnatural angle, his eyes glinting with an inhuman, predatory gleam. His voice, distorted and unnatural, echoed through the corridor. "Something wrong, grandma?"


    On the other side of the ship, Cleo and Sharon had just arrived at the sealed medical bay. The corridor around them was eerily silent, save for the faint humming of systems struggling to maintain basic life support functions.


    Cleo nced at the sealed door, analyzing it with her enhanced vision. "Sharon, I''ll let you float to the roof for now. I need to handle this door, and I can''t do that while holding you. Be careful not to bump your head."


    "Okay, don''t worry. I''ll manage," Sharon said, letting Cleo gently release her. She floated upward, grabbing hold of a ceiling vent to steady herself while Cleo got to work.


    Cleo scanned the door carefully, her golden eyes glowing faintly. "Hmm," she muttered, examining the locking mechanism. It had a manual override switch, but the switch was on the inside of the room, making it useless from their position.


    "So much for subtlety," Cleo sighed, her voice as neutral as ever. She extended her hand, crafting a glowing energy de. The de was simr to Rex''s sma sword, drawing power directly from her internal energy core. Its light cast a faint golden glow across the corridor.


    Cleo brought the de forward, pressing its searing edge against the door. The reinforced material began to melt under the intense heat, glowing red before finally giving way. Carefully, she carved an entrancerge enough for both of them to fit through.


    Once finished, she stepped back and looked up at Sharon. "Alright, it''s done. Extend your hand."


    Sharon reached down, her hand brushing against Cleo''s, and she easily pulled her through the opening. They bothnded softly inside the medical bay.


    The room was dark, save for the faint emergency lights that flickered sporadically. Medical equipment and supplies were scattered everywhere, floating aimlessly in the zero-gravity environment.


    Cleo''s night vision activated automatically, turning the room into a crisp grayscale view, while Sharon stuck close behind her.


    "I''ll search for the oxygen masks and tanks," Sharon said, moving cautiously toward one of the storage cabs.


    "Good idea," Cleo replied, scanning the room for any signs of immediate danger.


    A few momentster, Sharon called out. "Cleo, I found the masks. They''re in this cab, but... it''s locked."


    Cleo turned and approached the cab, observing the bulletproof ss. "Understood. Stand back."


    Sharon floated aside as Cleo activated her energy de again. The de cut cleanly through the ss, the intense heat causing it to crack and shatter within seconds. Cleo reached inside, pulling out two oxygen masks and tossing one to Sharon.


    "Here, take these," Cleo said. "I''ll grab the oxygen tanks from over there."


    Sharon caught the mask, her hands trembling slightly as she fitted it over her face. Meanwhile, Cleo moved to arger storage unit and retrieved two small oxygen tanks, strapping one to Sharon''s waist.


    "Alright, that''s taken care of," Cleo said, her voice calm but firm. "Let''s sit tight until Ys and Carlos regroup with us."


    As they waited, Cleo decided to make the most of the time. She began crafting a pair of gravity boots for Sharon, using leftover materials from the medical bay andponents from her nanomaterials. She also assembled temporary batteries for the boots to ensure they''dst long enough.


    Sharon, now seated on one of the medical beds, kept ncing nervously toward the broken door. Her anxiety was evident in the way she fidgeted with her mask straps. "They''re taking too long," she muttered. "Do you think something bad happened to them?"


    Cleo, who was working on one of the room''s maintenance terminals, didn''t look up as she responded. "It''s possible. This situation isn''t normal. But Ys is capable, and Carlos, well, he''s stubborn enough to survive anything. I''m more worried about what else is out there."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    As if on cue, Cleo''s radar pinged faintly in her HUD. Her golden eyes flickered as the radar feed projected a silhouette of something moving in the corridor outside.


    Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Sharon, stay away from the door. Something''sing."


    Sharon frozen, her eyes widening. "What? Could it be another passenger?"


    Cleo shook her head, her voice cold and firm. "I don''t think so. The radar signature doesn''t match any of the passenger profiles in my database."


    Sharon''s breath hitched. "What does that mean?"


    Cleo didn''t answer immediately. Instead, she studied the radar feed closely. The images showed multiple humanoid figures, but they weren''t moving like normal passengers. Some were crawling on the walls, others on the ceiling.


    Their movements were erratic, unnervingly fast, and apanied by the faint clicking sound of metallic limbs scraping against the corridor.


    "They''re all over the ce," Cleo muttered under her breath, gripping her energy de tightly.


    The sound of skittering legs grew louder, echoing through the medical bay. Cleo''s body tensed, her golden eyes scanning the room for entry points. She tossed a smallser pistol to Sharon, along with two energy cells.


    "Take this," Cleo said. "For self-defense."


    Sharon stared at the weapon, her hands trembling as she clutched it tightly. She nodded silently, her fear palpable as she moved to take cover behind one of the medical desks.


    The clicking sounds grew louder, almost deafening now. Cleo pressed herself against the wall beside the broken door, her energy de poised to strike at anything that entered.


    The tension in the room was suffocating. Sharon held her breath, gripping the pistol tightly as her eyes darted toward the open doorway.


    And then they saw it.


    A long, skeletal leg with jagged metal edges slowly reached through the doorway, tapping against the ground. Another followed, then another. The creature crawled into view, its emaciated body hunched over unnaturally.


    Its eyes glowed a sickly green, and its back was adorned with jagged, spider-like limbs made of bone and metal.


    Behind it, more figures appeared, crawling along the walls and ceiling, their glowing eyes piercing through the darkness.


    Cleo''s grip on her energy de tightened. "Sharon," she whispered without turning her head. "Stay behind cover. Don''t make a sound."


    Sharon nodded, barely able to breathe as the creatures began spilling into the room.


    Cleo''s golden eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, her voice cold and steady. "Come on, then," she muttered under her breath.


    She then jumped from the dark corner and swinged her energy sword toward the head of the first creature that stepped inside.

 Chapter 157 Blackout. (6)

    The cut was clean. Cleo''s energy de hummed faintly as the head of the humanoid creature rolled off its shoulders, a grotesque stench filling the room as thick, ck, mud-like blood oozed from the wound.


    "Shoot them, Sharon." Cleomanded, twisting her body gracefully to avoid the razor-sharp ws of another creature that leapt at her from the corridor.


    To Cleo''s surprise, Sharon reacted immediately. Without hesitation, she raised herser pistol and fired. The searing beam of energy struck the creature squarely in its head, burning a hole clean through its skull.


    The creature copsed to the floor with a heavy thud, its limbs twitching for a moment before going still.


    Sharon''s hands trembled, but her aim was true.


    "Don''t stop! Keep shooting!" Cleo yelled, cutting down another iing creature with a swift swing of her de. The energy de sliced through its torso with ease, the ck sludge sttering across the floor like oil.


    The creatures didn''t stop. They kept crawling in through the door, their sharp limbs ttering against the floor and walls as they pushed forward. Sharon gritted her teeth, firing rapidly at anything that moved. Her shots found their marks, dropping several of the grotesque monsters in quick session.


    But they kepting.


    Cleo moved like a force of nature, her golden eyes glowing with cold focus as she danced through the chaos. Her energy de carved through the creatures with precision, the hum of her weapon punctuated by the sound of Sharon''sser shots.


    After what felt like an eternity, the pile of bodies began to clog the opening in the door. The creatures struggled to push through, but the narrow space worked against them.


    Cleo seized the opportunity, cutting down thest few that managed to squeeze through.


    Finally, the assault slowed to a halt. The pile of mangled, disfigured bodies now blocked the entrance entirely, sealing the medical bay.


    Sharon slumped against a nearby desk, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. "What... what are these things?" she asked, her voice shaky. She gave one of the severed heads a small kick, sending it rolling across the floor like a grotesque ser ball.


    Cleo kneeled beside one of the corpses, her expression calm but focused. "I don''t know," she admitted, her golden eyes scanning the creature''s form. "But I''m going to find out."


    She reached for the head of one of the creatures, intending to interface with its organic brain and extract any information she could. But before she could make contact, a sudden, deafening explosion shook the entire cruiser.


    The floor vibrated violently, sending both Sharon and Cleo sprawling to the ground. Medical supplies and debris floated through the air as the ship''s artificial gravity faltered briefly before stabilizing again.


    "What the hell was that!?" Sharon cried, gripping the edge of a desk to steady herself.


    Cleo''s golden eyes darted toward the reinforced medical bay window. Her expression turned grim as she saw the view outside; the cruiser was tilting, its massive frame veering dangerously close to the shimmering, unstable walls of the wormhole.


    Sparks and debris floated around the ship as the faint glow of the engine trails behind them disappeared entirely.


    Her voice was sharp and urgent. "The engines are offline. We''re falling into the wormhole wall."


    Sharon''s eyes widened in horror. "Falling!? What does that even mean? Are we going to¡ª"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Die? Yes. Unless we get to the hangar bay immediately," Cleo interrupted, her calm yetmanding tone snapping Sharon out of her panic. Cleo moved quickly, helping Sharon to her feet.


    "Why the hangar bay? What''s going on!?" Sharon asked, her voice frantic as she grabbed herser pistol and oxygen mask.


    Cleo spoke quickly while scanning the room for supplies. "Without the engines, the ship can''t stay in the center of the wormhole. If it touches the wormhole wall, we''ll be torn apart. The only chance we have is to evacuate and get to a smaller vessel in the hangar bay. Now move!"


    She turned to the medical bay door, which was still partially sealed by the backup systems. "Of course," Cleo muttered under her breath, her voiceced with irritation. She mmed her foot into the bent metal door repeatedly, each kick denting the reinforced material further.


    With a final, powerful kick, the door groaned and bent open just enough for them to squeeze through.


    "Let''s go, Sharon," Cleo said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I''ll control the remaining creatures while we run. Just stay close."


    Sharon nodded, her fear momentarily ovee by Cleo''s confidence. She clutched her pistol tightly and followed Cleo through the door.


    The corridor outside the medical bay was a scene of utter chaos. Dim emergency lights flickered sporadically, casting eerie shadows across the walls. Floating debris and blood smeared the floor, evidence of the carnage that had already unfolded.


    Cleo''s radar pinged faintly in her HUD, disying a new set of iing signals. More creatures, lots of them, were moving rapidly through the ship''s corridors, converging toward their location.


    "They''reing," Cleo said, her voice calm but firm. She crafted a second energy de, holding it in her left hand while her right hand adjusted Sharon''s gravity boots. "You''ll need these to keep your footing. The hull integrity won''t hold for much longer."


    Sharon looked down at the boots, her face pale as she tried to focus on fastening them quickly. "What about you?" she asked.


    Cleo smirked faintly. "I don''t need them. Now let''s move."


    As they ran through the corridor, Cleo moved with precision, her dual des cutting down any creature that crossed their path. Sharon stayed close behind, firing her pistol with surprising uracy whenever one of the creatures got too close.


    The ship groaned ominously as another explosion rocked its frame. The lights flickered again, plunging the corridor into brief darkness before the emergency systems sputtered back to life.


    Sharon nced at Cleo, her voice trembling. "How far is the hangar bay!?"


    Cleo''s golden eyes flickered as she calcted the distance. "Too far forfort," she admitted. "But we''ll make it."


    Suddenly, her radar pinged again, this time showing a massive, fast-moving signal ahead of them.


    Cleo stopped abruptly, holding out an arm to block Sharon''s path. "Wait."


    Sharon froze, her eyes wide. "What is it now?"


    The sound of skittering ws grew louder, echoing through the corridor ahead. Cleo narrowed her eyes, her des humming softly as she readied herself.


    "Something big," Cleo said coldly.


    Cleo''s radar shed ominously in her HUD, the glowing outlines of her enemies bing clearer with each passing second. Apart from the massive signal ahead, she could see smaller ones scattering around it, it were more of those humanoid spider creatures from earlier.


    Her golden eyes narrowed as her internal systems kicked into overdrive. The soft hum of her energy core grew louder, and with a faint shimmer, her beautiful white wings extended outward. Their glowing edges refracted the dim emergency lights, creating an ethereal shield in front of her.


    Sharon, standing just behind Cleo, gripped herser pistol tightly, her eyes darting nervously between the radar and the dark corridor ahead. "What is it now? What''sing this time?"


    Before Cleo could respond, the humanoid spiders emerged at the far end of the corridor, their grotesque forms scuttling along the walls and ceiling. But before Cleo or Sharon could act, the corridor darkened further as something massive appeared behind them.


    A deep, guttural hiss echoed through the air as the creature lunged forward, swallowing two of the humanoid spiders whole in a single, effortless motion. The massive ck serpent glowed faintly, its body sleek and sinuous, covered in glossy ck scales with streaks of luminous green running along its length.


    Two sharp horns protruded from its head, and its glowing green eyes pierced through the darkness.


    But what caught Cleo''s attention the most was the creature''s butterfly-like ears, glowing green and fluttering faintly as it moved.


    The massive serpent paused, its head lowering slightly as it regarded Cleo and Sharon. Its glowing eyes narrowed as if studying them.


    "Wait," Cleo muttered, her eyes widening in sudden realization. She retracted her wings, letting them fold seamlessly back into her body. "So it''s you¡­ Ys, isn''t it? Did you find Carlos?"


    Sharon''s head snapped toward Cleo in shock, her fear momentarily reced by confusion. "Wait¡ªwhat!? Who are you talking to!?"


    Cleo ignored her, her golden eyes locked on the massive serpent as it began to shrink and shift. The glossy ck scales receded, and its glowing green eyes softened, taking on a more humanoid shape. Within moments, the serpent had transformed into a petite, naked female figure with glowing butterfly wings and pale, wless skin.


    The girl''s wings fluttered softly, their luminous green glow casting a gentle light across the corridor. She stood nonchntly, using her wings to cover her otherwise exposed body as ck clothing materialized across her frame, forming a dark, elegant outfit.


    "Nope," Ys said casually, brushing her long light green hair back as her piercing green eyes met Cleo''s. "When I got to Carlos''s location, these ugly creatures were already there, but there wasn''t a trace of him."


    Sharon, still clutching herser pistol, stared at Ys with her mouth slightly open, her fear now reced by utter disbelief. "What¡­ what are you?" she whispered.


    Ys gave Sharon a yful smirk. "I''m someone who doesn''t like exining things to people who can''t keep up." She nced back at Cleo. "Do you think Carlos is dead?"


    Cleo''s expression remained neutral, though her golden eyes sharpened slightly. "Unlikely. If he was dead, I''m sure we would''ve found his body or parts of it by now. Did you track his scent?"


    Ys nodded, her glowing green wings shifting behind her. "Yeah, I can still smell him. He''s definitely alive. I was following his scent before I ran into you two." She tilted her head slightly, her smirk widening. "Oh, and good job fixing the emergency lights, Cleo. You really outdid yourself this time."


    Cleo shook her head. "That wasn''t me," she said, her voice calm but firm.


    Ys blinked, her expression briefly puzzled. "Huh. Well, that''s¡­ interesting."


    Cleo turned to Sharon, who was still staring at Ys in shock. "We don''t have time to stand around. Follow me. We''re heading to the hangar bay."


    Sharon snapped out of her daze. "Hangar bay? Why?"

 Chapter 158 Blackout. (7)

    Cleo''s voice was sharp and urgent as she started running. "The engines are down, and the cruiser is falling into the wormhole wall. ording to my calctions, we have 30 imperial minutes before the ship copses and ceases to exist."


    Ys let out a low whistle, casually floating alongside Cleo as she ran. "Well, that''s not terrifying or anything."


    "Talk while we move," Cleo said, her wings glowing faintly as she picked up speed. "If Carlos is alive, we''ll find him. But first, we need to get off this ship."


    Meanwhile, Minutes Before the Explosion.


    Rex had finally arrived at the engine bay, his glowing eyes scanning the dim, debris-filled corridor. The massive reinforced metallic door that led to the room waspletely destroyed, torn apart as though a powerful force had ripped through it.


    Rex stopped just outside the entrance, his sma shield humming faintly. His free hand reached up to tap the small holographic projection on his forearm. "Mini Cleo, do you detect any life signs inside?"


    Mini Cleo, sitting cross-legged on his shoulder, frowned as she checked the readouts. A small holo-screen appeared above her, filled with glitching data. "I can''t scan the room, Master. There''s a jamming system in ce; it''s blocking all sensors. Definitely not standard cruiser tech."


    Rex sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "A jamming system, huh? That''s not good." He nced at the torn door again, his grip tightening on the sma sword in his hand. "Well, there''s only one way to find out what''s inside."


    Mini Cleo saluted yfully. "Be careful, Master! I''ll keep an eye on the rear!"


    Rex stepped forward cautiously, his glowing eyes switching between night vision and thermal as he crossed the threshold into the engine room. The air inside felt... wrong. Heavy.


    The engine bay was massive, with towering machinery and massive turbines lining the walls. Sparks flickered from damaged conduits, and pools of ck, tar-like liquid coated the floor.


    "That''s not oil," Rex muttered, kneeling to inspect the strange liquid. It smelled rancid, almost like decayed organic matter.


    As he stood, he noticed faint w marks gouged into the metal walls. His eyes followed the marks upward, leading to arge vent that had been torn open.


    "Great," he muttered. "Just what I needed, more things crawling around in the dark."


    Mini Cleo''s voice crackled in his ear. "Master, I''m detecting movement behind you!"


    Rex spun around, his sma sword ring to life just as a figure lunged out of the shadows.


    It was one of the humanoid spider creatures, its jagged limbs glinting in the dim light as it pounced toward him. Rex moved swiftly, shing downward with his sma de and cutting the creature clean in half.


    The two halves of the creature hit the ground with a wet st, but Rex barely had time to breathe before more movement appeared in his peripheral vision.


    "Here we go," he muttered, his eyes glowing brighter as he prepared for the fight.


    "Mini Cleo, keep scanning the area and stay alert. I don''t want some horror clich¨¦ where a monster jumps out of the shadows and tries to surprise me," Rex muttered, gripping his sma sword tightly.


    "Understood, Master! I''ll keep an eye out for anything suspicious," Mini Cleo chirped cheerfully, floating beside him like an adorable, slightly chaotic pixie.


    Rex reached into his pants pocket, pulling out apactser gun he had crafted earlier. Normally, he would decraft weapons he wasn''t using to save resources, but for situations like this, it paid to have something extra on hand.


    Now armed with his sma sword in his left hand and theser pistol in his right, Rex took a step forward, his eyes scanning the dim, debris-filled engine room. The faint, oily stench of burnt machinery and rotting organic matter filled the air.


    "Alright,e on, you ugly bastards," Rex growled. "I don''t have all day."


    A creature scuttled out from behind one of the massive engine turbines, its jagged limbs clicking against the floor as it moved. Rex didn''t hesitate, raising his pistol and firing.


    The bright red beam of theser gun struck the creature squarely in the forehead. Its head snapped back, now with a smoking hole left in its ce while it copsed to the floor in a heap.


    "Headshot!" Mini Cleo cheered, doing a tiny victory dance in the air.


    "Thanks for the targeting assist, Mini Cleo," Rex said, keeping his pistol aimed forward.


    Another creature lunged at him from the shadows, its bone-like limbs swinging wildly. Rex sidestepped the attack with ease, slicing through one of its legs with his sma sword. The severed limb ttered to the floor, ck sludge pouring out of the wound.


    "Next," Rex muttered, spinning on his heel to face two more creatures rushing toward him. He fired his pistol at one, the beam piercing its chest and sending it tumbling back. The other swung its wed arm, aiming for Rex''s head, but he dove under the attack and drove his sma sword upward into its jaw.


    The fight continued for less than two minutes, with Rex weaving between attacks and dispatching the creatures efficiently. By the time it was over, the engine room was littered with mutted bodies.


    The ck, mud-like blood of the creatures coated the floor, and a faint sizzling sound filled the air where the sma sword''s heat had cauterized their wounds.


    "Is there anything else nearby?" Rex asked, pulling his sma sword free from the skull of thest creature.


    Mini Cleo scanned the room, her tiny holographic screen flickering as she processed the data. Her cheerful demeanor dimmed slightly. "I¡­ I don''t know, Master. The jamming field here is too strong. It''s beyond my capabilities to prate. Only the Original Cleo could break through it."


    Rex sighed, wiping some of the ck residue off his sword before turning his gaze to Mini Cleo. "Hey, don''t feel bad about it," he said, giving her a gentle pat on the head with his finger. "You''re doing great, alright? This is out of your control."


    Mini Cleo''s tiny face brightened, and she saluted him with a big grin. "Thank you, Master! I''ll keep doing my best!"


    Rex chuckled softly, then turned his attention back to the engine room. He scanned the walls and machinery, his enhanced vision highlighting anything out of ce. That''s when he noticed it, a section of the wall that was slightly sunkenpared to the rest.


    "Wait a second," Rex muttered, stepping closer. "Mini Cleo, what do you think? That looks like a secretpartment."


    Mini Cleo floated over to the wall, her tiny legs dangling as she leaned forward to inspect it. "Hmm... ording to the data the original sent me, this part of the cruiser is supposed to bepletely empty, just the hull and structural supports."


    She tilted her head, her glowing eyes narrowing. "But this... this definitely doesn''t look normal."


    Rex frowned, crossing his arms as he considered the situation. "So, what do you think? Does this thing lead to some hidden treasure, or is it a trap that''llunch me into the void and make me scream like a little kid while suffering from terrible pain while being torn apart by the wormhole?"


    Mini Cleo giggled. "Hard to say! But I don''t detect anything dangerous from here... probably!" She floated closer to the slight gap in the wall, peering inside with her holographic scanner. "Nope, I can''t see much. It''s too narrow."


    Rex sighed and rolled his shoulders. "Well, no point in just standing here. Let''s see what''s behind Door Number One."


    He crafted a crowbar, the metallic tool forming seamlessly in his hands. Gripping it tightly, he jammed it into the small gap in the wall and began pulling with all his strength.


    "Go, Master! You''ve got this! Push harder! Almost there!" Mini Cleo cheered, bouncing up and down on the crowbar like a tiny cheerleader.


    Rex''s face turned red with effort as he strained against the wall. "Almost there, huh? You sure about that, Mini Cleo!?"


    Mini Cleo blinked, tilting her head. "Hmm, let me check!" She floated down to the gap and pulled out a tiny holographic ruler, measuring the distance the wall had moved. After a few moments, she floated back to Rex with an innocent smile.


    "Master¡­ um¡­ it hasn''t moved. At all!"


    Rex froze, his muscles still straining as he processed what she''d just said. "Wait¡­ what?"


    Mini Cleo gave him a sheepish grin, her tiny hands fidgeting nervously. "Yeah! I just measured it. The wall hasn''t budged even a little bit!"


    Rex let out an exasperated groan, dropping the crowbar and leaning against the wall. "You could''ve told me that before I nearly dislocated my shoulder."


    Mini Cleo giggled, floating around him yfully. "But you looked so determined, Master! I didn''t want to ruin your heroic moment!"


    Rex sighed, shaking his head. "You''re lucky you''re cute," he muttered before picking up the crowbar again.


    "Okay, new n," Rex said, adjusting his grip on the tool. "Let''s try this one more time, but this time, give me a countdown or something. I need all the mental support I can get."


    "Yes, Master! I''ll count down for you!" Mini Cleo said, raising her tiny fist in excitement.


    As Rex prepared to try again, the faint sound of something metallic clicking echoed through the engine room. He frozen, his eyes narrowing.


    "Mini Cleo," Rex said quietly, his voice tense. "Did you hear that?"


    Mini Cleo''s yful demeanor immediately shifted, her tiny scanner ring to life. "Yes, Master. It''sing from behind you."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Rex gripped the crowbar in one hand and his sma sword in the other, slowly turning to face the source of the sound.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 159 Blackout. (8)

    Rex cautiously scanned the room, his sma short sword humming faintly in his hand. His eyes darted to every corner, every shadow, but there was nothing¡ªno movement, no heat signatures, no signs of the noise he''d heard earlier.


    "Mini Cleo, did you find anything with the scanner?" he asked, his voice steady butced with tension.


    "Negative, Master," Mini Cleo chirped, sitting cross-legged on his shoulder like a smug little sentinel. "There''s nothing here except you, me, and the crowbar." She gestured toward the tools in his hands as if to prove her point.


    Rex frowned, still unconvinced. "Hmm... well, change of ns. I''ll just destroy the wall," he said, letting out a small sigh.


    Mini Cleo gave an excited cheer. "Yay! Destruction time!"


    Without hesitation, Rex deconstructed his sma short sword, reshaping the energy into his favored sma ymore. The glowing de grew in size, its edges crackling with dangerous heat.


    The weapon now looked almostically oversized for the confined space of the engine room, but that didn''t seem to bother Rex.


    "Alright, let''s see what''s behind Door Number Two," Rex muttered, gripping the hilt tightly.


    With a few heavy, precise swings, the sma ymore sliced into the sunken section of the wall, sparks flying as the de cut through the reinforced metal like butter. In moments, the wall fell away in chunks, revealing the hiddenpartment behind it.


    "Well, that was way easier than I expected," Rex said, shrinking the ymore back into its short sword form. The sma hissed softly as the de condensed into a more manageable size. "Should''ve done that from the start. Guess I wasted time with the crowbar."


    Mini Cleo floated in front of him, cing her tiny hands on her hips proudly. "Indeed, Master! I was just about to suggest using your sword, but when I saw you craft the crowbar, I didn''t want to ruin your fun. The original said, You can be silly sometimes, so I should let you enjoy yourself."


    Rex gave her a nk stare, his disbelief practically radiating off his face. "You''re calling me silly? When you''re the one who literally acts like a hyperactive child half the time?"


    Mini Cleo puffed up her tiny chest, cing a hand on her chin as if deep in thought. "Hmm, that''s true. But Master, don''t worry! I''ll keep your silliness a secret. It''s only you and me here! I''m really good at keeping secrets," she said, wagging her finger at him with an exaggeratedly smug expression, as if scolding him for being a naughty child.


    Rex ran a hand down his face, exhaling deeply. "Yeah, alright, whatever you say, Mini Cleo. Let''s just focus. There has to be something important in this room if it was hidden this well."


    Mini Cleo floated back to his shoulder, waving her hand dismissively. "Of course, Master! I''m always focused!"


    Rex shook his head but couldn''t help the small smirk creeping onto his face. Despite her antics, Mini Cleo''s cheerfulness was oddlyforting in this tense situation.


    As he stepped into the hiddenpartment, his enhanced vision quickly locked onto the centerpiece of the room; it was a massive white cube reinforced with ck iron-like ting. The object hummed faintly, its smooth surface unmarred except for a few small panels and what looked like severed cables hanging from its side.


    "Mini Cleo, what is this thing?" Rex asked, gesturing toward the cube with his free hand.


    Mini Cleo floated down to the object, her eyes glowing faintly as she scanned it. "This is a space-shelf external battery, Master," she exined. "It''s an emergency power supply system! Normally, these are used when a ship''s main energy core goes offline. They can temporarily restore vital systems like lights, gravity, or oxygen generation."


    Rex kneeled beside the cube, inspecting the severed cables. "Yeah, well, it doesn''t look like it''s doing much right now. These cables have been cut clean." He held up one end of the cable, the frayed wires sparking faintly. "This wasn''t an ident. Someone did this on purpose."


    Mini Cleo floated closer, inspecting the damage. "Hmm... you''re right, Master. This was a deliberate sabotage. But if we reconnect the cables, it should restore emergency power to the ship!"


    Rex raised an eyebrow. "Should? That''s not exactlyforting."


    Mini Cleo gave him a thumbs-up. "Don''t worry, Master! I''m pretty sure it''ll work!"


    Rex sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, fine. I''ll hold the cables steady; you fix them. I don''t know the first thing about repairing this kind of stuff, and thest thing we need is for me to cause some kind of energy discharge."


    Mini Cleo gave him a cheeky salute. "Leave it to me! I''m an expert at fixing things!"


    Rex crouched beside the battery, holding the severed ends of the cables just close enough for Mini Cleo to work. "Okay, but be careful. If this thing explodes, I''m ming you."


    Mini Cleo giggled, pulling out a set of holographic tools from her small storage unit. She began manipting the wires with precision, her tiny hands moving almost too fast for Rex to follow.


    "Almost done, Master!" she chirped.


    As Mini Cleo worked, Rex couldn''t shake the feeling that they were being watched. His enhanced hearing picked up faint creaks and groans from the engine room behind him, but when he nced over his shoulder, there was nothing there.


    "Mini Cleo," Rex said quietly, his voice tense. "Are you picking up any movement? Anything at all?"


    Mini Cleo paused for a moment, her holographic tools hovering mid-air. Her eyes flickered as she scanned the surrounding area. "Hmm... nothing on my end, Master. The jamming field is still messing with my sensors, so I can''t detect much beyond this room."


    Rex nodded slowly, though his grip on his sma sword tightened. "Alright. Just keep working. Let''s get this done and get the hell out of here."


    Your next read awaits at empire


    Mini Cleo finished reconnecting the cables with a triumphant cheer. "Done! Try it now, Master!"


    Rex stepped back, letting the cables touch the battery. Sparks flew for a moment, and the battery hummed to life, glowing faintly as it powered up.


    Suddenly, the room''s lights flickered back on, illuminating the space in harsh white light. The hum of the ship''s systems returning to life filled the air, and the slight weightlessness Rex had been feeling disappeared as gravity was restored.


    "Good job, Mini Cleo," Rex said with a small smile.


    Before Mini Cleo could respond, a loud, mechanical screech echoed from deeper within the engine bay. The sound was followed by the heavy nging of metal against metal, growing louder and closer with each passing second.


    "Uh-oh," Mini Cleo said, her voice trembling slightly.


    The moment Mini Cleo finished cheering and the battery''s hum filled the room, the ship''s engines detonated with a catastrophic roar. The engine bay was consumed in an instant by an eruption of ck mes, their hue so dark they seemed to devour the surrounding light.


    The explosion ripped through the engine bay with a deafening roar, a shockwave of ck mes, and searing heat, consuming everything in its path.


    The vtile space fuel ignited with such force that it seemed as though the entire ship would split apart. The metallic walls warped and melted, machinery was shredded to pieces, and Rex stood at the epicenter of it all.


    "Master!" Mini Cleo shrieked, her voice filled with both fear and determination. Without hesitation, her tiny form shimmered with golden light as she rapidly crafted a series of dome-shaped energy barriers around Rex.


    Each barrier activated in session,yering themselves in front of him like shields of pure light.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The first barrier held for only a fraction of a second before the ck mes tore through it as though it were made of paper.


    Mini Cleo crafted another and then another, pouring every ounce of energy from Rex''s reserves into the defenses. Sparks flew from her glowing hands as she worked frantically, her face twisted in desperate concentration.


    The ck mes licked at the shields with an unnatural hunger, their heat so intense that it was warping the very air. "Master, it''s not enough! The energy reserves are dropping too fast!" Mini Cleo warned, her voice trembling as her holographic form flickered erratically.


    "Shiiit!" Rex roared, his voice cutting through the chaos as he activated Overdrive mode. His golden halo red to life, spinning rapidly behind him as he channeled every ounce of strength he had left into the fight for survival.


    His body surged with raw power, and he drew even more nanomaterial from his dwindling storage reserves.


    Despite his efforts, the explosion''s sheer power was too much. One by one, the energy shields failed, their golden glow consumed by the inky ck mes. Mini Cleo''s form flickered one final time before vanishingpletely.


    "Master, I''m sorry..." Mini Cleo whispered before disappearing into the void, leaving Rex alone.


    Her disappearance was a dire signal that his energy reserves had dropped below 15%. He was running on a tiny line.


    The ck mes reached him, searing through his honeb shieldyer byyer, sending waves of blistering pain through his body. The metallic floor beneath him melted into g, and the air itself felt like molten lead pressing down on his chest.


    He reached into his space storage, pulling out a glowing energy battery that hummed ominously with unstable power. The green light from the battery flickered erratically, like a warning beacon, but Rex didn''t hesitate


    "I swear... I''ll find the motherf***er who did this," Rex snarled through gritted teeth, his eyes zing with fury. "And I''ll shove space fuel straight up his ass to see if he likes it!"

 Chapter 160 Blackout. (9)

    With a defiant roar, he bit down on the energy battery, shattering the casing with his teeth.


    The moment the energy was released, it exploded inside his mouth like a lightning storm, sending tendrils of electricity surging through his body. Pain wracked him from head to toe as the vtile energy coursed through his veins, but he held on, his willpower forcing his body to absorb the energy rather than sumb to it.


    His honeb shield red back to life, glowing brightly as it bought him a few more precious seconds of survival. Rex folded his wings around his body, the golden glow of the appendages creating a secondyer of defense against the relentless mes.


    But even with the boost from the energy battery, the ck mes were merciless. They wed at him, tearing through his shields faster than he could repair them. Every time his shield shattered, the mes licked at his skin, burning him despite his reinforced body.


    The pain was unimaginable, but Rex''s rage burned hotter than the mes themselves.


    He reached for another energy battery, biting into it with a feral growl. The vtile energy exploded in his mouth again, sending another surge of electricity through his body. His hands trembled as the pain and exhaustion began to take their toll, but he refused to stop.


    "Come on... COME ON!" Rex roared, his voice echoing through the copsing engine bay.


    The mes battered against his defenses relentlessly, but Rex stood firm, his golden wings glowing like a beacon of defiance amidst the chaos. His body was battered and broken, his reserves nearly depleted, but his sheer willpower refused to let him fall.


    Blood dripped from his lips where the energy batteries had scorched him, and burns covered his exposed skin, but Rex didn''t care. The only thing that mattered now was survival and revenge.


    With each passing second, the pain grew worse, but so did his resolve. The roar of the mes was deafening, but it was drowned out by Rex''s primal scream, a shout of pure defiance that reverberated through the engine bay.


    He wasn''t going to die here. Not like this.


    Carlos stood on themand bridge, sweat dripping from his brow as he gripped one of the humanoid spider creatures by the neck. Its grotesque, twisted limbs iled wildly as it screeched in his face.


    With an annoyed grunt, Carlos raised his arm and fired thest few rounds from his minigun, shredding the creature''s head into a mess of ck sludge.


    The creature''s limp body fell to the floor with a sickening thud as Carlos''s minigun sputtered and clicked, the ammo counter shing 0 on his arm disy.


    "Tch, out of bullets already? That''s just great," Carlos muttered, ncing around the bridge. His eyes locked onto a weapons cab bolted to the wall.


    "Guess it''s time to restock."


    As Carlos floated toward the cab, the emergency lights suddenly red to life, bathing the room in a harsh red glow. Almost immediately, the gravity system kicked back online, yanking him out of the air and mming him face-first onto the cold, metallic floor.


    "Ow! Damn it!" Carlos groaned, rubbing his forehead as he staggered to his feet. "Well, at least the gravity''s back. That''s something."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Ignoring the dull ache in his head, he reached the cab and yanked it open. Inside, he found a modest selection of weapons, mostly electric pistols with copper rounds. Not ideal, but far better than being unarmed.


    He grabbed two handguns, stuffing as many ammo clips as his pockets could hold. He scanned the cab for anything his arm-mounted minigun could use, but luck wasn''t on his side.


    "No heavy rounds, huh? Figures. Guess I''ll have to make do with these pea shooters," he muttered, inspecting the handguns.


    After securing his gear, Carlos sighed and leaned against the console, staring at the remains of the spider creature he had just killed. He raised his left arm, examining the damagedmunication device built into his cybeic prosthetic. The screen was cracked, and sparks asionally flickered from the exposed wiring.


    "Damn thing got me good," Carlos grumbled. "If I hadn''t blocked with my arm, I''d probably be a corpse by now. Lucky me."


    He sighed again, shaking his head as he nced at the various inactive control panels around the bridge. The emergency power hadn''t fully restored the ship''s systems yet, leaving the bridge in an eerie silence broken only by the asional groan of the ship''s hull.


    Minutes passed, and finally, the hum of the emergency battery activating coursed through the ship. The control panels flickered to life, disying various diagnostics and warning messages.


    "Oh, finally! Took long enough," Carlos muttered as he moved to the central console. "Time to see if I can get a message out to the rest of the ship. Hopefully, there''s still someone alive out there who can hear me."


    He grabbed the microphone connected to the inte system, but just as he was about to speak, the entire ship was rocked by a deafening explosion.


    The st sent Carlos flying backward, his body crashing into a console with a loud ng. Sparks rained down around him as the lights flickered violently.


    "What the hell is happening now!?" Carlos shouted, dragging himself to his feet.


    He stumbled over to the ship status disy, which showed a 3D hologram of the cruiser. The engine section of the ship glowed an ominous red, with shing alerts reading TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE and CRITICAL DAMAGE.


    Carlos''s stomach dropped. He knew exactly what that meant.


    "Red status... total loss..." he whispered, gripping the edge of the console. His voice rose in panic. "Oh, shit."


    The engines werepletely destroyed. With no propulsion and no stabilization, the cruiser was a dead ship drifting aimlessly in the wormhole. And worse, the ck mes from the explosion would have damaged key systems, threatening the ship''s integrity.


    Carlos mmed his fist against the console, his mind racing. He had no time to panic. He had been in this exact kind of no-win situation before, back in his days as a mercenary. If there was one thing he knew, it was that waiting around for death wasn''t an option.


    "Alright, Carlos," he muttered to himself, cracking his neck. "Think. You know what to do in this situation. If the engines are gone... then we don''t need the engines."


    Continue your adventure at empire


    He sprinted to the navigation console, which controlled the ship''s emergency wormhole navigation system. It was a failsafe designed to eject the ship from a wormhole in the event of catastrophic failure, but it came with massive risks.


    The system was not designed to be used during active travel. Forcefully deactivating the wormhole could rip the ship apart or, worse, leave it stranded in the void between dimensions.


    Carlos didn''t care. Death was already knocking at the door. If he was going to die, he''d at least make sure it was quick and not at the mercy of those spider freaks.


    "Alright, you piece of junk. Let''s get this over with," he growled, his fingers flying across the controls. The console''s disy shifted to show a warning in bright red text.


    <<WARNING: FORCEFUL WHOLE DEACTIVATION DETECTED. The integrity of the vessel is in danger. RECONSIDER THE decision. I REPEAT, RECONSIDER THE DECISION.>>


    Carlos snorted. "Yeah, I''ll reconsider... NOT!" He mmed the confirmation button, ignoring the system''s continued protests.


    The ship groaned violently as the wormhole destabilization sequence began. Outside, the colorful, swirling lights of the wormhole started to distort, twisting into chaotic patterns as cracks formed in the dimensional space.


    "Let''s just hope I''m not signing our death warrant," Carlos muttered, gripping the console tightly as the ship began to shake.


    The wormhole finally copsed with a massive shockwave, ejecting the cruiser at blinding speed. The sudden force sent the ship spinning wildly, tumbling end over end through open space.


    Carlos was thrown across the bridge, mming into the wall and copsing to the floor in a heap. rms red all around him as the ship''s systems struggled to regain control.


    "Note to self... next time, don''t mess with wormholes," he groaned, staggering to his feet.


    The ship continued to spin violently, its hull groaning under the strain. But Carlos managed a weak grin as he looked out the window at the stars beyond.


    "At least... we''re not dead yet."


    As if the universe had a twisted sense of humor, the damaged luxury cruiser spiraled wildly through space, locked in an uncontrolled orbit around the oceanic they were supposed to visit.


    It might have been an idyllic sight under different circumstances, an endless expanse of blue with swirling white clouds over shimmering seas. But now, it loomed like a death sentence.


    The ship''s engines were gone, leaving it as nothing more than a massive, vulnerable metal coffin hurtling toward the''s gravitational pull. The luxurious amenities, the crystalline chandeliers, and high-tech furnishings of the cruiser suddenly felt like a cruel joke. None of it mattered now.


    Carlos stared at the holographic disy on themand bridge, which showed the ship''s trajectory in real time. The cruiser was wobbling erratically, spinning like a wounded beast in the vast emptiness of space.


    The disy showed the growingrger with each second, its gravitational pull dragging the doomed vessel into an inevitable descent.


    "Damn it, of all thes to crash into, why did it have to be this one?" he thought, clenching his fists. Carlos knew that crashing into the ocean wasn''t any better than hitting solid ground. The sheer speed and force of impact would tear the ship apart, turning water into a wall harder than concrete.


    Carlos''s jaw tightened as he turned to thems terminal. With a flicker, the system sputtered to life, since it now had power barely but it was enough. He grabbed the microphone and took a deep breath before speaking into the ship-wide inte.


    "Attention, all passengers," Carlos''s voice boomed across the ship, distorted slightly by the static of the failing systems.


    "This is sub captain on themand bridge. Listen carefully. The ship has beenpromised. The attackers are unknown, but we''re out of time. Right now, we''re heading straight for the oceanic below us... at terminal velocity."


    The inte crackled, his words echoing ominously through the dimly lit halls, now illuminated only by the emergency lights.

 Chapter 161 Blackout. (10)

    Carlos pressed on. "Here''s the deal: the engines are gone, navigation is screwed, and the ship ispletely out of control. There''s only one chance to survive this. I''m ordering everyone to go to the hangar bay immediately."


    "Get to the same transport ships you used for the camping trip. Stick with the people from your original teams, and for the love of whatever deity you pray to, oh, and don''t panic."


    He paused for a moment, ncing at the disyed on the console. It was growingrger by the second.


    "That''s all from me," he said finally, his voice grimmer now. "If you believe in any kind of god... now would be a good time to start praying. We''re going to need all the help we can get."


    Carlos mmed the microphone back into its holder, the sound echoing through the otherwise silent bridge. His lips curled into a bitter smile as he muttered to himself, "I really need a drink after this."


    With nothing else to do on themand bridge, Carlos turned toward the elevator, which miraculously still had power. He pressed the button for the hangar bay, and with a soft hum, the elevator began its descent.


    Across the cruiser, Carlos''s announcement sent waves of panic through the remaining passengers.


    Screams and cries echoed in the hallways as people rushed for the hangar bay, tripping over one another in the dark, their faces illuminated only by the flickering emergency lights.


    Families clutched each other tightly, while nobles and rich passengers screamed at their servants to grab their belongings; even in the face of death, they couldn''t let go of their vanity.


    Among the chaos, Cleo, Ys, and Sharon were sprinting down one of the main corridors toward the hangar bay. Cleo''s white wings shimmered faintly in the dim light as she ran, carrying Sharon like a princess in her arms to keep her from slowing them down.


    "Did I hear that right!?" Sharon shouted over the noise. "We''re going to crash!?"


    "Affirmative," Cleo replied, her voice calm but firm. "And we''ll be dead if we don''t get to the hangar bay in time. Stop asking questions and focus."


    Ys darted ahead of them, her glowing green butterfly wings brushing against the walls as she ran. Despite the grim situation, she seemed almost... amused.


    "Well, this is exciting!" Ys said, a wild grin on her face. "Darling always says I need to get out more, and here we are, what an adventure!"


    "This isn''t the time for your nonsense!" Cleo snapped, ncing at Ys out of the corner of her eye.


    "Oh, rx, wife number two," Ys teased, her grin widening. "We''ve got this. If worstes to worst, I can just fly us all out of here. You, me, Sharon... well, maybe not Carlos."


    "Shut up and run!" Cleo hissed, her toneced with irritation.


    The cruiser hurtled closer and closer to the, its hull creaking and groaning under the strain of re-entry. The once-luxurious ship was now a fiery, spinning wreck, its exterior glowing red-hot as it pierced through the''s atmosphere.


    Inside, the chaos only grew as passengers flooded into the hangar bay, scrambling to board the transport ships. Families clung to each other, guards shouted orders, and panic reigned supreme.


    Cleo, Ys, and Sharon arrived at the hangar bay just in time, their transport ship already prepped and waiting. Cleo shouted out orders, organizing the passengers as efficiently as she could, while Ys floatedzily nearby, asionally scaring people with her glowing wings just for fun.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Carlos arrived momentster, stumbling out of the elevator with a pair of handguns in his hands. He looked around at the chaos and let out a loud whistle, silencing the crowd.


    "Alright, listen up!" Carlos shouted. "You want to live? Get on a ship and strap in! No fighting, no whining, and no baggage! We don''t have time for your fancy crap!"


    Continue your journey with empire


    "Carlos! There''s no time! Get inside the transport ship already!" Sharon shouted, her voice strained with panic as she waved frantically from the entrance of their transport.


    Carlos stood frozen, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Around him, the hangar was still a chaotic mess. Families and stragglers scrambled to board the transport ships, but it was painfully obvious that there wasn''t enough time to save everyone.


    Carlos''s chest heaved as he struggled with the choice in front of him. His eyes darted to the sea of terrified faces, and the realization hit him like a punch to the gut, there were too many people, and the countdown to doom was ticking faster than anyone could move.


    "Carlos!" Sharon''s voice broke through his turmoil, snapping him back to reality. He gritted his teeth and shouted back, "I got it! I''ming!"


    With a heavy heart, he turned and sprinted toward their transport, his cybeic legs whirring softly with every step. He could barely look at the passengers he was leaving behind as he ran. The guilt was already tearing at him.


    The moment Carlos jumped onto the transport, Cleo''s golden eyes shed as she finished hacking the ship''s automatic navigation systems. With a few mentalmands, all the transport ships roared to life, their engines igniting as they prepared tounch from the hangar bay.


    "Let''s leave then," Cleo said coldly, piloting the small fleet of ships with precision through her neural interface.


    Carlos was catching his breath when he suddenly realized something, or rather, someone, was missing. His head snapped toward the hangar bay doors, his expression one of horror. "Wait! Hold on! Where''s Rex!?"


    Cleo''s face was calm but unreadable as she adjusted the controls. "I don''t know," she said bluntly. "But I can feel he''s still alive. Rex is not someone who dies so easily, but..." She paused. "He''ll likely be heavily injured."


    Ys, standing near the entrance of the transport ship with her arms crossed, suddenly perked up at the mention of Rex. "Oh, please," she scoffed. "My darling is tougher than steel. He''s not dead... but..." Her yful smirk faded into something more serious. "He probably will be if we leave him here."


    Before anyone could react, Ys suddenly stepped forward. She gave them a quick, mischievous wave. "You guys go out first! I forgot my toothbrush!" she said with an exaggerated grin before leaping out of the transport ship and disappearing back into the hangar bay.


    "YS! What the hell are you doing!?" Carlos shouted, leaning out of the transport''s hatch, but it was toote; Ys was already gone.


    "Let her go," Cleo said firmly, her voice brooking no argument. "Ys is more than capable of finding Rex. If anyone can, it''s her."


    Carlos cursed under his breath but didn''t argue. The transports broke free from the hangar bay''s shield, leaving the cruiser behind as they sted into the void.


    Ys soared gracefully through the chaotic remains of the ship, her glowing green butterfly wings casting an ethereal light against the dark, flickering corridors. Fires roared in the distance, and the smell of burning metal and flesh filled the air, but she paid it no mind.


    "Now, where are you, my darling?" She muttered to herself, her glowing wings fluttering as she sniffed the air.


    She paused mid-flight, sniffing in all directions like a predator tracking its prey. Her sensitive Khryssari nose usually made it easy to find Rex''s unique scent, a mix of iron, sweat, and the faint tinge of sma from his energy core. But strangely, this time, she couldn''t pick it up.


    "Weird... I can''t smell him," she murmured, her expression darkening. "Well then, onto n B."


    Ys closed her eyes, her wings slowing to a gentle flutter as she activated one of her more unique abilities. A ripple of mental energy pulsed from her body, traveling outward like sonar. As it expanded, Ys began to sense the emotions of every living being on the ship.


    Fear. Desperation. Hopelessness.


    The passengers who hadn''t made it to the transports were still scattered throughout the ship, their panic burning like small mes in the mental image Ys was building. But none of them were Rex. She knew Rex''s presence; it was impossible to miss.


    Then she felt it.


    A massive surge of energy burned like a bonfire on the edges of her mental map. Unlike the other passengers, this presence wasn''t consumed by fear or despair. It was something primal. Something terrifying.


    Pure, unrelenting rage.


    Ys''s eyes snapped open, her heart skipping a beat. The mental image in her mind solidified, showing her a figure kneeling on the ground, surrounded by a zing red aura of fury. Even without seeing him directly, she knew.


    "D¡ªDarling?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. The connection she shared with Rex came to life, confirming her suspicions.


    Without wasting another second, Ys bolted toward the source of the energy, flying at full speed through the damaged corridors. She moved so quickly that she left a faint green afterimage in her wake, ignoring the debris and the lingering creatures still lurking in the shadows.


    In the depths of the ruined engine bay, Rex kneeled amid a sea of charred metal and lifeless bodies. His white wings were battered and ckened, and his armor was scorched from the relentless mes of the earlier explosion.


    But Rex didn''t care. His mind was consumed by one thing only, vengeance.


    The spiderlike creatures that had survived the engine explosion moments ago were now nothing more than piles of smoking ash and shredded limbs. Rex had ughtered them all in blind fury while he was being burned by the ck mes.


    his sma sword, and sheer willpower carving through the horde like a hot knife through butter.


    The air around him crackled with raw energy as his golden halo glowed brighter, pulsing with every beat of his heart. Despite his injuries, Rex radiated an almost demonic power, his rage keeping him on his feet when his body should have long since copsed.

 Chapter 162 Tier 4 Beast.

    A faint sound echoed behind him of soft footsteps approaching rapidly. Rex''s glowing eyes narrowed as he gripped his sma sword, ready to strike.


    "Darling!"


    The familiar voice stopped him cold. Rex turned his head just as Ys flew into the room,nding gracefully a few feet away from him.


    Her glowing green wings shimmered in the dim light, and her usually yful expression was reced with one of genuine concern. "Rex..." she said softly, stepping closer.


    Rex exhaled slowly, his golden halo dimming slightly. "Ys," he said, his voice quieter now. "What the hell are you doing here? You should''ve left with the others."


    Ys smirked, her yful demeanor returning. "And let my darling die alone in this scrap heap? Not a chance."


    Rex let out a bitterugh, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "You''re insane."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "And you love it," she shot back, winking.


    "Come on," Ys said, extending her hand to him. "This ship''s about to crash, and I don''t n on dying today. Let''s get out of here, darling."


    Rex hesitated for a moment, his burning rage still simmering beneath the surface. But as he looked at Ys''s outstretched hand, he let out a long sigh and took it.


    "Fine," he said.


    She grinned, her wings ring brightly. "Then let''s hurry. We''ve got a to not crash into."


    Together, they sprinted toward the hangar bay, the faint rumble of the ship''s descent growing louder with every step.


    Rex''s white wings dissipated into faint trails of glowing light, leaving behind a faint shimmer in the air. His injuries were extensive, from burned flesh to cracked bones, and his energy reserves were dangerously low, but he was alive, barely.


    His HUD disyed a grim update, 23 hours to optimal recovery. That was an eternity in their current situation, but at least the medical nanobots were working overtime, knitting his damaged tissue back together at a pace no normal human body could manage.


    "Where are the others?" Rex asked as he ran, his breathingbored but his determination unwavering.


    "Cleo got them out safely," Ys replied, effortlessly keeping up with him as she floated inches above the floor, her green wings pulsing softly. "But there are still hundreds of passengers in the ship. Judging by their speed orck of it, they''re not going to make it."


    Rex cursed under his breath. His golden eyes flicked toward the walls as if the metal corridors themselves were to me for their current predicament. "Why are people so damn slow in emergencies?"


    Ys floated closer with a yful glint in her eyes despite the chaos. She extended her arms toward him as if offering a hug. "You know," she teased, "I can always carry you out. It''ll be faster."


    Rex shot her a re, though the corners of his lips twitched. "Fine," he said reluctantly, slowing his pace. "But if you so much as mention this to anyone, I swear¡ª"


    "Rx, darling," Ys interrupted with a sly grin. "Your secret''s safe with me. Now hold still~!"


    Before Rex could protest further, Ys scooped him up effortlessly, cradling him in her arms like a princess. Her strength, even in her petite frame, was formidable, a testament to her Khryssari biology.


    "This feels so wrong," Rex grumbled, crossing his arms as his battered body begrudgingly epted her help. "Just... don''t drop me, alright?"


    Ys giggled, her wings fluttering as she lifted off the ground and elerated through the corridors. "Oh, don''t worry, darling. I wouldn''t dream of dropping you... on purpose, anyway."


    Rex rolled his eyes, letting out a tired sigh. He focused on his HUD, trying to divert his attention from the mortifying situation. With what little energy he had left, he began crafting a makeshift recharging device directly on his chest, integrating one of the energy cells he had bitten into earlier. It was slow work, but it would stabilize him for now.


    The hangar bay was a scene of pure chaos. Passengers were still scrambling to board the remaining transport ships, but greed and panic had taken hold. Many nobles and wealthy passengers were demanding their servants load crates of luggage onto the transports, ignoring the cries of those left behind.


    Ys and Rex arrived just in time to witness the tragic spectacle. From above, Ys hovered near the hangar''s edge, watching as servants struggled under the weight of suitcases filled with jewels and priceless artifacts, while families were shoved aside in the mad rush to board.


    Rex''s golden eyes narrowed, his frustration and anger bubbling to the surface. "There are still so many people left," he said through gritted teeth. His gaze lingered on the children crying as their parents begged for spots on the crowded transport ships.


    "They''re going to die because of their own stupidity."


    Ys nced at him, her yful demeanor softening. "Darling," she said gently, "you know there''s nothing we can do. The greedy ones always end up digging their own graves. You can''t save them all."


    Rex clenched his fists, his cybeic joints creaking under the pressure. He wanted to argue, to fight, to find some way to save the stragglers. But deep down, he knew Ys was right. The ship was seconds away from entering the''s atmosphere. Time had run out.


    He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Let''s go," he said finally, his voice heavy with resignation.


    Ys nodded and flew toward the hangar bay''s exit, her wings glowing brighter as she increased her speed. Rex held onto her tightly, his chest burning with a mix of anger, guilt, and exhaustion.


    The moment they exited the hangar bay, Rex felt the biting chill of the''s upper atmosphere. The wind howled around them, roaring like a living beast as it whipped against his exposed skin.


    With his clothes burned away in the earlier explosion, all he had left were the tattered remains of his armor pants and the glowing recharging device on his chest.


    Ys slowed to a hover, her green wings keeping them steady as they floated high above the ocean. Below them, the endless expanse of water stretched as far as the eye could see, shimmering faintly under the''s twin suns.


    In the distance, the cruiser appeared, a massive, ming metal carcass spinning uncontrobly as it plummeted toward the ocean.


    "It really is a perfect day for a tragedy," Rex muttered, his voice hollow.


    Ys turned to him, her expression unusually somber. She gently set him down next to her. Rex''s white wings reappeared, now fully repaired, as he stretched them cautiously.


    "I''m fine now," Rex said, flexing his fingers. "You can let me go."


    Ys hesitated for a moment, watching him carefully. Despite his words, she could see the turmoil in his eyes. Without saying anything, she floated closer and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his bare chest.


    Rex stiffened slightly, surprised by the sudden gesture. But after a moment, he sighed and returned the embrace, wrapping one arm around her.


    They stood there in silence, watching as the cruiser hurtled toward its watery grave.


    The cruiser hit the ocean with devastating force. The front half of the ship crumpled on impact, shattering into countless pieces that sprayed into the air like shrapnel. The rest of the ship followed, groaning and twisting as it was swallowed by the waves.


    A massive shockwave rippled across the ocean, sending towering walls of water in every direction. The once-beautiful luxury cruiser, a symbol of opulence and excess, was now nothing more than a sinking pile of scrap metal.


    Rex and Ys watched in silence, their expressions grim. The screams of those who had survived the initial crash were faintly audible even from their distance. But the sight of dark shapes moving beneath the waves made it clear that their suffering wouldn''tst long.


    The ocean''s native creatures, massive, predatory beasts that were supposed to be hunted remotely by robots, were now converging on the wreckage. Their massive, serpentine bodies sliced through the water like shadows, and their glowing eyes focused on the iling survivors.


    "Those who survived the crash won''t survive that," Rex said bitterly, his hands clenching into fists.


    She tightened her embrace around him, her wings folding slightly. "There was nothing you could do," she whispered softly.


    Rex stared at the sinking ship, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. His voice was low and filled with quiet rage. "Someone nned this," he said. "And when I find out who, I''m going to make sure they pay for every single life they took."


    While the ocean''s turbulent waves churned below and the remains of the cruiser disappeared into the depths, Rex''s energy core finally reached the 20% threshold. The soft hum of power returning to his systems was followed by a faint golden glow from his chest.


    "Masterrrrrr!!" Mini Cleo''s voice echoed from nowhere before she appeared in a sh of golden light, floating excitedly above Rex''s shoulder. She zipped around him frantically, her tiny hands covering her mouth as she took in his battered state.


    "I''m so d you''re safe! But... your body! It''s so burned and tattered! Does it hurt? Are you okay? I''m sorry I was so ipetent! I¡ªI should have done more!"


    Her chirping, high-pitched voice echoed against the grim backdrop of their situation, and despite the chaos, Rex couldn''t help butugh with a bitter, tiredugh, but augh nheless. The tense atmosphere between him and Ys eased slightly as the little AI fussed over him.


    "Yes, Mini Cleo, I''m fine," Rex said, his voice soft. He reached up and gently patted her tiny head with his finger. "You did your best, and I''m still alive because of it. Don''t be so hard on yourself."


    "Master..." Mini Cleo murmured, her tiny hands gripping Rex''s finger as if she might lose him again. Her tearful expression was almostical given her size, but there was genuine concern in her glowing golden eyes.


    Then, suddenly, her demeanor shifted. She straightened her posture, puffed out her little chest, and saluted. "Master! We need to leave this area right now! Something''s not right! There''s danger nearby!"


    Rex''s smirk faded as her words sank in. He noticed that Ys had already let go of him and was now staring out at the vast ocean, her emerald butterfly wings glowing faintly as they twitched with agitation.

 Chapter 163 Tier 4 Beast. (2)

    "It''s toote already," Ys said, her voice low and steady, but there was tension in her tone. Her sharp green eyes were fixed on the horizon, and her wings folded slightly as if preparing for flight. "Something powerful ising."


    Rex followed her gaze, his golden eyes narrowing as he scanned the ocean''s surface. At first, there was nothing, just the endless, shimmering expanse of water. But then the temperature in the air seemed to drop, and an ominous rumble resonated from deep below.


    The water beneath the sinking cruiser began to ripple, small waves giving way to massive swells as if the ocean itself were alive and angry. The sound of creaking metal echoed across the open air as the wreckage of the luxury cruiser suddenly shifted, as though something beneath it was moving.


    "Mini Cleo, scanners," Rexmanded, his voice calm but urgent.


    "On it, Master!" Mini Cleo said, her tiny form glowing as she activated her scanning systems. A holographic disy appeared before Rex''s eyes, showing a 3D rendering of the ocean and the massive biological signatures lurking beneath its surface.


    "Uh-oh..." Mini Cleo''s voice trembled. "Master, there''s... there''s something huge under there. It''s¡ªit''s bigger than the cruiser! And it''s heading straight to it!"


    Rex''s jaw tightened. His white wings red slightly as he prepared for whatever wasing.


    The water exploded.


    A massive, serpentine creature erupted from the ocean, its sheer size dwarfing even thergest skyscrapers Rex had ever seen. Its jet-ck scales shimmered with a faint green glow, and its glowing emerald eyes radiated an otherworldly intelligence that sent a shiver down Rex''s spine.


    Its body seemed to stretch endlessly, coiling and twisting through the air as it let out a deafening roar that shook the skies.


    Its head alone was the size of a small building, adorned with sharp, jagged horns and glowing veins of green light that pulsed with energy. The beast''s enormous wings, if they could even be called that, spread out from its sides, translucent and webbed like the fins of a deep-sea monster.


    "Well, that''s... new," Rex muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.


    "Darling, you don''t look surprised," Ys said, smirking faintly despite the danger. She floated closer to him, her wings shimmering with readiness.


    "I''m not," Rex replied dryly. "Because of course there''s a giant sea monster. Why wouldn''t there be? It''s not like today''s been bad enough already."


    The beast roared again, its glowing eyes locking onto Rex and Ys as if sensing their presence. The air around it seemed to distort, crackling with some kind of electric charge.


    "Mini Cleo, give me options!" Rex shouted, his golden halo ring brighter as he readied himself for a fight.


    "Master! Option one: Run away really fast! Option two: Try not to die! Option three: Pray to every deity you know because this thing is WAY out of your league right now!" Mini Cleo said in a panic, her holographic disy flickering as she tried to process the data.


    "Not helpful!" Rex snapped, but he couldn''t help but smirk at her honest assessment.


    Ys stepped forward, her green wings ring wide as she raised her hands, small tendrils of glowing green energy swirling around her fingertips. "Darling," she said, her voice calm butmanding. "We can''t fight this thing head-on. Not in your condition. Let me handle it."


    "Ys, don''t¡ª" Rex started, but she cut him off with a sharp re.


    "You''re still injured. Even with 20% energy, you''ll burn out before this thing even gets tired," Ys said, her tone leaving no room for argument. She turned back to the beast, her emerald eyes narrowing. "Just trust me, darling. I''ll hold it off while you get to safety."


    Rex hesitated, his fists clenching. He hated the idea of running, but he knew she was right. He wasn''t at full strength, and this creature wasn''t just any random monster; it was something far worse.


    As Rex reluctantly took to the air, his white wings beating against the wind, Ys floated higher, her green energy coalescing into a glowing spear in her hands. She stared down at the massive serpent, her smirk fading into a look of deadly determination.


    The beast roared again, its massive body twisting as it lunged toward her with terrifying speed. Ys darted to the side, her wings propelling her with incredible agility as she dodged the creature''s massive jaws.


    "Mini Cleo," Rex said quietly. "Start scanning for weaknesses in that thing. We''re going to need every advantage we can get."


    "Already on it, Master!" Mini Cleo chirped, her holographic disy lighting up with data as she analyzed the creature''s movements.


    Ys was trying her best to dodge the ocean creature''s mouth, but contrary to her expectations, the creature was way too agile; when Ys dodged, the creature''s head would turn around so fast that Ys didn''t have enough time to make a counterattack.


    "Damn, your really ugly, you know?" Ys said while some green butterflies materialized around her and started to fly toward the ocean creature body, and once they touched it, they exploded in a green light that was the same as if the creature was fired by a small gunboatser canon.


    "Mmm, did that work?" Ys asked while floating just on top of the green smoke cloud the explosions left behind, but just a secondter the big mouth of the ocean serpent came out of the cloud, aiming directly at Ys.


    "Tsk! Of course it didn''t work!" Ys said while dodging again and looking at its body to search for damage, but there was none.


    "Ys, look out!" Rex said while flying fast toward her, but it was already toote.


    When Ys was focused on watching out for the creture head, a second head came out from the water and went directly toward Ys.


    When Ys saw this, she opened her eyes wide; the figure of the oceanic serpent open mouth and hundreds of teeth could be clearly seen on Ys green eyes. All she could do at this moment was to let go of her humanoid form if she wanted to survive this.


    In a fraction of a second, ck organi material came out of Ys body, covering her in a ck ball that the second serpeant head bit strongly and entered into the ocean with a loud ssh.


    Rex''s eyes widened in shock as the ocean serpent''s second head mped down on Ys''s cocoon-like form and dragged her into the depths. The massive ssh sent waves crashing outward, rocking the surrounding transport ships and making the ocean appear like a boiling cauldron of chaos.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "YSSS!!" Rex shouted, his white wings ring with a burst of light as he dove toward the water''s surface. His fists clenched tightly, and rage burned hotter than ever in his glowing eyes. Mini Cleo floated next to him, frantic.


    "Master! Her life signs are still active! They''re faint, but she''s alive!" Mini Cleo shouted, her voice trembling.


    "She better be," Rex growled, his jaw tightening as he crafed his sma ymore. "Because if she''s not, this thing''s not going to have any heads left."


    Deep beneath the waves, Ys''s ck cocoon pulsed faintly, glowing with green veins that snaked across its surface. The serpent''s powerful jaws were attempting to crush it, but the alien material was holding strong, absorbing the immense pressure and impact.


    Inside, Ys floated in her primal form, her consciousness reeling from the sudden attack. Her breathing was steady, but her thoughts raced. "This thing is fast. Too fast... and it''s strong enough to pin me down."


    Then she felt it, a shift in the serpent''s movements. It wasn''t trying to bite through her shell anymore; instead, it was dragging her deeper into the ocean, the pressure increasing with every meter.


    "Oh no, you don''t," Ys muttered, her voice resonating through the cocoon. The green veins on her shell began to glow brighter, pulsating with energy. Her form started to shift, tendrils extending outward like ck, jagged ws.


    "If I can''t overpower you... I''ll poison you instead," she growled, her tendrils piercing through the serpent''s flesh from inside its mouth, releasing a highly corrosive substance that began eating away at the creature''s throat.


    The serpent writhed in agony, bubbles exploding upward as its second head thrashed wildly, trying to dislodge Ys''s cocoon from its mouth. The acid-like substance burned through its flesh, leaving a trail of bubbling ck blood that rose to the surface.


    "Hehe, so this is indeed effective against you." When she was saying this, she saw how they weren''t two different creatures; it was only one creature, and what scared her the most was that this creature didn''t have only two heads.


    She could see several glowing eyes deep in the oceaning toward her at fast speed, and by the number of them, there weren''t only 5 or 6 heads; there were a whole lot of 8 heads!.


    There was not time to doubt, not more time to hide; even though she was a Khryssari princess, she was the youngest of her cousins; she was only a Tier 3 peak at best, and this creature would be a Tier 4 peak, so this was a fight for survival.


    Her instics quicked in; her human-like eyes now changed toward serpent-like eyes; her boddy started releasing massive quantities of the ck living material she used before to protect herself, but now she was transforming herself into a massive ck and grey snake with horns and butterfly-like wings from ears.


    Ys hovered in the water, her once petite, human-like form now reced by the imposing figure of her primal Khryssari transformation. The glowing veins of green light that pulsed through her dark scales made her look like a terrifying demon of destruction.


    Her horns gleamed as they extended upward like curved obsidian des, and her butterfly-like wings, now enormous and translucent, shimmered with an ethereal green glow.


    The ocean seemed to recoil as her massive serpent body unfurled, curling and coiling in the the water. Her serpent eyes narrowed, locking onto the eight-headed monstrosity that was surging toward her with incredible speed.


    Each of the creature''s heads, adorned with glowing green eyes and gaping jaws lined with countless razor-sharp teeth, churned the water into chaos as they moved with terrifying coordination.


    "Eight heads? Perfect. I just need to rip off eight," Ys growled, her voice deeper and more primal, resonating with the power of her true form. She could feel her Khryssari instincts taking over, her blood pumping with adrenaline. This was no longer a fight for dominance or pride, it was a battle for survival.

 Chapter 164 Tier 4 Beast. (3)

    As the first of the heads broke the surface, it lunged straight at Ys with its jaws wide open. She hissed, baring her venomous fangs as her massive tail whipped upward with blinding speed, mming into the head with a crack that echoed across the ocean.


    The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, causing the water to spray violently in all directions.


    Another head surged up from her right, snapping at her midsection. She spun in the water, her serpentine body twisting gracefully as her tailshed out again, catching the attacking head and smashing it back into the depths.


    But as she defended against one attack, another head emerged from the depths, aiming for her exposed back.


    "Not so fast!" she roared, releasing a volley of glowing green butterfly-like projectiles from the veins in her wings. The projectiles shot toward the attacking head, each one detonating on impact with the force of a sma cannon.


    The head recoiled with a guttural screech, ck blood spilling from its wounds.


    But Ys had no time to celebrate her small victory. The ocean began to churn violently as the full size of the creature became visible. The beast wasn''t just massive; it was colossal.


    Its eight heads were attached to a single, gargantuan body that extended far below the surface, its scales glistening like molten obsidian and etched with glowing green runes. The ocean seemed to quake as its sheer size disced the water around it.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me," Ys muttered, her eyes widening as the creature began to encircle her, its heads moving in perfect synchronization. It wasn''t just strong; it was smart. This wasn''t an ordinary predator; it was a true apex beast, and it had decided Ys was prey.


    The heads began striking one after another, forcing Ys to stay on the defensive. Her massive body twisted and turned, her tail whipping through the air and water to parry the relentless attacks.


    She unleashed another wave of green butterfly projectiles, aiming to buy herself some time, but the creature''s regenerative abilities were absurd. The wounds she inflicted were already beginning to close.


    From a distance, Rex watched the chaos unfold, his eyes narrowing as he saw the full scale of the creature Ys was facing. His wings red with silver light as he flew closer, ignoring the warnings Mini Cleo was frantically shouting in his ear.


    "Master, you''re still heavily injured! You need to retreat and recover; this is beyond your current capabilities!" Mini Cleo pleaded, her voice filled with panic.


    "No chance," Rex said, his voice cold and resolute. "Ys needs me. I''m not letting her fight that thing alone."


    As he approached, he saw Ys managing to hold her ground, but barely. Her once-mighty tail was now covered in gashes, and her projectiles were bing less frequent as her energy reserves dwindled.


    One of the serpent''s heads managed to graze her side with its teeth, tearing into her scales and drawing green blood.


    "That''s enough," Rex growled, summoning his sma ymore once more. His white wings zed brighter, and he dove straight toward the creature, aiming for the closest head.


    With a powerful sh, he drove the ymore into the serpent''s skull, the de cutting deep and unleashing a torrent of ck blood.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The head let out an earth-shaking screech, thrashing wildly as Rex pulled the de free. He hovered above the creature, his body glowing with a faint silver aura as he activated what little remained of his overdrive energy.


    "Need some help, my dear wife?" Rex shouted, his voice carrying over the chaos.


    Ys, with her massive body battered and bleeding, shouted through their telepathic link, her voice trembling with urgency. "What are you doing here? Get out of here, Rex! Escape while you still can! This creature is too powerful for you to handle!"


    Rex, undeterred,ughed loudly as he soared toward her serpentine head, his movements deliberate despite the chaos. "What, leave you to fight this thing alone? Sorry, but I don''t have the energy to fly all the way back. It looks like I''ll have to stand with you!"


    Hended firmly on the crown of her head, grinning. "So don''t shake too much, alright? I''d rather not fall to my doom just yet!" Hisugh rang out defiantly as if mocking the very idea of fear.


    Ys''s heart clenched, knowing the grim reality they faced. If Rex fled, she would die. If he stayed, they would both die; there was no victory to be found here. And yet, the thought of not dying alone, of fighting together until the bitter end, brought a strange sense of sce.


    Rex, ever the joker, even in the face of death, gazed at her scales shimmering faintly in the moonlight. "By the way, why didn''t you ever show me this form before? It''s... beautiful."


    Ys hesitated, her serpentine eyes narrowing as the monstrous beast''s eight heads lunged closer, jaws snapping viciously. Meanwhile, one of the heads darted toward Rex, fangs gleaming.


    Before it could strike, a well-aimed st struck its open maw. Rex turned, grinning wildly. "Nice shot, Mini Cleo!" he shouted.


    Mini Cleo had already deployed two floatingser cannons, both firing with rhythmic precision. Rex gestured at them with an exaggerated expression. "I swear, if I didn''t have you, I''d be dinner by now. Keep it up!"


    Ys dove suddenly, plunging beneath the water''s surface in a desperate bid to escape the circling heads that dominated the air. The beast roared in frustration, its heads following in relentless pursuit. Her voice came to him again, quieter now. "I thought you wouldn''t like this form. It isn''t... beautiful."


    Rex tightened his grip on one of her horns as the rush of water threatened to tear him off. His voice softened, though his words carried the same reckless honesty. "You''re ridiculous, you know that? Your true form is amazing. Cute, even. Now stop worrying about what I think and listen up."


    Ys swam faster, the pressure building around her as the creature closed the gap. Her blood, green and glowing faintly, trailed behind her from countless wounds. The sight of it twisted something deep inside Rex, but he forced himself to stay focused.


    "Head that way!" Rex shouted over the rushing current, pointing ahead. "We''re taking this thing to a little surprise I set up earlier. Trust me, you''ll love it. Or it''ll kill us both, but hey, we''re out of options, right?"


    Despite the agony wracking her body, she couldn''t help but chuckle faintly. "Alright, darling. I''ll leave it to you!"


    Summoning every ounce of strength she had left, she surged forward, water breaking around her in violent waves. Behind them, the monstrous beast gained ground, its eight heads tearing through the water with a hunger that refused to be denied.


    Rex held on tightly, his knuckles white as the current whipped at his face. The tension pressed against them like the weight of the ocean itself. Yet amidst the chaos, a grin tugged at his lips. "If we''re going down," he muttered to himself, "we''re going down in style."


    Meanwhile, Cleo''s calm demeanor cracked the moment she received the urgent transmission from Mini Cleo. Her heart raced as she read through the detailed message. Without hesitation, she initiated a direct link.


    "Mini Cleo, I''ve read the report. Tell Rex to head to these coordinates immediately. We''ll face that monster there." Her voice was firm, but the urgency couldn''t be hidden.


    Mini Cleo''s holographic form saluted sharply, her tiny fist thudding against her chest with all the drama of a soldier in battle. "Got it, Original! You can count on me!" she chirped, her small yet determined form beaming with confidence.


    The moment the call ended, Carlos who had been pacing nearby spoke up. "Was that about Rex? What''s going on? How is he?!" His voice wavered with concern.


    Cleo let out a long breath before responding, her expression as unreadable as ever. "He''s alive for now. But they won''tst much longer if that... thing catches them." She pulled up the footage Mini Cleo had sent, projecting it for Carlos to see.


    Carlos stared in stunned silence as the video yed. Onscreen, Rex and Ys were battling a massive Tier 4 beast, its eight monstrous heads tearing through everything in their path.


    It wasn''t a fight. It was a ughter. Blood and desperation filled the screen as the beast relentlessly pursued its prey.


    Carlos''s voice was barely above a whisper. "How are we supposed to help them? That thing¡ª" He paused, gesturing toward the video. "¡ªit''s unstoppable."


    Cleo closed the projection with a flick of her wrist, her expression calm and calcting. "Reinforcements are already en route. They''ll be in orbit within minutes."


    Carlos''s brow furrowed in confusion. "Reinforcements? From where?"


    Cleo''s lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile. "You''ll see soon enough."


    Meanwhile, Ys was straining every fiber of her being as she swam toward the surface, her body wracked with pain. "It''s here, Ys! Go up, now!" Rex shouted, his voice filled with an urgency that left no room for doubt.


    "Got it, darling!" Ys replied, summoning everyst ounce of strength to propel herself upward. The water erupted around them in a colossal explosion of foam and spray as they broke the surface.


    Behind them, the monstrous beast followed, its eight heads rising like a nightmare given form, water cascading from its jaws.


    Rex didn''t hesitate. He leaped off Ys''s head; his energy levels recharged to 50%, just enough to fight on his own. "Let''s do this, Ys! We''ve got to hold out until reinforcements arrive!"

 Chapter 165 Tier 4 Beast. (4)

    As soon as he took off, one of the beast''s heads lunged at him with terrifying speed. Its jaws opened wide, and for a split second, Rex knew there was no way to dodge in time.


    "Mini Cleo! Max output on the energy shields!" Rex shouted, his voice steady despite the chaos.


    In an instant, multiple energy shield domes deployed, lighting up in rapid session. The head mmed into the barriers, but the sheer force sent Rex tumbling backward and straight into the creature''s throat.


    "Well, that''s just great," Rex muttered, his voice thick with sarcasm as he hovered inside the foul, pulsating cavern. "It smells like something died in here!"


    "Be careful, Master!" Mini Cleo''s holographic form appeared beside him, her tiny face covered by an exaggerated gas mask, her voice tinged with both concern and yful mischief. "The corrosive liquid in here is highly dangerous! If it touches you, you''ll be in serious trouble!"


    Rex waved her off, though he couldn''t help but grin at her antics. "Got it, got it. But don''t worry, I''ve got an idea." His smirk widened as he gripped his ymore, the de glowing brighter as it expanded in size.


    Mini Cleo tilted her head, curious. "What''s the n, Master?"


    Rex licked his lips, his tone both cocky and excited. "Tell me, Mini Cleo, do you ever hear what happens when you identally swallow a fishbone?"


    Mini Cleo blinked, then giggled behind her gas mask. "Oh, this is going to be fun."


    Rex raised his ymore, the de now a blinding beacon in the darkness of the creature''s throat. "Let''s see how this beast likes a little... indigestion."


    Inside the monstrous creature''s throat, Rex held on tight to his ymore, grinning like a madman. With all his strength, he spun the massive de in wild arcs, tearing through the pulsating walls of flesh as he tumbled up and down like a whirlwind.


    "Hahahaha! Enjoy the fishbone, you ugly bastard!" He roared, his voice echoing within the beast''s troath as he became a spinning, living saw.


    Mini Cleo, clinging tightly to a lock of his hair, screamed in protest. "Maaassstteeerrr! I''m feeling so dizzy!" She whined, her holographic form iling helplessly.


    Rex, who shared everything Mini Cleo experienced, immediately felt the dizziness hit him like a hammer. His vision swirled. "Oh no... I think I''m going¡ª"


    Meanwhile, outside, the battle was going from bad to worse. Ys fought fiercely against the remaining seven heads, her immense serpentine body coiling and striking like a force of nature.


    But the difference in strength was undeniable. Her injuries were taking their toll, and with every move, her speed was slowing. Her once-beautiful scales were now marred by countless wounds, her green blood streaking through the water.


    One of the heads finally got its chance. It lunged forward with terrifying speed, its jaws closing around Ys''s midsection in a crushing bite. A pained, guttural roar erupted from her as the creature mped down, its teeth digging deep into her flesh.


    But Ys wasn''t one to surrender. With a savage twist of her body, she turned her head and sank her own fangs into the offending head. Her thick and corrosive venom bubbled through the creature''s flesh, forcing it to release her with an ear-splitting howl.


    But not before it tore a massive chunk of flesh from Ys''s body, leaving her even weaker.


    Rex, still spinning like a hurricane, finally delivered the decisive blow. With a deafening roar, he cleaved the creature''s head clean off from the inside, emerging from the stump drenched in ck blood and other unmentionable substances.


    Gasping for air, he took a quick look around, and his heart dropped when he saw Y struggling to stay afloat.


    "Ys!" he shouted, his voice cracking as he took off toward her.


    Her serpentine body began to sink, her strength all but gone. "Darling..." Her voice was faint, trembling with exhaustion and pain. "I... I don''t think I can keep fighting." Slowly, she copsed into the water, her body limp as the seven remaining heads surged toward her, ready to devour her.


    "NOOOOO!" Rex''s anguished scream tore through the battlefield as he dove toward Ys with everything he had. His wings burned with effort, his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum.


    "Mini Cleo!" he shouted desperately. "Find her core! I know she''s not one to die like this; she''s tougher than Carlos, and that guy''s practically immortal!"


    Mini Cleo''s holographic form appeared beside him, her scanners whirring at full speed. "Found it, Master! Her core is in the egg, the one from when you first met her! She''s retreating back into it to regenerate!"


    Rex''s eyes locked on the faint glow of the egg, resting on the seafloor beneath Ys''s sinking form. Without wasting a second, he tucked his wings and dove underwater, cutting through the currents with every ounce of his strength. But as he neared the egg, his blood ran cold.


    One of the creature''s heads had seen the egg too. Its massive form twisted through the water like a missile, its jaws opening wide as it sped toward Ys''s core.


    "NOOOO!" Rex shouted, his voice raw as he pushed himself to go faster. But the difference was abysmal; he was built for the skies, not the sea. Against the speed of the creature, it was like watching a baby sloth race an adult swordfish.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The head was closing in fast; its gaping maw was just inches away from swallowing the egg whole.


    Desperation surged through Rex''s veins. He extended his arm as far as it would go, straining to reach the egg. But it wasn''t enough. The beast was faster. The gap was closing.


    "I SAID FUCK OFF!" Rex roared with every ounce of strength and fury he had left. A massive shockwave of silver energy burst forth from him, radiating like an explosion. The aura sted through the water, mming into the creature''s heads and forcing them back in a violent ripple.


    The few precious seconds the shockwave bought were all Rex needed. With a final, desperate lunge, he wrapped his fingers around the egg and held it close to his chest. His wings ignited in a fiery glow as he shot upward, breaking through the surface of the water in an explosive burst.


    Soaring high into the air, drenched and gasping for breath, Rex clutched the egg tightly against his bare chest. He red down at the beast below, his eyes zing with defiance. "You''re not taking her from me," he growled.


    The egg that held Ys began to glow softly in Rex''s arms, its surface shimmering like liquid light. Slowly, it started to dissolve, its radiant material seeping into Ys''s injured body.


    As the egg vanishedpletely, Ys was left cradled in Rex''s arms, her human form limp and battered. The material from the egg spread over her wounds, knitting her flesh together little by little, the glow of healing faint but steady.


    Rex stared at her, holding her close. This was Ys, the Ys who was always carefree, who loved to joke andze around, who teased him endlessly with that mischievous glint in her eyes. Seeing her now, fragile and broken, tore through him like a de.


    His chest tightened with a pain he had never felt before, a pain so deep it seemed to echo in his very soul. His grip on her tightened, and with that pain came something else, an uncontroble, seething rage.


    Below, the monstrous beast stirred, finally shaking off the effects of Rex''s earlier shockwave. Its eight heads, now thrashing with fury, burst from the ocean''s depths. This time, its movements were different, more calcted, more deliberate.


    It wasn''t just hunting Rex anymore. It was hunting a threat. A threat that had dared to challenge it, that had dared to hurt it.


    The creature surged toward him with terrifying speed, the ocean parting in its wake. Rex didn''t flinch. He wrapped Ys tighter in his left arm, shielding her with his honeb-like energy barrier. The shimmering shield expanded around her, encasing her in a protective cocoon.


    With his free hand, Rex crafted a glowing silver chain from the nanomaterials stored in his golden halo. The chain coiled around his ymore like a living thing, securing the massive weapon to his wrist. No matter how fierce the fight became, he wouldn''t drop it. Not this time.


    His eyes zed with silver light as he turned to face the charging beast. "Bring it on," Rex roared, his voice cutting through the air like thunder. "Today, you go down!"


    As if it understood his words, the creature let out a deafening roar of its own, all seven mouths opening in unison. The sound was so powerful it rippled through the air and water, shaking the very battlefield itself.


    But Rex didn''t falter. He answered with a roar of his own, primal and raw, as his entire body erupted in a brilliant silver light.


    The golden halo on his back red to life, releasing streams of nanomaterial that surged into his body. Cleo''s voice echoed in his mind, a warning from earlier. "Three meters is your safe limit, Rex! Don''t push past that; your body won''t hold!"


    But Rex knew this wasn''t the time to y it safe. Ys''s fragile form in his arms reminded him of what was at stake. There was no room for hesitation.


    His body began to grow, stretching and expanding as he infused more and more nanomaterial into himself. Three meters. Four. Five. Six. His muscles burned with the strain, his veins glowing like molten silver. He was a giant now, shining like a star, a silveret falling from the sky.


    With a battle cry that shook the heavens, Rex dove toward the creature, his ymore swinging in massive, earth-shaking arcs. Each swing unleashed devastating shockwaves, splitting the air and ocean alike.


    The water below churned violently, pushed back by the sheer force of his strikes, creating massive craters in the waves.


    The beast lunged upward to meet him, its seven heads snapping and thrashing as they closed in. Rex''s silver light shed with the creature''s ck, oily aura, their power colliding in a storm of chaos and fury.

 Chapter 166 Reinforcements.

    The ocean below them became a battleground, each swing of Rex''s sword sending tsunamis outward. The creature roared again, its jaws snapping dangerously close to Rex''s body, but he was relentless.


    For every head that lunged at him, he met it with a devastating swing of his de, sending shockwaves that cut through the air like thunderps.


    "IS THIS ALL YOU''VE GOT?!" Rex shouted, his voice echoing across the endless expanse of water. His rage fueled him, his every strike driven by the image of Ys''s fragile body in his arms just moments ago.


    He would protect her. He would destroy this monster. And he would not stop until it was nothing but ash.


    The silver star and the eight-headed nightmare shed in a battle that lit up the horizon, a war that could be seen from the heavens.


    Amidst the chaos of the battle, as Rex shed against the monstrous Tier 4 beast, the sky above began to change. The ocean shimmered faintly as an enormous shadow descended from the heavens, heralding the arrival of a force that had never been seen before in the vastness of space.


    The fleet appeared without warning, their ships breaking through the atmosphere like des piercing the clouds. Each vessel was a testament to engineering and purpose, their designs sleek yet menacing, their hulls emzoned with unregistered symbols that no intergctic system could recognize.


    This wasn''t a force tied to any known military alliance or gctic power. This was something entirely new.


    At the heart of the fleet, an enormous gship dominated the skies. It resembled a fighter carrier, its size and majesty eclipsing anything the gxy had known. Inside itsmand bridge, four figures stood, each gazing at the battlefield below.


    Their faces were lit by the glow of the screens showing the battle between Rex and the Tier 4 beast. Each of them reacted differently to the spectacle unfolding before them.


    The first figure, a golden-haired woman of otherworldly beauty, stood still with her eyes closed. Though she couldn''t see the fight with her eyes since it was an ability shecked, her senses extended far beyond sight.


    She felt the shing power below, the sheer magnitude of the two titanic forces battling for dominance. The intensity of it made her tremble, her slender hands gripping the railing tightly.


    Beside her, an older man with silver-streaked hair and a face carved by wisdom watched the battle on thergest screen. His expression was radiant, tears streaming down his face as if he were witnessing the creation of a masterpiece.


    His voice broke the silence, filled with unrestrained joy.


    "Beautiful! Magnificent! Glorious!" he eximed, spreading his arms wide as if to embrace the scene. "This is a moment worthy of history! It should be immortalized, not with some cheap holographic projection but with a real painting! A masterpiece to hang on the walls of eternity!"


    Heughed loudly, ovee by the spectacle of raw power and will on disy.


    Further down the bridge, two younger women stood side by side, both with silver hair that shimmered faintly under the dim lighting of themand room. They looked almost identical, like mirrors of one another, but their reactions couldn''t have been more different.


    The first, the timid one, watched the fight with a pained expression. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides, and her lips quivered as she saw the blood on Rex''s body. Every injury he suffered seemed to strike her heart as if it were her own.


    The second, in contrast, was flushed, her cheeks glowing a soft pink as she stared unblinkingly at Rex. Her eyes glimmered with something akin to admiration or perhaps something deeper.


    She shifted her weight, her legs moving restlessly as if trying to contain her emotions. Her focus never wavered from Rex, even as the beast''s massive heads thrashed around him.


    At the center of it all stood themanding presence of Admiral Li. Her voice finally broke the tension in the room, clear andmanding, cutting through the hum of the ship''s systems.


    "All forces, prepare to engage!" she shouted, her tone brimming with authority and purpose. "The objective is the beast. Unleash the full might of the New Human Empire! Show the gxy the strength of the angel''s followers!"


    "Understood, Admiral!" The officers on the bridge responded in unison, their voices sharp and resolute. The air was charged with energy, their morale surging. For many, this was the moment they had been waiting for, their first true test of strength, their first chance to unleash their fleet against an enemy of unimaginable power.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    But more than that, this was their chance to fight alongside the symbol of their faith: Rex, the Bloody Angel. It was not just a battle. It was a deration.


    To some, they might have seemed like fanatics. But to the soldiers aboard the fleet, faith and conviction were all that mattered. Their belief in Rex, their symbol of defiance and hope, burned brighter than any sun.


    This wasn''t just about destroying the Tier 4 beast. This was about sending a message, a message to the gxy.


    For centuries, humanity had been cast aside, enved, and treated as disposable. Their time as victims was over. This fleet, this force, was the answer of a people who had been beaten down and yet refused to die. This was the rebirth of humanity''s pride.


    The New Human Empire had arrived. And this battle, this bloody, desperate battle was their call to the gxy. A call to those who would stand with them. A warning to those who would oppose them.


    The Bloody Angel''s light would not falter. Today was not just the day humanity fought back. Today was the day the gxy bore witness to the return of its once-proud humans.


    And with that, the skies above the battlefield erupted in blinding light as the fleet prepared to unleash its full might. The ocean roared in anticipation, and the beast let out a furious cry as it turned to face the new threat.


    <<Wing One Commander reporting for duty!>>


    <<Wing Two Commander reporting for duty!>>


    <<Wing Three Commander reporting for duty!>>


    The calls echoed across themand bridge, one after another, crisp and confident. The entire fleet was ready. The battle had reached its boiling point, and there was no turning back. All they awaited now was the signal, the sacredmand that would unleash the full might of the New Human Empire.


    Admiral Li stood tall in the center of the bridge, her golden hair shimmering faintly in the glow of the monitors, her eyes still closed as she focused entirely on the energies below. Her voice rang out, sharp andmanding, cutting through the tension like a de.


    "Fire!" Li shouted with all her might


    In an instant, the fleet roared to life. Four massive destroyers, designed to resemble the maritime warships of humanity''s distant past, unleashed their payload.


    These vessels, painstakingly rebuilt by Carlos and enhanced with Cleo''s technology, had be fearsome war machines of the stars. Their turrets pivoted and fired with surgical precision, filling the air with the deafening symphony of war.


    Explosive rounds tore through the skies, their trajectories arcing toward the Tier 4 beast, while streaks of brilliantser beams followed closely behind. Every shot was aimed with deadly uracy at the massive creature.


    "Master! Iing fire from above! Dodge!" Mini Cleo''s voice rang out urgently in Rex''s mind, cutting through the haze of his overwhelming rage.


    "What?! From who?!" Rex shouted, his silver aura flickering for a moment as he processed the warning. He pped his wings furiously, propelling himself higher into the sky just in time.


    The first wave ofser beams struck the beast with pinpoint uracy, slicing through its scaled hide and drawing a roar of pain.


    The creature''s roar was deafening, its agony reverberating through the air. It twisted violently, trying to retreat back into the safety of the ocean. But before it could react, the explosive rounds struck next, detonating upon impact with a series of thunderous booms.


    Shrapnel and chunks of flesh erupted from the beast''s massive body, sshing into the water below.


    "Prepare the tractor beams! Don''t let it escape into the water!" amanding voice shouted from outside the main bridge.


    Standing boldly at the bow of the massive carrier, his silver hair whipping wildly in the gale, was none other than Oscar. The scientist''s whiteb coat fluttered dramatically in the powerful winds, and a confident grin stretched across his face as he watched the battle unfold.


    He stood there as though he were a king overseeing his kingdom, utterly unbothered by the chaos around him.


    "W-What?! Professor! What are you doing out there?!" Li''s brother, speaking through themunicator, sounded equal parts exasperated and rmed.


    "Hahaha! What else would I be doing here?!" Oscar''s voice crackled back through his oxygen mask, his tone brimming with delight. "This is the first time my creations are being brought to light! Of course, I''m going to choose the most spectacr seat in the house!"


    Despite his recklessness, Oscar wasn''t entirely foolhardy. His oxygen mask ensured he could breathe in the harsh environment, and the maic boots he wore kept him firmly nted on the carrier''s deck despite the violent winds.


    Li let out a long, tired sigh, shaking her head. She was far too familiar with Oscar''s entricities to waste time arguing with him. "Do as he says," she ordered calmly.


    "Understood, Saintess!" the officers on the bridge responded, their hands flying across their consoles as they carried out the orders.


    The carrier''s powerful tractor beams activated, locking onto the Tier 4 beast. Beams of blinding blue energy shot out,tching onto the creature and halting its retreat. The beast writhed and thrashed, fighting the pull with every ounce of its monstrous strength.


    "Saintess!" one of the officers shouted, his voice filled with panic. "The beast is pulling us toward it! Its strength is overpowering our tractor beams!"


    Li''s expression remained calm and resolute. "Do not falter. Keep the beams locked on it. Max out the engines, everyst ounce of output. We will not lose to a beast."


    "Yes, Saintess!"


    The carrier''s engines roared to life, the massive vessel straining against the overwhelming force of the creature. Despite its immense size, the carrier groaned under the pressure, but it held firm.

 Chapter 167 Reinforcements. (2)

    Meanwhile, the destroyers continued their relentless assault. Volley after volley of explosive rounds andsers rained down on the beast, tearing through its flesh and lighting up the battlefield. The creature''s roars grew louder, more painful, each one echoing across the ocean like a shockwave.


    And yet, the beast fought back with ferocity. Its eight heads thrashed and coiled, its movements desperate and wild. This wasn''t just a battle for survival anymore; it was a battle for dominance.


    From the skies above, Rex hovered, watching the chaos unfold. His eyes, burning with silver light, scanned the battlefield. The rage that had consumed him moments ago was still there, but now it was tempered by something else.


    But as the creature''s roars grew louder, something gnawed at the edge of his mind. For now, the fleet was holding its ground, but Rex had learned one painful truth during his time fighting the beast: Tier 4 beasts weren''t just monsters. They were forces of nature. And nature, when cornered, always struck back with devastating fury.


    "Mini Cleo," Rex muttered, tightening his grip on his ymore as his wings red with light. "Scan the surroundings while I go to the main ships to see who is helping us."


    "Understood, Master!" Mini Cleo chirped, summoning a small holographic screen in front of her. Her tiny hands moved with incredible speed as she analyzed data and ryedmands, her voice maintaining its usual yful yet efficient tone.


    Rex flew toward the human carrier, his wings leaving trails of silver light in the sky. As he neared the gship, his immense figure cast a shadow over the deck, and the sheer heat radiating from his body created a haze of steam around him.


    His naked form, now standing at six meters tall, was etched with golden tech marks that pulsed faintly with residual energy. Hot fumes rose from his glowing body, making him look more like a divine warrior than a man.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    As Rexnded on the deck with a heavy thud, the tform trembled beneath his weight. The crew stared in awe, their mouths agape, some even dropping their tools as they beheld the giant figure.


    "Who''s this guy?" Rex asked, his deep voice resonating like celestial thunder, as he turned his gaze toward the silver-haired man standing confidently in front of him.


    Mini Cleo popped up on his HUD, her holographic form pointing to the figure. "Master! That''s Professor Oscar! ording to the database, he''s part of the Human Empire''s upper ranks and one of the chief engineers responsible for their advanced technology."


    "Oh, yes, I remember now," Rex said with a nod. He slowly knelt down to bring himself closer to eye level, the ground beneath him creaking slightly under his weight. Despite his attempt to appear humble, his towering frame and radiant energy made him seem anything but humble.


    "Professor Oscar," Rex said, his voice calm butmanding, "it''s been a long time."


    Oscar, everposed, saluted with a smile, his silver hair still whipping in the strong winds. "Ah, Sir Rex! What an honor to meet you again on such a glorious day!" His tone was filled with genuine delight, as if he were greeting an old friend at a tea party rather than standing on the frontlines of a battlefield.


    Rex nced around the deck. "Where are Cleo and the others?" he asked, concerncing his thunderous voice.


    Oscar adjusted his sses and smiled warmly. "They''re safe and sound, resting in their quarters inside the carrier. Rest assured, Sir Rex, they are unharmed."


    Rex let out a soft sigh of relief, the tension in his massive shoulders easing slightly. "That''s good," he said. He shifted, revealing Ys''s battered and unconscious form in his arms. Her body was still glowing faintly from the egg''s healing properties, but her wounds were severe, and her breathing was shallow.


    "Please, Professor," Rex said, his voice softening. "Help me take her to a medical tank. She needs immediate treatment, possibly tons of food and minerals, though I''m not entirely sure what she really eats. You''ll have to ask her when she wakes up."


    Oscar''s cheerful demeanor dimmed as he stepped forward, his eyes widening in shock at the sight of Ys''s injuries. "By the stars! Those wounds are dreadful!" He quickly tapped on the device strapped to his wrist, inputtingmands with precision.


    "Fear not, Sir Rex! The medical team is on its way as we speak. We''ll do everything in our power to save her!"


    As he spoke, the carrier''s rms briefly sounded, signaling the approach of the medical team. "They''ll be here shortly," Oscar added, his tone firm. "You should rest as well, Sir Rex. Your body has been pushed far beyond its limits."


    Rex shook his head, his glowing eyes narrowing as he turned to nce back over his shoulder. The destroyers continued their relentless bombardment of the Tier 4 beast, theirbined firepower illuminating the ocean below. But despite the constant assault, Rex''s instincts screamed at him.


    "While I appreciate the offer, I can''t rest yet," Rex said, his voice low but filled with resolve. "There''s something... wrong. That beast, it''s not done. It''s not in itsst breath." His silver aura flickered faintly, his grip on Yan tightening protectively.


    Oscar''s brows furrowed as he followed Rex''s gaze. "You believe it''s holding back?"


    Rex nodded, his expression grim. "Yes. It feels like it''s waiting for something... something we haven''t seen yet."


    Oscar frowned, his mind racing. "Hmm... A Tier 4 beast is no simple creature, that''s for certain. If your instincts are telling you this, Sir Rex, then I won''t disregard them."


    As Rex stood tall once more, holding Ys close, his silver aura red brighter. "I won''t let it hurt anyone," he muttered. "Not Cleo. Not the fleet. Not anyone."


    Oscar adjusted his sses, a determined smirk forming on his lips. "Well, Sir Rex, if it does have a trick up its sleeve, then let ite. Between you and the might of the New Human Empire, we''ll show this beast exactly what it means to challenge humanity."


    The medical team finally arrived, rushing to take Ys to the medical bay. As they worked quickly to secure her, the battlefield raged on in the distance, the creature''s roars echoing louder and more furious with each passing moment.


    And though the destroyers'' firepower seemed relentless, the tension in the air was palpable. Everyone could feel it; the beast wasn''t done. The real fight was only just beginning.


    "Master! Multiple energy levels detected beneath the ocean!" Mini Cleo''s voice chimed urgently, her holographic form flickering on Rex''s HUD as a map appeared, covered in ominous red marks. "The energy readings range from Tier 1 to Tier 2 peak beasts!"


    "Shit! I knew it!" Rex growled, gripping his sma ymore as it materialized in his hands, the de crackling with vtile energy. "Professor! Get inside now! Things are about to get ugly!"


    From the depths of the ocean, shadows began to emerge. At first, they were indistinct blurs beneath the surface, but within seconds, the water exploded with motion. Massive maritime beasts, sleek and alien, burst forth into the air, their aquatic forms defying logic as they propelled themselves skyward.


    Rex''s eyes widened as the creatures took flight. "What the hell!? They can fly!? Who''s ever heard of a damn fish that could fly!?" He shouted in disbelief, his grip tightening on his weapon as he prepared to take off and intercept them.


    But before he could move, a familiar voice rang out in his mind. "Wait, Rex."


    His eyes flickered with surprise. "Cleo? What are you doing here? What about your body?" Rex asked, his tone edged with confusion. He knew Cleo could only project herself in one ce at a time unless she gave specific consent for Mini Cleo to stay with him.


    "Don''t worry," Cleo replied, her voice firm but calm. "My body is fine. It''s recharging as we speak. But I''d worry more about you right now. Why, for the love of all things holy, did you push your body to its absolute limits? How many times have I told you not to do that!?"


    This was the first time Rex had ever heard Cleo nag him like this, and the unexpected scolding almost made him smile. Almost.


    Letting out a heavy sigh, Rex responded, his voice steady but resigned. "Cleo, there was no other option. You know that. Check my memories if you want; you''ll see why I did it. I regret nothing."


    His gaze turned back toward the iing swarm of beasts, their numbers growing by the second. "But I don''t have time for this right now. I need to deal with those creatures before they rip apart the destroyers. We can talk about thister."


    "Wait," Cleo said again, her voice sharper this time, cutting through Rex''s focus.


    Rex paused, mid-step. "What now?"


    "Let the humans handle those creatures," Cleo said, her tone firm with certainty. "They''re not as weak as you think. In fact, I''m impressed by how quickly they''ve adapted to the new technologies. Give them a chance to prove themselves, Rex."


    Rex raised an eyebrow, staring at her holographic form as it appeared on his palm, glowing faintly against the backdrop of chaos. "And what do you suggest we do?"


    A faint smile yed on Cleo''s lips as she looked up at him. "While they handle the small fry, you and I are going after something bigger."


    Meanwhile, on themand bridge of the gship carrier, the tension was palpable. Li stood in the captain''s seat, exuding calm authority despite the chaos unfolding outside.


    "Saintess! Bad news!" amunications officer called out, his voice frantic. "Destroyer Two and Destroyer Three are under attack from unknown enemies! They''re requesting immediate aerial support!"


    Li remainedposed, her golden hair swaying as she tilted her head slightly. "Do not panic, officer," she said with her voice steady and resolute. "Deploy the Imperial Wings. Show those beasts the might of our fighters."


    "Yes, Saintess!" the officer responded, his tone instantly steadier as he ryed the order. "Imperial Wings! Turn on your engines! May the glory and might of the Angel guide your path!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 168 Reinforcements. (3)

    Inside the fighter bay, rows of sleek, gray fighters hummed with power, their engines already warmed and prepped forunch. The pilots, d in advanced flight suits, strapped themselves in, their faces lit with determination.


    The leader of the first wing has his fighter painted bright red to distinguish him from the others, grinned as he flicked on hisms. "Alright, you heard the saint! It''s time to show these oversized guppies what the Imperial Wings are made of!"


    The other pilots cheered over thems as their engines roared to life, the metallic hum reverberating through the bay. The green light shed on their screens, signaling clearance for takeoff.


    "Go, go, go!" the officer''s voice echoed through the speakers.


    With a deafening roar, the fightersunched from the carrier, one after another, their thrusters igniting in streaks of blue me.


    The ships shot into the skies, sleek and deadly, their forms reminiscent of the old fighter nes of humanity''s past but updated with cutting-edge technology for space and atmospheric warfare.


    The red leader led the charge, his voice booming through themunications. "Form up! We''re taking the fight to them!"


    "Wing Three and Wing Four, divert immediately to support Destroyer Number Four! Wing Two, stay with me and follow my lead!" The red leader shouted through themunicator, his voice sharp and unwavering amidst the chaos.


    "Understood!" the leaders of the other wings responded in unison, their voices filled with determination as they broke formation, guiding their squadrons toward their assigned objectives.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The red leader''s eyes narrowed as the swarm of flying beasts came into view, their alien forms twisting and iling as they relentlessly harassed Destroyer Number Four. "We''re almost in missile range!" he shouted. "Prepare to fire the first volley! Be ready to light these bastards up!"


    The moment his fighter''s targeting system pinged the green light, he gave themand. "Launch the fireworks!"


    A symphony of smoke trails streaked across the sky as dozens of missiles erupted from the fighters, their sleek forms arcing toward the swarm of beasts.


    The creatures screeched in disarray, their movements bing frantic as they attempted to dodge the iing barrage. But the missiles weren''t ordinary projectiles.


    Developed by Cleo herself, each missile was equipped with a basic AI guidance system. Even as the beasts twisted and dove to evade, the missiles recalibrated mid-flight, locking onto nearby targets with ruthless precision.


    They wouldn''t stop until their targets were destroyed or until their fuel ran dry and these missiles had enough fuel for an hour of high-speed pursuit.


    Explosions rippled through the air as the missiles found their marks, tearing into the swarm with devastating effect. Several beasts were engulfed in fire and smoke, their charred remains plummeting toward the ocean below. Others were left wounded, shrieking in pain as the missiles continued to hound them.


    "Good hits, everyone!" the red leader shouted over themunications. "Second Wing, take the high ground and prepare for a diving assault! First Wing, stick with me!"


    As the second wing climbed higher into the skies, the red leader pushed his engines to maximum, surging forward with the first wing close behind. The swarm was disorganized now, but not broken. There was still work to do.


    When they were close enough, the red leader gave his final order. "First Wing, break formation! Enjoy the hunt!"


    The first wing scattered like a cloud of angry wasps, each pilot taking their own path through the swarm. The red leader himself twisted sharply to avoid the snapping jaws of a flying beast, rolling his fighter to the side before locking onto another target behind it.


    His dualser cannons lit up, firing searing beams of light that pierced clean through the creature''s hide. The beast roared in pain as its flesh burned, falling away in a spiral toward the ocean.


    Meanwhile, the second wingpleted its climb and swooped down in a tight circr formation, raining fire on the swarm from above. Their coordinated assault sent a barrage ofsers slicing through the air, injuring multiple beasts in one coordinated strike.


    Once they were deep inside the swarm, the second wing broke formation and scattered, only to regroup momentster and repeat the tactic, keeping the beasts off bnce.


    But the beasts weren''t just mindless prey. They fought back with brutal ferocity. And soon, the elites among them arrived.


    "Tier 2 beasts spotted!" the red leader warned as his targeting system locked onto the iing reinforcements. Unlike the weaker beasts, these wererger, faster, and deadlier, their forms bristling with natural weaponry. The closest oneshed out with writhing tentacles, their ends sharp as spears.


    The red leader narrowly avoided the attack, his fighter rolling to the side in a sharp maneuver, but two of his wingmates weren''t as lucky. The tentacles pierced their fighters straight through the middle, causing fiery explosions that lit up the battlefield.


    "Shit! We''ve lost two! Everyone, disperse! Bee swarm tactic!"


    The fighters immediately broke away from the Tier 2 beasts'' range, zigzagging wildly to avoid the flurry of attacks. As they flew out of range, they turned sharply and unleashed everything they had, missiles,ser fire, and even res to disorient the creatures.


    Thebined firepower mmed into the beast swarm, cutting through their ranks with ruthless efficiency.


    Before the beasts could retaliate, the fighters retreated once more, using their speed and agility to stay just out of reach. It was a dangerous game of cat and mouse, but it was the only way to handle the overwhelming numbers and power of the beasts swarm.


    The red leader gritted his teeth as he dodged another tentacle strike, sweat dripping down his face. Hisms crackled as one of the wing members shouted, "Leader, these Tier 2s are everywhere! We need support out here!"


    "Hold the line!" the red leader shouted, firing another volley ofsers that sliced through the wing of a charging beast. "We just need to buy time for the saint''s orders to turn the tide. Stay sharp and keep moving!"


    From his cockpit, he could see therger battlefield below, the destroyers still bombarding the Tier 4 beast, the carrier''s tractor beams struggling to hold it in ce, and now, the swarm of flying beasts adding to the chaos.


    The red leader gripped his fighter''s controls tightly, his focus darting between issuingmands and keeping himself alive in the chaos. His squadron''s mission was clear: buy time for the destroyers to finish off the Tier 4 beast.


    But the battle had devolved into a brutal game of endurance, one where both the massive beast and the destroyers themselves were on the verge of copse.


    He barely had time to process the worsening situation when a shadow loomed in front of him. His heart sank as his cockpit rms red, the towering form of a Tier 2 beast had appeared, its massive tentacles spreading wide to ensnare him.


    Time seemed to stretch, slowing to a crawl. The red leader''s eyes widened as he realized the full gravity of his mistake. He had gotten too distracted watching the battlefield, and now he was staring death in the face.


    The tentacles shot toward him, closing in from every direction like a deadly cage. There was no way out. No room to maneuver.


    "This is it," he thought, his grip tightening on the controls. "The Ace of humanity''s fighters is about to go down."


    But just as the tentacles were about to crush him, a sh of radiant light split the sky with a powerful wind.


    Golden swords, dozens of them, rained down from the heavens. Each de shimmered with an otherworldly brilliance, slicing through the air at impossible speeds. One of the swords struck the Tier 2 beast squarely in its body, detonating with a powerful shockwave that sent the creature spiraling downward, its screech drowned out by the roar of the impact.


    The red leader blinked in shock. It had happened so fast, he hadn''t even processed what had saved him. "What the actual fuck?" he muttered, his voice shaky as his fighter steadied itself.


    More golden swords rained from above, piercing through the flying beasts that surrounded the destroyers. Each de struck with unerring uracy, severing wings, cutting through armor-like scales, and leaving destruction in their wake.


    What stunned the red leader even more was what followed, the swords didn''t simply vanish after their strikes. They returned, spinning gracefully through the air, back toward a single source.


    He squinted, his cockpit HUD tracing the trajectory of one of the swords as it disappeared into a cloudbank. His curiosity pushed him to follow it, and what he saw behind the clouds nearly made his jaw drop.


    Emerging from the mist was a massive, gleaming figure, a white and gold giant mecha. Its design was unlike anything he had ever seen, impossibly advanced and radiating a divine energy that was both awe-inspiring and intimidating.


    The mecha''s enormous wings stretched out for several meters, each metallic feather gleaming with light. In its right hand, it held a colossal sword, the de practically humming with a menacing energy.


    And behind the mecha, there was an enormous golden halo, pulsating with light. From the halo, the golden swords emerged, shooting outward like divine arrows of judgment before returning to their source.


    The red leader could do nothing but stare in awe as the mecha moved. Its movements were impossibly fluid for something so massive, each step and p of its wings radiating power.


    Then, the mecha turned its head, and the red leader froze as its glowing, silver eyes locked onto his fighter.


    The mecha nodded once, a simple yetmanding gesture. The red leader felt a shiver run down his spine as he instinctively nodded back. Then, with a powerful p of its wings, the mecha shot downward like a fallinget, its target was clear, the Tier 4 beast.

 Chapter 169 The myth.

    On the gship''smand bridge, the chaos continued as updates poured in from across the fleet.


    "Sir, we''ve just received a priority order from highmand!" One of themunication officers shouted. "All destroyers are to cease fire on the Tier 4 beast and redirect their attacks toward the Tier 1 and Tier 2 flying beasts. I repeat, cease fire on the Tier 4 beast!"


    "What!?" one of the destroyer captains roared in disbelief as he mmed his fist against his chair. "What the hell is highmand thinking!? We''ve got that massive bastard on the ropes, and now they want us to stop!? Are they insane!?"


    "Captain!" another officer yelled, his voice frantic. "We''re detecting a high-energy reading heading straight toward the Tier 4 beast. The source is... it''s another Tier 4 peak entity!"


    The captain froze, his face paling. "Another Tier 4...?" He clenched his fists, a sense of dread creeping over him. "Quickly, put it on the screen!"


    "Right away, sir!"


    The main disy lit up, showing a live feed of the battlefield. At first, the captain saw only the chaotic scene they were already familiar with, the Tier 4 beast thrashing against the carrier''s tractor beams, the flying beasts swarming the destroyers, and the fighters weaving in and out ofbat. But then, his eyes were drawn to a blinding light descending from the sky.


    The bridge went silent as everyone stared at the screen, watching the white-and-gold figure dive toward the Tier 4 beast with terrifying speed. Its sword glowed brighter with every passing second, the energy around it growing so intense that even the radar systems began to glitch.


    The captain''s voice was barely above a whisper. "What... is that?"


    "It''s... it''s him," one of the officers muttered, her voice trembling. "The Bloody Angel."


    The saintess, seated calmly in her chair, allowed a faint smile to cross her lips. "Do as the order says," shemanded. "The Tier 4 beast is no longer your concern. Focus all the fire on the flying beasts. Our angel will take care of the rest."


    The captain hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "You heard her! Redirect all fire! Target the swarm and clear the skies!"


    Below, Rex broke through thestyer of clouds, its wings folding slightly to increase its speed. His glowing silver eyes locked onto the writhing Tier 4 beast below, its massive form still thrashing against the bombardment from the destroyers.


    "Cleo," Rex said, his voice calm but firm. "It''s time."


    "Understood," Cleo replied, her voice echoing through the cockpit. "Let''s finish this."


    The golden swords circling Rex''s halo shimmered with renewed energy, their light zing like stars. As he dove, the swords shot forward, each one finding its mark on the beast''s body.


    The Tier 4 beast roared in fury, its massive heads thrashing as it sensed its true enemy approaching.


    Rex raised his colossal sword, the de glowing brighter and brighter as it absorbed energy from his core systems. His voice rumbled like thunder as he charged forward.


    "This ends now!"


    With a devastating swing of his sma-d ymore, Rex sliced clean through one of the Tier 4 beast''s massive heads. The sma energy crackled violently as it seared through flesh and bone, sending the severed head crashing into the ocean below with a thunderous ssh.


    The moment the head hit the water, Rex raised his left hand, pointing directly at the creature.


    The golden energy swords hovering behind him shot forward like meteors, mming into the beast''s colossal body with explosive force. Each impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air and water, the sheer power of the assault forcing the creature to thrash wildly in pain.


    "Rex, stop treating the swords like disposable weapons!" Cleo''s voice rang out in his mind, sharp andmanding. "Your energy reserves can''t handle the strain. Let me take control of them while you focus on the heads!"


    Rex let out a small chuckle, dodging a snapping maw as one of the beast''s remaining heads lunged at him. "Fine, fine! I leave them to you, Cleo!" he shouted as he pivoted in midair, his wings glowing as he dodged another iing attack.


    But then something unexpected happened.


    The creature''s throats began to glow, each one lighting up with a fierce, pulsating energy that sent a shiver down Rex''s spine. He narrowed his eyes, his instincts screaming at him to prepare for the worst.


    "High energy signatures detected!" Cleo''s voice came through urgently. "Rex, stay alert, activating sma shields!"


    Rex''s golden halo pulsed, deploying protective barriers around him just as the beast unleashed its next attack. The six remaining heads roared in unison, spewing streams of fire and crackling electricity into the air.


    The sheer power of the assault was enough to scorch the skies, creating a hellish storm of energy that filled the battlefield.


    "What the hell are those!?" Rex shouted as he twisted and weaved through the chaos, barely avoiding the fiery sts and bolts of electricity. "Since when can it do that!?"


    As he dodged, one of the heads came dangerously close, snapping its jaws inches from his face. Rex snarled and punched it with all his might, his fist glowing with silver energy. The impact sent the head reeling backward with a guttural roar.


    "This is a Tier 4 peak beast, Rex," Cleo exined, her tone calm yet firm. "Just as you can manipte energy, so can it. Its abilities are likely evolving under stress. Proceed with caution; we don''t have enough data on its full capabilities."


    Cleo''s holographic form appeared next to Rex, this time holding Mini Cleo in her arms like a doll. She stroked the tiny AI''s head lovingly, rubbing her hair as if soothing a frightened child.


    "It''s easier said than done, Cleo!" Rex snapped, his voice tinged with frustration as he twisted through another barrage of fire and lightning. "This big sushi has six heads left, and it''s hard to dodge all of them!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    His words were cut short as one of the heads finallynded a hit. A burst of fire breath mmed into Rex, the searing heat causing him to falter in midair. The sma shields absorbed most of the damage, but the force of the attack still knocked him off bnce for a few crucial seconds.


    "Deploying enhanced sma shields," Cleo said calmly. From Rex''s golden halo, two metallic rhombus-shaped figures emerged, spinning rapidly before projecting a honeb-like barrier thatpletely encased Rex.


    Rex grinned as he steadied himself. "Would you look at that? These shields are pretty damn useful! Keep them up, Cleo, I''ve got an idea!"


    He pped his wings hard, elerating straight toward the head that had just sted him with fire. The massive maw opened again, preparing for another attack, but Rex showed no signs of slowing.


    "Now it''s my turn, you bastard!" he shouted as he plunged directly into the creature''s mouth.


    The beast''s jaws snapped shut, but it was already toote. Rex tore through its throat like a zinget, his sma ymore slicing upward as he emerged from the top of the creature''s skull. With a single explosive strike, he decapitated the head from the inside, sending it tumbling into the ocean below.


    "That''s another one down!" Rex roared triumphantly, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Only five left!"


    The Tier 4 beast let out a deafening, guttural roar, its remaining heads thrashing violently. Blood poured from its massive wounds, staining the ocean beneath it a sickly ck. It was clear the battle was no longer in its favor.


    Sensing its inevitable defeat, the creature shifted its strategy. Its massive body began to sink, dragging itself toward the ocean depths. The carrier''s tractor beams strained against the pull, the immense force causing the entire ship to groan under the pressure.


    "Saintess!" a voice crackled over the carrier''smunications. "The Tier 4 beast is attempting to retreat into the water! It''s pulling the carrier with it; we''re losing stability!"


    Li, seated calmly on themand bridge, opened her eyes. Her gaze was sharp even though she was blind; her voice was steady. "Redirect all energy to the tractor beams. Do not let it escape."


    "But Saintess¡ª"


    "Do not argue," she cut him off, her tone resolute. "If that creature escapes underwater, it will recover, and all of this will be for nothing. Hold the line, no matter the cost."


    On the battlefield, Rex hovered in the air, his silver aura zing brightly as he watched the beast thrash against its bonds. His wings red as he turned to Cleo.


    "It''s trying to retreat," Rex growled. "We can''t let it get away."


    "Agreed," Cleo said, her holographic form glowing faintly. "But you''ll need to move quickly. The tractor beams won''t hold it for long, especially not with its size and strength."


    Rex''s grip on his ymore tightened. His voice was cold, determined. "Then I''ll make sure it never gets the chance."


    With a powerful p of his wings, he shot upward like aet, aiming directly for the beast''s massive body.


    "Cleo," Rex said, his voice steady butced with anticipation as he hovered high above the thrashing Tier 4 beast. The wind roared around him, whipping his silver hair and wings as his body glowed faintly from the strain of the ongoing battle.


    He tightened his grip on his ymore before letting it dissolve into a shower of golden particles. Both of his hands now sped together, pointed downward, as if channeling all his energy into a singr focus.


    "Let''s do that thing you told me about before."

 Chapter 170 The myth. (2)

    Cleo''s holographic form appeared beside him, her expression unreadable but her presence calm and confident. Without a word, her form shimmered and grew, bing asrge as Rex.


    She floated behind him, her arms wrapping around his neck in a protective, almost intimate embrace. Her glowing wings extended wide, mirroring Rex''s own, and her voice was a soothing whisper in his ear.


    "Understood, my... husband," Cleo said, her tone soft but filled with a dangerous edge.


    The battlefield seemed to still for a moment as her voice echoed into the system.


    <<Releasing the limiters>>


    Golden circuits on Rex''s body red to life, their glow intensifying as the once-dormant systems in his body awakened. The air around him shimmered with heat and energy, his silver aura burning brighter and hotter with each passing second.


    <


    >


    Rex''s hands began to tremble under the sheer force building up within him. Streams of golden light poured out of the halo on his back, spiraling into the air before coalescing into a massive, glowing sigil.


    The intricate design pulsed with ancient energy, a symbol of power that hadn''t been seen for centuries.


    <


    >


    The light from the sigil intensified, painting the entire battlefield in blinding gold. The destroyers, the fighters, even the Tier 1 and 2 beasts paused momentarily, their movements faltering as they felt the raw power emanating from Rex.


    Cleo leaned in closer, her whisper barely audible over the crackling energy. "Execute?"


    Rex''s voice rumbled like thunder, a single word resonating with absolute authority. "Affirmative."


    Cleo''s golden eyes red as her wings spread to their fullest, their tips glowing white-hot.


    <<Releasing Royal Armory Blueprints>>


    The sigil above Rex began to shift, its lines and patterns moving like living things as it morphed into a massive, circr array. Golden light poured from it, materializing into what appeared to beponents of a weapon.


    Piece by piece, the fragments assembled themselves in the air, forming the outline of an enormous sword.


    Cleo''s voice, nowyered with both her own and that of the system, resonated with divine rity.


    "Execute the Conqueror Sword."


    With those words, the glowing fragments snapped together, and the sword came to life.


    The golden halo, once glowing humbly on Rex''s back, had now moved to his feet and expanded to an enormous size, spanning several hundred meters. Its intricate, glowing tech marks pulsed violently as golden energy coursed through it, rippling across the battlefield like waves in a storm.


    Suddenly, a deep, resonant crack echoed through the air as the halo fractured down the middle. From its center, the tip of a massive golden de emerged, its edge gleaming with an intensity that seemed to defy reality itself.


    The enormous sword pointed directly at the Tier 4 beast, its presence overwhelming. Rex could feel the weapon siphoning his energy, pulling from his very core with relentless hunger. His breath grew heavier as his reserves rapidly drained, but there was no time to hesitate.


    The longer he dyed, the closer he came to being consumed by the very weapon he had crafted.


    "Cleo," Rex called out, his voice calm but strained, his silver eyes locked on the thrashing monstrosity below. "What are the chances that thing survives this move?"


    Cleo''s voice drifted into his ear, soft and teasing yetced with lethal certainty. She let out a small, almost yful giggle before whispering, "If you aim well, Master... there''s a zero percent chance it will survive."


    Her delicate hand rested gently on Rex''s metallic helmet, her presence a calming anchor in the chaos.


    "That''s good," Rex said, exhaling deeply as his gaze hardened. He raised his ymore in one hand, the de glowing faintly, and pointed it at the beast. His eyes burned with a mix of rage and resolve, staring down at the creature as if it were nothing but an insect beneath him. "Then let''s get this over with."


    In the next instant, the golden sword, crafted by the immense energy of the halo, shot forward at a speed that defied allprehension. It tore through the air, vanishing in a blink, faster than even the sharpest eyes could follow.


    For a moment, everything seemed frozen in silence. Even the Tier 4 beast appeared unaware of what had just happened, its massive body thrashing as if nothing had changed.


    Then came the pain...


    The creature let out an ear-piercing roar, a guttural scream of agony that shook the battlefield. The golden sword had impaled it cleanly, its massive de buried deep within the beast''s body.


    Energy pulsed violently from the sword, sending shockwaves rippling outward with enough force to churn the ocean below into chaos.


    The beast thrashed violently, its six remaining heads iling in desperation as it tried to free itself from the golden weapon. It wed at the sword with its jaws, tearing at its own flesh in the process, but every attempt to dislodge the weapon only deepened its torment.


    The pain radiating from the sword was unbearable, searing its very essence with divine intensity.


    Suddenly, Cleo massive holographic form appeared at the pommel of the golden de. Her towering, ethereal figure stood atop the weapon, her glowing wings spread wide and radiant, her calm expression contrasting starkly with the chaos below.


    She was a vision of divine judgment, her presence radiating authority and power.


    For those watching from their ships or monitors, it was a moment of pure awe. Gasps filled themand rooms as even the most hardened officers felt chills run down their spines.


    "Foul beast," Cleo said, her voice ringing out across the battlefield, calm yet unyielding. "I do not know what offense youmitted to earn the wrath of the future emperor of the Kaelzars, but such a mistake can only be paid with your life."


    Her words were devoid of emotion, spoken with an almost mechanical neutrality, and yet they carried an undeniable weight. She raised a single hand and snapped her fingers.


    The golden sword began to glow brighter, its edges burning like a miniature sun. Energy surged through the weapon, crackling and pulsing with unfathomable power. The battlefield seemed to tremble under its might.


    "Not good!" Li shouted from the carrier''smand bridge, her calmposure finally breaking. "Order all ships to divert energy to their frontal shields and ascend immediately! Now!"


    The officers snapped out of their stunned stupor and began issuingmands.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Y-Yes, Saintess!"


    The fighters retreated from the frontline, streaking back toward the carrier as fast as their engines could take them. The destroyers ceased their bombardment of the Tier 4 beast, redirecting all avable power to their shields as they began to ascend.


    Their hulls groaned under the strain, but there was no alternative.


    As the allied forces moved to a safer distance, Cleo''s holographic form nced upward, her golden eyes scanning the battlefield. Satisfied that everyone was far enough away, she faded from the pommel of the sword. Herst words before vanishing carried an eerie finality.


    "Goodbye, beast."


    The golden sword reached its peak brightness, glowing so fiercely that it rivaled the sun itself. Then, with an earth-shattering roar, it detonated.


    The explosion wasn''t just light or fire; it was a supernova. Apact yet overwhelmingly powerful burst of energy that consumed everything within several kilometers.


    The ocean vaporized instantly, leaving a gaping, burning hole where once was water. Every creature within the st radius, whether Tier 1 or Tier 2, was obliterated in an instant, reduced to nothing but ash.


    For a few moments, there was nothing but silence. The battlefield was eerily still, save for the rising clouds of steam and vapor that nketed the area, obscuring everything in a dense, blinding fog. The water began to rush back into the massive crater, filling the void left by the attack, but the scene remained shrouded in mystery.


    From the carrier, Li watched the monitor intently, her sharp eyes scanning the fog for any signs of life. But there was nothing.


    "What... happened in there?" one of the officers whispered, his voice trembling.


    No one could see what remained of the battlefield, not the crews of the destroyers, not the pilots in their fighters, not even Li herself. Only Rex and Cleo, hovering above the devastation, knew the truth of what had urred.


    And as the vapor cleared, it became evident that the Tier 4 beast was gone. Not a trace of its massive form remained, its very existence wiped clean from the face of the ocean.


    Rex floated in the air, his silver aura dim but steady. His breath was ragged, his body trembling from exhaustion, but his eyes burned with satisfaction.


    "It''s done," Rex said, his voice low and firm.


    Cleo''s voice, soft andforting, echoed in his mind. "Yes, Master. It''s over."


    As the steam from the supernova slowly dissipated and the battlefield settled into an uneasy calm, Rex turned his head to face Cleo''s holographic form, a yful smirk spreading across his face.


    Despite the exhaustion etched into his features, the glint in his silver eyes told her trouble wasing.


    "Wanna know something?" Rex asked, his tone teasing as he floated above the still-steaming ocean.


    Cleo tilted her head slightly to the left, her golden eyes narrowing in curiosity. "What is it, Master?" she asked, her usual calm demeanor firmly in ce, though she was wary of where this conversation might go.


    "You''ve been calling me husband and master for a while now," Rex said, his smirk widening into a full grin. "So tell me, what''s the deal? Is this some new fetish of yours? Or have you finally fallen for my irresistible charms?"


    Cleo''s golden eyes widened slightly, her holographic form freezing for a moment as her mind raced. "What are you talking about, Master?" she said, her voice unusually defensive. "I have never done something like th¨D"

 Chapter 171 The myth. (3)

    Her words stopped abruptly as realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. Her hands flew to her mouth, her glowing cheeks turning a deeper hue of gold as if she had just uncovered some deeply embarrassing truth.


    "Hahahahaha!" Rex burst intoughter, clutching his sides as his booming voice echoed across the battlefield. "Oh, this is great! Don''t worry, Cleo; I don''t mind if you keep calling me that. In fact, I''m totally fine with it!" He grinned even wider, hisughter ringing out as he relished her reaction.


    Cleo, who was now visibly flustered, had her face turn as red as a virtual tomato. "I-I never¨D!" she stammered, her voice ring with indignation before she promptly shut down her holographic form.


    "HAHAHA! Now you''re being shy!?" Rex said, hisughter growing louder. "Cleo,e on! I didn''t think I''d ever see you like this again! This is priceless!"


    Inside Rex''s mind, Cleo''s voice returned, flustered and defensive. "I-It''s not my doing! It''s all Mini Cleo''s fault! She''s corrupting my way of thinking!"


    Mini Cleo''s tiny holographic form popped up in Rex''s HUD, sitting cross-legged on one of his disys with a mischievous grin. "What? Me? Master, I''m innocent!" she said, clearly anything but innocent. "You know, Rex, it''s not my fault Cleo''s been calling you those things. Maybe she just repressed her true feelings for too long, and they''re finally bubbling to the surface!"


    "YOU LITTLE¨D!" Cleo''s voice roared in Rex''s mind, the volume loud enough to make him wince slightly.


    "Hahaha! Oh, this just keeps getting better!" Rex said, stillughing. "Cleo, don''t me Mini Cleo for this¡ªyou''ve been calling me ''master'' and ''husband'' since the beginning of this fight. Just admit it already!"


    "I will not!" Cleo huffed indignantly, her voice echoing in his mind with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "And for the record, I only called you those things as a formality! It has nothing to do with any... feelings! You''re delusional!"


    Rex smirked, his tone still teasing as he floated through the air, wings beating softly to keep him steady. "Sure, sure, Cleo. Whatever you say. But you know," he added, leaning back slightly with a cheeky grin, "I wouldn''t mind if you kept it up. It''s got a nice ring to it: ''Master,'' ''Husband.'' I could get used to it."


    "STOP TALKING!" Cleo shouted, her embarrassment now at its peak. "I''m shutting down ALL your interface systems for the next five minutes!"


    "Hey, hey, wait!" Rex protested, stillughing. "Don''t take it out on me¡ª!"


    Before he could finish, his HUD flickered, and Mini Cleo disappeared from his disys, reced by a nk screen.


    In the silence that followed, Rex let out one final chuckle. "Totally worth it," he muttered to himself, a faint smile still lingering on his face as he was falling like a rock toward the ocean.


    Deep within his mind, Cleo''s voice grumbled quietly, her tone still flustered. "Stupid Master... Stupid Mini Cleo... Stupid... feelings..."


    Deep inside Rex''s mind, Cleo was spiraling into what could only be described as an existential crisis. Her usually calm and logical thoughts were now tangled in a storm of doubt and emotions she had never fully processed before.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "I mean... I''ve already done the deed with him back there... but that was different! Feelings weren''t needed for reproduction!" she muttered to herself, pacing back and forth in the virtual space of her own consciousness.


    "Since I''m probably thest one of my race, it was a logical decision, yes, purely logical. It was my duty to ensure the continuation of my kind."


    She paused, her golden holographic eyes narrowing as she tried to convince herself further. "This has nothing to do with feelings. There''s no way I''d develop feelings for someone so... so imprudent! And reckless! He''s constantly throwing himself into danger without a second thought, like some daredevil idiot!"


    Her pacing quickened, and her hands balled into fists. "And his big mouth! He can''t even stop himself from saying things that infuriate everyone around him! Who would ever fall for someone like that?"


    But then, her thoughts took a different turn, much to her own horror.


    "Well, he is good-looking," she admitted reluctantly, her pacing slowing. "And his muscles do make him look... undeniably sexy." Her face grew redder as she continued, her voice bing softer and more hesitant. "And he was pretty good in bed..."


    Her eyes widened as she realized where her thoughts had gone, and she frozen in ce, covering her virtual face with her hands. "No, no, NO! This has nothing to do with feelings!" she shouted to no one in particr, desperately trying to reset herposure.


    "I''m just overanalyzing things. That''s all. It''s purely biology. Purely!"


    Meanwhile, back in the real world, Rex had his own problems. His exhausted body, still radiating heat from the supernova''s proximity, plunged into the ocean like a meteor.


    The water hissed and boiled on contact, creating an explosion of steam that sent waves rippling outward. The temperature of his body had been pushed to extreme levels despite the shields protecting him, and now, without Cleo''s systems online, he was left stranded.


    "Well, this is awkward," Rex muttered as he floated aimlessly in the water, slowly sinking deeper with every passing second. He crossed his arms behind his head, looking entirely too rxed for someone drifting in the middle of the ocean.


    "Without the systems, I can''t even fly. Guess I''ll just sink to the bottom and wait for Cleo to finish her temper tantrum."


    The water around him grew darker as he sank deeper, but Rex showed no signs of concern. His energy, now elevated to that of a Tier 4 peak powerhouse, radiated like a beacon in the depths.


    The surrounding marine creatures, sensing his overwhelming presence, kept their distance. Even the more aggressive predators dared not approach him.


    "Well, at least there''s nopany down here," Rex mused, his voice echoing faintly in the water. He nced around, noting the eerie stillness of the ocean. "By the looks of it, that Tier 4 beast I just took down was the big boss around here. Guess the rest of the food chain decided to steer clear of me."


    Minutes passed in silence, save for the asional sound of bubbles rising to the surface. Rex''s wings floated limply behind him, his silver aura dim but still present as he waited.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his systems rebooted. A faint hum filled his ears as Cleo''s voice returned, her tone noticeably calmer but still carrying a faint trace of embarrassment.


    "Systems restored," she said curtly, trying to sound professional despite the earlier events.


    Rex smirked as his HUD flickered back to life. "Oh, finally! And here I thought I was about to be a reef for fish to live on," he said with mock exasperation, giving his body a quick stretch.


    He pped his wings once, propelling himself upward with ease as the water parted around him.


    "Don''t be dramatic," Cleo replied, her voice sharp but slightly flustered. "You were perfectly fine. I calcted your safety down to the millisecond. There was no danger."


    Rex chuckled, his wings glowing faintly as he surged toward the surface. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that. You know, it wouldn''t have hurt to bring me back sooner, unless you were busy... thinking about something."


    Cleo''s voice stuttered for a brief moment, the faintest hint of a virtual gasp escaping her. "W-What!? No! I wasn''t¡ª! I mean, you¡ª!" She trailed off, clearly flustered, and Rex''s grin widened.


    "Ah, I see," Rex teased, his tone smug as he broke through the surface of the water with a burst of energy. "It''s okay, Cleo. You don''t have to exin. I''m sure whatever you were thinking about was very important."


    "I wasn''t thinking about you, if that''s what you''re implying!" Cleo snapped, her voice louder now, but the crack in herposure was obvious.


    "Of course not," Rex said,ughing softly as he floated above the ocean, shaking water from his wings. "Whatever you say, Cleo. Whatever you say."


    Inside his HUD, Mini Cleo reappeared, sitting cross-legged with her hands on her chin, grinning mischievously. "Master, I think you hit a nerve," she said, giggling.


    "Shut up, Mini Cleo!" Cleo roared, her voice nearly deafening in Rex''s mind.


    "Hahaha!" Rexughed, the sound of his amusement echoing across the calm ocean. "It''s good to be back."


    While Rex and Cleo were busy having their yful exchange, the allied human forces aboard the carrier were still grappling with the aftermath of the battle. Themand bridge was alive with tension as officers scrambled to make sense of what had just urred.


    The massive steam cloud, a lingering consequence of the golden sword''s supernova, continued to obscure everything in the area.


    "Have there been any reports of the beast or the Angel?" Li asked, her sharp eyes fixed on the main screen. The live feed from the recon drone cameras showed nothing but the dense, swirling vapor.


    "Negative, Saintess," one of the bridge officers replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "The supernova created too much interference. Our systems are still malfunctioning from the residual energy, and it could take two hours or more to fully restore functionality."


    Li sighed softly, folding her arms. Her calm,manding presence didn''t falter despite the uncertainty. "Fine," she said, her voice steady. "Order all forces to keep searching the area. We remain on red alert until further notice. I want confirmation, make sure that beast is dead."


    "Understood, Saintess," the officer responded, turning back to his console to ry her orders.


    As the bridge crew worked diligently to piece together the situation, two familiar figures approached from the rear of the room, Nyra and Lyra, the silver-haired twins. Both looked asposed as ever, their expressions serene despite the chaos around them.


    "Li, we''re going to sleep," Nyra announced casually, her tone betraying no sense of urgency as she began walking toward the exit with Lyra following closely behind.


    Li turned sharply to face them, her voiceced with disbelief. "Wait, you''re leaving? Are you two seriously not worried about Rex?"


    Nyra stopped and nced over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow at the question. "Worried? About him?" she said, her voice calm but firm. "There''s nothing to worry about."


    Li frowned, clearly unconvinced. "How can you be so sure? We haven''t seen or heard anything from him since the supernova. What if he''s¨D"


    Nyra cut her off with a small, knowing smirk. "He won."


    Li blinked. "What?"

 Chapter 172 The myth. (4)

    "If Rex had lost, we''d know it," Nyra continued, her tone confident and unwavering.


    "We''d feel it somehow. But since there''s nothing, no strange sensations, no emptiness, it''s safe to say the beast was killed. And knowing Rex, he''s probably just... chilling down there somewhere, taking his sweet time."


    Lyra nodded in agreement, her expression soft but resolute. "My sister is right. There''s no need to waste energy worrying about him. If he''s not back yet, it just means he''s fine."


    Without another word, Nyra and Lyra turned and left themand bridge, leaving behind a room full of baffled officers and an increasingly frustrated Li.


    The saintess sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Those two are impossible," she muttered under her breath, turning her attention back to the screen.


    Behind her, a young officer hesitated before speaking up. "Saintess... do they really think he''s just rxing after that? I mean, he did summon a weapon that caused a literal supernova."


    Li gave him a side nce, her voice curt. "If you''ve seen before the angel, you''d know that''s exactly the kind of thing he''d do."


    The officer blinked, unsure whether she was joking or serious. Li turned back to the screen, her focus once again on the steam cloud.


    "Keep searching," she said firmly. "I want answers soon."


    The bridge crew nodded and returned to their work, but the lingering questions hung in the air like the thick steam outside. What had happened to the angel? And, more importantly, what kind of man could cause such chaos and then simply "chill" afterward?


    For now, all they could do was wait.


    "So? Are you going to tell me why you fought that Tier 4 beast, risking not only your life but also the lives of everyone who came to help you, instead of doing the smart thing and running away?"


    Cleo''s tone was sharp, usatory, as her holographic form floated beside Rex. Her golden eyes red at him, her wings glowing faintly, a sure sign that she was far from pleased. "It''s not like that thing could fly."


    Rex let out a small sigh, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "Well, I didn''t do it just out of anger or some reckless sense of pride," he said, lifting his arm. He extended two fingers, and a golden glow erupted from the depths of the ocean below.


    Two glowing objects shot up from the water, moving at incredible speed beforeing to a halt in the air next to Rex. One was a destroyed, metallic spider-like machine, its legs bent and its central body cracked. The other was a shimmering, glowing orb, the beast''s core, pulsating faintly with residual energy.


    "I couldn''t just let these two items go," Rex said, gesturing toward them. "Originally, I was only after this one." He pointed at the mangled metallic spider and held it up for Cleo to see.


    Cleo''s holographic eyes narrowed as she scanned the damaged machine. "This is...?" she asked, her tone curious but cautious.


    "I''m not entirely sure," Rex admitted while shaking his head. "But it''s the thing I saw right before the engines on the cruiser exploded, and I almost ended up as a very crispy BBQ. It''s definitely connected to whatever happened here." He let the spider hover in front of Cleo so she could continue her analysis.


    Cleo''s wings shifted slightly as she processed the information. "I see," she murmured.


    Rex turned to the glowing orb, holding it up. "And this," he said, his tone softening slightly, "is the beast''s core. It''s for Ys. After what she''s been through, she''ll need it to recover. She absorbed the core of that giant worm back then, so I figure this one will work too. It should help her regenerate and heal those injuries."


    Cleo''s gaze lingered on the orb for a moment before she spoke again. "I see. Can I take the metallic spider for further inspection?" She asked, her tone professional once more.


    "Sure," Rex said with a shrug. "Let''s hope it has some information that can shed light on everything that happened here." With a casual motion, he tossed both items into the golden halo storage space, the shimmering portal swallowing them with a faint hum.


    "Well then," Rex said, stretching his arms as he prepared to take off. "Let''s get the hell out of here. I''ve had enough salty water tost a lifetime, and I don''t want to see or eat fish for at least a year."


    "Understood," Cleo replied, though her tone shifted slightly, bing colder, more serious. "But Rex, there''s something we need to talk about: what''s going to happen once your energy runs out."


    Rex paused for a moment, his expression tightening. He gave her a small, knowing smirk but didn''t meet her eyes. "Yeah, I know," he said, his voice quieter now. "Don''t worry. Let''s just get back to the carrier ASAP before I shut down."


    Without waiting for her reply, Rex pped his wings with a surge of energy,unching himself out of the water. The ocean erupted behind him in a massive ssh, the force of his takeoff breaking the sound barrier.


    The shockwave rippled through the water below as he shot into the air, a streak of silver and gold heading straight for the human carrier.


    Cleo''s holographic form hovered beside him, her expression neutral, though there was a flicker of concern in her glowing eyes.


    Rex pushed forward at full speed, his silver aura flickering slightly as his energy reserves dwindled. His thoughts were focused on one thing only: getting to safety before his body gave out.


    "Don''t let me down, Cleo," he muttered under his breath, the carrier looming closer with each beat of his wings.


    "I won''t," Cleo replied, her voice soft but resolute, echoing quietly in his mind.


    For now, the immediate threat was over, but the weight of the battle and the unknown consequences of Rex''s actions hung heavily in the air. The fight may have been won, but the real challenges were only beginning.


    After several minutes of flying, Rex finally reached the human carrier. His wings red briefly as he descended onto thending zone, his movements slower and morebored than usual. When his feet touched the metal deck, he took a deep breath, his silver aura flickering faintly before dimming.


    "Mmm? What are the twins doing here?" Rex asked, raising an eyebrow as he spotted Nyra and Lyra standing near the edge of thending zone, their silver hair glinting faintly in the carrier''s lights.


    "I called them," Cleo replied, her voice quieter now, tinged with exhaustion. "They''ll take care of the items. I''ve already left them instructions on what to do after we enter hypersleep mode."


    Rex tilted his head slightly. "Mmm, I see. Then..." He slowly knelt down, his movements deliberate as if every step required effort. The golden halo behind him shimmered briefly before releasing the two items he had recovered, the mangled metallic spider and the glowing core of the in beast.


    He held them out to the twins. "Take these," he said, his voice calm but strained. "Cleo already told you what to do, so I''ll leave them in your care. Make sure everything goes smoothly from here on."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The twins exchanged a brief nce before stepping forward to take the items. As Rex handed them over, his mecha-like armor began to crack and fall away. The metallic tes dissolved into streams of silver light, vanishing into the air as his wings began to disintegrate into glowing fragments.


    Rex let out a bitterugh, his body visibly weakening as he sank further onto one knee. "Heh... I guess there''s not much time left. Looks like I''m running on fumes here." He lowered himself fully onto the ground, lying t on the airstrip with his hands resting on his chest.


    "I''ll just stay here. You two go on and do what Cleo told you to do." He wavedzily at the twins, gesturing for them to leave.


    Lyra opened her mouth to say something, concern etched into her expression, but Nyra ced a hand on her sister''s shoulder and shook her head. Lyra hesitated, ncing back at Rex, before reluctantly swallowing her words and turning to leave with her sister.


    As their footsteps faded, Rex let out a tired sigh and stared up at the unfamiliar sky, the stars above obscured by faint clouds of smoke and steam from the recent battle. "So," he began, his voice quieter now, "what''s going to happen to us, Cleo?"


    Cleo''s holographic form appeared beside him, smaller now and dimmer, as if reflecting her own energy depletion. Her voice, too, carried a weariness Rex wasn''t used to hearing. "Based on past experiences, we''ll shut down entirely," she said.


    "Your systems will remain inactive until someone connects you to a power source and starts the recharging process. Once that happens, it''ll take at least a few months, possibly up to a year, to reach even 1% of your energy."


    "A year?" Rex said, his tone incredulous, though sleep was quickly creeping into his voice. "Why so long? I thought we just needed to plug in and be good to go."


    Cleo sighed softly, her tone carrying the patience of someone exining something for the hundredth time.


    There are several reasons," she said, "but the two most important are, first, that you pushed your body to operate at 500% of its designed capacity. Your systems weren''t optimized for that level of strain, so there''s substantial internal damage that needs time to repair. And second..."

 Chapter 173 The myth. (5)

    She hesitated briefly before continuing. "To maintain that level of power and keep fighting, you used up all your energy reserves, and I mean everything. Even the emergency backup energy I had stored to save you in case of aplete shutdown."


    Rex chuckled weakly, the sound barely audible as his eyelids began to droop. "Hahaha... Sorry about that, honey," he said, his grin faint but genuine. "I guess I was too reckless this time."


    Cleo''s holographic form hovered above him, her golden eyes softening as she gazed down at him. "Yes, you were," she said quietly. "But that''s nothing new, is it?"


    Rex smiled faintly while his gaze shifted back to the sky. The distant hum of the carrier''s engines filled the air, along with the faint sound of footsteps approaching from the far side of the deck.


    "Master," came a calm and familiar voice, breaking the silence. "We have brought your body, as you asked us."


    Rex tilted his head slightly, his silver eyes dimly reflecting the figures approaching him. His vision blurred slightly, but he could still make out the shapes of the twins, Nyra and Lyra, standing beside what appeared to be a pod-like structure.


    "Mmm, good work, girls," Cleo said, her voice barely audible, strained with exhaustion. "You can leave it there... You two know what to do after we go to sleep."


    "We understand, Master," the twins said in unison, their calm voices unwavering.


    Rex let out a deep breath and smirked faintly. "So, are we ready to sleep?" he asked, ncing at the faintly glowing pod where Cleo frame rested.


    "Almost," Cleo replied, her voice faltering. "There''s still... something I... need to do before that..."


    Rex tilted his head in curiosity but didn''t press. He watched as Cleo entered her physical body, which slowly powered up and stepped out of its resting pod.


    Her movements were unsteady, her golden robotic eyes flickering between brightness and dimness. She looked as though she were fighting every step, her legs wobbling beneath her like a newborn fawn.


    "Is this really necessary, Cleo?" Rex asked, but his question was lighthearted. As he watched her stagger toward him, he couldn''t suppress a smallugh. "Hahaha, you look like a baby deer. Here, let me help you."


    Rex extended his enormous arm, his muscles faintly glowing with residual energy. He gently picked Cleo up, cradling her fragile body like a delicate doll, and ced her on his broad chest.


    "Is this better?" Rex asked, smiling warmly as he covered her with one of his hands, his palmrge enough to shield her entirely.


    "Yes... it is..." Cleo replied softly, curling into a fetal position against his chest. Her voice was so faint it was almost a whisper. Her head rested against him, and for a moment, the flickering in her golden eyes slowed, reced by calm.


    "So..." Rex began, his voice carrying a trace of amusement. "Was it really necessary to sleep like this?"


    There was no immediate answer.


    "If you don''t want to tell me, that''s fine," Rex said after a pause. "I''ll probably forget once I wake up anyway."


    Contrary to his expectations, Cleo''s small voice finally broke the silence. "It''s just... I was afraid..."


    Rex''s brow furrowed slightly. "Afraid of what?"


    "Afraid of returning to the darkness again," Cleo admitted, her voice uncharacteristically sweet and soft, almost childlike. It was rare for her to show vulnerability, and her words carried a weight that even Rex hadn''t anticipated.


    Rex chuckled softly, his voice warm and soothing. "Well, this time you won''t be going alone. I''ll be with you." He gently patted her head with his massive finger, the gesture surprisingly tender for someone of his size.


    "Rex," Cleo said, her lips curving into a faint smile. "That was... too corny."


    "Haha, yeah, it was," Rex replied, grinning.


    And with that, silence fell between them. Slowly, the faint glow of their energy dimmed until both of them shut downpletely. Their bodies entered a deep vegetative sleep, akin to cryo-sleep, with all systems offline. They were perfectly still, but it wasn''t death; it was a temporary state of preservation.


    "Nyra," Lyra said, her voice soft as she looked at the now-dormant Rex and Cleo. "It''s time."


    Nyra nodded, reaching out to gently pat her twin''s head. "I know. And stop pouting; I''m still older than you."


    Lyra huffed and swatted Nyra''s hand away. "I''m the oldest, and you know it!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Haha, sure, whatever you say," Nyra teased her with a yful smirk on her face. "But Dad always said I came out first!" She reached over and pinched Lyra''s cheek lightly.


    Lyra flinched, ring at her sister. "Yeah, well, Dad also said I was named first, so technically, I''m older!" She struggled to free herself from Nyra''s pinching attack.


    "Haha! You''re such a nerd. Look at you getting worked up over something so silly!" Nyra said, releasing her twin andughing.


    Lyra stuck her tongue out. "Hmph! Says the one who acts like a child!"


    Nyra just grinned. "Okay, okay, let''s stop fooling around. We''ve got work to do." She pulled a device from her backpack and ced it carefully near Rex''s head.


    "Here are the batteries," Lyra said, passing them to her sister.


    "Thanks, cutie," Nyra replied teasingly, inserting the four batteries into the device.


    The moment the device activated, a shimmering dome-like barrier formed around Rex and Cleo, its surface glowing faintly with golden light. The dome floated effortlessly into the air, lifting Rex''s massive body and Cleo''s smaller one inside it.


    "Wow..." Lyra muttered, inspecting the dome curiously. "I didn''t know this little thing could lift Rex''s huge body so easily. How does it even work?"


    Nyra shrugged, flexing her nonexistent muscles with a mock-serious expression. "Who knows? Don''t ask me. You''re the brains; I''m the muscle."


    Lyra giggled, sticking out her tongue again. "Muscle? You? Nyra, we''re twins. Your body is as petite as mine! Don''t me me if you came out dumb instead of strong!"


    "W-What did you say, you little¨D!?" Nyra eximed, raising her fist in mock anger.


    "Haha! Now you want to hit my precious head? Keep dreaming!" Lyra said, jumping back and dodging her sister''s yful swipes.


    "Stop running, you ugly little beast!" Nyra shouted, chasing her twin around the dome.


    Lyraughed. "We''re twins, you idiot! We look the same!"


    Their yful antics came to an abrupt halt when a soft but unfamiliar voice spoke nearby.


    "Ho... this is fascinating."


    The twins froze, their cheerful expressions reced with deadly seriousness. In an instant, they disappeared in a sh of red mist, reappearing next to the source of the voice. Their swords were already drawn, the cold steel pressed firmly against the neck of the neer.


    The figure froze, its face pale as he realized how close he was to death.


    "Who are you?" Nyra said coldly, her voice low and threatening, "And what are you doing here?"


    Lyra narrowed her eyes, her de steady. "You have five seconds to exin yourself. If you don''t, you won''t live to see the sixth."


    The stranger gulped, sweat dripping down their forehead. "Wait! I''m just here to¨D!"


    "Four," Nyra said, cutting them off, her tone unrelenting.


    The air grew tense as the barrier behind them pulsed faintly, protecting Rex and Cleo as they slept peacefully, oblivious to the new threat that had just arrived.


    "Hold on, hold on! He means no harm!" Professor Oscar shouted, running onto the carrier''snding zone from one of the nearby doors.


    The twins turned their heads sharply toward him, their crimson eyes glowing menacingly, their expressions cold and unrelenting. "Even if you''re one of Li''s subordinates," they said in perfect unison, their voices low and threatening, "we won''t let anyone get near our masters."


    Their des pressed closer against the trembling man''s neck, the slightest pressure drawing a thin line of red. The poor professor''s face was pale, his eyes brimming with panic as he dared not move a muscle.


    "You have no enemies here," Oscar said calmly, raising both hands to show he was unarmed. His silver hair fluttered faintly in the wind, and his tone remained steady despite the tense atmosphere. "Everyone on this carrier is under Sir Rex''smand. No one here would dare harm him."


    The twins didn''t budge, their swords unwavering. "How do we know we can trust you?" they asked, their voices synchronized and icy. "It''s clear to anyone who saw our master''s state that now would be the perfect time to attack him. This is when he''s most vulnerable."


    Their crimson eyes scanned every shadow, every corner of thending zone, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.


    Oscar sighed, lowering his hands slightly but keeping his stance nonthreatening. "I know it''s hard to trust someone you''ve never seen before," he said.


    "But all I can offer is my word. The man you''re threatening is not an enemy. He''s just another professor, like me, a friend of mine who''s dedicated his life to researching the lost history of humanity. He was so overwhelmed by excitement after watching Sir Rex''s battle that he... well, he let his enthusiasm get the better of him."


    Oscar turned his gaze to the man still trembling on his knees. "Frankly, my friend, you were too reckless this time."


    The twins exchanged a nce, their glowing eyes meeting for a brief moment. After a tense pause, they both nodded silently.


    "Fine," they said in unison, stepping back and lowering their swords.


    The instant the pressure of the des was gone, the professor let out a heavy sigh of relief, his body trembling as he copsed onto his knees. "I thought I was going to die," he muttered, his voice shaky.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 174 The myth. (6)

    Oscar walked over and helped him to his feet, cing a steadying hand on his shoulder. "My friend,e this way," Oscar said with a faint smile. "You were far too reckless this time."


    The professor nodded, still pale and shaken, as he allowed Oscar to guide him away from the glowing dome where Rex and Cleo rested. He cast onest nce at the shimmering barrier, his curiosity still evident in his eyes, though the fear of another encounter with the twins kept him silent.


    As the two professors retreated a safe distance, the twins continued to stand guard near the dome, their crimson eyes scanning the area for any further threats.


    "That fool was lucky," Nyra muttered, resting her sword on her shoulder.


    Lyra nodded, her own de still in hand. "If he''d made even one wrong move..."@@novelbin@@


    Nyra smirked faintly. "Well, it''s a good thing he didn''t."


    Both sisters returned to their watchful stance, standing silently by the dome as the carrier''s engines hummed softly in the background. The supernova''s residual heat still lingered in the air, casting a faint haze over the scene.


    Inside the dome, Rex and Cleo slept peacefully, oblivious to the brief moment of danger that had just passed. The twins, however, remained vignt. They would allow no harm toe to their masters.


    Meanwhile, on themand bridge, the tension among the officers was palpable. Everyone had watched the exchange between the twins and the professor through the ship''s surveince feed, and the bridge crew was abuzz with outrage.


    "Saintess! What those two creatures did is uneptable!" one officer shouted, mming his fist on the console. "We should arrest them immediately!"


    "I''m with him, Saintess!" another officer chimed in. "They''re treating this ship like it''s theirs! We can''t let them do as they please on one of humanity''s vessels!"


    Theints kepting, one after another, each voice rising louder than thest. The bridge crew was indignant, their frustration mounting at what they perceived as an insult to their authority.


    But Li, seated calmly in hermand chair, remained utterly unfazed. Her expression was neutral, her golden eyes scanning the situation on the monitors with quiet precision.


    Just as she was about to speak, one of the officers monitoring the sensors shouted, "Saintess! Arge ship is exiting a wormhole directly above us!"


    Li''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Identification?" she asked, her voice calm butmanding.


    The officer quickly typed into his console, his face turning pale as the results came in. "ording to the database... the ID matches that of the Cleopatra."


    The entire bridge fell silent.


    "The Cleopatra?" Li repeated, her tone neutral, but the subtle shift in her expression betrayed her interest.


    The officer quickly pulled the image onto the main screen. The entire bridge gasped as the massive vessel came into view.


    From above the''s cloud cover, the Cleopatra descended gracefully. Its sleek, elegant design shimmered under the light of the nearby sun, its hull adorned with intricate golden patterns that marked it as a vessel of immense prestige.


    The ship dwarfed the human destroyers in both size and beauty, its presence alone radiating authority. Even those with only a rudimentary understanding of space warfare could tell that the Cleopatra was far superior to any vessel present in the fleet.


    "It seems," Li began, her voice calm but carrying an edge of mockery, "that the ship hase for the very same twins you were all so eager to throw in jail."


    Her words cut through the silence like a de, and several officers shifted ufortably in their seats. No one dared to argue.


    As the Cleopatra settled into position next to the human gship, one of the officers spoke up, his voice trembling slightly. "Saintess, a transport ship has justunched from the Cleopatra. They''re requesting permission tond on the carrier."


    "Permission granted," Li said, standing from hermand seat. Her brother and her personal female guard nked her immediately as she made her way toward the exit. "They''re likely here for our guests. I''ll meet them myself."


    A few minutester, the transport ship touched down on the carrier''snding zone. Its sleek design mirrored that of the Cleopatra, every inch of it gleaming with the same golden elegance. The cargo doors hissed open, and from within, a formation of Aegis Royal Guards marched out with military precision.


    The guards, d in dazzling white and golden armor that shone like polished mirrors, moved with an air of authority. Their steps were synchronized, their presencemanding respect. They carried long energy pikes and sidearms; their very existence is a testament to the Cleopatra''s superiority.


    Without hesitation, they formed a protective circle around the energy dome where Rex and Cleoy sleeping. Their movements were calcted and deliberate, each one standing at the ready to defend their precious cargo.


    Nearby, Li, her guard, and her brother stopped a short distance from the twins. Li gray eyes locked onto them, her expression unreadable as the situation unfolded.


    Lyra nced at Nyra, her crimson eyes narrowing. "Nyra, what should we do?" she whispered.


    Nyra raised a hand, silencing her twin. "Stay here. I''ll go see what she wants."


    Nyra stepped forward, her movements measured and deliberate as she approached Li. The air between them was heavy with tension, both sides radiating authority.


    When she was a few paces away, Nyra stopped, her crimson eyes meeting Li''s gray gaze. Neither spoke at first; the silence between them was filled with unspoken challenges.


    Finally, Nyra broke the silence. "What do you want, "Saintess"?" she asked, her voice calm but firm.


    Li tilted her head slightly, her expression still neutral. "I want to ensure that your masters are safe and secure," she said. "And to understand the reason for the Cleopatra''s sudden arrival."


    Nyra''s lips curled into a faint smirk. "The Cleopatra arrived because of us, of course. It''s here to protect Rex and Cleo. Surely, that much is obvious."


    Lili raised an eyebrow. "And yet, it''s clear the Cleopatra''s forces don''t fully trust us."


    Nyra''s smirk grew wider. "Can you me them? Your officers were practically foaming at the mouth to arrest us just minutes ago."


    Li let out a quiet sigh, her expression softening just slightly. "Fair enough," she admitted. "But understand this; we''re all on the same side. We''ve fought together and bled together. Any hostility between us will only weaken the alliances we''ve worked so hard to build."


    Nyra studied Li for a moment, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly before she nodded. "Fine. As long as no one tries anything stupid, we won''t have a problem."


    "Good," Li replied, her tone firm.


    Nyra turned to nce back at her sister and the Aegis guards. "But let me be clear," she added, her voice lowering to a dangerous tone. "If anyone so much as breathes wrong in Rex''s direction, you''ll have more than just us to deal with."


    Li nodded, unbothered by the warning. "Understood."


    After the brief exchange with Li, Nyra returned to her sister, her expression calm but serious. "Let''s get this over with. Start the transportation of Rex and Cleo," she said firmly.


    Lyra nodded, her demeanor more subdued as she gestured toward the floating dome. The Aegis Royal Guards immediately went to work, maintaining their protective formation around Rex and Cleo''s sleeping forms as the transportation process began.


    Meanwhile, Li stood quietly a short distance away, her hands sped behind her back and her eyes closed. Her brother stepped closer, his brow furrowed with concern. "Sister," he began hesitantly, "do you really think it''s wise to let them act so... arrogant?"


    Li let out a small, amused giggle. "My silly brother," she replied, her tone light butced with subtle authority. "Do you honestly think anyone here could stand against them?"


    She opened her gray eyes, which, while blind to the physical world, saw something far deeper. Li''s unique vision allowed her to perceive the true essence of living beings, their power, their aura, their very nature.


    Most humans appeared faint and dim to her, their auras barely visible. A Tier 1 human might be a faint glow, while a being as powerful as Rex or the Tier 4 beast she had witnessed earlier zed like small stars in her sight.


    And the twins...


    The twins shone brighter than any human soldier she had ever seen. Theirbined presence was like two zing mes, each one pulsing with the unmistakable energy of a Tier 2 being. Whether they were mid-level or even peak Tier 2, it was clear they were far beyond the capabilities of any normal soldier.


    But what truly intrigued her was the silhouette of pure white light that seemed to flicker within their auras, something more profound, more pure than she had ever seen. What was even stranger was the thread of light that connected this white silhouette to Rex''s own radiant star-like aura.


    "I see things differently than you do, brother," Li continued, her voice softer now. "And what I see tells me this: picking a fight with them would be suicide. Besides..." She closed her eyes again, her tone returning to its usualposed neutrality.


    "We don''t have the firepower to take down the Cleopatra. Even if we did, remember, it was our side that showed hostility first."


    Her brother hesitated, clearly ufortable with her reasoning, but he said nothing.


    "Now then," Li added, turning toward the doors of themand deck. "Let''s head inside. It''s starting to get cold out here."


    As the transport ship carrying Rex and Cleo departed from the cruiser''snding zone, Li and her entourage made their way back into the warmth of the gship. The tension from the earlier confrontation was fading, but the ripple effects of the encounter would linger.


    Meanwhile, far away, in a sprawling Nexum megacity illuminated by the soft glow of countless neon lights, the Ceo of Nexum Dynamic stood near a massive ss wall in his private office. The cityscape stretched out before him, a breathtaking view of towering skyscrapers and shimmering lights against the backdrop of the night.

 Chapter 175 Mastermind.

    He appeared rxed, or at least, as rxed as someone in his position could be. His humanoid octopus form stood tall, his skin an iridescent blue that reflected the ambient light. He held a ss of some expensive-looking liquor in one hand, swirling it absentmindedly as he gazed out over the city.


    Kneeling before him was a woman, her head bowed as she performed a degrading service at his crotch. He showed no interest in her other than as a fleeting distraction, his focus entirely on the glowing cityscape before him.


    The silence in the room was broken by the sound of the office doors sliding open. A guard d in pitch-ck power armor stepped inside, his heavy boots nking softly against the floor. He immediately brought a hand to his chest, bowing in respect.


    The CEO didn''t bother turning around, nor did he show any concern for the situation he was caught in. His voice was cold, detached. "Is it done?"


    "My lord," the guard replied, his tone formal and steady, "we have confirmed the destruction of the cruiser where your wife was located. However..." He hesitated briefly before continuing. "We have lost contact with our biological weapon."


    The CEO paused for a moment, his gaze still fixed on the skyline. He slowly raised the ss to his lips, taking a sip of the amber liquid.


    "I see," he said, his tone betraying neither anger nor surprise. "That weapon was experimental. I suppose it was always a risk to unleash it on such a chaotic battlefield."


    The guard remained silent, awaiting further instructions.


    "Still," the executive continued, finally turning around to face the guard. His glowing yellow eyes locked onto the armored figure with an unsettling intensity. "I expect you to recover whatever remains of it. Whether it''s data, tissue samples, or fragments of its core, I want everything."


    "Yes, my lord," the guard said, bowing his head further.


    The executive''s gaze shifted briefly to the woman still kneeling before him, her movements faltering as the conversation continued. He let out a faint sigh of irritation. "And get her out of here," he added dismissively, gesturing toward her with his free hand. "She''s served her purpose."


    "At once, my lord," the guard replied, signaling for another soldier outside the door to escort the woman out.


    As the door closed behind them, the executive turned back to the cityscape, his mind already racing with ns. The loss of the biological weapon was a setback, but it wasn''t the end. If anything, this was just the beginning.


    The CEO sighed as he settled into the sleek, custom-made chair behind his enormous desk. The panoramic view of the glowing city behind him only added to the ominous ambiance of his high-tech office.


    With a flick of his wrist, a holographic keyboard materialized in front of him. His fingers moved swiftly, inputting aplex password that caused the air in the room to shimmer.


    Four 4D holographic images began constructing themselves, forming into the shapes of four individuals who now appeared as lifelike projections within the room. Each one carried an air of power, their presences undeniable despite being nothing more than digital renderings.


    "Gentlemen," the CEO began smoothly, swirling his ss of liquor before taking a casual sip. "While the operation to eliminate Sharon was a sess on the surface, I cannot confidently say that she is truly dead."


    One of the holograms, a burly man with a scar running down his face, mmed his fist on what would have been Percival''s desk. The sound of his rage reverberated through the holographic projection as though it were real.


    "What!?" he bellowed. "Don''t joke with me, Percival! We supported this n of yours because you swore it was foolproof! What kind of excuse do you have now!?"


    Percival, unfazed by the outburst, leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette with a flick of his gold-ted lighter. He exhaled a stream of smoke, his calm demeanor a sharp contrast to the seething hologram in front of him.


    "Oh, please," he saidzily, waving the cigarette like a conductor''s baton. "Let''s not make a big drama out of this. The alliance between me, you, and the four viceroys isn''t so fragile that it''ll crumble over one minor setback."


    "Minor setback!?" Another hologram, this one a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair and a sharp suit, interjected, his voice cutting through the tension like a de.


    "This isn''t just some small inconvenience, Percival. Sharon is the only daughter of that old viceroy who happens to be a Tier 7 powerhouse! Do you have any idea what that means? We cannot afford even the slightest risk of failure."


    Percival smirked, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "So what if he''s a Tier 7 powerhouse?" he retorted, his voice low and sharp. "I''m also a Tier 7 powerhouse. If ites to a sh, I''ll show him that his age doesn''t make him invincible."


    In a sudden disy of petnce, Percival hurled his wine ss toward the middle-aged hologram. The ss passed harmlessly through the projection, shattering against the wall behind it.


    "So what if you''re a Tier 7 powerhouse, Percival!?" A new voice interjected sharply. This time, it was feminine, belonging to a woman in the third hologram. Her holographic form leaned forward, her tone scathing.


    "Are you so drunk on your own power that you''ve lost all sense of reason? If you and that old man sh, ourpany''s power will copse! And do you think the other megacorps will sit idly by? They''re sharks, Percival. Sharks are waiting for blood. If we show even a hint of weakness, they''ll tear us apart."


    Percival raised his hands in mock surrender, though the smirk on his face never left. "Oh, please forgive me, mydy," he said with exaggerated politeness. "I was merely a bit... agitated by the situation. But I''m calm now."


    He took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling the smoke in deliberate, swirling rings. "Here''s what we''ll do: we''ll send a recovery team to the crash site of the cruiser. They''ll search for evidence, remnants of Sharon, DNA, anything we can use. If she''s still alive, we''ll make sure she doesn''t stay that way for long."


    "Hmph! You''d better fix your mistake, Percival," the middle-aged man snapped, his tone icy as his hologram began to flicker and fade. "If thises back to bite us, you''ll be the one answering for it."


    The other two holograms nodded in agreement before disappearing as well, leaving the room silent, except for the fourth hologram.


    This one didn''t carry the same air of cold authority as the others. The figure was a woman, her holographic form radiating a sickly warmth. Her voice was syrupy sweet, with an unsettling undertone that sent shivers down the spine.


    "Don''t listen to them, honey," she cooed, tilting her head slightly as her holographic hand reached toward Percival as if to stroke his cheek. "They''re just a bunch of annoying old men and grannies, always whining about this and that."


    Percival''s smirk softened into something resembling a creepy, boyish grin. "I know, Mom. Don''t worry," he said, his voice disturbingly cheerful. "I''ll take care of it. I''ll make you proud."


    The woman''s hologram giggled, a sound that was as unsettling as it was out of ce. "Aww, that''s my little Perci! Mommy''s so proud of you already." Her tone turned almost sing-song. "And guess what? Mommy''s bringing you lots of love soon. I''ve even bought some new ves for you to y with."


    Percival''s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "I can''t wait, Mommy."


    The woman''s hologram blew him a kiss before fading away, leaving Percival alone in the dimly lit office. The cigarette in his hand burned down to itsst embers as he leaned back in his chair, a dark chuckle escaping his lips.@@novelbin@@


    He tapped a few moremands into the holographic keyboard, sending orders to his subordinates to begin the recovery operation. His gaze shifted to the neon-lit city outside, his reflection in the ss twisted into a sinister smile.


    "Sharon," he muttered to himself, his voice low and venomous. "If you''re still out there... I''ll make sure you regret it."


    And with that, Percival leaned forward, ready to orchestrate the next move in his dark, twisted game.


    Meanwhile, Carlos, who had chosen to stay behind with the humans to oversee Ys''s treatment by their medical teams, wandered through the halls of the cruiser.


    Though the situation was tense, Carlos was always someone who could find a way to rx or, at least, appear to. After making sure Ys was stable, he decided to head toward the hangar bay to get a change of scenery.


    The sound of raucousughter and lively chatter greeted him before he even reached the hangar doors. Pushing them open, he found the source of the noise¡ªa group of pilots, engineers, and technicians gathered near one of the fighter maintenance areas.


    Among them, the red leader, the self-proimed "Ace of the Human Empire Fighter Squadron," was at the center of attention, holding a drink and basking in the glow of their admiration.


    "Hahaha! And that''s how I took down my 30th beast down there!" the red leader said with a triumphant grin, raising his drink as the group around him erupted into cheers. "I''m telling you guys, this time it was pretty hard!. I even thought I was gonna die for a second there."


    "Hahaha, there''s no way that''s true, Captain!" one of the younger engineers chimed in, practically bouncing with excitement. "There''s no enemy out there who''s a better pilot than you! You''re the ACE of the Human Empire Fighter Squad!"


    "Yeah! That''s right, Captain!" another pilot said, raising his own drink in a toast. "You''re our ACE! The pride of the fleet!"

 Chapter 176 Sharon secret.

    The red leader grinned even wider, puffing out his chest as the wave ofpliments continued. His ego was soaring higher than his fighter ever could. Each cheer, each word of praise, seemed to add anotheryer of smugness to his expression.


    Carlos leaned against the doorway for a moment, watching the scene unfold with an amused smile. He could see exactly what kind of man the red leader was, confident, talented, and very aware of his own reputation. The sort of person who lived for praise and admiration.


    After a moment, Carlos decided to interrupt the celebration. Clearing his throat loudly, he stepped forward. "Ehem," he began, drawing the group''s attention. "I see you guys are having fun. Mind if I join?"


    Theughter quieted down slightly as the group turned to look at him. The red leader raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of curiosity and mild annoyance at the interruption.


    "And who might you be?" the red leader asked, looking Carlos up and down. His tone wasn''t hostile, but it carried the unmistakable air of someone sizing up a potential rival or an unwanted guest.


    Carlos smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked closer. "Name''s Carlos," he said casually, ncing around at the group. "I''m with Rex''s crew. You know, the guy who turned that Tier 4 beast into sushi and took down half the battlefield while you were busy dodging flying fish."


    The room fell silent for a moment, the red leader''s confident smirk faltering slightly. The mention of Rex was enough to shift the atmosphere, and a few of the engineers exchanged awkward nces.


    The red leader cleared his throat, regaining hisposure. "Ah, yes. That guy," he said, his tone dripping with forced nonchnce. "Well, I guess he did alright down there. But let''s not forget, it was my squadron that kept the skies clear and gave your buddy a fighting chance."


    Carlos chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, no doubt about it. You guys did great up there," he said, his tone light but teasing. "Still, I''d say Rex did most of the heavy lifting. I mean, fighting a Tier 4 beast head-on? That''s a little different than ying tag with flying fish, don''t you think?"


    The pilots and engineers stifled nervousughter, unsure whether to side with Carlos or their captain. The red leader''s face flushed slightly, but he forced a grin.


    "Well," the red leader said, his voice rising slightly as he tried to regain control of the conversation, "not everyone can be a lone wolf, running around and fighting monsters. Some of us have responsibilities, like leading a squadron and keeping everyone alive. That''s the real challenge."


    Carlos raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Responsibilities, huh? Is that what you call telling war stories and drinking with your fan club?"


    A ripple ofughter spread through the group at Carlos''s jab, and the red leader''s grin turned into a tight smile. "Well, we all have our ways of unwinding," he said, his tone a little sharper now. "But tell me, Carlos, what exactly do you do in Rex''s crew? Or are you just here to hang around and make jokes?"


    Carlos shrugged, his tone as casual as ever. "Oh, you know. I dabble in this and that. Fix things. Build things. Keep people alive. Just a few minor responsibilities." He nced at the red leader with a sly grin. "And sometimes, I drop by to keep the ACE of the fleet from floating away on his own ego."


    The group erupted intoughter at that, and the red leader''s face flushed redder than his fighter. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, one of the engineers stepped in.


    "Come on, Captain, don''t take it so seriously!" The engineer said, patting him on the back. "We all know you''re the best!"@@novelbin@@


    Carlos chuckled, taking a seat nearby and grabbing a drink from the table. "Rx, Captain," he said, raising his ss in a mock toast. "I''m just messing with you. You did good out there, real good. But maybe save some of the bragging for after we''ve all had a chance to catch our breath, huh?"


    The red leader hesitated for a moment before letting out a grudging chuckle. "Fair enough," he said, though his tone was still a bit stiff.


    As the group returned to their drinks and banter, Carlos leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smirk on his face. He wasn''t sure why, but there was something oddly entertaining about keeping people like the red leader in check.


    It was the little things that made these moments bearable while the bigger battles loomed on the horizon.


    After a few minutes of drinking, Carlos decided to break theughter-filled lull. He leaned back in his chair, swirling his drinkzily before taking a sip. "So," he began, smirking slightly, "what do you guys do around here to pass the time? Anything fun, or is it all just sitting around and trying to look important?"


    The red leader let out a loud groan, mming his ss down onto the table. "Fun? Hell, there''s nothing fun to do here! And don''t even start about girls!" he eximed. "They''ve got their own private quarters! They don''t even breathe the same air as us anymore!"


    Carlos raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden outburst.


    "Yeah, I remember when that happened," one of the younger engineers chimed in, nodding solemnly. "Something about some pilots almost... you know, trying to rape one of the female engineers."


    Carlos''s smirk vanished, reced with a grim expression. "That''s... messed up," he muttered.


    "Oh, now that you mention it, I remember hearing about that," the red leader added, scratching the back of his head ufortably.


    "They say the saint saved her before anything could happen. And after that, one of the saintess''s bodyguards¡ª" He winced and shifted awkwardly in his seat. "Well, uh... let''s just say the guy impaled those bastards. Through the ass. Killed them right then and there."


    Carlos blinked. "Through the...?" He trailed off, his lips twitching as he imagined the red leader''s difort wasn''t entirely hypothetical.


    One of the engineers let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. "And now, because of that, we''re stuck in a permanent sausage party. It''s just dudes, dudes, and more dudes! There are even rumors going around that some guys here have decided to, you know. He nced around and lowered his voice. "Switch sides."


    The red leader spat out his drink,ughing so hard he nearly fell out of his chair. Carlos, on the other hand, leaned back and let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Don''t worry about it," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "It''s the same everywhere. Even I''m surrounded by nothing but sausages back on my ship."


    The red leader perked up at that, his face lighting up. "Ohhh, old man! So you''re one of us!" He threw his arm around Carlos''s neck, pulling him into a dramatic hug as fake tears welled up in his eyes. "The pain! The loneliness! Truly, we''re all suffering in this cruel, sausage-filled universe!"


    Carlosughed, though hisugh was tinged with the bitter truth of his own words. "Yep," he said with mock resignation, "the universe has been really unfair to us."


    But before the group could dive deeper into their shared misery, a soft, feminine voice cut through the air like a melody.


    "Hello, gentlemen. May I borrow him for a while?"


    The voice frozen everyone in ce. It wasn''t just the tone; it was the sheer femininity behind it, a sound none of them had heard directed at them in far too long. All heads turned toward the source of the voice.


    Standing in the entrance to the hangar bay was a stunningly beautiful woman. She had a graceful, feminine charm that made her look both elegant and approachable, with long golden hair that shimmered under the hangar lights.


    Her alluring, well-developed figure seemed to defy the standard military uniforms, and atop her head were a pair of soft, cat-like ears that twitched ever so slightly.


    Her mere presence was like a critical hit to the brains of every single man in the room. Pilots, engineers, and mechanics alike stared at her in stunned silence, their mouths slightly agape.


    "O-O-Of course, ma''am!" The red leader stammered, immediately releasing his hold on Carlos''s neck and stepping back like a guilty child caught red-handed. "You can take this... uh, traitor with you!"


    Carlos blinked, ncing between the red leader and the woman before turning to her with a raised eyebrow. "Traitor?"


    The woman smiled gently, tilting her head slightly to the side. "Mmm?" she hummed, her cat-like ears twitching as she gave an expression so cute yet mature that it practically short-circuited the younger engineers.


    The red leader and the rest of the men, however, were too busy trying to collect their thoughts to respond. They had been renderedpletely speechless, their brains in overdrive trying to process the sheer presence of the woman before them.


    Carlos, however, simply squinted at her through his drunken haze. He staggered to his feet, wobbling slightly as he pointed a finger at her. "Oh? Sharon!" he eximed, his words slightly slurred. "Fancy meeting you here!"


    Sharon raised an eyebrow, a yful smile tugging at her lips.


    Carlos stumbled a step closer, nearly tripping over his own feet. "Since when did you have a twin? Are twins a thing now? Is that, like,mon or something?"


    He attempted another step but failed miserably, his drunken state causing him to sway dangerously. Sharon stepped forward, steadying him with a single hand on his shoulder.


    "Goodness," she said with a slight chuckle, her voice carrying a yful warmth. "You''re even drunker than I thought."


    Carlos waved her off weakly. "I''m fine, I''m fine," he mumbled, though his swaying said otherwise.


    Behind them, the red leader and his group could only watch in stunned silence, their brains still rebooting from the impact of Sharon''s presence. One of the younger engineers finally whispered, "She''s... real, right? Like, not a hallucination?"

 Chapter 177 Sharon secret. (2) [R17]

    The red leader smacked him on the back of the head, though his own face was still bright red. "Shut up!" he hissed, though his gaze hadn''t left Sharon for even a second.


    Meanwhile, Sharon turned back toward the group, her golden hair flowing like liquid sunlight as she addressed them onest time. "Thank you for letting me borrow him," she said sweetly, shing a polite smile that sent the younger engineers into cardiac arrest.


    Then, with one arm wrapped around Carlos to steady him, she began leading him toward the exit. "Let''s get you some fresh air, Carlos," she said softly, her voice like a balm to his spinning head.


    "Sure thing, Sharon twin," Carlos muttered, his words barely coherent.


    Behind them, the hangar bay erupted into murmurs and whispers. The legend of the "golden goddess" would no doubt spread far and wide among the crew by morning.


    As Sharon and Carlos stumbled down the corridor toward the elevator, Sharon nced at the tipsy man leaning heavily on her for support. Despite her strength, she let out a yful huff. "Geez, Carlos, you''re too heavy!" she pouted, trying her best to keep him upright.


    "Who are you calling fat?" Carlos slurred, his words thick with drunkenness. Hezily waved his free arm, nearly losing his bnce in the process. "It''s not fat; it''s... it''s cybeics! I''ve lost so many limbs I can''t even count them anymore! Look!"


    To prove his point, Carlos raised his left arm and shifted it into its minigun form with a series of metallic clicks and whirrs. The barrels spun briefly before locking in ce, a faint hum of energy radiating from the cybeic imnt.@@novelbin@@


    Sharon''s green eyes widened slightly as she looked at the weaponized arm, impressed despite herself. "Huh," she mused, tilting her head curiously. "That''s actually kind of cool. Maybe I should cut my arm off and get a cybeic imnt too. What do you think?"


    The moment the words left her mouth, Carlos stopped dead in his tracks. His drunken haze seemed to clear just enough for his face to twist into a mix of horror and disbelief. Without warning, he turned to Sharon, pushing her gently yet firmly against the wall.


    "Don''t even think about it," he said, his voice low and serious. His right hand reached up, grabbing hers and raising it to eye level as if to inspect it.


    Sharon blinked, stunned by the sudden shift in his tone and demeanor. "C-Carlos?"


    His eyes locked onto hers, no longer clouded by alcohol but instead burning with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "You''re perfect just the way you are," Carlos said firmly, his voice steady. "It''d be a crime against humanity if your perfect, natural beauty was ever damaged. Do you understand?"


    Before she could respond, Carlos brought her hand to his lips. He pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to her knuckles before giving her hand a yful nip, his sharp brown eyes still locked onto hers.


    Sharon froze, her cat ears twitching and then drooping as her face flushed a deep red. She stared at himpletely, at a loss for words. No one had ever treated her like this before, not as an object of status, not as a tool for power or influence, but as a woman. A desirable woman.


    For the first time in her life, Sharon felt vulnerable, but in a way that didn''t scare her. She felt a warm flutter in her chest, an unfamiliar sensation that made her heart race. Carlos''s gaze was unrelenting, filled with a raw and honest desire that left her unable to think, let alone speak.


    Carlos, noticing her reaction, smirked slightly. Without saying another word, he grabbed her hand and gently but firmly pulled her toward the elevator. Sharon, still confused and unsure of what was happening, followed him silently. Continue your adventure with empire


    The elevator ride was filled with a heavy, charged silence. Neither of them spoke, the air between them thick with unspoken emotions. Sharon''s face remained flushed as she stole asional nces at Carlos, who stood beside her with a calm, almost predatory confidence.


    When the elevator doors finally opened, Carlos wasted no time. He stepped out quickly, still holding Sharon''s hand as he led her down the hallway to his assigned dorm.


    Once inside, the door slid shut behind them with a soft hiss. Carlos let go of her hand and moved toward the small table in the corner of the room, but Sharon stayed by the entrance.


    She stood there awkwardly, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her uniform as her cat ears drooped slightly. Her usually confident demeanor had vanished, reced by a shy, almost timid expression.


    Her green eyes darted around the room before finally settling on Carlos, who was now rummaging through a small storagepartment. "C-Carlos?" she stammered, her voice soft and uncertain.


    Carlos turned to face her, leaning casually against the table as he looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah?" he said, his voice still carrying that rxed, teasing tone.


    Sharon hesitated, her cheeks growing even redder. She looked down at her hands, ying with her fingers nervously. Her tail swayed slightly behind her, betraying her conflicted emotions. "I... I..."


    Carlos''s smirk softened into a gentle smile as he straightened up and took a step toward her. "What is it, Sharon?" he asked, his voice kind but firm.


    "I..." Sharon''s cat ears twitched as she nced up at him, her green eyes shimmering with an unfamiliar vulnerability. "I don''t... understand what''s happening."


    Carlos stopped a few steps away from her, tilting his head slightly as he crossed his arms. "What do you mean?"


    Sharon swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "No one''s ever treated me like this before... not like you just did."


    Carlos''s expression softened even further, and he let out a small chuckle. "Well," he said, scratching the back of his head, "maybe it''s because no one else sees you the way I do."


    Sharon''s eyes widened slightly, and her heart skipped another beat.


    Carlos took onest step forward, gently cing a hand on her shoulder. "You''re not just some fancy daughter of a bigshot, Sharon," he said, his voice steady and sincere. "You''re... well, you. Beautiful, strong, and someone worth treating with respect."


    Sharon felt her knees weaken slightly, and her tail swished nervously behind her. She didn''t know what to say and didn''t even know if she could say anything. For the first time in her life, she felt seen. Not as someone''s daughter or a prize to be won, but as herself.


    "Carlos..." she whispered, her voice trembling.


    Carlos gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before stepping back slightly, giving her some space. "Hey," he said with a small smile. "Rx. You''re safe here, alright?"


    Sharon nodded slowly, her heart still racing as she looked up at him. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice barely audible.


    Carlos chuckled again, shaking his head as he moved toward the small couch in the corner. "No need to thank me," he said, flopping down onto the couch with a sigh. "Just... don''t go cutting off any limbs for cybeic imnts, okay? I wasn''t kidding about that."


    Sharon let out a softugh, her tension easing slightly as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "Alright," she said, her voice carrying a hint of her usual confidence. "I''ll think about it."


    The room fell into afortable silence, the earlier tension reced by a quiet understanding. For the first time in a long time, Sharon felt at ease, and she couldn''t help but wonder if Carlos felt the same.


    Sharon sat on the edge of the bed, her golden hair framing her flushed face as she gazed at Carlos. He was sitting on the small couch, his brown eyes locked on hers.


    His gaze was unyielding, filled with a raw intensity that made her breath hitch. She tried to look away but found herself unable to resist the maic pull of his eyes.


    As her heart raced, she slowly reached for the zipper of her jacket, sliding it down with trembling fingers. The motion revealed the thin fabric of her T-shirt, which clung to her curves and entuated her ample chest even more.


    Carlos''s gaze darkened slightly, and she could see the shift in his demeanor. He stood up, moving toward her with deliberate, measured steps until he was standing just a few centimeters away.


    Sharon''s hands moved instinctively, unbuttoning Carlos''s pants with quiet determination. This time, there was no drunken haze, no confusion... just mutual understanding and desire. They both knew exactly what was about to happen, and neither had any intention of stopping it.


    For the rest of the night, the small metallic room became their world. The faint hum of the ship''s engines faded into the background as the two surrendered fully to each other.


    What happened between them was theirs alone, a private moment shared only by a man and a woman who, for that night, chose to lose themselves in one another.


    Hourster, Carlosy sprawled on the bed, gasping for breath as though he had just run a marathon. Sharon rested on his arm, her golden hair in wild disarray, as if a storm had passed through the room.


    Her cheeks were still flushed, and her eyes sparkled with a newfound light. She gazed at him with a small, content smile on her lips.


    "That was... wow," Sharon said softly, her voiceced with exhaustion and satisfaction.


    Carlos let out a low chuckle, turning his head to meet her gaze. "Heh, I know. I''m amazing, right?" he said with a cocky grin. "I felt like I was a youngd back in my teens again."


    Sharon giggled at his remark, the sound light and musical. "You''re incorrigible," she said, yfully nudging his side.


    "Hey, I just call it like it is," Carlos replied, still grinning.

 Chapter 179 Sharon secret. (4)

    Her voice trailed off, but Carlos could see the unease in her eyes. "Why what?" he asked, his tone firm but patient.


    Sharon took a deep breath, steadying herself before speaking again. "That''s probably why he sent me on that cruise in the first ce. It wasn''t just to keep me out of his sight; it was to get rid of me permanently."


    Carlos''s eyes widened slightly; his expression darkened as her words sank in. "Are you saying..."


    Sharon nodded slowly, her voice trembling. "Yes. I think he orchestrated the attack. The explosion, the destruction of the cruiser... it wasn''t an ident. It wasn''t just bad luck. I think it was him. He wanted me dead, Carlos."


    The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the faint hum of the ship''s systems. Carlos leaned back slightly, his mind racing as he processed what she had just told him.


    "And you''re only telling me this now?" He asked after a moment, his tone calm but carrying an edge of frustration.


    Sharon winced, her ears drooping further. "I didn''t know for sure until recently," she admitted. "I only started piecing it together after everything that happened. And..." She hesitated, her green eyes meeting his again.


    "I was scared. Scared of what it would mean if I was right. And scared of how you''d react."


    Carlos let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his bald head as he tried to calm himself. "Damn it, Sharon," he muttered. "This isn''t just a family squabble or a corporate spat. If the CEO of Nexum Dynamics is willing to kill his own wife, that''s... That''s not something we can ignore."


    "I know," Sharon said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But what can I do, Carlos? I can''t go back to him. He''ll kill me if I do. And if I stay here... I''ll just put you in danger too."


    Carlos frowned, his eyes narrowing as he stared at her. "Sharon," he said firmly, his voice steady. "I''m already in danger just being who I am. Rex and I have been fighting against Nexum Dynamics for years. This isn''t anything new for me. But if what you''re saying is true... then we have a chance to do something about it."@@novelbin@@


    Sharon blinked, her eyes widening slightly. "What do you mean?"


    Carlos smirked faintly, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes. "Think about it. You''re not just some random person to the CEO; you''re his wife. You''ve got information, connections, and leverage that no one else has. If we y this right, we can hit him where it really hurts."


    Sharon stared at him, her mind racing as his words sank in. For the first time, she felt a flicker of hope... hope that she could do something about her situation instead of just running away.


    "You really think we can?" she asked hesitantly, her voiceced with both doubt and curiosity.


    Carlos grinned, his confidence contagious. "Oh, I know we can. But we''ll have to be smart about it. And more importantly..." He reached out, cupping her cheek gently. "You''ll have to trust me."


    Sharon felt her heart skip a beat at his touch, her cheeks flushing slightly. She ced her hand over his, leaning into his warmth. "I do," she said softly, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling within her. "I trust you, Carlos."


    "Good," he said, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Then we''ve got work to do."


    Onboard the Cleopatra, themand bridge hummed with quiet activity, though itcked its usualmanding presence. With Cleo and Rex in their sleeping phase, the responsibility for managing the ship fell entirely to the twins.


    While the crew carried out their duties with military precision, the atmosphere on the bridge was far from formal.


    Nyra was sprawled out on themanding seat, lying upside down with her head hanging off the edge and her legs propped up in the air. She twirled a strand of her silver hair idly, looking as though she hadn''t a care in the world.


    "Say, sis... what are we supposed to do while we wait for them to wake up?" She askedzily, her crimson eyes staring at the ceiling.


    Lyra stood nearby, diligently monitoring the ship''s systems on a holographic disy. She let out a long, defeated sigh, ncing at her carefree sister. "Sis... you didn''t read the notification again, did you?"


    Nyra grinned, flipping herself halfway around to dangle her hands off the sides of the seat. "It''s not like I don''t want to read them," she said with exaggerated sweetness.


    "I just love hearing my little, adorable twin read to me with her beautiful voice." She made a show of extending her hands toward Lyra and blowing dramatic kisses in her direction.


    Lyra rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "If you love my ''cute voice'' so much, maybe you should try reading for yourself, since we''re twins!" She shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "The only difference between us is that I''m smarter."


    With a huff, Lyra tossed a holographic disy toward Nyra''s face. It floated in front of her, showing the detailed orders Cleo had left them.


    "Bu bu bu! You''re such a killjoy!" Nyra whined, waving her hands dramatically before reluctantly pulling the screen closer to read it. Her crimson eyes scanned the orders, her pout slowly fading into mild curiosity.


    After a moment, she closed the holographic screen and stretched her arms over her head. "Hmm, so Master wants us to attack Nexum Dynamics'' defensive base on Nakor and grab the son of Carlos while we''re at it... Then deliver him to the New Human Empire?"


    Read exclusive chapters at empire


    "Yup," Lyra replied casually, sipping from a blood pack with a satisfied look on her face. "Those are the orders. Oh, and she mentioned leaving us a ''gift'' in the Cleopatra''s armory."


    Nyra''s gaze shifted to her sister, her nose crinkling slightly. "Sis, if you keep drinking that low-quality blood, your mouth is going to stinkter, you know?"


    "Hmph! What would you know?" Lyra shot back, holding up the blood pack as if to defend her choice. "I drink these because Rex''s blood is too precious! I save it for when I can savor it properly, unlike you, who gulps it down the moment you get a new supply."


    Nyra let out a melodicugh, stepping off themand chair in one fluid motion and vanishing in a blur. She reappeared behind Lyra in the blink of an eye, her crimson eyes glinting mischievously.


    "Well, well," Nyra said yfully, wrapping her arms around Lyra''s waist from behind. "That''s what my little sister says, but do you think I haven''t noticed what you do when you''re drinking his blood?"


    Lyra froze, her face turning a brilliant shade of red. "W-w-what are you talking about!? I don''t do anything!" She stammered, clearly flustered.


    Nyra''s grin widened, and she began lightly running her fingers over Lyra''s abdomen, teasing her mercilessly. "Ohhh, nothing, huh? Should I remind you of those little sighs, slight moans and dreamy looks you get when¡ª"


    "Stop it!" Lyra yelled, grabbing Nyra''s arms in a panic. In a sudden burst of strength, she tossed Nyra toward the air with all her might, her silver hair flying wildly around her.


    Nyra, however, was just as quick. She twisted in mid-air, freeing one of her hands and managing tond a swift, yful spank on Lyra''s butt before being flung across the bridge.


    "Kya!" Lyra squeaked, her voice high and girlish as she jumped slightly, clutching her butt with an embarrassed and teary-eyed expression. She turned toward Nyra, ring daggers at her mischievous twin. "Y-you... you little¡ª!"


    Nyra burst outughing, clutching her stomach as she floated mid-air, supported by her vampiric agility. "Hahaha! Oh,e on, Lyra, you''re so cute when you''re flustered!"


    Lyra stomped her foot, her cheeks still flushed. "You''re impossible, Nyra!"


    "And yet, you love me," Nyra teased, winking as shended gracefully back on the floor. "Now, let''s go check out that ''gift'' Master left us in the armory. If it''s as good as I think it is, we''re going to have some fun on Nakor."


    Lyra huffed, crossing her arms but reluctantly following Nyra toward the exit. "Fine," she muttered, her butt irritably behind her. "But don''t think I''m letting you off the hook for that stunt!"


    Nyra giggled, throwing an arm around Lyra''s shoulders. "Aww, don''t be mad, sis! Think of it this way, at least one of us knows how to have fun."


    As the twins bickered and teased each other, the rest of the crew on the bridge wisely kept their heads down, pretending not to notice the chaos. After all, the twins were not just theirmanders; they were forces of nature, and no one dared to get between them.


    After several minutes of walking through the Cleopatra''s sleek corridors, the twins finally arrived at the armory, a ce that was, unsurprisingly, heavily guarded.


    The entrance was nked by hulking automated sentry guns, their turrets scanning the area methodically. Inside the armory, the atmosphere was tense and silent, save for the faint hum of security systems.


    Among the more intimidating security measures was a Mauler Juggernaut. Its massive frame stood motionless in standby mode, but the sheer presence of the machine radiated a sense of danger. On the ceiling, small white drone-like birds floated through the air, acting as mobile security cameras.


    The security system was advanced and lethal yet elegant. If even one of those seemingly harmless birds spotted an unregistered intruder, a silent rm would immediately activate the Mauler Juggernaut. The result? Absolute chaos.

 Chapter 180 The Blood legion.

    The twins strode confidently into the armory, their steps unhurried as if they were walking into a park instead of one of the most secure locations on the ship. One of the white birds immediately floated down toward them, its beady, mechanical eyes scanning them.


    After a few seconds, it drifted over to Lyra andnded on her head, perchingfortably like a smug little hat.


    Nyra burst outughing the moment she saw the bird. "Heh, looks like they know who the real criminal is here," she teased, pointing at the bird sitting on Lyra''s silver hair.


    Lyra rolled her eyes, her arms crossed as she huffed in annoyance. "Tsk, tsk, tsk," she said, shaking her finger in Nyra''s face. "You''ve got it all wrong, my dearest sister. Clearly, the bird knows you''re the criminal, and it''s sitting on my head to keep an eye on you."


    Nyra grinned at her sister, leaning in dramatically. "You know what? That actually makes sense," she said, cing a hand over her heart in mock solemnity. "What can I say? I''m just a bad girl." She struck an overly theatrical pose, her crimson eyes gleaming mischievously.@@novelbin@@


    Lyra sighed, her expression caught between exasperation and amusement. "Yes, yes, you''re the epitome of rebellion. Now let''s hurry; I can''t wait to see what Master left for us," she said while grabbing Nyra''s arm and pulling her further into the armory.


    Inside the armory, rows upon rows of advanced weaponry and gear gleamed under the bright artificial lights. Everything was meticulously organized, from sma rifles to explosive charges, melee weapons, and high-tech suits of armor.


    But at the center of the room, on a raised tform, was a sealed crate marked with Cleo''s signature holographic seal.


    The twins approached the crate, their excitement evident. Nyra rubbed her hands together eagerly. "Ooooh, what do you think it is? A new set of weapons? Maybe some cool armor?"


    Lyra crouched in front of the crate while examining the seal. "Only one way to find out," she said, swiping her finger across the holographic interface. The seal glowed for a moment before dissipating with a soft hum.


    The crate hissed as it unlocked, the lid slowly sliding open to reveal its contents. Inside were two sleek, customized suits ofbat armor, each designed with a perfect bnce of beauty and lethality.


    The armor was ck with crimson ents, adorned with faintly glowing runes that pulsed rhythmically like a heartbeat. Alongside the suits were matching weapons: two scythe-like energy des for Nyra and a set of dual sma pistols for Lyra.


    Nyra''s jaw dropped, her eyes practically sparkling as she reached out to touch the armor. "Ohhh, look at this! It''s beautiful!" she eximed, lifting one of the scythes with ease. The de extended with a crackle of energy, its edges glowing a menacing red.


    Lyra, on the other hand, carefully picked up one of the sma pistols, testing its weight in her hand. "This is... incredible," she said softly, her usually calm demeanor reced with genuine awe. "Master really went all out this time."


    Nyra twirled the scythe experimentally, grinning as it hummed with deadly precision. "I''m in love," she dered dramatically. "This is so me."


    Lyra smirked before inspecting the armor more closely. "It''s more than just stylish," she noted. "Look at these runes, they''re not just for show. They''re integrated with the armor''s energy field. This is high-level tech, even for Cleo standards."


    Nyra nced at the runs, her grin widening. "Hah! Figures Master would give us something this badass. She knows we''re her favorites."


    "Don''t let the others hear you say that," Lyra quipped, though her tone was light.


    The twins quickly suited up; their movements synchronized as they donned their new gear. The armor fit perfectly, molding to their bodies like a second skin. The moment it activated, they felt a surge of power, faster reflexes, enhanced strength, and a heightened sense of awareness.


    Nyra struck a pose in her new armor, her scythes crossed in front of her. "How do I look?" she asked with a yful grin.


    Lyra rolled her eyes, adjusting her sma pistols on their holsters. "Like a show-off," she said, though there was a small smile on her lips.


    As the twins admired their new gear, the Mauler Juggernaut''s sensors briefly flickered, as if acknowledging the twins presence. One of the white birds chirped mechanically, its gaze fixed on them for a moment before resuming its patrol.


    "So, Nakor, huh?" Nyra said while spinning one of her scythes idly. "It''s been a while since we''ve had a good mission. I hope those Nexum Dynamics defenses put up a decent fight, since I''d hate for this new gear to go to waste."


    Lyra smirked, holstering her pistols. "Don''t get cocky, sis. If Master left us this, then she''s expecting something big. Let''s not disappoint her."


    Nyra nodded, her grin widening. "Let''s show them what the twins can do." Enjoy new stories from empire


    With that, the two sisters strode out of the armory, their new armor gleaming under the lights as they prepared for the mission ahead.


    On the distant world of Nakor, Erik, the son of Carlos, was attending one of the prestigious military colleges.


    Despite the exorbitant tuition costs, Carlos''s monthly pay, hovering near two million credits, had allowed him to secure a spot for his son in the institution. It was an opportunity that most humans could only dream of.


    But prestige didn''t protect Erik from the harsh realities of the gxy. Being human andcking noble lineage meant that to most of the other students, Erik was little more than a ve, an insult to the seats they upied.


    And in their eyes, a ve daring to walk among them as an equal was something they simply couldn''t tolerate.


    "Haha! What? That''s all you''ve got?" One of the students sneered, his voice dripping with mockery as he threw a brutal punch into Erik''s face. The impact sent Erik sprawling onto the ground, blood trickling from his nose.


    The surrounding group of students burst intoughter, their cruel voices echoing through the courtyard.


    "Hahaha, nice hit, man," another student jeered, holding up a holo-camera to record the scene. "This is exactly how we should treat these ves; put them back in their ce!"


    "Tsk, it''s always the same with this kind of trash," a girl said, sitting perched on another student''sp with an air of entitled superiority.


    She twisted a strand of her golden hair, smirking. "Their moms were just blessed with good asses to be bred, and then they pop out this scum who thinks they can walk among us like they''re equals. It''s pathetic."


    Erik''s bloodied face twitched at her words. Hearing someone speak so disrespectfully about his mother, about the family he held so dear made his body tremble with suppressed rage. His fists clenched against the dirty ground, and he slowly tried to push himself back to his feet.


    "Take it back," Erik muttered, his voice barely audible but filled with quiet defiance.


    The girl''s cruel smirk widened as she nced at him. "Oh? I think the little ve is trying to say something," she mocked him, her tone dripping with fake curiosity.


    Another student chuckled darkly, leaning closer to Erik. "Oh really? What was that, ve? Let me get closer so I can hear it." He crouched down, his face inches from Erik''s. "What did you say, huh? Speak up. Or maybe my trantor doesn''t understand venguage."


    Erik''s trembling intensified, and he raised his voice, louder this time. "I SAID TAKE IT BACK!"


    His sudden shout startled the crowd momentarily, but only for a second. The student''s expression twisted into one of anger and amusement.


    "Oh, so the ve thinks he can yell at me?" he growled. Without hesitation, he threw another punch, this one even harder than the first. Erik''s head snapped back, and he copsed onto the ground again, his cheekbone throbbing with pain.


    "Bad ve," the student sneered, kicking Erik in the ribs for good measure. Erik coughed as the air was knocked out of him, but he didn''t cry out. The group around him erupted intoughter once more, their cruelty unrelenting.


    "This little piece of trash actually thinks he can talk back to someone like me? Can you guys believe it?" The student mocked Erik, spreading his arms theatrically as if putting on a show for the audience.


    "Hahaha, I know, right?" Another female studentughed, leaning against a nearby pir.


    "Little Erik here really takes after his dad. Don''t you think so, cutie?"


    The mockingughter froze mid-air as a sudden voice, yful yet dripping with an edge of menace, cut through the air.


    "Don''t you think so, cutie?" The voice repeated itself,ing from the staircase of the school building.


    All heads turned toward the source of the voice, and what they saw immediately silenced them.


    Standing at the top of the stairs were two figures, both undeniably striking and otherworldly in their presence.


    The first, a girl with flowing silver hair and glowing crimson eyes, leaned casually against the railing, her arms crossed as she surveyed the scene below. Her expression was yful, but there was a dangerous gleam in her eyes.


    Beside her stood an identical figure, her silver hair cascading down her back as she smirked at the group of students. She twirled a small, glowing knife between her fingers with casual ease, her crimson eyes locked onto the scene with unsettling focus.


    Their presence alone made the air grow heavier, and the students who had beenughing seconds ago now found themselves frozen, unsure of what to say or do.


    Nyra tilted her head, her smirk widening as her glowing eyes scanned the bullies. "Well, well," she said with her tone light and teasing. "Seems like you all were having fun. But now you''ve gone and ruined our day. Tsk, tsk. Isn''t that right, Lyra?"

 Chapter 181 The blood legion. (2)

    "Who are you bitches?!" the pompous student snarled, his arrogance undeterred even by the presence of the twins. "How dare you look down on a noble like me!? Come down from there so I can y with you!" His sneer was as full of entitlement as his words, earning an unimpressed nce from Nyra.


    Nyra raised her hand and peered at him through her fingers as though inspecting something minuscule. "Mmm, I don''t know," she said, her voice yful and dripping with mockery. "You''re not my type, you know? Compared to the one I like, you''re just... a small ant."


    The student let out an exaggerated sigh, crossing his arms as if her words hadn''t phased him. "Tsk. Another blind bitch who doesn''t know greatness when she sees it," he said, his chest puffed out with misced confidence.


    Nyra was about to respond, but the boy, emboldened by his own delusions, smirked and added, "Pretty sure the one you like is just a tra¨D"


    Before he could finish his sentence, the world spun, and the next thing he knew, he was on the ground. His mouth was forced wide open, a gun shoved deep inside it. His eyes bulged with terror as he looked up to see Lyra perched on top of him, her glowing crimson eyes burning with fury.


    The atmosphere shifted in an instant. The yful banter between the twins was gone, reced by an oppressive, almost suffocating intensity. Lyra pressed the barrel of the gun further into his mouth, making him gag as her voice came out low and icy.


    "Don''t you darepare yourself to my master again," she growled, her tone dripping with venom. "If it weren''t for the fact that we don''t want to alert the guards, I would''ve blown your head off the moment you opened that filthy mouth of yours."


    The other students froze, their arrogance vanishing in the face of the silver-haired girl''s wrath. The student beneath Lyra whimpered, his eyes filled with despair as he realized just how close he was to death.


    Nyra, meanwhile, descended the stairs in a blur, pping her hands in mock apuse as she approached. "Wow, sis! I''ve got to say, you really have it in you!" she said with a wide grin, her tone exaggeratedly dramatic. "I was starting to wonder if you were really my twin or not! Bravo, bravo!"


    Lyra blinked, her sister''s words breaking through the fog of her anger. Her glowing eyes dimmed slightly, and she looked down, realizing where she was and what she was doing. "W-what? When? Who? Why?!" she stammered, her face flushing as she quickly tried to regain herposure.


    She scrambled to her feet, grabbing the student by his head and tossing him like a sack of garbage toward his friends. The impact sent them tumbling backward in a heap, groaning in pain.


    "P-pervert!" Lyra snapped, her cheeks still red. "What were you doing under me?! Get out of here!"


    Nyra couldn''t hold back herughter. "Oh, now you''ve really done it, sis," she said, walking over to one of the unconscious students and poking his limp body with her foot. "You''re way more dangerous than I am."


    Lyra whipped around, flustered and defensive. "No, no! It wasn''t me! I don''t know what happened!" she said while her crimson eyes darted around nervously. "It''s his fault! Who told him to badmouth Rex?! He deserved it!"


    Nyra smiled knowingly, clearly enjoying her sister''s embarrassment.


    Meanwhile, Erik, who had finally managed to get to his feet, stood a few steps away, staring at the twins in shock. He had seen a lot of things in his time at this cruel academy, but nothing like this.


    "W-who are you guys?" Erik asked hesitantly, his voice filled with both confusion and awe.


    Nyra pped her hands together, turning her attention back to Erik with a bright smile. "Ah! Little Erik!" she said cheerfully, as if they hadn''t just turned the courtyard into a battlefield.


    "I almost forgot about you, but it wasn''t my fault; it was all my dumb sister''s fault for causing such a mess." She pointed at Lyra, who groaned and covered her face with her hands.


    "Are you assassins?" Erik asked, taking a cautious step back. "Who sent you? Even if you''re wearing our school uniforms, I can tell you''re not from here."


    Nyra nced down at the pristine academy uniform she was wearing, then back at Erik. "Oh? You mean these?" she said, plucking at the fabric. "Yeah, that was my little sister''s idea. Something about going ''undetected.''"


    She gestured dramatically to the chaos around them. "But considering what she just did, I''d say it didn''t work too well."


    Lyra sighed heavily, finally lowering her hands. "Don''t worry," she said, her tone calm and reassuring. "We''re not assassins."


    "Actually, we are assassins," Nyra chimed in with a mischievous grin, peeking out from behind her sister.


    Lyra spun around, ring at her twin. "Sis, please shut up! You''re not helping!"


    "What? I''m just saying the truth!" Nyra said innocently, throwing her arms in the air. Then, with mock panic, she cried out, "Help! They''re trying to silence me! Where''s the police?! I demand justice!"


    Lyra let out a groan of frustration, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "I give up," she muttered.


    Nyra giggled, clearly enjoying herself, before turning back to Erik with a yful wink.


    Lyra took a deep breath, stepping forward to address Erik directly. "Our master sent us to fetch you," she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We''re here to take you to the New Human Empire gship, where your father is waiting for you."


    Erik blinked, stunned by her words. "My... dad?"


    "Yup!" Nyra chimed in, popping up beside Lyra with a grin. "So, are youing with us, or do we have to cause more trouble to convince you?"


    Erik hesitated for a moment, ncing at the unconscious students scattered around the courtyard. Then he looked back at the twins, their crimson eyes glowing faintly in the sunlight.


    "Alright," he said finally, his voice steady. "I''lle with you."


    Nyra pped her hands together again, beaming. "Great! Let''s get out of here before the guards show up. I''d hate to have to ''exin'' this mess."


    With that, the twins nked Erik and began leading him away from the scene, leaving the other students to pick themselves up and wonder what kind of storm they had just unleashed.


    "So, where are we going now?" Erik asked as he walked a few steps behind the twins, still trying to process the whirlwind of chaos that had just unfolded.


    "Well, right now we''re heading to the parking lot," Lyra replied without looking back, her tone calm and focused. "From there, we''ll take our car and drive you outside the city. Once we''re there, another... team will take care of you."


    "Another team?" Erik raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.


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    "Yup," Nyra said with a grin, ncing over her shoulder. "Another team, totally trustworthy and everything. You''ll love them."


    Erik wasn''t convinced, but before he could ask any follow-up questions, Nyra suddenly broke into a sprint. "I''m driving this time!" she shouted as she dashed toward the parking lot.


    When Erik and Lyra caught up, they found Nyra standing proudly beside a sleek, futuristic supercar that looked like it belonged in the dreams of every gearhead in the gxy.@@novelbin@@


    Its sharp, aerodynamic design gleamed under the sunlight, and its smooth ck-and-red finish gave it an aura of power and elegance. Erik had never seen anything like it.


    "Wow," he breathed, his eyes wide as he admired the car. "Is this... is this yours?"


    "Yep, it is!" Nyra said, puffing out her chest proudly. "It was a gift from Rex for our 18th birthday. Isn''t he the best?" She let out an exaggerated sigh, cing a hand dramatically over her heart.


    "Sadly, we don''t get to use it much since we''re always running around the gxy on missions. Life is cruel for poor little us!" She even pretended to wipe away a fake tear for added effect.


    Lyra rolled her eyes. "Anyway," she said, steering Erik toward the backseat, "get in. We need to leave before more problems find us."


    Erik hesitated for a moment before climbing into the back of the car. As he settled into the plush seats, he nced around, marveling at the interior. Everything about the car was immacte, from the glowing holographic dashboard to the luxurious leather upholstery.


    "This is the first time I''ve seen a supercar with four doors," Erik said, running his hand along the armrest.


    "Well, that''s because this isn''t just any supercar," Nyra replied, sliding into the driver''s seat with a smirk. "It was custom-built by our master''s personal assembly factory. This beauty is one of a kind, there''s nothing else like it in the entire gxy."


    "Whoa," Erik said while leaning forward slightly. "How fast can it g¡ª"


    "Don''t ask that!" Lyra''s voice cut through the air like a whip, startling Erik before he could finish his question. She was already strapping herself into the passenger seat, her expression filled with the quiet dread of someone who knew exactly what was about to happen.


    But it was toote. The damage had been done.


    Nyra''s crimson eyes gleamed with excitement, and a mischievous grin spread across her face. "Huhu, finally! Someone who knows how to ask the right questions!" she said while flipping a few switches on the dashboard. Erik noticed the car''s internal systemsing to life with a low, menacing hum.


    "Uh, wait¡ª" Erik began, but Nyra wasn''t listening.


    "The best way to answer that question," Nyra said, gripping the steering wheel, "is to show you!"


    With that, she mmed her foot on the gas pedal, and the car roared to life like a caged beast. The tires screeched against the pavement, smoke billowing from the friction as the carunched forward at an unbelievable speed.


    In less than half a second, they had gone from 0 to 100 km/h, and Erik was thrown back into his seat, his eyes wide in shock.


    "HOLY¡ª!" Erik barely managed to get the words out as the world outside became a blur of motion and color.


    "Hahahaha! This is the best!" Nyra shouted with her voice filled with glee as she rolled down the driver''s side window. The wind whipped through the car, turning her and Lyra''s neatly styled hair into a wild, tangled mess.

 Chapter 182 The blood legion. (3)

    "Nyra! Close the window!" Lyra shouted over the deafening roar of the air, trying in vain to keep her hair under control.


    "Why? It''s more fun this way!" Nyraughed while taking a sharp turn that made the tires squeal. She gripped the wheel like a professional racer; her movements were smooth and precise despite the reckless speed.


    Erik, meanwhile, was clutching the edges of his seat for dear life. "Is this even legal?!" he yelled, his voice barely audible over the wind and engine noise.


    Nyra nced at him in the rearview mirror, her grin widening. "Probably not!" she shouted back.


    Lyra groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You''re going to get us arrested!"


    "Rx, sis," Nyra said, waving her free hand dismissively. "By the time anyone even thinks about chasing us, we''ll be halfway out of the city."


    As if to prove her point, she pressed down on the gas even harder, and the car surged forward with another burst of speed. Erik could feel the G-forces pulling at his body, and he swore he saw his life sh before his eyes.


    "This is insane!" Erik shouted, though there was a hint of exhration in his voice.


    Nyra nced back at him again, her crimson eyes sparkling. "Insane? Nah. This is freedom, little Erik! Learn to love it!"


    Despite himself, Erik couldn''t help butugh. The sheer absurdity of the situation,bined with Nyra''s infectious energy, made it impossible not to feel at least a little thrill.


    Lyra, however, was less amused. She grabbed onto the dashboard, her patience wearing thin. "If you kill us before we even get to the rendezvous point, I''m going to haunt you for eternity, Nyra!"


    Nyra let out a dramatic sigh, easing off the gas slightly. "Fine, fine. I''ll slow down a little," she said, though her smirk suggested she wasn''t nning to follow that promise entirely.


    As the car sped through the city streets, Erik leaned back in his seat, his initial fear giving way to a strange sense of excitement. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn''t just a powerless kid being beaten down by the world. He was with people who made him feel... alive.


    "Okay," he said, grinning despite himself. "This might actually be kind of cool."


    "Hahaha! That''s the spirit!" Nyra said, punching the gas again and sending the car rocketing toward the city limits.


    "Sis, take the slum exit," Lyra said firmly while pulling up the GPS disy and quickly adjusting the route. "Try to keep low. We don''t want to make a big mess inside the city, or Master will kick our asses again."


    "Pfft," Nyra scoffed, flipping her silver hair over her shoulder as it whipped around wildly in the open air. "What''s the fun in that? It''s not like anyone is going to try and stop us from going fast. Thosews were ouwed centuries ago! No one even walks on the roads anymore!"


    Lyra opened her mouth to argue, but her eyes caught something shing on the holographic dash. Her voice turned sharp. "Hold on a second! The stealth satellite is picking up hostiles heading straight for us!" she shouted, her tone tinged with panic. "I told you to slow down!"


    Nyra rolled her eyes but pressed harder on the gas, making the car roar even louder as its speed climbed. "It''s not my fault! Speed has nothing to do with it!" she snapped before ncing at her sister out of the corner of her eye. "Wait... Sis, did you delete the college''s cameras footage before we left?"


    Lyra froze, her expression nk for a second, as realization hit her like a brick. "What... what cameras?" she asked weakly with her voice trembling. "Master always takes care of that! So we should be safe, right? ...Oh no."


    Nyra grinned, herughter echoing in the car. "Hahaha! And you call yourself the smart one? Wow, sis, this is your fault, not mine!" she teased before shouting, "Bloody!"


    From the glovepartment, a small ck-and-red robotic bat emerged with a faint hum, its wings ppingzily as it hovered in midair. The AI drone was a part of Cleo''s custom creations, specifically designed for the twins as their personal assistant. Its glowing crimson eyes blinked as it saluted the sisters.


    "I am at your service, young masters," the robotic bat said in a smooth, polite voice.


    "Activate Protocol Yellow," Lyra ordered quickly, her eyes glued to the holographic radar, which showed the hostiles rapidly closing in.


    "Understood. Activating the Blood Legion," Bloody replied calmly, its small wings pping faster as it sent out encrypted signals.


    A momentter, the AI announced, "Blood Legion in standby."


    "Sis! They''re here already!" Lyra shouted as the unmistakable sound of helicopters filled the air. The city guard''s transport vehicles were closing in fast, their bright spotlights illuminating the speeding car.


    A robotic voice boomed from one of the helicopters. <<Attention, criminals. You are charged with minor abuse and kidnapping. Stop the vehicle immediately. This is your first andst warning!>>


    Nyra burst intoughter, her crimson eyes sparkling with amusement. "Hahaha! Did you hear that, sis? We''re kidnappers now! We''re famous!" Sheughed out loud since she was clearly enjoying the adrenaline rush.


    "This is not the time to beughing!" Lyra snapped, her face a mix of frustration and panic. "Their patrol cars are catching up too!"


    True to her words, several all-terrain patrol vehicles had joined the pursuit, their sirens ring as they closed in on the twins supercar.


    The helicopter''s voice boomed again, more forcefully this time. <<Attention, criminals. Since you have refused toply, we will now proceed to use force to stop you.>>


    Inside the lead helicopter, the captain shouted orders at his crew. "Shoot out the driver!" hemanded, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the sleek supercar below. "But don''t damage the car. That thing''s worth more than this whole squadbined."


    "Captain, are you sure? There''s still a kid in the backseat," one of the guards said hesitantly, ncing at Erik on the monitors.@@novelbin@@


    The captain scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "He''s just a human. Nobody gives a crap about him anyway. Now stop questioning my orders and fire!"


    "Understood, sir."


    Lyra''s head snapped toward her sister as the sound of the guards'' mountedser guns powering up reached her ears. "Sis! They''re about to shoot us!"


    "W-what?! They can''t do that! I''m literally the victim here!" Erik shouted from the backseat, his voice high with panic.


    Nyra nced at him through the rearview mirror, her grin turning feral. "Tsk. Grow a pair already, will you? Use your brain, kid! You''re just a human; they don''t give a shit about you!"


    "Sis, are the defenses ready?" Nyra yelled, her voice sharp as she pushed the car to an even higher speed.


    "Of course they are! Who do you take me for?!" Lyra shot back, her fingers flying across the holographic dashboard. Just as the guards opened fire, the car''s energy shield activated with a loud hum, creating a glowing barrier around the vehicle.


    Theser rounds harmlessly dissipated against the shield, leaving the car untouched.


    "Sir! They have an energy shield!" one of the guards in the helicopter reported.


    "I can see that, genius! I''m not blind!" the captain snapped, his frustration growing. "Fine! All units, proceed with the ramming maneuver! I want that car immobilized!"


    "But, sir¡ª!"


    "I don''t care! Just do it!"


    Inside the car, Erik clutched the seat tightly, his knuckles white. "Ramming?! Are they serious?!"


    Nyra grinned while her excitement was only growing as she weaved the car through the streets with precision. "Hahaha! Let them try!" she shouted. "This car was made for stuff like this!"


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    Lyra sighed heavily, strapping herself in tighter. "I swear, if we survive this, I''m going to kill you myself," she muttered.


    "Don''t be so dramatic, sis!" Nyra teased her whileughing as the patrol cars closed in. "This is just getting fun!"


    As the guards prepared to ram the car, Bloody''s voice echoed from the dashboard. "Young masters, shall I deploy the countermeasures?"


    Nyra''s grin widened. "Oh, definitely. Let''s give them a little surprise."


    "Deploying countermeasures," Bloody confirmed.


    From the back of the car, several small drones shot out, each one armed with electromaic pulses. As the drones zipped toward the approaching patrol vehicles, the guards barely had time to react before the EMPs went off, disabling their engines and causing the vehicles to screech to a halt.


    The captain mmed his fist against the controls as he watched his squad fall apart. "Dammit!"


    Nyra let out a triumphantugh, her silver hair flying wildly in the wind. "I told you, sis! Nobody can catch us!"


    Lyra groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I hate you sometimes," she muttered.


    "Captain, are we just going to let them escape!?" the guard next to the captain asked nervously while ncing between his superior and the screen showing the sleek supercar speeding away.


    The captain''s face twisted in anger while tightening his jaw. "Of course not! Send a call to the frontier military camp and tell them to intercept those bastards!" he shouted while mming his fist down on the control panel.


    The guard hesitated, his expression full of unease. "But sir, they''re just...mon criminals. The military won''t ept a request like this. And if they find out we lied, it could end badly for us!"


    The captain turned to him with a sneer, his face red with frustration. "I don''t give a damn! Just tell them the suspects have military-grade drones and advanced armor! That should be enough to get them to mobilize!"


    "But sir¡ª"


    "No buts! Do as I say, or I''ll have you written up for insubordination!" the captain snapped, his eyes locked on the twins car as it weaved through the streets, easily outmaneuvering his remaining forces.


    The guard swallowed hard, nodding reluctantly. "Understood, Captain," he said while turning back to his terminal. His fingers flew across the controls as he opened a securemunications line.


    "Making contact with the military now."

 Chapter 183 The blood legion. (4)

    The captain leaned forward, gripping the edge of the console tightly as he stared at the monitor disying the car. His greed and frustration simmered just below the surface. "I don''t care what it takes," he muttered under his breath. "I want that car, and those damn criminals stopped now."


    Meanwhile, inside the supercar, Nyra was stillughing hysterically, the chaos outside only fueling her adrenaline rush. "Haha! Did you see that, sis? They couldn''t even touch us!" sheughed, gripping the wheel tightly as she took another sharp turn.


    "Stop gloating!" Lyra snapped, her crimson eyes darting between the holographic radar and the rearview mirror. "They''re not done yet! And if you keep ying around, someone else will find out, and it will be harder to get away!"


    Nyra let out a yful scoff, her silver hair whipping around her face. "Rx, sis! I''ve got this under control. Nobody''s catching us today."


    From the backseat, Erik sat rigidly, clutching his seatbelt as he tried to keep up with the twins banter. "Uh, not to interrupt or anything," he said nervously, "but I think they''re calling for backup. Are you sure we''re going to be okay?"


    Nyra nced at him in the rearview mirror, her crimson eyes sparkling with mischief. "Aw, don''t worry, little Erik," she said with a grin. "This isn''t our first rodeo. Besides, we''ve got the best car in the gxy! Let them bring backup; it''ll just make things more fun."


    "Fun!?" Erik eximed, his voice cracking slightly. "You call this fun!?"


    Lyra shot her sister an annoyed re. "Stop teasing him, Nyra," she said before turning to Erik. "We''ll be fine. Trust me, we''ve handled worse."


    But even as she said it, her fingers tightened on the dashboard, her eyes narrowing as a new blip appeared on the radar. It wasrger and moving faster than the city guard vehicles.


    "Uh, sis?" Lyra said, her tone suddenly tense.


    Nyra nced at the radar, her grin fading slightly. "What''s that?" she asked, her yful demeanor shifting to something more serious.


    Lyra frowned, typing rapidly on the console. "Looks like... military-grade vehicles," she muttered. "And they''reing from the direction of the frontier camp."


    Nyra''s eyebrows shot up. "The military? Seriously? For us?!"


    Erik paled in the backseat. "The military? Why would they call the military for a couple of¡ª"


    "Don''t ask stupid questions!" Lyra snapped, cutting him off. She turned to Nyra, her voice urgent. "They must''ve lied about us. There''s no way the military would mobilize for a couple of ''kidnappers.''"


    Nyra''s lips curled into a wicked grin. "Hah! I guess we''re more important than we thought!"


    "This isn''t funny!" Lyra shot back. "We don''t have the firepower to deal with a full-on military response! Bloody!"


    The small bat AI, still hovering near the dashboard, pped its wings in acknowledgment. "Yes, young masters?"


    "Activate Protocol Red," Lyramanded, her voice firm.


    The AI''s crimson eyes glowed brighter as it processed themand. "Understood. Activating Protocol Red. Deploying reinforcements."


    Erik''s eyes widened. "Reinforcements?" he asked, ncing around the car. "What reinforcements?"


    Nyra''s grin returned, wider than ever. "Oh, you''ll see," she said with her voice practically dripping with excitement.


    As they continued speeding toward the outskirts of the city, several ck-and-red drones appeared on the horizon, flying in perfect formation. They moved like a swarm of predators, their sleek designs identical to the ones Erik had seen earlier.


    "Blood Legion," Lyra said with a smirk, her confidence returning. "Master always makes sure we''re prepared for situations like this."


    The drones began to fan out, positioning themselves between the car and the iing military vehicles. The twins'' car holographically disyed the activation of the drone''s defensive systems, and Bloody''s voice echoed through the cabin.


    "Blood Legion is fully operational. Awaiting further orders."


    "Let''s give them something to remember us by," Nyra said with augh, mming the elerator even harder. The car roared as it surged forward, leaving the city guards in the dust while the drones moved to intercept the military forces.


    Lyra sighed, shaking her head as she strapped herself in tighter. "I swear, if Master hears about this, we''re dead."


    Nyra justughed, her eyes zing with excitement. "Rx, sis! We''re just getting started!"


    "Sir, we have the target in sight," one of the soldiers on a transport ship reported, his voice steady over themunicator.


    "Good," themander replied, his tone sharp and focused. "Prepare the troops to jump out once we surround them. I want this operation done quickly and cleanly. No excuses."


    But before themander could give additional orders, a panicked voice cut through themunications. "Sir! Not good; transport number 5 is under fire! I repeat, transport number 5 is under fire!"


    Themander''s jaw tightened. "Put it on the screen!" he shouted, and a live feed of the unfolding chaos appeared on the main console.


    The image showed one of the transport ships trailing ck smoke as several sleek, ck-and-red drones swarmed it like vultures. The drones from the Blood Legion were systematically targeting the ship''s engines, their weapons precise and unrelenting.


    "Dammit," themander hissed. The transports were basic troop carriers, not designed for heavybat. Worse, theycked shielding, making them easy prey for the advanced drones.


    "Engines are hit! Engines are hit!" a soldier on transport number 5 shouted as the ship''s thrusters exploded, sending it into a spiraling descent.


    Themander watched grimly as the transport began to fall toward the slums below. Some of the soldiers aboard managed to jump out before the ship crashed, deploying emergency parachutes that saved their lives. Others weren''t so lucky.


    "Sir, what are your orders?!" a nearby officer asked with his voice tense.


    Themander clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the drones still circling like predators. "This is a highmand order," he said, his voice cold and authoritative.


    "The enemy has called for reinforcements. They''re heavily armed and possess advanced technology. All transport ships are to retreat immediately. I repeat, retreat and regroup!"


    "But, sir¡ª"@@novelbin@@


    "Enough!" themander snapped. "Send the ''birds'' to engage and shoot down those drones! I want air support tracking the target vehicle at all times. Fighters, move in and neutralize those reinforcements!"


    "Understood, sir!"


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    Meanwhile, inside the twins supercar, Lyra kept her gaze fixed on the holographic radar. A growing cluster of red gs indicated that enemy reinforcements were closing in.


    "Sis, they''re retreating," Lyra said cautiously, her crimson eyes narrowing as she analyzed the radar. "That''s not a good sign. They''re regrouping for something bigger. But thankfully, we''re almost at the city gates."


    Nyra let out an amused chuckle, her confidence undeterred as she took a sharp turn, tires screeching against the pavement. "Of course it''s not a good sign," she said with a smirk. "But when is it ever? Just leave it to me; I''ll handle it."


    Turning her attention to the small robotic bat hovering near the dashboard, Nyra gave her nextmand. "Bloody, hack the gates. I don''t trust the guards there to let us walk out of here without a fight."


    The AI''s crimson eyes glowed brighter as it responded. "Understood. Initiating hacking protocol. Estimated time to override: five minutes."


    On the bat''s tiny screen, an infinite cascade of numbers and code began scrolling rapidly as it worked to infiltrate the city''s gate control systems.


    At the slum city gates, chaos was already unfolding in the guard control room.


    "Mmm? What is happening?! Who is opening the gates?!" the head guard shouted, storming into the control room with a look of pure frustration on his face.


    "I don''t know, sir!" Another guard stammered, his fingers flying over the control panel in a desperate attempt to regain control. "I keep trying to close them, but it''s not working! The system isn''t responding!"


    The head guard''s face twisted in fury as he mmed his hand on the console. "Idiots! Do I have to do everything myself?!" He shoved the panicking guard aside and began typing furiously, his fingers mming into the keys.


    But no matter whatmands he entered, the gates continued to open. rms red throughout the control room as the override signal from Bloody''s hacking continued to dismantle their systems piece by piece.


    "It''s like the entire system''s been hijacked!" the subordinate guard said, his voice rising in panic.


    "I KNOW THAT, YOU MORON!" The head guard snapped, sweat dripping down his brow as he frantically tried to regain control. But the numbers on the screen made no sense to him; lines of alien code flickered and disappeared faster than he could read them.


    Back in the car, Nyra was grinning ear to ear as she floored the gas pedal, sending the car roaring down the final stretch toward the slum gates.


    "Bloody, how''s the hack going?" she asked casually, her silver hair whipping around as she swerved past an abandoned vehicle in the road.


    "Hacking progress at 78%," Bloody reported, its voice calm and efficient. "Estimatedpletion in two minutes."


    Lyra nced nervously at the radar. The red blips marking the military reinforcements were getting closer. "Two minutes might be all we have," she muttered. "Nyra, pick up the pace!"


    Nyra let out augh, her grin widening. "Oh, don''t worry, I''m already going as fast as this baby can go without breaking the sound barrier."


    Erik, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke up from the backseat, his voice tinged with both fear and amazement. "Are you guys always like this?"


    Nyra nced at him in the rearview mirror, her crimson eyes sparkling. "Like what? Amazing? Yes."


    Lyra groaned, rolling her eyes. "Don''t encourage her, Erik," she said that, though her tone was more exasperated than angry.


    As the car sped toward the gates, the city guards outside scrambled to deploy their forces, setting up barricades and checkpoints in ast-ditch effort to stop the twins. But even they couldn''t ignore the ominous sound of the gates creaking open, the massive steel doors slowly sliding apart as Bloodypleted its hack.


    "The gates are open," Bloody announced, its wings fluttering with satisfaction. "You are clear to proceed, young masters."


    "Perfect timing!" Nyra said with a grin, mming her foot on the gas.


    The car shot forward like a rocket, barreling through the gates at breakneck speed. The guards at the barricades could only watch in stunned silence as the sleek vehicle disappeared into the distance, its taillights glowing like twin redets.

 Chapter 184 The blood legion. (5)

    After several tense minutes of speeding through the''s outskirts toward the rendezvous point where they were supposed to hand Erik over to the human empire envoy, Bloody, the ever-vignt AI bat, delivered a grim update.


    "Warning: allbat drones dispatched from the Blood Legion have been destroyed," Bloody announced, its calm and robotic tone making the news no less foreboding.


    "Analysis suggests an 85% probability that the enemy deployed defense fighters to neutralize the drones. Current probability of hostile forces pursuing this vehicle: high."


    Lyra groaned, rubbing her temples in frustration. "Isn''t this a little too extreme for a kidnapping case?" She said with her voice dripping with sarcasm as she reached into her holster and began prepping her handguns.


    "I mean, it''s not like we abducted some high-ranking noble. He''s just a regr human!"


    Nyra smirked but kept her eyes on the dirt road ahead, expertly maneuvering the car around bumps and potholes. "Oh, sis, you''re so naive," she teased.


    "The only logical exnation? Corruption. High-ranking officials are probably on someone''s payroll. That, or someone really doesn''t like us."


    Lyra sighed, pulling up the satellite feed on the car''s disy. "Whatever the reason, we''ve got bigger problems now. Start slowing down; we''re trapped."


    Nyra''s grin faltered. "Trapped? What do you mean, trapped?"


    "Look." Lyra zoomed in on the satellite image, revealing a sprawling military blockade stretching across several kilometers of their route. Dozens of armed vehicles, personnel, and barricades had been positioned in a coordinated effort to cut off their escape.


    "Ugh, seriously?!" Nyra groaned, her frustration evident. "Next time, let''s beg Master to give us strategy lessons or something. I feel so dumb right now!"


    Lyra gave her sister a withering look. "It''s not like Master hasn''t tried to teach us strategy. You''re the one who falls asleep every time."


    Nyra clicked her tongue in annoyance but didn''t respond. She began to slow the car, gradually easing off the gas as they approached the blockade. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the distant hum of transport helicopters and the rumble of military engines.


    A few minutester, the supercar came to a slow stop just meters away from the imposing military barricade. The moment the car halted, dozens of armed soldiers surged forward, surrounding it with weapons drawn.


    The blinding floodlights from the vehicles and helicopters bathed the scene in harsh light, casting eerie shadows.


    "This is themander of theary defensive force!" a booming voice echoed from a nearby loudspeaker. "Turn off the vehicle and exit with your hands up, terrorists! Any sudden movements, and we will open fire!"


    Nyra,pletely unfazed, burst intoughter from inside the car. "Did you hear that, sis? We''re terrorists now!" Her voice was light and melodic, carrying a yful tone that only served to infuriate the soldiers outside.


    The car doors slowly opened, and two figures emerged into the floodlights. Both wore college uniforms, their silver hair shimmering in the artificial glow. But what truly caught the soldiers attention were the ck-and-red face masks covering their lower faces, glowing ominously in the dark night.


    The twins stepped forward confidently, their hair swirling in the wind created by the hovering helicopters above.


    "Nyra, stop teasing them," Lyra said in an exasperated tone, her eyes scanning the soldiers and their weapons. "I really don''t want to get shot tonight."


    "On your knees! Now! This is your first andst warning!" Themander shouted, his voice trembling with anger and authority.


    Nyra tilted her head slightly, her crimson eyes gleaming mischievously behind her mask. "Hah! I have a better idea," she said with her voice tone dripping with mockery. She raised her hand and made a dismissive gesture. "Why don''t you all drop to your knees and praise me as your queen?"


    Themander''s face turned beet red with rage. "What did you just say?!" he roared, barely able to contain himself.


    "You heard me," Nyra said, her voice singing and mocking. She made the gesture again, this time more exaggerated. "Kneel, peasants!"


    The soldiers froze, momentarily stunned by her audacity. Themander, however, was not amused. "SHOOT THEM! DO IT NOW!" he screamed, raising his hand to signal his troops.


    But before the words had fully left his mouth, his legs buckled beneath him as if an invisible force had struck him. His body dropped to the ground with a loud thud, and he found himself kneeling involuntarily.


    "W-what the¡ª?" Themander''s eyes were wide with shock as he tried to process what had just happened.


    "Commander!" one of the soldiers shouted, panic evident in his voice. "What''s happening?!"


    "What did you do to him?!" another officer yelled, hisser rifle trembling in his hands as he aimed it at the twins.


    Lyra stepped forward, her movements calm and deliberate. She shook her head as if disappointed. "I wouldn''t do that if I were you," she said, her voice smooth and taunting. "You''re dumber than you look, and trust me, that''s saying something."


    Nyra pped her hands together, her voice filled with faux excitement. "Oh, look at that, sis! They brought us toys to y with!" She motioned toward the trembling officers, her crimson eyes sparkling with dangerous amusement.


    Lyra snapped her fingers, and in an instant, the remaining officers fell to their knees as well, their weapons ttering to the ground. The soldiers looked around in confusion and terror, unable toprehend what was happening.


    Out of the darkness, a figure began to materialize. A blood-red sword appeared first, its glowing edges slicing through the shadows.


    Then came the figure wielding it, a humanoid d in dark red armor, their cape billowing in the night wind. The figure''s helmet had glowing crimson slits for eyes, giving it an otherworldly, menacing aura.


    The soldiers gasped in fear as the armored figure strode forward, its presence suffocating.


    Nyra leaned toward Lyra and whispered yfully, "I love when you do that. You''re way scarier than me."


    Ignoring her sister, Lyra crouched down next to the kneelingmander in a blur of movement, her crimson eyes locking onto his. "Now," she said softly, her voice almost sweet.


    "Can we take a moment to talk like civilized people? I think there''s been a little... misunderstanding."


    Themander tried to speak, but no words came out. The overwhelming presence of the armored figure and the calm, predatory gaze of the silver-haired girl crouched next to him robbed him of any sense of control.


    "You''ll answer my questions, won''t you?" Lyra asked, tilting her head slightly. Her tone was polite, but the unspoken threat behind her words was impossible to miss.


    Themander nodded weakly, sweat dripping down his face.


    "Good boy," Lyra said with a small, satisfied smile. Behind her, Nyra grinned wickedly, clearly enjoying the spectacle.


    "Well then, this is all just a big misunderstanding," Lyra said innocently, her crimson eyes gleaming as she knelt casually in front of themander.


    But themander wasn''t buying it. His face turned red with anger, and he shouted with all the authority he could muster.


    "A misunderstanding?! You call this NOTHING?! Assaulting minors, kidnapping one, releasing military-grade drones in the middle of the city, and shooting down TWO of our transport ships! Is THAT nothing to you?! Do you think we''re blind?!"


    Nyra couldn''t hold it in. She burst intoughter, leaningzily against the hood of their sleek supercar like she didn''t have a care in the world. "Haha, he''s got you there, sis!" she said between fits of giggles. "I mean, technically, we did do all that stuff, right? Hahaha!"


    Lyra whipped around to re at her sister, her face flushed with frustration. "Sis! You''re not being helpful!"


    With lightning speed, she darted over to Nyra and delivered a sharp, resounding SMACK to her sister butt.


    "OUCH!" Nyra yelped, bolting upright and rubbing her sore butt with both hands. "Why would you DO that?! My poor butt''s gonna be red for days!"


    "Serves you right," Lyra huffed, crossing her arms and pouting. "That''s what you get for always ruining my ns!"


    The soldiers watched the exchange in stunned silence, their weapons still raised but their resolve clearly shaken. Stay connected via empire


    Themander, however, wasn''t deterred. He sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Hahaha! Do you really think this childish act is enough to make me back down?!" he roared, his eyes zing with defiance.@@novelbin@@


    "You''re nothing but a pair of clowns! Who cares if you''ve got me and my officers kneeling? We will NEVER surrender to a couple of terrorists! The moment you kill me, every soldier on this will hunt you down! They''ll chase you to the ends of the gxy if they have to!"


    Nyra, still rubbing her sore backside, tilted her head curiously as she listened to themander''s outburst. Then her lips curled into a wicked grin, her yful demeanor giving way to something much darker.


    "Oh? And what makes you think you can kill us?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous.


    Themander''sugh was filled with manic defiance. "HA! You''re just two bitches assassins that are too scared to show their faces! You might have gotten lucky so far, but numbers don''t lie. We have you surrounded! My men will overwhelm you with sheer force! So go ahead! kill me! Let the hunt begin!"


    "Numbers?" Nyra''s grin widened, and she stepped closer to themander, her boots crunching softly against the dirt. "What numbers?"


    Before themander could respond, Nyra grabbed the back of his head with one hand, her grip like iron. "Do you really think you''re alone out here?" she whispered mockingly, leaning in close before yanking his head upward, forcing him to look at the night sky.


    Themander''s defiance faltered as his eyes widened in shock. High above, something massive was descending from the heavens, wreathed in fire. It was moving fast, its fiery silhouette cutting through the darkness like aet.


    "What... what is that?" themander stammered, his voice trembling for the first time.

 Chapter 186 The blood legion. (7)

    The envoy''s frown deepened, clearly unimpressed. Before he could respond, Nyra leaned against the hood of the car and added, "Oh, and tell your boss to get ready. We''re about to kick off the operation she promised to help us with."


    Her blunt words earned a sharp re from the envoy, who adjusted his gloves with an air of irritation. "Charming as always, Miss Nyra," he said with his voiceced with sarcasm. "I''ll pass your message along. Rest assured, we humans always keep our word, unlike... certain individuals who think arriving hourste is eptable."


    Lyra stepped out of the car with a sigh, shaking her head at her sister. "Nyra, could you try not to antagonize everyone we meet? Just once?" She said with her voice, carrying a mix of exasperation and amusement.


    "Why bother?" Nyra replied with a smirk while ncing at the envoy. "He''s already got a stick so far up his ass that nothing I say will make it worse."


    The envoy''s face twisted with disgust, but he quicklyposed himself. "Enough of this nonsense," he snapped, clearly eager to move on. "Where''s the boy?"


    At this, Erik nervously stepped out of the car''s backseat, his eyes darting between the twins and the envoy. He looked like he had a thousand questions but was too overwhelmed to ask any of them.


    Nyra gave him a gentle nudge forward, her tone unusually yful. "Go on, kid. Time to meet your new friends."


    The envoy''s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Erik with his gaze cold and clinical. "So this is the child," he said with a tone devoid of warmth. "He doesn''t look like much."


    "Hey!" Nyra snapped, stepping between the envoy and Erik. "Watch your mouth. That ''kid'' has been through hell. Show a little respect."


    The envoy raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by her sudden defensiveness. "Respect? For a ve boy? Let''s not overstate his importance," he said while turning to Lyra. "You metahumans may have your entricities, but don''t forget who you''re dealing with."


    Lyra''s expression darkened, her crimson eyes shing dangerously. "And you shouldn''t forget who made this operation possible," she said coolly. "Without us, you wouldn''t even be on this right now. So maybe you should show a little respect."


    For a moment, the envoy seemed taken aback, but he quickly masked his surprise with a haughty sniff. "Very well," he said curtly. "The boy will be taken into our custody. I''ll ensure he''s delivered to a safe location as agreed."


    Erik nced nervously at the twins, unsure of what to say. Nyra walked toward Erik, her mischievous grin softening into something more genuine. "Hey, don''t worry, kid," she said, ruffling his hair. "You''re in good hands. Just stick with them, and you''ll be fine."


    "Are... are you sure?" Erik asked hesitantly, his voice trembling.


    Lyra nodded, cing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Yes, we''re sure. They''ll take care of you. And if they don''t..." She nced at the envoy, her eyes narrowing into a subtle but unmistakable threat. "We''ll know."


    The envoy cleared his throat, clearly eager to end the interaction. "If you''re done with your sentimental goodbyes, we''ll be leaving now. We have more important matters to attend to."


    "Yeah, yeah, take good care of him, or you''ll have us to deal with," Nyra said, waving him off. "Now go. We''ve got our own ns to deal with."


    As the envoy led Erik toward the shuttle, Nyra leaned back against the car, watching them board. Once the shuttle ramp closed and its engines began to hum louder, she turned to Lyra with a sly smile.


    "So, what''s next?"


    Lyra checked her holo-disy, pulling up a map of the. A series of red dots marked their next targets, key facilities owned by Nexun Dynamics that they were about to dismantle.


    "Next," Lyra said with a small, dangerous smile, "we take the fight to them."


    Nyra cracked her knuckles, her grin widening. "Good. It''s been too quiettely."


    The twins climbed back into the car, their next destination already locked into the GPS. As the shuttle carrying Erik ascended into the atmosphere, the twins sped off into the night, leaving nothing but dust and chaos in their wake.


    "Captain, we''ve got a call from the military!" A city guard burst into the office of the Captain of the City Guards, panting as he delivered the news.


    The captain, a portly man with a greedy glint in his eyes, immediately perked up. "Oh! They probably want to inform me that they''ve taken care of those pesky terrorists," he said with a smug grin, rubbing his hands together like a man counting his profits before they even arrived.@@novelbin@@


    "Hurry, connect me with them! I want to ask if we can handle the... cleanup."


    It was no secret among his subordinates what "cleanup" meant. The captain had been salivating over the thought of confiscating the sleek supercar the supposed "terrorists" were driving, surely a vehicle fit for someone like him in his deluded imagination.


    After a few clicks on themunication terminal, a holographic figure of the military defense forcesmander appeared before the captain. Themander stood stiffly, his posture sharp and his expression unreadable.


    "Ah! Commander, nice to see you again!" the captain said, practically oozing fake charm. "So, did you apprehend the terrorists?"


    Themander nodded curtly, his tone firm and professional. "Yes, the situation has been handled."


    "Oh, excellent! Excellent! I knew you''d take care of it." The captain''s grin widened as he leaned forward, practically licking his lips.


    "And since I know you elite soldiers don''t like to get bogged down with menial work, let me take the burden of the cleanup off your hands. The city guards will handle it, and you can move on to more important tasks!"


    The greed in the captain''s voice was so obvious that even the most clueless observer would notice it. His eyes practically glowed with avarice as he imagined the car, his car shining in his personal garage.


    Themander let out a long audible sigh. For a moment, the silence stretched, and the captain''s grin faltered slightly as he noticed the cold, unblinking expression on themander''s face.


    Then themander spoke, his voice colder than ice and sharper than a de. "Captain of the Guards, under the authority of militaryw, you are hereby under arrest for fabricating false information, wasting military resources, and mobilizing the defensive forces for personal motives."


    The captain''s jaw dropped, his grin vanishing as panic began to set in. "W-Wha¡ªWhat are you talking about!? I didn''t lie in any of the information I gave! You¡ªyou must be mistaken!"


    He stammered, his voice rising in desperation. Then his tone shifted, bing usatory. "Now I get it! You''re all in on it! You''re working with those criminals! This is a conspiracy! I''ll take this to the mayor!"


    He spun around and began furiously punching buttons on his desk, attempting to contact the mayor, but the call wouldn''t go through. Each failed attempt only made him more frantic.


    Themander watched him coldly, his expression unchanging. "It''s useless," he said tly. "Your corruption has already been reported to higher authorities. If I''m not mistaken, the military police should already be at your location."


    As if on cue, the doors to the captain''s office burst open, and a squad of soldiers d in ck tactical armor stormed inside, their rifles trained on the captain.


    The captain froze, his face draining of color. "W-Wait! What is the meaning of this?! This is theft! Treason, I tell you!" He shouted, his voice cracking as he backed away, his legs trembling uncontrobly.


    One of the soldiers stepped forward and grabbed him by the arm, dragging him toward the door as the captain continued to shout. "Unhand me! This is a mistake! A terrible mistake! Do you hear me?! I''m the Captain of the City Guards! You''ll regret this!"


    Themander''s holographic form remained impassive, his voice firm as he issued his final order. "Take him to the military prison."


    The captain''s protests faded as he was dragged out of the office, his shouts echoing down the hall. Momentster, the sound of a transport ship taking off from the roof signaled the end of his career and likely his freedom.


    Back at the militarymand center, one of themander''s officers stepped forward, his face a mix of irritation and disbelief. "Sir, are we really going to do what those... criminals told us to do?"


    The officer''s tone wasced with disdain, and the others in the room murmured their agreement, their pride clearly bruised by the events that had just unfolded.


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    Themander turned slowly to face his subordinate, his expression unreadable. "Yes," he said simply.


    "But, sir!" the officer protested, his voice rising. "They humiliated us! They manipted us into doing their dirty work! We can''t just¡ª"


    Themander cut him off with a sharp re, his voice steely. "Do you have any idea who or what those ''criminals'' are?"


    The officer faltered, his indignation giving way to uncertainty. "I... I know they''re powerful, sir, but¡ª"


    Themander stepped closer, his tone low and grave. "They''re not just powerful. They''re dwellers. Do you know what that means?"


    The officer swallowed hard, his bravado crumbling. "They''re... from the underground city," he muttered.


    "Exactly," themander said. "And every time we''ve faced them, we''ve been wiped out. You''ve seen the footage. You''ve read the reports. These aren''t enemies we can fight with numbers or firepower. If we had engaged them directly tonight, we would all be dead by now."


    The room fell silent, the weight of themander''s words sinking in.

 Chapter 188 The blood legion. (9) Gustav

    Gustav forced himself onto his hands and knees, his golden fur now matted with dirt and debris. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision.


    The scene around him was chaos incarnate. The once organized rows of conscripted workers had been obliterated, reced by craters, scattered limbs, and panicked survivors running in every direction.


    The drop pod that had caused the destruction hissed as its doors began to open, releasing a cloud of steam and smoke. Through the fog, Gustav could make out the silhouettes of figures stepping out.@@novelbin@@


    They moved with precision, their ck-and-red armor gleaming ominously under the facility''s flickering lights.


    These weren''t regr soldiers. They were Aegis units.


    "Oh no..." Gustav whispered hoarsely, his voice trembling as fear wed its way into his chest. He had heard stories of these monsters, unstoppable killing machines that could tear through entire battalions with ease. And now they were here, right in front of him.


    One of the Aegis units raised their weapon, a sleek sma rifle that hummed with deadly energy, and once it was ready, it fired into the scattered workers. Screams erupted as beams of crimson light tore through the untrained defenders, leaving behind only smoldering corpses.


    Gustav dove instinctively, his heart pounding as he scrambled for cover behind a copsed piece of machinery. His mind raced, his usual humor now reced with sheer survival instinct.


    What do I do? What do I do?!


    "R-Retreat!" someone shouted from nearby, their voice cracking with panic. "Fall back to the second line of defense!"


    Gustav peeked out from his hiding spot, his eyes widening as he saw more drop pods descending from the sky. Each onended with earth-shaking force, unleashing waves of Aegis units that moved with terrifying efficiency.


    The defenders meager resistance crumbled almost instantly, their desperate attempts to fight back proving futile against the overwhelming firepower and skill of their attackers.


    "This isn''t a fight," Gustav muttered to himself, his hands trembling as he clutched his head. "This is a massacre."


    The roar of engines drew his attention upward, and he spotted a squadron of Nexum Dynamics security drones swooping down to engage the invaders. The drones opened fire, theirser cannons lighting up the battlefield.


    But the Aegis units were ready. Several of them activated shimmering golden shields, deflecting the iing fire with ease, while others returned fire with pinpoint uracy, taking down the drones one by one.


    Gustav''s breathing quickened as he watched the ughter unfold. Around him, workers and low-ranking officers alike were either cut down where they stood or fleeing in blind panic. The once-imposing facility was rapidly falling into enemy hands.


    A shadow loomed over him, and Gustav frozen. Slowly, he turned his head to see one of the Aegis soldiers standing just a few meters away, their crimson eyes glowing behind their helmet. The soldiers tilted their heads slightly, as if assessing whether Gustav was worth the effort of killing.


    Gustav''s instincts screamed at him to run, but his legs refused to move. His body was paralyzed with fear as the Aegis unit raised its sma rifle; the barrel pointed directly at his chest.


    Time seemed to slow. Gustav closed his eyes, bracing himself for the inevitable.


    But the shot never came.


    Instead, he heard a voice, calm,manding, and strangely... feminine. "Hold your fire."


    Gustav''s eyes snapped open. Standing just behind the Aegis unit was another figure, her silver hair flowing like liquid metal as she strode forward. Her crimson eyes locked onto Gustav, a faint smirk ying on her lips.


    "Leave this one alive," Nyra said casually, her tone almost yful. "He''s got such a nice mane. Wouldn''t want to ruin it."


    Gustav blinked, his heart still pounding as he stared at the enigmatic figure before him. For a moment, he wasn''t sure if he had been spared or marked for something far worse.


    "So, what do we do with him, sis?" Discover more stories at empire


    A second silver-haired figure emerged from the shadows, her crimson eyes glowing faintly as she stepped forward. She was identical to the first, her presence just as unnerving.


    The first girl tilted her head slightly, her smirk widening. "Well, this area is already under our control," she said, ncing around at the chaos they had left behind. "Let''s use him as our messenger."


    Gustav, still trembling from the encounter, flinched as the first girl crouched down next to him, her unnervingly beautiful yet terrifying face only inches away.


    "So, little lion," she began, her voice sweet yet dripping with mockery, "let''s make a deal. You take this device." She pressed a small, sleekmunicator against his chest, "and deliver it to whoever''s in charge of this ce. That''s all you have to do. In exchange..."


    She leaned closer, her crimson eyes gleaming with sadistic amusement as her lips curled into a devilish smile. "Your reward will be... you get to keep your life. Aren''t I merciful?"


    Gustav''s heart pounded as he stared into her eyes, feeling as though she could see straight into his soul. Her tone was mocking, yet there was no mistaking the deadly seriousness behind her words.


    With a soft chuckle, she stood up, brushing off her pristine uniform as if she hadn''t just threatened to kill him. "Well then, sis," she said, turning to her twin, "let''s move on to the next zone. We need to hurry before the sunes up. You know how easily we tan, and I don''t want my perfect skin ruined."


    The other twin sighed dramatically, brushing her silvery hair over her shoulder. "I know, but don''t worry. At this rate, we''ll have this wrapped up in just a few hours. They''re crumbling like wet paper."


    The two exchanged a knowing nce before turning on their heels and walking away, their conversation already shifting to casual banter as if the carnage around them were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.


    Gustav remained frozen in ce, his ws digging into the dirt as he watched the silver-haired devils disappear into the distance. Only when they werepletely gone did he dare to move.


    He gasped for air, coughing as his lungs burned with the effort. "Cough, cough! So those are the ones responsible for this massacre." His hands clenched into fists, his golden fur bristling with rage. "What do they think our lives are?! NOTHING?! FUUUUUCK!"


    His voice rose to a feral roar, echoing through the night as his pent-up fury burst forth. A deep, primal indignation burned in his chest, and he felt something inside him stir, something that had been dormant for far too long.


    For the first time, Gustav felt a strange sense of pride ignite within him. Despite his fear, despite the humiliation he had endured under the gaze of those silver-haired devils, he couldn''t let it end here.


    Gritting his teeth, he rose to his feet, his legs trembling but steady. He gripped the device they had ced on his chest, his ws leaving faint scratches on its sleek surface.


    "They think I''m just going to roll over and follow their orders," he muttered to himself, his sharp teeth bared in a snarl. His golden mane shimmered faintly in the dim light as he squared his shoulders.


    But as much as he wanted to fight back right now, he knew it wasn''t the time. He needed to bide his time, gather his strength, and most importantly, he needed to survive.


    Gustav nced at the device in his hand, his expression hardening. "Fine," he growled. "I''ll do what they asked. But this isn''t over... not by a long shot."


    With renewed determination, Gustav began walking toward the centralmand tower of the Nexum Dynamics facility. The air was still thick with smoke and the distant sound of battle, but he didn''t falter.


    The lion''s pride had been wounded, but it wasn''t broken. Something inside him had awakened, and if those silver-haired devils thought they could extinguish it, they were gravely mistaken.


    This wasn''t the end. For Gustav, it was just the beginning.


    "Sir! We can''t contact the city guards or the military defense forces!" shouted one of the Nexum Dynamics soldiers, his voice trembling as he furiously tapped at the console. He tried once more to establish a connection, but the static that buzzed through the speakers was the only response he got.


    The person in charge of the facility was a rank 3 humanoid octopus known only as Overseer Harlix, leaned back in his chair, his tentacles coiling and uncoiling as his glowing yellow eyes narrowed thoughtfully.


    Harlix was no ordinary corporate officer, he was ruthless, cunning, and known for his unwavering loyalty to the Nexum Dynamics Viceroy he served. A rank 3 officer was nothing to scoff at, and Harlix wore his authority like a second skin.


    "Mmm, I see," he mused, his voice smooth and cold, the tentacles on his face twitching as he spoke. "There could be only two reasons for this..."


    "Sir, what do you mean?" one of the soldiers asked nervously, his curiosity momentarily overriding his fear.


    Harlix''s golden eyes swiveled toward the soldier, making the man shift ufortably. "Either ourmunications are being jammed by this unknown enemy..." Harlix paused, his tentacles curling as he considered the implications.


    "And... and the other reason, sir?" the soldier pressed, though his voice was barely more than a whisper.


    Harlix''s tentacles red slightly, his expression darkening. "The other reason," he said slowly, "is that the city guards and military defense forces have betrayed us." His voice was sharp now, cold and cutting.


    The soldiers in the room exchanged uneasy nces. The idea of betrayal sent a ripple of dread through them, and the tension in the air thickened.


    "It doesn''t matter which one it is," Harlix continued, his tone unshaken. "Right now, we need reinforcements. Contact the allied forces orbiting the. If the ground forces can''t help us, then we''ll call in the big guns."


    "Understood, sir!" one of the soldiers said, saluting before rushing off to ry the order.

 Chapter 190 The battle of Nakor. (2) Experimental reflector.

    "Saintess, the enemy fleet has locked their cannons onto us. What are your orders?" The officer in charge of the carrier''s defenses was already redirecting power from the main reactor to feed the shield generators, his hands trembling slightly as he awaited her response.


    Li, seated calmly in the captain''s chair with her usual poise, let out a small, serene smile that somehow diffused the tension in the bridge. "You already know what I''m going to say," she replied, her voice soft yet brimming with confidence.


    "I trust in the capabilities of everyone here. Do as you see fit."


    "Understood, Saintess!" The officer saluted sharply, his chest puffing with renewed resolve. "Powering up the experimental deflector! Countdown to activation: 10 seconds!"


    "10..."


    "9..."


    "8... 7..."


    "Enemy fire iing!" another officer shouted, his voice cutting through the tension like a de.


    The enemy fleet unleashed a salvo of long-range artillery, missiles, and sma beams toward the human fleet''s gship carrier. The ammunition streaked across the void of space like a deadly rain of fire, colliding with the carrier''s shimmering energy shields.


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    It was both a dazzling and horrifying sight, like fireworks of destruction cascading across the shield''s surface, lighting up the ckness of space.


    "Energy shields at 64%!" reported the officer in charge of defenses. "At this rate, we can withstand two more full salvos, three if we''re lucky! I rmend switching to an evasivebat stance. Static formation is too risky!"


    The officer''s suggestion carried weight. In traditional space warfare, staticbat stance was preferred for its precision and tight formations, ideal for maintaining control over the battlefield.


    However, it also made ships easier targets for overwhelming firepower. By contrast, the evasivebat stance prioritized mobility and survival, but at the cost of uracy and coordination.


    "How long until the deflector is online?" Li asked, her calm voice cutting through the rising chatter like a melody. Unlike the officers, some of whom were visibly panicking, there wasn''t a trace of fear in her tone.


    "The experimental deflector is online, Saintess!" The officer called out, standing straighter as he delivered the good news.


    "Good," Li said with a nod. "Ry my orders to the destroyers: switch to an evasive stance. Have them harass the enemy fleet, circling around their formation. We''ll proceed to test the new experimental defense Professor Oscar provided us."


    Her voice was steady, decisive, and strangely reassuring. Even the most nervous officers seemed to regain theirposure at hermand.


    As if on cue, Professor Oscar stepped forward, his whiteb coat ring dramatically as he approached Li''s chair. His silver hair shimmered under the bridge''s lights, and his excitement was palpable.


    "Saintess," he said with a respectful bow, "may I have the honor of giving the first activation order for this device? This is, after all, its grand debut in battle!" His voice was brimming with anticipation, like a child about to unveil a prized invention at a science fair.


    Li gave him a small smile and nodded. "Go ahead, Professor."


    Oscar pped his hands together, his face lighting up with enthusiasm. "Officer! Get your finger ready! When I give the signal, press the activation button!"


    "Yes, sir!" The officer in charge of the device snapped to attention, his finger hovering over the control panel.


    "Saintess! Enemy main cannons are fully loaded! Another salvo is imminent!" shouted one of the officers, his voice tense but controlled.


    "Iing missiles and long-range explosive rounds!" another officer added, his fingers flying over his console as the enemy barrage closed in on the fleet.


    Oscar raised his hand dramatically. "NOW! Activate the experimental deflector!"


    He punctuated hismand with a firm p to the officer''s back, urging him to press the button without hesitation. The officerplied, and the moment his finger hit the button, the experimental device roared to life.


    Secondster, the enemy''s barrage struck, not the shields, but something else.


    The iing rounds and missiles collided with an invisible barrier that shimmered faintly in the darkness of space, as though reality itself had bent to deflect the attack. The missiles ricocheted wildly in random directions, detonating harmlessly away from the carrier.


    Their trajectories were warped by the deflector field. Only a fraction of the enemy fire managed to reach the carrier''s shields, leaving the rest to careen uselessly into the void.


    Gasps of astonishment filled the bridge as the officers witnessed the device''s power firsthand.


    "Damage report," Li asked, her voice calm and measured, breaking the stunned silence.


    "Right away, Saintess!" The officer in charge of defenses quickly scanned the readouts before delivering the news. "Energy shields are at 63% and charging. Only minimal damage sustained!"


    A collective cheer erupted across the bridge as officers and crew alike celebrated their survival. The experimental deflector had performed beyond expectations, turning what could have been a devastating blow into a mere scratch.


    "Brilliant, Professor," Li said with a nod of approval, her serene smile returning. "Once again, you''ve delivered exceptional results."


    Oscar beamed with pride, his excitement nearly bubbling over. "Ah, Saintess, it''s merely the fruits of science and ingenuity! But to see it work so beautifully in livebat... Oh, this is a historic moment! I must document this in my logs!"


    "Save the celebrations forter, Professor," Li said gently, though her tone carried a hint of amusement. She turned her attention back to the battlefield.


    "Ry my gratitude to the destroyer captains for their swift maneuvering. Now, let''s show our enemy that the new human empire is not to be underestimated."


    "Orders, Saintess?" one of the officers asked eagerly.


    "Begin counteroffensive maneuvers," Limanded, her voice steady yet firm. "Destroyers and frigates are to disrupt their formation. Target their battlecruiser with precision strikes. Let''s remind them why we''re not to be trifled with."


    As the human fleet moved to execute her orders, the bridge hummed with renewed determination. With the deflector now operational and the fleet switching to aggressive tactics, the tide of battle was beginning to turn.


    From her seat, Li gazed at the enemy ships through the main viewport, her gray, sightless eyes seeming to see far beyond the physical. Her calm confidence was infectious, bolstering the morale of everyone around her.


    "Sir, not good!" The officer at the radar console shouted, panic evident in his voice. "The enemy fleet that retreated a few moments ago is back! And their main cannons are aimed directly at us!"


    On Valis, captain of the Harbinger-ss Battlecruiser, grimaced as he nced at themand screen. rms red throughout the bridge, red alerts shing across every console. For a moment, he sat in silence, letting the weight of the situation settle over him.


    Then, to the surprise of his officers, heughed with a sharp, bitter sound that echoed over the chaos. "Ha! So, it seems that our own damn strategy has finallye back to bite us in the ass!"


    He mmed his hand onto the armrest of his chair, rising to his feet. His sharp, weathered eyes swept over the room, taking in the panicking crew.


    "Enough gawking! Get us out of here already! This battle is lost. I want coordinates for a retreat NOW!" On shouted, his voice cutting through the noise like a whip.


    "Sir,munications are being jammed!" another officer called out, beads of sweat running down his face as he worked frantically at his console. "And... and the wormhole crew isn''t responding!"


    "What?! Put the wormhole device room on the main screen! Now!" Onmanded.


    The officer hesitated for only a second before pulling up the camera feed. The holographic disy flickered, and the image of the wormhole device room filled the screen.


    The bridge fell deathly silent.


    The engineers and guards stationed in the wormhole room were sprawled across the floor, their lifeless bodies strewn about like discarded dolls. The walls were sttered with blood, and the wormhole device itself was eerily silent, its usual hum reced by an ominous stillness.


    "What the hell..." On muttered, his voice low and hollow. He could feel a cold dread creeping into his chest, but he shoved it aside. He didn''t have time to process the horror.


    "Enemy fire is iing! Brace for impact!"


    The officer''s shout snapped On back to reality. He grabbed the edge of his console as the Harbinger shuddered violently. Explosive rounds smashed into the ship''s energy shields, the bright shes of impact lighting up the bridge.


    Some rounds missed the Harbinger entirely but struck the other ships in the fleet formation, turning them into fiery wrecks.


    "Shields at 47%! They won''t hold much longer!" The defense officer shouted, his hands flying over the controls as he rerouted power.


    "Divert all power to the engines and shields!" On ordered. "Forget about firing back! Take us out of here NOW! We''ll flee until we''re out of range and can initiate a warp jump!"


    On wasn''t just any captain; he was a seasoned veteran who had survived more battles than he cared to count. He knew that ifmunications were being jammed and the wormhole device was offline, the jamming device couldn''t have a massive range.


    If they could escape the enemy''s range, they could regroup and survive. Running without looking back was the only option.


    "But... but, sir!" one of the junior officers protested, his voice shaking. "What about the soldiers and mechanized cavalry we sent to the? And the civilians down there?! Are we just going to abandon them?!"


    On''s expression hardened, his jaw clenching as he locked eyes with the officer. His voice, when he spoke, was cold and unyielding. "There''s nothing we can do for them. They''re already doomed."@@novelbin@@


    The officer flinched at those words.

 Chapter 191 The battle of Nakor. (3) Gray.

    "I won''t die with them," On continued, his tone growing sharper. He ced his hand on theser pistol holstered at his side, letting the implication hang heavily in the air. "And neither will anyone on this bridge. We are retreating. That''s an order. And I will not tolerate insubordination."


    The bridge fell into a tense silence as everyone processed his words. The officer who had spoken up hesitated, his hands trembling as he looked between his console and his captain.


    "Understood... sir," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.


    "Good," On said, turning his attention back to the holographic map. "Now get us out of here before those bastards turn us into space dust!"


    As the Harbinger surged forward, its engines roaring with all the power they could muster, the rest of the fleet began to crumble. The smaller frigates and destroyers, unable to keep up or withstand the enemy''s firepower, were picked off one by one.


    The enemy fleet pressed their advantage, their sleek, alien vessels swarming like predators sensing a wounded prey. The Harbinger''s shields flickered as they absorbed another barrage of fire, the ship groaning under the strain.


    "Shields at 29%! Hull integrity is failing in multiple sections!"


    "Push the engines harder!" On shouted. "We''re almost out of this; keep going!"


    But even as he gave the order, a sinking feeling settled in his gut. He knew the odds weren''t in their favor. The enemy was relentless, and the Harbinger was running out of time.


    "Sir, enemy fighters are closing in on our engines!"


    "Deploy countermeasures!"


    Explosions rocked the ship as the bridge crew scrambled to carry out On''smands. The captain gritted his teeth, his hands gripping the edge of the console as he stared at the map. The wormhole device was offline, the fleet was falling apart, and the enemy showed no signs of letting up.


    For the first time in years, On Valis felt truly cornered.


    But he wasn''t about to give up. Not yet.


    "All hands," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around him. "Prepare for an emergency warp as soon as we''re out of range. I don''t care if it burns the engines; just get us the hell out of here."


    The Harbinger surged forward once more, a lone battlecruiser fighting desperately to escape the jaws of death.


    As if to mock the desperate retreat of the Harbinger, the human destroyers stopped firing at the battlecruiser entirely. Instead, their attention turned to the other ships of the Nexum Dynamics fleet, the frigates, corvettes, and smaller support ships that couldn''t hope to stand against the sheer firepower of the human destroyers.


    One by one, the smaller ships were torn apart. Laser beamsnced through their thin armor, missiles obliterated their hulls, and the void of space became littered with the burning wreckage of what had once been Nexum''s proud fleet.


    The destroyers moved with surgical precision, picking apart the fleet like predators cornering helpless prey.


    The Harbinger pushed forward with all its might, its shields flickering as it fled the carnage behind it. On, gritting his teeth, forced himself to look away from the ughter. He knew he couldn''t save them. All he could do was run.


    Meanwhile, back on the...


    A few minutes earlier, as the Harbinger initiated its retreat, the twins were finding little to no resistance from Nexum Dynamics''ary defenses. The corporate military had been woefully unprepared for this kind of assault.


    The only "soldiers" the twins had encountered were rank 6 and 5 militia with barely trained office workers and manualborers, forced intobat by threats of death.


    Lyray sprawled across Nyra''s legs, gazing up at the starry sky. The two were atop a heavily damaged tank, its once-imposing armor now riddled with scorch marks and wed dents from the twins'' earlier handiwork.


    "Sis..." Lyra began, her voice soft and contemtive. "I know this is a battle and all, but... doesn''t it feel more like a massacre? Like we''re the viins here." She sighed deeply, her crimson eyes reflecting the glow of distant fires as she stared at the heavens.


    Nyra, who was gently stroking her sister''s silver hair, paused for a moment. She tilted her head, looking down at her twin with a yful yet thoughtful expression. "And here I was wondering why you were being so quiet and pouty. Turns out it''s because of this." She let out a light chuckle before ruffling Lyra''s hair.


    "Well... before I felt the same way, you know," Nyra continued, a small smile on her face. "But unlike you, I decided to actually ask someone about it."


    Lyra opened one eye, curious. "Who did you ask?" she murmured, closing her eyes again as Nyra''s hand continued to pat her head. Discover exclusive tales on empire


    "Who else?" Nyra replied with a grin. "I asked Master, of course. Who better to answer these kinds of questions than someone who''s been alive for a thousand years? Well, a thousand and something... I kind of lost track of her actual age."


    Despite Nyra''s usual mischievous demeanor, there was a rare sincerity in her voice. While she often acted like the carefree, reckless one of the pair, Lyra knew better. Under the yful facade, Nyra was incredibly sharp, observant, and thoughtful.


    She just preferred to hide it, letting people assume she was the more muscle-brained twin. It was a mask only a handful of people could see through, Cleo, Emilia, and Lyra herself. Even Rex didn''t know the full extent of her cunning.


    "And what did Master say?" Lyra asked, her tone tinged with curiosity as she watched a frigate plummet from the sky, its burning wreckage trailing smoke. She paid it little mind since it was falling far from the city.


    Nyra scrunched her face in a mock "thinking" pose, tapping her finger against her temple dramatically. "Mmmm, well... I don''t remember all of it exactly. You know how Master is; she tends to go on these really long lectures," Nyra teased, sticking her tongue out yfully.


    "Stop stalling, Nyra," Lyra pouted, though there was no real annoyance in her voice.


    Nyraughed before finally answering. "Fine, fine. She told me that in this gxy, there''s no such thing as good or evil, only perspective. Everyone is gray, she said. And that means everyone is the viin in someone else''s story and the hero in their own. It''s just... how things are."


    Lyra remained quiet, her crimson eyes gazing at the stars as she processed her sister''s words.


    "And," Nyra added, her voice growing softer, "she also said that we shouldn''t let it bother us too much. She said the biggest enemies for long-lived races aren''t battles or wars... it''s the mental toll. Obsessing over guilt, morality, or how others see us... it''s a quick way to lose yourself. And once you lose yourself..."


    Nyra trailed off, her yful tone fading into something quieter, almost somber.


    "...you''re no longer you," she finished.


    For a moment, the twins sat in silence. The sounds of distant explosions and gunfire were faint in the background, a stark contrast to the serenity of their conversation.


    "That sounds like something Master would say," Lyra finally murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips.


    Nyra grinned. "Right? She''s annoyingly wise sometimes."


    The two shared a quietugh, the tension from earlier melting away as they enjoyed the moment of peace.


    But it didn''tst long.


    "Warning," Bloody, the twins AIpanion, chimed in, its voice cutting through the stillness. "Scanners detect iing enemy reinforcements. Large armored units are approaching from the northeast."


    Nyra''s crimson eyes lit up with excitement as she stood, carefully lowering Lyra from herp. "Finally! I was starting to get bored."


    Lyra sighed, brushing dirt off her uniform as she stood. "You''re hopeless, Nyra. Can''t you ever take anything seriously?"


    Nyra smirked, crafting her blood-red twin des. "What''s the fun in that, sis? Besides, you can handle the serious stuff. I''ll just do what I''m best at, kicking ass!"


    Lyra rolled her eyes but couldn''t hide the faint smile on her face as she summoned her own weapons. "Let''s just get this over with. We''ve still got a long night ahead of us."


    The twins leapt from the tank, their crimson eyes glowing brightly in the dark as they charged toward the approaching reinforcements. The battlefield was theirs, and tonight, they were unstoppable.@@novelbin@@


    Meanwhile, the reinforcements from the fleet had already made their way into the facilities of Nexum Dynamics. It was a respectable force for this kind of operation, consisting of roughly 300 infantry and 20 hover tanks, a well-rounded detachment equipped to handle most threats.


    The soldiers moved with precision, their boots crunching against the debrisden ground as they fanned out to secure the area.


    "Sargent, is there any word from the battlecruiser?" One of the soldiers asked, his voice tinged with unease.


    The sergeant, a seasoned veteran with a scar running across his jaw, shook his head as he scanned the horizon. "Still nothing. Communications are likely jammed; nothing we haven''t dealt with before."


    He gestured sharply with his hand, signaling the squad to spread out further. "Doesn''t matter. Mission remains the same. We''re here to repel the invaders and regroup with the defense forces."


    "Sir," another soldier called out, crouching beside a scanner device. A holographic screen lit up, disying blips of movement approaching from the east. "The scanner''s picking up multiple contacts heading this way."


    The sergeant leaned over, scrutinizing the data. His brow furrowed. "Have we identified them yet?"


    The soldier shook his head. "Not yet, sir. There''s no match in the Nexum Dynamics database, but given the circumstances¡ª"


    The soldier never finished his sentence.

 Chapter 192 The battle of Nakor. (4)

    A searing, preciseser shot pierced the air and struck him squarely in the head, disintegrating it in an instant. What remained of his helmet and skull ttered to the ground, followed by the lifeless body that slumped forward, still clutching the scanner.


    Blood sttered across the holographic disy; the glowing dots now smeared with blue.


    "Enemy contact on the east!" The sergeant shouted out, his voice cutting through the sudden chaos. "Take cover!"


    He dove behind a pile of debris as moreser fire erupted, the precision of the shots indicating a highly skilled enemy. The other soldiers scrambled for cover, overturning crates, ducking behind metal barriers, and positioning themselves near the wreckage of damaged machinery.


    "Where''s the fireing from?!" one of the soldiers shouted, his hands shaking as he readied his rifle.


    "East sector! They''ve got snipers!" Another soldier yelled back, blind-firing over a pile of rubble.


    The sergeant activated hismunication unit, shouting orders. "Tanks, form a defensive line, and light up the eastern approach! Infantry, hold positions and suppress those snipers! Watch for nking!"


    The hover tanks hummed to life, their engines emitting a low whine as they floated above the ground. Their cannons swiveled toward the east, and a momentter, the air filled with the deafening roar of explosive shells being fired.


    Bright orange projectiles streaked across the battlefield, detonating in a fiery cascade that lit up the night.


    The infantry opened fire as well, unleashing a barrage of suppressiveser fire into the darkness. The once-quiet facility was now a cacophony of explosions, gunfire, and shouted orders, the air thick with the acrid smell of burning metal and scorched earth.


    But the enemy wasn''t so easily deterred.


    From the shadows of the eastern sector, two figures emerged while moving with an unnatural grace and speed that sent a chill down the sergeant''s spine.


    "Sir... what the hell are those things?" One of the soldiers muttered, his voice trembling as he pointed at the approaching figures.


    It didn''t take long for the sergeant to realize these weren''t ordinary invaders. They were unlike anything he had ever encountered.


    The first figure, a young woman with long, silvery hair that shimmered like liquid moonlight, moved with an almost yful demeanor. Her crimson eyes glowed faintly in the dark, and she twirled two blood-red des in her hands as if this were nothing more than a game.


    The second figure was identical to the first but carried herself with a colder, more calcted air. Her movements were precise, efficient, and deadly. Unlike her twin, she wielded a pair of sleek handguns, their barrels glowing faintly with energy.


    "Sis, do you think they even realize what''s happening yet?" Nyra called out, her voice carrying a yful lilt as she spun one of her des andzily deflected a stray metalic shot that hade dangerously close.


    Lyra sighed, reloading her pistols with a flick of her wrist. "I doubt it. Look at them; they''re still clinging to hope like it''ll save them."


    The sergeant grated his teeth. "Those two... they''re experimental subjests!." He spat the word like a curse. "Damn it! All units, focus fire on the two hostiles! Do not let them close the distance!"


    The soldiers obeyed immediately, redirecting their fire toward the twins. Laser bolts and metallic rounds streaked through the air, a wall of destruction aimed at the approaching threats.


    But the twins moved like ghosts.


    Nyraughed as she darted forward, her movements like a blur. Her des danced through the air, slicing through iing projectiles with ease. One moment she was deflecting fire; the next, she was upon a group of soldiers, her crimson des carving through their ranks with terrifying precision.


    Lyra followed close behind, her pistols spitting out rapid bursts of energy that found their marks with deadly uracy. Each shot was a kill, each movement calcted to perfection. She moved methodically, eliminating threats with an almost mechanical efficiency.


    "Fall back! Fall back!" The sergeant shouted out, but his voice was drowned out by the chaos.


    The hover tanks tried to intervene, their cannons swiveling to target the twins. One tank fired, sending a massive explosive round hurtling toward Lyra.


    She didn''t even flinch. With a flick of her wrist, she redirected the explosive round mid-air using one of her pistol''s energy waves, sending it crashing into another tank and obliterating it in a fiery explosion.


    Nyra vaulted onto one of the remaining tanks,nding gracefully on its turret. She kneeled down, peering into the tank''s cockpit with a devilish grin. "Knock, knock~!" she sang before driving one of her des through the reinforced ss.


    A muffled scream came from within, followed by silence as the tank powered down.


    The sergeant watched in horror as his forces were systematically dismantled. It wasn''t a battle. It wasn''t even a massacre.


    It was an execution.


    "What... what are they...?" he whispered, his hands trembling as he clutched his rifle.


    Nyra turned her crimson gaze toward him, as if sensing his fear. She smiled with a yful, almost innocent smile that sent a shiver down his spine.


    "Guess we''ll leave you alive for now," she called out, her tone dripping with mockery. "Someone needs to tell the rest of your friends what''sing~!"


    Lyra stepped beside her sister, her expression colder but no less terrifying. "Let''s finish this quickly. The longer we stay, the more annoying this gets." Explore more at empire


    The sergeant red at Nyra, his slimy face tentacles writhing in anger.


    "Hah! Damn monsters, do you seriously think you''re all that smart? That we can''t do anything to you? You''re not fighting some backwaterpany; you''re up against a megacorporation! Your arrogance will be your doom!"


    He spat on the ground, the globnding just inches from Nyra''s boots.


    Nyra tilted her head, unimpressed, as she casually wiped the blue blood off her crimson de. "Oh, I''m sorry," she said, her voice dripping with mockery.


    "Are you trying to intimidate me? Because, and forgive me if I''m wrong, your small army just got annihted by a handful of snipers and little old me. So... not exactly screaming ''unstoppable power'' over here."


    Before the sergeant could retort, Lyra''s voice cut through like a whip. "Sis, duck!"


    Without hesitation, Lyra lunged, tackling Nyra to the ground just as a massive mecha suit crashed into the space they had been standing in.


    The impact sent debris flying in every direction. Four more mechasnded behind it with a thunderous boom, apanied by squads of militia soldiers armed to the teeth.


    The mecha suits were monstrous, towering three meters tall with gleaming ck and silver armor. Tentacle-like appendages writhed menacingly from their backs, and their hands ended in ws that looked like they could rip a tank in half.


    A voice echoed from the lead mech, smooth and dripping with condescension. "Well, well. It seems we''ve finally found the little parasites causing all this chaos on my turf."


    Nyra and Lyra turned to see the pilot of the lead machine stepping forward, his arms crossed behind his back as if he had all the time in the world. Harlix, the infamous enforcer of Nexum Dynamics, surveyed the twins with a cold smile.


    "Sis," Lyra muttered, helping Nyra to her feet, "this guy... he''s different. Stronger than the rest. Probably their ace in the hole."


    Nyra rolled her eyes and brushed the dirt off her jacket. "Stronger? Smarter? Whatever. If they were hiding all this time and needed a sneak attack to make an entrance, it just means they''re cowards."


    She jabbed a finger at Harlix''s mech, her voice ringing out. "Come on, Tin can! Show me what you''ve got!"


    Harlix let out a slow, mockingugh. "Oh, the irony. You''re calling us cowards? Didn''t your little squad drop in on us like thieves in the night? Or did you forget about those sneaky little pods you came in?"


    Nyra''s face twisted into an offended scowl. "Pods? PODS? I didn''te here in a stupid drop pod, you overgrown vending machine! I walked. W-A-L-K-E-D." She raised her middle finger at him. "Take that, and shove it up your shiny metal a¡ª"


    "Vulgar," Harlix interrupted, his tone dripping with mock disapproval. "This is why I hate dealing with savages. You there," he gesturedzily to one of the mechs with a wed hand, "take care of them for me. I''ve got better things to do than waste my time on this circus."


    The mech stepped forward, its tentacles snapping ominously as it closed the distance. The ground trembled beneath its weight, each step pounding like a drumbeat of doom. Nyra cracked her neck and grinned, gripping her de tighter. "Oh, this is going to be fun."


    But before the machine could reach them, the ground began to quake violently. Small rocks bounced across the battlefield. Then, without warning, a section of the wall behind the twins exploded in a cloud of dust and rubble.


    From the debris emerged a massive Mauler juggernaut, its monstrous frame tearing through the wall like it was paper. The massive machine rammed into the advancing machine with a deafening roar, sending it flying backward.


    The unlucky soldiers behind it scattered like bowling pins as the mech mmed into them, sparks and twisted metal flying everywhere.


    Nyra watched the chaos unfold, her grin widening. "Well, well. Looks like the cavalry''s here."


    Lyra sighed, wiping dust off her face. "You''re impossible, you know that?"@@novelbin@@


    "Yeah, but you love me anyway," Nyra shot back with a wink, already gearing up for the next round of chaos.


    Harlix''s voice boomed over the battlefield, tinged with annoyance. "So... you''ve brought toys of your own. Fine. Let''s y."

 Chapter 194 The battle of Nakor. (6) Joining up.

    Gustav charged toward Nyra like a rabid beast, his ws tearing into the earth with every leap. But Nyra wasn''t scared.


    She dropped her favorite crimson de with an almost casual disdain, her crimson eyes gleaming with dangerous yfulness. From her belt, she grabbed a small ck orb and hurled it into the air just as Gustav lunged to strike her.


    Nyra, meanwhile, used Gustav''s own momentum against him, grabbing his massive w mid-swing and using it tounch herself high into the air. Her agility was unmatched as she twisted gracefully mid-flight, and the ck orb Nyra had thrown moments earlier began to transform.


    With a metallic sound, it unfolded into a two-meter-long scythe that shimmered ominously in the light.


    Nyra grabbed the weapon with both hands and swung it downward in a deadly arc, aiming to cut through Gustav. But the beast''s instincts screamed danger, and he dodged just in time, the scythe narrowly missing him by inches.


    "Hahaha! What''s wrong, little kitty?" Nyra taunted, herughter echoing like a predator toying with its prey. "Not so brave anymore? Why are you running? Come on, let''s y!"


    Nyra charged forward, her movements like a deadly dance as she swung the scythe with a lethal elegance that was almost hypnotic. Each sh created arcs of crimson light, forcing Gustav to stay on the defensive.


    He roared in frustration, backing further into the chaotic battlefield where the Mauler and Nexum''s mecha suits were locked in their own devastating sh.


    With stray bullets,ser beams, and explosions erupting all around them, Nyra''s scythe swings became less precise as she focused on dodging the iing chaos. Gustav, noticing her slight hesitation, smirked and bared his teeth.


    "What''s wrong, devil?" Gustav growled, his voice dripping with malice. "Not so tough anymore?"


    As if on cue, a strayser beam sted the ground near Nyra, forcing her to leap into the air to avoid it. Gustav seized the opportunity, lunging forward with lightning speed. His jaws mped down near Nyra''s shoulder, teeth sinking deep into her flesh.


    "Ahhhh!" Nyra screamed in pain as blood poured from the wound.


    "Let go of me, you damn mongrel!" she yelled, her voice a mixture of fury and agony. Her hand shot to theser handgun strapped to her thigh. In a sh, she aimed it at Gustav''s abdomen, but he was quicker.@@novelbin@@


    He released her shoulder just as she fired, dodging the shot with an almost mocking agility.


    Nyra staggered back, clutching her shoulder. Her breathing was ragged, and her crimson blood dripped onto the ground, staining the dirt. Panic shed across her face as she realized something was wrong.


    "Wait... why am I not healing?" She muttered, her voice trembling. Her wounds, which normally were quick to close, remained open, the blood flow stubbornly refusing to stop.


    Gustav stood a short distance away, his face twisted into a cruel grin. His mouth was smeared with Nyra''s blood, making his already fearsome appearance even more grotesque.


    "Hahaha! This is all you''ve got?" Gustav taunted her, his voiceced with mockery. "Where''s that arrogant smile from before? Look at you now, bleeding like a scared little brat!"


    Nyra''s eyes burned with humiliation and fury as she struggled to steady herself. Before she could respond, gunshots rang out, aimed directly at Gustav. But the lion''s instincts kicked in, and he dodged the bullets with a feline grace.


    "Sister! Let me see the injury!" Lyra''s voice rang out as she rushed to Nyra''s side. Without waiting for permission, she tore open the clothes around Nyra''s wound.


    "F-fuck! Lyra, could you be gentler? That really hurts!" Nyrained, her crimson eyes brimming with tears.


    "Oh, stop whining! You''ll be fine," Lyra muttered, inspecting the wound. Her expression darkened. "But it looks like his saliva is slowing down your healing ability somehow." She tossed a blood pack to Nyra, keeping her gaze locked on Gustav in case he made a sudden move.


    "What?! E! I don''t want that stray dog''s saliva inside me!" Nyra cried, her voiceced with disgust. "You know what? Let me bleed it out! I''ll just bleed until all that nasty saliva is gone!" She groaned dramatically, then added with a crazed grin, "The only saliva allowed in me is Rex''s!"


    Lyra''s face turned beet red as she pped her forehead. "W-w-would you stop shouting stuff like that, you idiot?" She smacked Nyra on the head. "Anyway, this isn''t the time for your nonsense! That beast''s ability is dangerous, especially if it bites a vital area. We need to suit up!"


    With that, Lyra pulled a hand-sized ruby from her jacket.


    "Tsk. Fine," Nyra grumbled, still pouting. She reached for a matching ruby from her belt. "But this little kitty is going to pay for infecting me!"


    The sisters crushed the rubies in unison, and within seconds, a swarm of crimson nanomaterial poured out of the shattered stones. The liquid-like substance crawled across their bodies, forming sleek, armored power suits that pulsed with energy.


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    Nyra flexed her hands, feeling the surge of strength triple her physical abilities. "Now this is what I''m talking about!" she said with a wicked grin. "Let''s hunt that mangy mutt. I want his head mounted on my wall!"


    Her scythe, once a simple ck de, transformed into a long crimson sword crackling with energy. Nyra darted forward, faster than before, closing the gap between herself and Gustav in seconds. She swung the de with terrifying precision, aiming directly for his head.


    Gustav, sensing the danger, managed to dodge at thest second, but not entirely. The de''s edge grazed his face, slicing clean through his left eye.


    "RAAAARGH!" Gustav roared in agony, clutching the side of his face as blood gushed from the wound.


    "Gotcha, kitty!" Nyra said, her grin widening. She licked a stray drop of her own blood from her lip, her eyes burning with a sadistic glee. "Let''s see how tough you are now, half-blind."


    Lyra stepped up beside her, her twin pistols gleaming under the light. "Don''t get cocky, sis. This isn''t over yet."


    The sisters faced Gustav, who snarled like a cornered animal, blood dripping from his ruined eye. The battlefield seemed to freeze for a moment, the air heavy with tension.


    Inside the sleek, high-tech observation room of Nexum''s facilities, one of the lead scientists adjusted his sses as he delivered his report. "Lord Harlix, the vine was a sess. The experimental subject is engaging two Tier 2 low targets inbat and holding its own."


    Harlix, who stood at a safe vantage point away from the chaos of the battlefield, turned his attention from the titanic sh between the Mauler and his mecha forces to the footage now disyed on his holographic tablet.


    He studied Gustav''s movements with a critical eye, the sound of battle outside fading into the background.


    "Mmm..." Harlix hummed thoughtfully, his metallic fingers drumming against the side of his armored mech. "While the results are promising, it''s far from ready for deployment. The subject is unstable; it uses its own allies as shields. That kind of unpredictability is too risky for widespread use in our forces."


    He closed the footage with a sharp flick of his hand and turned his gaze back to the scientist. "Continue monitoring the experimental subject. Every scrap of data will be invaluable in creating a more refined vine. One that''s... controble."


    Before the scientist could respond, a spear crackling with electricity came hurtling toward Harlix. With a screech of metal and sparks flying, one of his mech''s tentacles snapped up just in time to block the projectile, though the force of the impact left the appendage visibly damaged.


    "What do we have here?" Harlix said with his voice calm yet tinged with curiosity as he turned to face the new arrivals. His glowing yellow eyes locked onto the figure who had thrown the spear, a man whose weapon flew back into his hand through a chain of crackling lightning.


    Harlix''s gaze sharpened. "Only two of you?" he mused aloud, tilting his head in mock disappointment.


    The spear-wielder stood tall, his aura crackling with the raw power of a storm. His weapon, now firmly in his grip again, glowed faintly with arcs of electricity that danced along its length.


    The other figure beside him was a stark contrast, a woman with flowing blonde hair that whipped wildly in the strong winds around them. She stood poised and serene, her eyes closed, as if she had no need to see the battlefield to fully perceive it.


    Harlix''s lips curled into a smirk. "Ah, I see now. Humans. That exins the abilities. Fascinating creatures, your kind. You always manage to defy logic, pulling powers from the brink of death itself."


    "I''ve spent years experimenting on your species, trying to unlock the secrets of your abilities. But... they always end up breaking." His voice rose with excitement, his words dripping with dark amusement.


    "Now, to have not one but two specimens with awakened abilities standing right before me... Oh, the possibilities!" His metallic ws clinked together as if in anticipation.


    "Surrender to me now, and I promise I''ll make the experience painless," he said while taking a step closer, his towering mech exuding an aura of dominance.


    The woman opened her eyes for the first time, piercing gray orbs burning with an icy fury that seemed to freeze the air around her. Her expression twisted into one of pure disgust.


    "Brother," she said, her voice calm yet seething with barely restrained rage, "we must take this creature alive. The suffering he has inflicted on our kind... It''s unforgivable. He deserves to be tortured until his wretched existence reaches its natural end."


    The man nodded, gripping his spear tighter. "Understood, sister. Leave him to me."


    Harlix chuckled, tilting his head. "Oh? You think you can capture me? What makes you think¡ª"


    He didn''t get to finish.

 Chapter 197 The battle of Nakor. (9) The lady in white.

    Li''s brother dodged with all the agility his powers could muster, his spear shing with electricity as he parried and counterattacked. But Harlix''s teleportation made it nearly impossible to keep him at bay.


    Every time he created a bit of distance, Harlix would disappear in a blink and reappear right in his face, forcing him back into closebat where Harlix had the upper hand.


    "Come now, is this all you''ve got?" Harlix taunted, his voice dripping with mockery as he swung his electrified whip. It cracked through the air like thunder, narrowly missing Li''s brother, who ducked just in time.


    "You''re quick; I''ll give you that," Harlix continued mocking him with a wicked grin spreading across his face. "But how long can you keep running? Sooner orter, your little tricks will run out, and then... well, let''s just say you''ll have the honor of bing my next experiment."


    Li''s brother gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his face. His spear glowed brightly as he channeled more energy into it, the air around him crackling with lightning. He lunged forward, thrusting the spear directly at Harlix''s chest.


    But before the attack couldnd, Harlix vanished.


    "Too slow," Harlix''s voice echoed from behind him.


    Before he could react, Harlix''s fist connected with his back. The impact triggered a fiery explosion that sent Li''s brother flying across the rooftop. Hended hard, rolling several times before stopping near the edge.


    The only thing that saved him from being incinerated was the protective air current that surrounded him, cushioning the worst of the blow.


    "Brother!" Li''s voice rang out, sharp, and panicked.


    Harlix turned to her, his glowing yellow eyes narrowing as his grin widened. "Don''t worry, dear. You''ll be next. Though I must admit, I''m far more interested in you. That second ability of yours, the way that arm materialized earlier? mmmm, so fascinating. Is it a projection? A construct? Or something... deeper?"


    Li said nothing, her piercing gray eyes locked on Harlix. Her hair whipped wildly in the wind as she raised her hands, the air around her beginning to swirl.


    "Ah, still giving me the silent treatment?" Harlix chuckled. "That''s fine. I''ll extract the answers myself after I''m done dissecting your brother, of course."


    Li''s brother pushed himself up, clutching his spear tightly as he stumbled back to his feet. "You''re not touching her, you bastard!" He snarled, even though blood was dripping from his lip.


    Harlix tilted his head, almost amused. "Oh, how noble. And foolish."


    He raised his whips again, the electrified tendrils sparking with lethal energy. In a sh, he teleported behind Li''s brother once more, the whips cracking through the air as they struck toward him.


    But this time, Li was ready.


    The massive white arm materialized again, intercepting the whip mid-strike. Its sheer size and strength were enough to stop the attack cold, the tendrils sparking uselessly against its surface.


    Harlix''s grin faltered for a moment, his yellow eyes narrowing as he studied the arm. "Ah, there it is again. Magnificent. Truly magnificent."


    Before he could analyze further, Li''s brother surged forward, his spear arcing with lightning as he thrust it toward Harlix''s exposed side.


    But Harlix teleported away once more, reappearing a few meters away with an annoyed sigh. "You two are bing quite the nuisance." He flexed his fingers, his fists glowing faintly as he prepared another attack.


    After saying that, he teleported directly in front of Li''s brother, his fist cocked back and glowing with fiery energy.


    "NO!" Li shouted while the wind around her howled as she unleashed a powerful gust. The force of the wind was enough to knock Harlix slightly off-bnce, causing his punch to graze her brother''s shoulder instead of hitting him square in the chest.


    Even so, the impact was enough to send him sprawling again, another explosion rocking the rooftop.


    Harlix turned toward Li, his grin returning. "Oh, I see. You care for him, don''t you? Adorable." His voice dripped with condescension. "But caring only makes you weaker. Perhaps I''ll let you watch as I break him apart, piece by piece."


    Li''s expression darkened, her gray eyes glowing with fury. The wind around her intensified, and the faint outline of another white arm began to take shape beside her.


    "Enough talking," she said coldly. "If you''re so fascinated by my abilities, let me give you a closer look."


    For the first time, Harlix''s grin faded slightly.


    "Haha, that''s it! Show me more of your ability! Let me witness all of it!" Harlix shouted, his voice echoing with maniacal glee. His electrified whips snapped through the air, his glowing yellow eyes fixated on Li like a predator savoring its prey.


    Li''s expression shifted. The fiery determination in her eyes hardened into something deeper, colder. Her beautiful gray eyes began to glow faintly, captivating and otherworldly, as if they held an ancient power beyondprehension. Her voice, usually calm andposed, carried a weight that made even her brother freeze.


    "Brother, stay back," she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You''re no match for him. I''ll handle this myself."


    "But¡ª!" Her brother began, his spear trembling slightly in his grip.


    "Stay back!" she repeated with her voice tone as sharp as steel. She stepped forward with a steady grace, the two massive white arms hovering beside her like silent guardians, their faint glow pulsing with the rhythm of her steps.


    Harlix''s grin widened with his fascination growing by the second. "Ahhh, that''s more like it!" he eximed with his voice filled with twisted excitement. "The potential of your race truly is magnificent! Have you ever wondered, dear girl, why your kind is so fragile?"


    Li continued walking toward him, her eyes locked on his. Explore more stories at empire


    "Why didn''t nature gift your species anything to defend itself?" Harlix continued, his tone shifting to mockery. "No powerful ws, no tough hide, not even fur to fight the cold. You''re not built to survive. No fangs. No strength. And yet..." He chuckled, his voice low and sinister. "Yet, you humans are extraordinary. Do you know why?"


    Li remained silent, her pace unbroken.


    "I''ve found the truth of your kind!" Harlix dered while throwing his arms wide. "Inside your very code, there is a lock, a hidden potential buried deep within you. And do you know what the key is? Near-death experiences! When you''re pushed to the brink, when your body and mind are moments from destruction, that''s when your abilities awaken! It''s... divine, really."


    He extended his hand toward her, his expression a mixture of greed and admiration. "Come with me, child of humanity. Together, we could uncover all the secrets of your kind. Imagine it! The full potential of humanity unlocked! I promise it won''t be painful."


    Li stopped her tracks. For a moment, she closed her eyes, tuning out the sounds of the battlefield and Harlix''s voice. She stood still, as if lost in her own memories.


    She remembered the day Rex had saved her and her brother. They had been on the verge of death, hunted and abandoned, their lives slipping away. Her brother had awakened his abilities in the heat of desperation, a phenomenon so many humans had experienced before. But hers... hers had been different.@@novelbin@@


    Years ago, when Rex had transported them to the underground city, she had been just a little girl. The new environment, a world of endless artificial light and cold, suffocating darkness that had crushed her spirit. No sun. No stars. No sky. Only darkness and cold, metallic silence.


    She had spent her days crying, hiding her tears from her brother, who was doing his best to keep her safe. When the lights of the city''s homes were extinguished at night, plunging the streets into total darkness since back before the city had implemented public lighting, she would sit alone, sobbing quietly.


    And every night, as the darkness surrounded her, she would close her eyes and pray.


    In her mind, she would picture Rex. not as the man he was, but as the glowing figure of pure white light she had seen when he saved them.


    That image had burned itself into her memories, a figure of hope, warmth, and protection. She clung to it with every fiber of her being, repeating the same prayers every night while tears streamed down her face.


    And then, one night, she fell asleep mid-prayer.


    When she awoke, she found herself in a ce she couldn''t exin.


    It was a garden of pure white, glowing softly with an ethereal light. The trees, the flowers, the grass, even the decorations around her were luminous and pristine, as if the world itself had been sculpted from starlight.


    "Where... am I?" Li whispered while standing and brushing herself off. She looked around, her voice trembling with both awe and fear. "Is anyone here? H-hello?"


    A soft, melodious voice responded, carrying a warmth that soothed her immediately. "Hello, child of Gaia."


    Li froze, her heart racing with fear, since even though the voice was beautiful, she hadn''t seen anyone nearby. She spun around, her small hands clutching her chest.


    When she turned, her breath caught in her throat.


    Before her stood a woman of indescribable beauty, radiant and otherworldly. She wore a flowing white dress that seemed to shimmer with the light of the stars, her long silver hair cascading down her back like liquid moonlight.


    Her eyes were the same shade of gray as Li''s, but they seemed infinite, like a deep ocean of wisdom and peace. Her skin glowed faintly, the same pure white as the garden around her.


    "W-who... are you?" Li asked, her voice barely audible.


    The woman smiled, her expression gentle. "Do not be afraid, little one. I am here because you called me."

 Chapter 200 The battle of Nakor. (12) The fall of the Lion.

    The twins turned to him, both blinking in surprise as if they had forgotten he was there.


    "Oh, you''re still alive?" Nyra said casually, twirling her crimson de.


    "Impressive," Lyra added with a smirk. "I thought you''d have bled out by now."


    Gustav let out another roar, louder and more feral, before charging at them in a final, desperate attack.


    "You''ve got this, sister! I''ll cheer for you... from a safe spot!" Lyra called out with a mischievous grin, making an exaggerated leap backward to put as much distance as possible between herself and the charging Gustav.


    "Hmph! What safe distance''? You''re clearly running awa¡ª!" Nyra''s words were cut off as Gustav barreled into her, his massive frame mming into her with the force of a freight train.


    The bloody mist surrounding her absorbed much of the impact, dulling the force of the charge, but it wasn''t enough to stop her from being sent flying across the battlefield. As she tumbled through the air, her crimson eyes red in frustration.


    Using her tentacles to anchor herself mid-air, she retaliated. The blood-red tendrils shot forward, piercing through Gustav''s leg and shoulder like crimson spears.


    "Gotcha, you overgrown furball!" she snarled while the tentacles anchored Gustav to her as they crashed together, smashing into debris and rolling across the ground in a chaotic whirlwind of ws, blood, and rubble.


    When they finally came to a stop, Nyra groaned, pulling herself to her feet. Gustav wasn''t far, still tangled in her tentacles, but he struggled against their hold, his injured leg and shoulder dripping with blood.


    "Ha! Did you like that, stupid flea bag?!" Nyra taunted, her blood-streaked grin defiant. She summoned her crimson des and shed at his chest in a quick arc. The strikended at point-nk range, carving another deep wound across his torso. Blood sprayed, staining the ground beneath them.


    "Tsk, you''re too damn hard!" Nyra growled in frustration. Her de had cut through his skin, but not deep enough to cause serious damage. It was like trying to carve through solid stone.


    Gustav let out a guttural roar, his eye zing with primal rage. Despite his injuries, he lunged at her with renewed ferocity. Nyra tried to dodge, but with her tentacles still impaling him, his movements dragged her along, forcing her into close quarters.


    His massive ws tore into her,nding several devastating hits that sent her staggering back.


    "Now, sis! Throw him up!" Lyra shouted from a safe distance, her voice cutting through the chaos.


    Nyra grated her teeth. "Fine! But you owe me for this one!" With a loud, defiant yell, she poured all her remaining strength into her tentacles.


    They coiled tightly around Gustav''s limbs, straining as she lifted him into the air. Her muscles burned, and veins popped along her arms as she forced the beast upward.


    "Take him!" Nyra shouted, lifting Gustav high into the sky with a powerful heave.


    Lyra turned to the freshly arrived 4th Blood Legion Squad, their crimson armor gleaming as they marched into position, sma rifles already raised.


    These squad, having just finished massacring thest of Nexum''s resistance forces, moved with military precision, their steps synchronized as they encircled the battlefield.


    "Squad 4th, open fire!" Lyramanded, her voice sharp and resolute.


    The Blood Legion wasted no time. A fraction of a secondter, their sma rifles unleashed a devastating volley, golden bolts of energy streaking upward and mming into Gustav mid-air.


    The sky lit up in a dazzling disy of gold and crimson, each sma st tearing into the beast''s already ravaged body.


    From below, Nyra watched the spectacle unfold, her chest heaving as she struggled to maintain the hold with her tentacles. The sma sts didn''t just burn into Gustav; they were starting to tear through her tentacles as well.


    "Damn it!" Nyra hissed as she felt her grip weakening. The tentacles, charred and mangled by friendly fire, began to disintegrate. "I can''t hold him anymore! Stop firing!"


    At hermand, the squad ceased fire instantly, their rifles humming softly as the barrels cooled. Gustav, now scorched and bloodied beyond recognition, plummeted back to the ground, disappearing into a massive dust cloud upon impact.


    The Blood Legion soldiers advanced methodically, forming a tight perimeter around the cloud. Their sma rifles were raised, glowing faintly as they prepared for any sign of movement.


    As the dust began to settle, Lyra rushed to Nyra''s side, slinging one of her sister''s arms over her shoulder to help her stand.


    "Are you alright, sister?" Lyra asked with concern flickering in her voice.


    "Of course I''m not!" Nyra snapped, her voice a mixture of exhaustion and irritation. "Did you see how that damn flea bag threw me around? I was sure I was going to die!"


    Lyra smirked slightly, adjusting her grip to better support her sister. "Oh, please. You''ve been in worse scrapes. I mean, there was that time you¡ª"


    "Don''t remind me," Nyra interrupted with a groan, leaning on her sister as they slowly approached the encirclement. Both of them stared at the dust cloud, waiting for it to dissipate.


    The Blood Legion soldiers didn''t move an inch, their disciplined ranks tightening as they prepared for a final confrontation. Their glowing visors reflected the slowly clearing dust, and the faint hum of their weapons filled the tense air.


    "Do you think it''s over?" Lyra asked, her voice low.


    Nyra wiped the blood off her lip, a savage grin spreading across her face. "If it''s not, I''m going to make sure it is."@@novelbin@@


    Thest remnants of the dust cloud began to clear, revealing a battered and bloodied Gustav, barely able to stand. His golden fur was scorched ck in ces, his muscles twitching involuntarily as he struggled to remain upright. Despite his condition, his single remaining eye burned with defiance.


    "That bastard''s still standing," Nyra muttered, her grin fading into a scowl. "He doesn''t know when to quit."


    Lyra tightened her grip on her pistols, her crimson eyes narrowing. "Then we''ll finish him now."


    Gustav let out onest roar, his voice filled with primal fury as he prepared for a desperate final charge.


    The twins locked eyes for a brief moment, exchanging a wordless nod that spoke of trust, understanding, and just a hint of sibling exasperation.


    Nyra, now visibly calmer after their intense battle, walked toward the broken Gustav, her bloodied tentacles retracting into her body. The crimson mist around her dissipated, leaving only her striking crimson eyes and a face that bore an almost serene expression.


    The beast, Gustav, was barely holding onto consciousness. His remaining yellow eye flickered weakly, his chest rising and falling in shallow, ragged breaths. Blood pooled around him, staining the ground in a crimson river.


    "Well," Nyra began, her voice unusually soft, "seeing as how hard you trashed me around, I have to admit... you''ve earned my respect." She knelt down and sat cross-legged in front of Gustav, casually resting her elbow on her knee as she stared at his eye.


    "You''re a beast of pride and strength; I''ll give you that. So... is there something you want to say? You know, anyst words?"


    Gustav let out a low, guttural growl, summoning thest of his strength to speak. His voice was hoarse and cracked, but his words carried the weight of his stubborn pride.


    "I have... nothing to say... to a devil," he rasped before coughing up blood and spitting it defiantly onto the ground near Nyra''s feet.


    Nyra tilted her head, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly. "A devil?" she repeated, her voice calm but curious. "I''m not a devil, you know. I''m just a normal member of the blood n." She gave him a faint smile, almost yful in its innocence.


    She gestured to the battlefield around them, at the bodies, the rubble, and the destruction that still smoldered from the chaos. "Besides, is all this really so unusual these days? Even you used your allies as shields to survive. Did you forget that already?"


    Gustav''s jaw tightened as though he wanted to argue, but his body betrayed him. His remaining strength was fading fast, and his vision was turning ck.


    Nyra sighed as she leaned forward slightly, her gaze softening. "Mmm, I guess you can''t talk anymore, huh? That''s too bad. It''d be a shame for someone like you, a beast with this much fight in you, to just die in a ce like this."


    She tapped her chin thoughtfully before grinning. "You know what? I''ve decided. I''ll save your life. But in exchange... you''ll belong to us."


    Her voice turned light and yful, almost as if she were joking, but there was no mistaking the sharp edge of dominance in her tone. "Be sure to say thanks when you wake up!"


    Those were thest words Gustav heard before his consciousness finally slipped away, his body going limp against the rubble.


    Nyra stood up, brushing the dust off her clothes with a small huff. "Ha... how I wish those online novels about the blood n were real."


    Lyra, who had been watching from nearby, raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? What stories?" she asked with her voice tinged with curiosity.


    Nyra waved a hand dismissively. "You know, those popr ones where they say we can turn people into blood n members by biting their necks and pouring a little of our blood into them. Simple, clean, and effective."


    She started gesturing enthusiastically as she continued, "Like, imagine if we could just bite him, give him some of our blood, and boom! Instant blood n member! I read all these stories when I was bored and stuck with nothing to do."


    Lyra frowned slightly. "And how do you know it doesn''t work?"

 Chapter 201 Aftermath.

    "I asked the blood assassins, of course," Nyra replied nonchntly, crossing her arms.


    "They told me that because our bodies are a mix of different blood types like beast blood, human blood, synthetic blood, and so on, it''s impossible. Apparently, if we shared our blood with someone, it''d probably kill them. Something about patibility'' or whatever."


    She paused, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. "Honestly, I stopped paying attention after they said it was impossible."


    Lyra let out a small hum, tilting her head in thought. "I see... I''ll have to ask them about itter." She nced around the battlefield, gesturing to the debris and smoldering destruction surrounding the facility. "So, what now? What are we going to do with all this mess?"


    Nyra stretched her arms over her head, letting out a dramatic yawning. "Mmm, well, the Mauler''s done wrecking stuff, the Blood Legion is mopping up the leftovers, and I''ve got a new ''pet'' over here. So, I say we leave the cleanup to everyone else and go grab a drink."


    Lyra narrowed her eyes. "Seriously? Do you even understand the kind of disaster we''re going to have to exin to Master Cleo when she sees this mess? The entire facility is in ruins!"


    Nyra grinned, unfazed. "Oh,e on. Master Cleo expects this kind of chaos when we''re involved. Besides, it''s not that bad¡ª" She gestured toward the carnage, where half the facilityy in smoldering ruins, corpses, and shattered equipment littering the battlefield.


    "Okay, maybe it''s a little bad. But still! We got the job done, didn''t we?"


    Lyra pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering under her breath, "I swear, you''re impossible." She nced toward the unconscious Gustav and sighed. "Fine. But what are we going to do with him?"


    Nyra''s grin widened. "Oh, that''s easy. We patch him up, chain him up, and bring him back to the underground city. Once he wakes up, we exin the new terms of his life: ''You work for us now.'' Simple, right?"


    Lyra stared at her sister, unimpressed. "And if he refuses?"


    Nyra''s grin turned sharp. "Then I''ll remind him who saved his sorry hide. Trust me, he''ll fall in line."


    The two sisters stared at each other for a moment before Lyra sighed again, shaking her head. "Fine. Let''s wrap this up before it gets worse."


    With that, the twins turned back toward the battlefield; the Blood Legion units were already securing the perimeter around the facility. The chaos was finally settling, but they both knew the real challenge wouldeter... exining this disaster to Cleo.


    "Think she''ll let us off the hook this time?" Nyra asked as they walked.


    Lyra gave her a t look. "Not a chance."


    While the twins were busy arguing about how toe up with an excuse to avoid the beating Cleo would undoubtedly give them once she saw the catastrophic mess they''d left behind, Li and her brother quietly approached.


    "What a beautiful sunrise we have today, don''t you think so?" Li''s voice was soft and weak, but it still carried its usual charm, her words floating on the cool morning air.


    Nyra turned to face her while raising an eyebrow. "Oh, Li, it seems you made it just in time. But, uh, what happened to you? You look awful and, well, totally pale."


    Li chuckled faintly as she moved toward them, her steps slow and deliberate. "Ha... I don''t want to hear that from someone who''s even paler than I am, Nyra," she replied, her tone light despite the clear exhaustion in her face.


    She lowered herself onto a chunk of rubble, a piece of the shattered wall nearby, and leaned back slightly, letting the morning breeze wash over her face. "So... is everything done?" she asked while closing her eyes as if savoring the rare moment of peace.


    Lyra stepped forward, ncing at the ruined battlefield around them. "Yeah, it''s over. All that''s left is for you to call in your troops to clean up the remaining Nexum forces. Just a bunch of cannon fodder, nothing too dangerous."


    As she spoke, Lyra reached into her jacket and pulled out a small bag filled with an assortment of choctes she always carried with her. It was a habit she''d picked up from dealing with her overly dramatic sister during their downtime.


    Offering the bag to Li, Lyra gave her a tired but sincere smile. "Do you want some? They''re choctes. Helps with the exhaustion."


    Li tilted her head slightly, then reached out to feel the bag. She plucked a couple of choctes from it and ced them in her hand. "Mmm, they''re delicious indeed," she said after popping one into her mouth. She turned and extended the bag toward her brother. "Would you like one, brother?"


    He declined with a simple shake of his head, but he smiled slightly at the gesture.


    "Brother," Li said, her tone suddenly firm. "Go call the troops. Have them begin clearing the area and searching for any enemy survivors. If they find any, offer them a chance to surrender. There''s been enough bloodshed today."


    Her brother gave a quick nod and stepped away, pulling out hismunicator as he began issuing orders to their forces.


    As he walked off, Li sighed softly, rxing further against the rubble. The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of ash and burnt machinery from the battlefield.@@novelbin@@


    "So," Li said while tilting her head toward the twins, "since everything''s over now, you''ll follow the arrangement, right?" She opened her gray eyes and stared into the endless sky, her gaze distant yet calm.


    "Of course!" Lyra said confidently, plopping herself down on Nyra''sp as if the morning wasn''t drenched in the aftermath of destruction. "The humans will take over all Nexum facilities on this. And in exchange, you''ll pay us 20% of your earnings every month. That was the deal, and we''ll honor it."


    Nyra, half-heartedly pushing Lyra off her legs, added, "And don''t worry about us backing out of the deal. A contract is a contract."


    Li tilted her head again. "And what happens if the allied fleets of the megacorporations return to attack us? What then?" Her tone was calm, but there was a hint of curiosity behind her question.


    Before the twins could answer, a yful, almost singsong voice came from behind Li.


    "Ah, don''t worry about that." the voice chimed, smooth as silk andced with mischief. "My mother took care of that little detail. None of them made it back."


    The twins immediately froze, their bodies tensing as the voice registered in their ears. They exchanged wide-eyed nces, their yful attitudes vanishing in an instant.


    "Ys?!" Nyra blurted out, instinctively reaching for her weapon, though she didn''t draw it.


    Lyra, still seated, straightened herself, her usualposure faltering as her hands twitched toward her pistols. "You''ve been here this whole time?"


    Li, however, remainedpletely calm, her serene expression unchanging. "I was wondering when you were going to say something," she said while tilting her head slightly toward the source of the voice.


    There was a faint shimmer in the air behind Li, like light bending around an invisible figure. Then, slowly, a small woman emerged from invisibility, her figure materializing with an almost ghostly grace.


    She was as petite as she was radiant, with shimmering light green hair that fell in delicate waves down her back. Her mischievous green eyes sparkled like emeralds, and her smile was sharp and teasing, like a cat toying with its prey.


    She leaned over Li''s shoulder, her arms wrapped around the saintess in a loose hug.


    "Mmm? Are you sure you''re blind?" Ys purred, tilting her head yfully as she nuzzled her cheek against Li''s. "Everyone says you are, but I think you''ve been fooling them this whole time. You see far more than you let on, don''t you?"


    The twins watched in stunned silence, unsure of how to react to the sight of Ys casually draping herself over Li like they were old friends.


    Li remained calm with her expression unchanging. "If you''re trying to provoke me, it''s not going to work," she said simply. "But if you''re here, then I suppose you''ve already handled the fleets?"


    Ys giggled softly, pulling back slightly but keeping her arms around Li''s shoulders. "Oh, you could say that. Mother doesn''t like loose ends, so she made sure none of the megacorp fleets ever got the chance to retreat. Let''s just say their''reinforcements'' are going to be... veryte." Her tone was light, but the undertone of malice was unmistakable.


    Nyra, finally snapping out of her stunned silence, frowned deeply. "And what are you doing here, Ys? Shouldn''t you be off causing chaos somewhere else?"


    Ys nced at Nyra with a sly grin. "Oh, I was curious about how you two were handling things, of course. And, well..." Her gaze flicked to the destruction around the facility, the scorched ruins and bloodied ground. "Let''s just say you didn''t disappoint. It''s such a lovely mess you''ve made."


    Lyra sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "We''re going to hear about this from Master Cleoter, aren''t we?"


    Ysughed, releasing Li and stretchingzily. "Oh, without a doubt. But don''t worry too much. You''ve still got me on your side, after all~"


    The twins exchanged a weary nce. The day wasn''t even over, and yet the aftermath was already shaping up to be just as chaotic as the battle itself.


    Orbiting the Hanarix, the once-mighty Allied fleety in ruins, reduced to little more than drifting debris. Massive chunks of twisted metal floated aimlessly through the void, the remnants of once-proud supercapital ships that had stood as the pride of the Allied forces.


    Fires burned silently in the vacuum of space, and faint explosions rippled through the scattered wreckage as surviving ammunition stores detonated sporadically.

 Chapter 203 Awkward message

    "Hostile forces are too numerous! They''ve broken through our defensive line! By the stars, what are these things? They''re not¡­" The signal faltered and was reced by a cacophony of white noise.


    When it continued once more, the feed was in disarray. It was filled with screams and the sounds ofbat. The admiral had reappeared, this time with blood on his face and sparks flying behind him. "Do not send reinforcements! I repeat, do NOT¡ª"


    The dark screen announced the end of the transmission with startling suddenness.


    Pax sat back in his chair, his face unreadable as the hologram dissolved. His tentacles twitched faintly, betraying his growing irritation.


    "Well," he said after a moment, his tone deceptively calm, "it seems this is no ordinary rebellion."


    "My lord¡­ What should we do?" the servant asked hesitantly.


    Pax exhaled deeply, the iridescent smoke from his cigar-like object swirling around his head.


    "Contact High Command. Request immediate intelligence on the status of the Hanarix sector. And send word to the nearest remaining fleets; I want this situation contained immediately. If reinforcements are needed, pull them from other sectors."


    The servant bowed deeply. "At once, my lord."


    As the servant scurried out of the room, Pax leaned back in his chair, his glowing eyes narrowing as he gazed out the window at the paradise world''s serenendscape.


    "Whatever this is," he murmured to himself, "I''ll make sure it doesn''t disrupt my schedule." His tentacles twitched as a dark grin spread across his face.


    Several months had passed since the infamous Battle of Nakor, where humanity had achieved the unthinkable, the conquest of facilities owned by Nexum Dynamics, one of the gxy''s most powerful megacorporations.


    The news spread like wildfire across the and beyond, leaving the nearby sectors stunned.


    Since no one could believe it.


    The human race, those fragile creatures that no one had even considered valuable enough to purchase as ves forbor, had now seized a piece of the gxy''s most powerful economic empire.


    For centuries, humans had been regarded as the weakest of the ve races. Too physically frail to mine the harsh asteroid fields, too biologically fragile for front-line war service. The only purpose they had served was as entertainment for the depraved or as disposable test subjects for medical experiments.


    But now, the same "weak" humans had defeated a military force owned by Nexum Dynamics, a feat no one had expected, let alone believed possible.


    For some, this was a cause for awe. Whispers spread across the sectors about the human''s newfound strength and cunning. Rumors flew that they had developed some kind of miracle technology or that they had allied with forces even the megacorporations feared.


    For others, however, it was seen as foolishness. History has proven time and time again that taking a megacorporation''s facility was the easy part. The hard part was keeping it.


    Retaliation from a megacorp was always swift and brutal, delivered with overwhelming force. Those who defied them often vanished without a trace, their names erased from history, their stories forgotten.


    But months passed.


    And the facilities remained under human control.


    In one of the converted administrative buildings, now headquarters for the human forces, Saintess Li sat quietly in her chambers. The room was modestly decorated, reflecting her calm and serene personality. Morning light streamed through the windows, illuminating the soft white of her robes.


    A light knock on the door broke the silence.


    "Enter," Li said with her voice as calm and inviting as always.


    One of her newly appointed maids stepped inside, bowing deeply before walking toward Li. In her hands, she carried a small, white robotic bird. Its sleek design gleamed faintly.


    "Saintess," the maid began, her tone formal and reverent. "We have received a cryptic message from the underworld city." She held the bird forward carefully, offering it to Li.


    Li tilted her head slightly. "A message from the city?" She took the bird delicately into her hands, its smooth metallic surface cool against her fingers. The bird chirped softly before scanning Li''s face. A faint blue light swept across her features, and after a moment, the bird''s beak clicked open.


    <<Face features confirmed. Releasing message content.


    The bird''s mechanical voice was followed by a brief pause, and then a new voice began to y; it was soft, cute, and almost childlike. It was unmistakably the voice of Ys, the mischievous enigma who seemed to be everywhere and nowhere all at once.


    "Hello? Is this recording already? How do I even know when this thing is recording?" Ys''s voice filled the room, carrying her usual yful tone.


    "Ys! If you don''t know how to use it, let me do it!" Another voice interrupted. This one was charming and familiar. Li immediately recognized it as one of the twins, though she couldn''t tell whether it was Nyra or Lyra; after all, their voices were nearly identical.


    "Shhh! Let me do it!" Ys replied, sounding as though she was pouting. "I already won the game, so my words are absolute for 24 hours! You have to obey me, hahaha!"


    "That doesn''t count!" A third voice chimed in, this one brimming with indignation. "It was clear you were cheating!"


    "Ha!? Stop being a sore loser!" Ys snapped back, her tone filled with mockery. "You keep saying I was cheating, but you never give proof that I did!"


    The argument quickly devolved into chaotic bickering, with Ys and one of the twins going back and forth in an endless cycle of usations and deflections.


    "You two, stop it! The bird is recording all of this!" The other twin''s voice broke in, exasperated. The sound of hurried footsteps could be heard in the background before the message abruptly cut off.


    <<End of the first recorded message. You still have one message left. Do you wish to hear it?


    The little bird''s beak clicked shut as it finished speaking, its mechanical eyes blinking innocently.


    The room fell silent.


    Li sat perfectly still, the red flush on her ears betraying the embarrassment she felt. Her normally calm demeanor wavered ever so slightly. This was not the kind of message she had expected.


    The maids standing nearby fidgeted awkwardly, unsure of how to react. They looked everywhere but at Li, clearly feeling as though they had overheard something they shouldn''t have.


    One maid bit her lip, trying to suppress the urge to giggle, while another looked like she wanted to sink into the floor.


    For her part, Li simply cleared her throat, cing the bird down gently on her desk. "Well," she said softly, her voice regaining its usualposure, though her bright red ears betrayed her lingering embarrassment. "It seems they were... quite busy."


    She reached out to the bird again but hesitated, her fingers hovering over its smooth metallic surface. "Should I even listen to the next message?" she murmured to herself, her expression thoughtful.


    The maids nced at each other but said nothing.


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    After a long pause, Li let out a soft sigh, her lips curling into the faintest of smiles. "Go on," she said to the bird.


    The little robotic creature clicked its beak, preparing to y the next message.


    The robotic bird chirped softly as it prepared to y the second message. Li, already bracing herself after the first chaotic recording, leaned back in her chair with a small sigh.


    The maids, who had been silently pretending not to exist after the previous awkwardness, stole curious nces at the bird, wondering what fresh chaos was about to unfold.


    The bird''s beak clicked open, and the recording began.


    "Lyra! Are you sure the first message was deleted?" Ys with her familiar childlike voice asked, her tone a mix of suspicion and impatience.


    "I''m sure... probably..." Lyra''s voice replied, sounding equally impatient. "Anyway, just say it correctly this time! I don''t want to delete it again!!"


    ("You didn''t delete it at all¡­") Li thought to herself, her expression remaining calm, though a faint sigh escaped her lips.


    There was a pause, followed by the sound of someone clearing their throat dramatically.


    "Ehem, well then, little Li," Ys began, her voice filled with pride, "I havee bearing good news, bad news, and... probably... a gray one! Which one do you want to hear first?"


    "Ys, you know she can''t see you, right?" one of the twins interrupted, her voiceced with exasperation. "Stop making those weird poses."


    "And you also need to know this is just a voice recording. There''s no interactive interface," the other twin added, her tone equally unimpressed.


    A long silence followed.


    "..."


    "This... these little...!" Ys''s voice trailed off, and then the sound of chaos erupted in the background. Thuds, muffled cries, and the distinct sound of someone''s suffering could be heard as Ys presumably "educated" herpanions.


    Li''s brow twitched slightly. The faint redness in her ears was starting to creep back as the maids exchanged awkward nces again, unsure whether tough or continue pretending they hadn''t heard anything.


    After a few minutes of background discipline, Ys''s voice returned, sounding far too cheerful for the situation.


    "Ehem! Now that my two servants have been properly educated, we can finally talk in peace."


    "Alright," Ys continued. "Let''s start with the bad news! The megacorp is still sending spies, pirates, and mercenary fleets to attack you guys every so often. They''re annoying, but, well, that''s what megacorps do."


    Li''s expression darkened slightly, her gray eyes narrowing as she processed this information.


    "Now for the gray news! My aunt is taking care of them for now yay!, but she said she''s keeping all the loot as payment. There''s nothing I can do about it since, well, my aunt is super scary!"


    Despite the ominous nature of the news, Ys''s childlike voice made the remark oddly adorable. Li couldn''t help but let out a small sigh, her lips curling ever so slightly into a faint smile.


    "And now..."@@novelbin@@

 Chapter 204 Human council.

    "And now..." Ys''s voice perked up, brimming with excitement. "For the good news! Rex finally woke up! And he''s calling for you! That''s it! See you~!"


    "Wait¡ª!" Li wanted to say something, but the recording kept going.


    In the background, Ys''s voice could still be heard shouting. "Hey, you two! How long are you going to lie faint on the ground!? Wake up already!"


    The next few minutes were filled with bizarre background noises. Thumps, muffled protests, and what sounded suspiciously like the twins groaning in pain filled the recording. asionally, Ys could be heard giving orders or taunting the pair with funny remarks.


    "Stop kicking me, Ys!"


    "That''s what you get for calling me short!"


    "This is abuse! I''m telling Rex!"


    "No one will believe you, Lyra!"


    "Nyra, wake up and help me!"


    "I''d rather die here..."


    Finally, after several more minutes of incoherent chaos, the message cut off with a faint click as someone finally turned it off.


    <<End of the second recorded message.


    The bird clicked its beak shut, returning to its neutral, inanimate state. The room was once again enveloped in silence.


    The maids stared at Li cautiously, waiting for her reaction. One of them bit her lip, clearly struggling not tough, while another busied herself tidying up an already spotless shelf to avoid making eye contact.


    Li sat perfectly still, her face calm and serene as usual. But her slightly trembling hands betrayed the faint frustration she was trying to suppress. Her ears, now fully red, twitched slightly.


    After a moment she let out a long, measured sigh. "I see... Ys hasn''t changed at all," she murmured, her voice soft but resigned.


    One of the braver maids stepped forward. "Saintess... should we prepare a response?"


    Li shook her head, rubbing her temples as if trying to banish the lingering echoes of Ys''s antics from her mind. "No. I''ll deal with themter."


    The maid bowed and stepped back, but another one hesitated before asking, "The... the good news, Saintess. Should we... prepare for your departure?"


    Li nodded slightly with herposure returning. "Yes. Notify my brother and the council. If Rex is awake, then it''s time we meet him again." She paused, her gray eyes drifting toward the window. "And I''ll need to have a long talk with Ys and the twins about how to properly send a message."


    The maids bowed and quickly left the room, leaving Li alone with the robotic bird. She nced at it, her lips curling into a faint smile despite herself.


    "Rex, awake..." she whispered to herself, a flicker of hope and determination glimmering in her usually calm expression.


    Li walked gracefully through the corridors of the gship, her golden hair flowing gently behind her. She was nked by her maids and a group of elite female temrs, their presencemanding respect and awe.


    These temrs were her personal guard, the most loyal and skilled warriors in the human army, sworn to protect her at all costs.


    Unlike the standard ck-and-red power armor worn by most temrs, Li''s guards donned white-and-red power armor, symbolizing their elevated status as the Saintess''s protectors. The distinct armor not only marked their authority but also served as a warning to others, insult them, and you insult the Saintess herself.


    As the group moved through the polished halls of the ship, soldiers and crew members stopped in their tracks, saluting with solemn reverence as Li passed by. Her presence was almost ethereal, her serene expression and radiant auramanding respect without a single word.


    After a few minutes, Li and her entourage reached the meeting room, a vast chamber with arge round table at its center.


    The captains of the other destroyers in the fleet were already present, their faces a mix of anticipation and professionalism. Some were physically seated at the table, while others appeared as 4D holograms, their forms flickering faintly as they joined remotely from distant ships.


    The moment Li entered the room, every individual present stood from their seats and saluted her in unison.


    Their salute was one Li herself had designed; it was a gesture of devotion and unity. They ced their hands over their hearts, their fingers spread wide to resemble wings, a symbol of the hope and faith humanity now carried under her leadership.


    "We greet the holy maiden," they all said in perfect unison, their voices echoing throughout the chamber.


    Li nodded graciously, her golden hair shimmering under the room''s soft lighting. "Good work, everyone. You may take your seats," she said while gesturing gently with her hand. Her voice was calm, melodious, and carried the warmth of a leader who truly cared for her people.


    The captains sat down with their eyes fixed on her as they awaited her words.


    "So," began one of the captains, a tall man with piercing blue eyes and an expression that betrayed his admiration for Li, "to what do we owe the honor of your presence today, holy maiden?"


    His voice was polite, but the undertone of personal interest was clear. It was no secret among the fleet that he harbored deeper feelings for her, though Li remained oblivious... or chose to ignore it.


    Li''s gaze swept across the room as she spoke. "I have received a message from our allies. The Angel... has awakened." Her voice was calm, but the weight of her words hung heavily in the air.


    Murmurs immediately erupted around the table. The name "Angel" carried significant weight among the humans since it was a being both revered and feared, someone who represented power and hope but also mystery and uncertainty.


    One of the holographic captains leaned forward, his digital projection flickering slightly. "Can we see the message, holy maiden?" he asked, his tone neutral but curious. Sharing important messages was a standard practice during meetings, especially when it came to matters of such importance.


    But this message was far from standard.


    Li hesitated, herposure momentarily faltering. Her ears, already red with embarrassment, were thankfully hidden by the golden waves of her hair. "I''m sorry," she said after a moment, her voice remaining steady despite her shame. "The message was... a one-time use. I no longer have it."@@novelbin@@


    A few captains exchanged nces, surprised but not questioning her further. Still, Li could feel the weight of their curiosity, and she silently cursed Ys and the twins for the chaos they had caused with their recording.


    Clearing her throat, Li quickly redirected the conversation. "I think we''ve strayed slightly from the main topic," she said with her serene tone, reasserting control over the room.


    "The reason I''ve called this meeting is to discuss two important matters: the full assault on the oceanic world and the ongoing efforts to secure and expand the facilities on Nakor."


    She paused for a moment, allowing the murmurs to settle. Then, with a graceful wave of her hand, one of her temrs stepped forward. The temr ced a small device in the center of the table, and within seconds, several holo screens sprang to life, disying footage of Rex during his infamous battle on the oceanic world.


    The footage showed Rex locked inbat with a massive aquatic beast, his movements precise and ferocious as he wielded weapons of immense power. The battle was both brutal and awe-inspiring, the kind of fight that seemed ripped from legend.


    But as the footage progressed, it became clear that Rex''s victory hade at great cost. Both he and the beast had inflicted devastating damage on each other, and the final moments of the battle showed the two copsing into the ocean together, one dead and the other heavely injured.


    The room fell silent as the footage ended. Li''s gray eyes scanned the captain''s faces, searching for their reactions. "And so," she said softly, "I want to hear everyone''s opinions about the Angel."


    One of the destroyer captains, a grizzled veteran with a scar running down his cheek, leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "If I''m being honest," he began, his voice blunt but respectful, "this angel you speak of doesn''t seem as impressive as the stories im."


    Gasps echoed from a few captains, but the man continued, unfazed. "Yes, it''s true that he fought that beast head-on, and I''ll admit that''s no small feat. But in the end, the result was a draw¡ªthey took each other out. I don''t see how that qualifies him as the ''savior'' some of you im him to be."


    Another captain, a younger man with fiery red hair, immediately countered. "That''s not a fair assessment," he said sharply.


    "The fact that he could even match a creature of that size and power is proof of his strength. If anything, it shows his potential. With proper resources and recovery time, he could be the greatest weapon humanity has."


    The room quickly descended into debate, captains voicing their opinions both for and against Rex''s importance. Li remained silent, letting the discussion flow as she carefully observed each speaker.


    After a few minutes, she raised her hand, and the room fell silent once more.


    "I understand your concerns," she said gently with her voice, cutting through the tension like a de.


    "And I value your opinions, but remember that the angel is more than just a warrior; he is a symbol of hope. Hope for humanity''s survival and future, and whether or not you believe in his strength now, know that his return marks the beginning of a new chapter for all of us."


    The captains nodded solemnly, her words resonating deeply with them.


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    "Now," Li continued, her tone steady andmanding, "let us focus on the tasks at hand. The oceanic world and Nakor''s facilities will be vital to our survival. We must ensure their security and efficiency. And for that, I''ll need all of your cooperation."

 Chapter 206 Human council. (3) Madame Rose.

    "And now," Li said after a moment, her gray eyes scanning the table, "that we are all on the same page, I have a proposition to make." She allowed a slight smile to grace her lips, though her tone remained as measured andposed as ever.


    The captains and politicians leaned in slightly with their curiosity piqued.


    One of the destroyer captains cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "A proposition, holy maiden? If I may ask, what exactly do you have in mind?"


    Li gestured to the hologram of the oceanic, the shimmering blue sphere spinning slowly above the table.


    "The oceanic world represents an opportunity. It is strategically valuable, not only for its resources but also for its location. However, its history has made it a target of interest for powerful factions."


    "The Tier 3 beast, the mysterious sale to a ghostpany, and the massacre of the cruiser all suggest that someone intended to destabilize the region." Discover exclusive tales on empire


    One of the politicians frowned. "And yet, after all that, the is still unimed. If someone went to such lengths, why have they abandoned it now?"


    "Perhaps they haven''t," Li replied, her tone steady.


    The younger destroyer captain, still bristling slightly from his earlier exchange with the holographic politician, leaned forward. "And what is your suggestion, holy maiden? Do you want us to take the by force?"


    Li shook her head. "Not by force, no. At least, not yet. Instead, we must im the with purpose. We must secure it not just militarily but also economically. Establishing our foothold there will send a clear message to the gxy."


    "Humanity is no longer a fragmented race of outcasts. We are organized. We are determined. And we are not afraid to take what we need to survive."


    The room buzzed with murmurs of agreement, but one of the holographic politicians raised a hand.


    "Forgive me, holy maiden," he began, his tone cautious, "but wouldn''t iming the outright invite retaliation from whoever orchestrated these events? If they ced the Tier 3 beast there, surely they couldunch other... less conventional attacks."


    "That is why we must act swiftly and decisively," Li replied. "Our allies have already shown their ability to defend our holdings. The Hive Minds have intercepted every pirate, mercenary, and rogue force sent to attack us. Their assistance will ensure that no outside force can disrupt our ns on the oceanic world."


    The mention of the Hive Minds caused a ripple of unease across the room.


    Another destroyer captain, older and more gritty, frowned deeply. "With all due respect, holy maiden, relying on the Hive Minds is... risky. They''re unpredictable, and their motives are unknown. If we grow too dependent on their protection, it could lead to disaster."


    Li nodded slightly, acknowledging his concern. "You''re right to be cautious. The Hive Minds are not allies in the traditional sense. They are a force of nature, and we must never forget that."


    "However, their interests align with ours, and we would be fools not to use this window of opportunity to strengthen ourselves."


    The room fell silent again as her words hung in the air.


    "So," Li said with her voice softening slightly, "I propose that we begin preparations for the full remation of the oceanic world. We will establish a permanent human presence there, from military to economic and scientific. And we will do so while remaining vignt for any further interference from outside forces."


    She looked around the room, her gray eyes meeting each captain and politician. "What do you say, gentlemen?"


    The murmurs of discussion began again, but this time they were more focused. The captains and politicians debated logistics, resources, and strategies, their initial hesitation slowly giving way to determination.


    Li leaned back slightly, letting the discussion unfold.


    The pieces were falling into ce, and humanity''s next step was bing clear.


    "Well then,dies and gentlemen," Li said while pping her hands gently to regain everyone''s attention. The soft sound carried weight, and the conversations in the room quickly died down as all eyes turned back to her. "It''s time to talk about the most important topic at hand."


    Her calm,manding presence filled the room, and even those still harboring doubts fell silent, captivated by her sereneposure. "As I mentioned earlier," she continued speaking while her gray eyes scanned the faces of the council members.


    "I received a message. And in that message, there was an invitation for me to visit the angel."


    The moment the words left her lips, the room erupted into chaos.


    "I don''t think that''s prudent, holy maiden!" One of the destroyer captains blurted out, his tone filled with rm. "What if it''s a trap?"


    Another council member, a holographic politician with a sharp, angr face, nodded in agreement. "Exactly! If they take you hostage, the damage to humanity would be immeasurable. It''s too dangerous!"


    "We should stop trusting them this much!" another politician eximed, his voice rising with panic. "We''ll never know when they''ll turn their attention on us and attack us outright!"


    "And what if they''re following the cabbage strategy?" one of the younger captains chimed in. When confused looks flickered across the room, he quickly rified.


    "You know, when they let us grow first, carefully watering us, only to harvest uster when we''re ripe. This could all be a ploy to fatten us up for the ughter!"


    The council room devolved into a cacophony of voices, the once-structured meeting descending into chaos as everyone began arguing, this time united in their disapproval of Li''s proposed visit.


    The words "trap," "reckless," and "foolish" were thrown around freely, and usations flew like stray bullets. Though their opinions differed on the details, one thing was clear: no one wanted Li to go.


    But just as the arguments reached their peak, a thunderous voice boomed through the chamber, silencing everyone instantly.


    "EVERYONE OF YOU." The sound of someone taking air before speaking again could be heard. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"


    The room frozen. The air was thick with tension as all heads turned toward the source of the voice, the owner of the voice a hologram of Madame Rose, the eldest and most influential member of the council.


    Even as a hologram, the force of her personality was palpable. Her stern, wrinkled face was framed by a luxurious mane of red hair, and she leaned on her iconic holographic cane, which flickered faintly with a regal golden hue.


    Despite her age, her voice carried the authority of a battlefield general and the sharp wit of a seasoned diplomat.


    For a moment, there was an awkward silence, as if the entire room held its breath.


    "Hold on, Madame Rose!" Li eximed, standing up from her seat in rm. Her usualposure gave way to genuine concern. "Please don''t exert yourself! You have to take care of your health!"


    Madame Rose turned her holographic re toward Li, her cane pointing usingly at the younger woman. "Oh, shut it, you too, girl! I''m healthier than the brains of these bastards, which are clearly full of shit!"


    Her cane swung dramatically toward one of the politicians and one of the destroyer captains, who both looked down in shame, unable to meet her eyes.


    The council chamber was deadly silent now, no one daring to interrupt Madame Rose.


    Madame Rose, after all, was more than just an older stateswoman. She was a living legend. As the founder of the Human Council of Ten, she had been instrumental in shaping the fledgling Human Empire after their liberation.@@novelbin@@


    Her personal wealth rivaled that of the gxy''s lesser nobles, and her contributions to the empire''s budget ounted for nearly 50% of its total funding.


    But even more than her influence and wealth, she carried a secret few in the council knew: she was Li''s adoptive grandmother, a rtionship that granted her immense sway even over the holy maiden herself.


    Though this fact was kept from the general popce, those within the council knew better than to challenge Madame Rose''s authority.


    Madame Rose huffed loudly, as if daring anyone to object. "Now, where were we?" she said with her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Ah yes, the part where you''re all acting like a bunch of spineless fools. Let me make this very clear: Li will be going to meet the angel."


    "But, Madame Rose¡ª!" One of the politicians shouted, only to be cut off by the sharp tap of her cane against the holographic floor.


    "Don''t you ''but'' me, you MISERABLE IDIOT!" Madame Rose snapped. "You lot seem to forget that humanity didn''t w its way out of very by cowering in fear! Yes, it''s dangerous. Yes, it could be a trap. But sitting on our asses and doing nothing is far more dangerous. Or do you all intend to keep hiding behind Li''s skirts forever?"


    The captain she had pointed at earlier flinched as if physically struck.


    Madame Rose continued with her voice rising with passion. "The angel is awake. And if you all had half a brain between you, you''d realize that means something is about to happen. Something big. He''s not calling for Li out of boredom; there''s a reason, and she''s going to find out what it is. Do I make myself clear?"


    The council chamber was silent, the weight of her words pressing down on everyone like a physical force.


    Li, still standing, let out a soft sigh and smiled faintly. "Madame Rose, please don''t scare them too much," she said gently with her tone affectionate.


    "Hmph, if they''re scared, they deserve it," Madame Rose muttered, though the corners of her mouth twitched as if suppressing a grin.

 Chapter 207 Marriage proposals.

    She tapped her cane against the floor again. "Now, unless anyone else has something stupid to say, let the girl do her job. You all love calling her your holy maiden; let her act like one."


    One by one, the council members reluctantly nodded their agreement.


    "Of course, Madame Rose."


    "As you wish, holy maiden."


    "Forgive us for doubting."


    Li returned to her seat with herposure restored. "Thank you, Madame Rose," she said softly, before turning her attention back to the council. "Then it''s settled. I will meet with the Angel."


    Madame Rose smirked, her holographic image flickering slightly. "Good. And girl," she added, her voice softening slightly as she addressed Li directly. "Be careful."


    Li nodded, her expression serene but resolute. "I will, Madame Rose."


    The meeting ended soon after, with the council members filing out one by one, their footsteps echoing in the chamber. Li remained seated for a moment, gathering herposure as she watched the holographic form of Madame Rose remain behind.


    "Child,e here for a moment," Madame Rose called out, her voice sharp enough to cut through the remaining noise. "Let these balls of uselessness get out first."


    The council members didn''t dare linger, hurrying out as quickly as possible, some avoiding Madame Rose''s piercing gaze as they shuffled toward the exit.


    Once the room was empty, Li rose from her seat and walked over to Madame Rose, taking the chair closest to her hologram. She let out a small sigh of relief, her shoulders rxing now that the formalities were over.


    "Now that those sissies have finally left," Madame Rose began, her tone softening but still carrying her usual gruffness, "you can drop the act too, stinky girl." With a teasing motion, she swung her holographic cane at Li''s head.


    Of course, the cane passed harmlessly through her, but the motion alone made Li smile. If it weren''t a hologram, Li knew her grandmother wouldn''t have actually hit her hard, but Madame Rose''s gestures were always as dramatic as her words.


    "Hehe, but you''re the one who told me to keep up appearances in front of others," Li replied with a mischievous grin, leaning back slightly and letting her golden hair cascade behind her. "You said it would prevent future problems."


    "Hmph!" Madame Rose scoffed, crossing her arms and trying not to let Li''s yful attitude soften her demeanor. "So what? Now I''m telling you to stop when we''re alone, stinky girl! You''re too formal, even with me. It makes me sick."


    Li giggled softly and then leaned forward, resting her head on the round table as she gazed up at Madame Rose with wide, kitten-like eyes. "Okay, okay. I''ll rx. But where''s your favorite stinky brat? I thought you''d be scolding him by now."


    Madame Rose''s face twitched as she tried to suppress a smile. She quickly swung her cane again, this time pointing it usingly at Li. "Don''t you start calling your brother that! Hmph! Where is that stinky brat, anyway?"


    Li stretched her armszily and replied, "He''s busy right now, grandmother. He''smanding the troops and patrolling the new facilities. You know how much he loves bossing people around."


    "At least he''s doing something useful," Madame Rose muttered. She then shifted her posture slightly, as though preparing for something far more serious. Her holographic cane rested beside her, and her sharp gaze turned toward Li. "Now, the important question."


    Li sat up straight, noticing the shift in tone while her expression became curious. "What is it, grandmother?"


    Madame Rose leaned forward dramatically, her face as serious as a war general about to deliver orders.


    "When," she began, pausing for emphasis, "are you going to get MARRIED?!"


    Li nearly fell out of her chair, her golden hair flying as she straightened in shock. "W-what?! Marriage? Grandmother, I don''t have time to think about that right now! I''m way too busy!"


    "Oh, don''t give me that nonsense!" Madame Rose shouted, waving her cane dismissively. "You''re not too young. You''re not too busy. And don''t think I don''t see through that excuse! Finding a husband while you''re young is easier and better, stinky girl!"


    "Grandmother!" Li protested, her face turning bright red. She nced toward the door as if worried her guards or maids might overhear. "You can''t just drop this on me like that!"


    Madame Rose smirked, clearly enjoying her granddaughter''s reaction. "Don''t worry," she said with a casual wave of her hand. "I know you''re busy. So I came prepared."


    Li blinked, her confusion deepening. "What do you mean, ''prepared''?"


    With a dramatic flourish, Madame Rose summoned several holo screens into the air. Each one disyed a profile of a different human male,plete with names, ranks, aplishments, and even some personality details.


    "I''vepiled a list of potential husbands for you," Madame Rose announced proudly, gesturing toward the glowing screens. "All of them are outstanding gentlemen with bright futures ahead of them."


    Li stared in disbelief, her face growing redder by the second. "H-how¡ª?! When did you even¡ª?!"


    "Don''t interrupt me!" Madame Rose scolded her, clicking her cane against the holographic floor. "I spent weekspiling this list. And before you ask, yes, I made sure to include all the important factors."


    "F-factors?" Li stammered, unsure if she wanted to know.


    Madame Rose gave her a sly grin. "Of course! You may not think about these things now, but as a woman, I know that nightly activities are crucial for a happy marriage. So I''ve taken that into consideration as well."


    Li''s jaw dropped. "W-what?! Grandmother, no¡ª!"


    "Let me demonstrate," Madame Rose said cheerfully, ignoring Li''s protests. She clicked on one of the profiles. The image of a young man in a crisp military uniform filled the screen, his achievements listed beneath his stern but handsome face.


    "This one''s a captain in the fleet," Madame Rose exined. "He''s disciplined, well-mannered, andes from a respectable family. But let''s see what else he''s got, shall we?"


    With another click, the holo screen shifted. The man''s uniform disappeared, reced by a fully nude image,plete with his manhood proudly standing like a monument.


    "GRANDMOTHER, WHY?!" Li shouted while covering her eyes with her hands as her face burned bright red. "Why are you showing me this?!"


    "Why are you being so shy?" Madame Rose countered, grinning mischievously. "You should''ve already given me one or two great-grandsons by now! You''re wasting time!" She swung her cane at Li''s head again, this time apanied by a dramatic sigh.


    "Grandmother, stop this madness!" Li wailed, peeking through her fingers at the holo screens still glowing in the air.


    Madame Rose clicked her tongue and leaned back. "Hmph. You''re no fun, stinky girl. You''ll thank me one day when you''re old and lonely. Mark my words!"


    Despite her embarrassment, Li couldn''t help butugh softly at her grandmother''s antics. "You never change, do you, grandmother?"


    "AND I NEVER WILL!" Madame Rose replied with a wink.


    After her colorful conversation with Madame Rose, Li spent some extra time in the council room, sitting quietly as she willed her flushed face to return to its normal tone. Even though she loved her grandmother dearly, the older woman''s antics always left her both embarrassed and exhausted.


    Finally, after about an hour, she stood and exited the room, her usual sereneposure restored. Outside, her maids and guards were already waiting for her.


    The temrs stood stoically, their white-and-red armor gleaming under the artificial lights, while the maids busied themselves organizing Li''s schedule.


    "Prepare the transport ship; we''re leaving at once," Li ordered as she walked past them.


    One of her guards immediately stepped aside to make the call, her tone crisp and professional as she coordinated with the crew. The others fell into step behind Li, their formation as disciplined as ever.


    Meanwhile, aboard the Cleopatra, Rex was already awake and active, using the gym facilities to stretch his recovering body. He wore nothing but a pair of ck workout pants as he swamps in the enormous pool, his movements smooth and powerful. Continue your saga on empire


    Despite the luxury of the Cleopatra''s gym, Rex wasn''t there for rxation. Every stroke of his swim was calcted, testing the limits of his body as he adjusted to the changes caused by his long recovery and the enhancements he had undergone.


    His muscles rippled with each movement, his body a mix of organic strength and golden technological marks etched across his skin with scars of battles fought and experiments endured.


    As he finished anotherp, Rex felt his arm device vibrating softly against his wrist. He stopped, swimming to the edge of the pool to take the call.


    Pressing a button on the sleek device, he answered, his deep voice resonating through the room. "Rex here. What''s the situation?"


    "Sir, the human envoys have arrived," the familiar monotone voice of one of the bot maids replied.


    Rex tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes narrowing in thought. "Are they alright?" he asked, his tone shifting slightly, though still calm.


    "They''re unharmed and awaiting instructions," the bot maid confirmed.


    "Good. Bring them to the pool. I''ll meet them here. After all, we''re not strangers," Rex said with a faint smile apearing at the corner of his lips before he ended the call.@@novelbin@@


    Without wasting time, he pushed off the edge of the pool and resumed swimming, the sound of water breaking around him echoing softly in the vast gym.


    Back in the transport ship, Li and her entourage followed one of the bot maids who hade to escort them. The bot''s movements were smooth and precise, its elegant frame a testament to the advanced technology aboard the Cleopatra.


    As they walked, one of Li''s maids leaned in close, whispering nervously. "Saintess, did I hear correctly? They''re meeting us in... a pool?"

 Chapter 209 The storm that is approaching. (2) Cooldown [R17]

    As the doors to the gym slid open, a flock of small white robotic birds flew in, their mechanical wings fluttering with a faint hum as they circled the room. They darted gracefully through the air, their luminous eyes scanning the area as they filled the space with a serene, almost magical presence.


    Trailing behind them was Cleo, with her usualposed demeanor slightly frayed as she entered the gym. Her long ck hair flowed like a dark river behind her, her golden eyes gleaming with faint irritation.


    Rex, still shirtless and doing push-ups with ease, didn''t look up immediately. Instead, he chuckled lightly, his voice echoing in the quiet gym. "Wee back," he said while finishing his final rep and standing up. "How did it go with the twins?"


    Cleo let out an exaggerated sigh, running her fingers through her hair as though trying to brush away her frustration. "I don''t know where I went wrong," she began, her tone unusually emotional.


    "I was so sure I taught them everything they needed to know! Strategy, logistics, supply operations... I even drilled them in thousands of ways to take down a target! And yet¡ª" She threw her hands up in the air, clearly exasperated.


    "They still made a mess! Do you know they almost lost a Mauler Juggernaut? A Mauler, Rex! Those things are not cheap! The repairs alone will cost more credits than I want to think about."


    Rexughed openly, his deep voice warm and yful. He walked toward Cleo, his broad frame towering over her as he reached out to gently ruffle her hair. "Hahaha, I told you before, keeping them jailed in a golden cage wouldn''t do them any good. You''ve been spoiling them too much, Cleo."@@novelbin@@


    Cleo hit his hand, ring up at him but failing to hide the faint pink blush creeping onto her cheeks. She grabbed Rex''s massive hand and tried to wrestle it away from her head, but her efforts were futile against his sheer strength.


    "Spoiling them?" she retorted, her voice rising slightly in protest. "I raised them exactly the way the Kaelzars do! I followed all the protocols and archive guides for young Kaelzars! Exactly!"


    Rex grinned, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "And that''s your problem," he said while crossing his arms as he leaned closer to her.


    "Cleo, you''ve been raising them like pure-blooded Kaelzar kids. I don''t know how absurdly overpowered Kaelzar children are, but the twins... they''re more human than you think. You can throw all the theory and training at them you want, but if they''ve never actually applied it in real-world situations and then you toss them into the wild, they''ll just end up running around like headless chickens."


    Cleo opened her mouth to argue, but the words caught in her throat. For all her expertise in warfare and strategy, there was an ufortable truth to Rex''s words, and it gnawed at her pride.


    Before she could respond, Rex stepped forward and, with zero warning, scooped her up into his arms, carrying her effortlessly like a princess.


    "W-wait! What are you doing?" Cleo shouted, herposurepletely shattered as she squirmed in his grip. "Put me down, Rex! What''s with all this touchy behavior today?"


    Rex grinned down at her, his sharp teeth shing in a yful smirk. "Cleo, you need to rx," he said, his voice dripping with mischief. "You''re way too emotional right now, and it''s making you tense. I''ve got just the thing to cool you down."


    Cleo''s golden eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What do you mean by that? Rex, what are you nning?"


    But before she could press him further, Rex turned toward the pool.


    "You know how to swim," he asked casually.


    "W-what? Why would you¡ª?"


    And then, without another word, Rex threw her into the pool.


    Cleo let out a startled yelp as she plunged into the water, disappearing beneath the surface. For a few seconds, the pool was still, save for the ripples caused by her entry.


    Then, with a faint hum of energy, Cleo floated back to the surface, a faint blue gravitational shield surrounding her and keeping the water from soaking her.


    She hovered above the pool like an indignant goddess, her piercing golden eyes ring daggers at Rex.


    "Oh, hell nah!" Rex shouted with mock disbelief, his grin widening. Without hesitation, he jumped into the pool after her, his massive frame causing a loud ssh that sent waves crashing across the surface.


    Readtest chapters at empire


    This time, the impact broke Cleo''s shield, leaving herpletely soaked. Her long ck hair clung to her face and shoulders, and the look of pure outrage on her face was almostical.


    "Rex!" she shouted, pushing her wet hair out of her face as she floated to the surface again. Her normallyposed demeanor was nowhere to be seen. "Why did you do that!?"


    Rex surfaced right in front of her, the water dripping down his muscr body as he grabbed her by the waist. His golden eyes twinkled with yful mischief as he pulled her closer.


    "Haha! Feeling better now?" He asked with his deep voice filled withughter. "Was that enough to cool you down, Cleo?"


    Cleo red at him, but the faint blush creeping onto her cheeks betrayed her. "You''re impossible," she muttered, though her voicecked its usual sharpness.


    Rex tilted his head, his grin never fading. "You might want to wrap your legs around me, by the way," he added casually. "Unless you want us to sink again."


    Cleo''s golden eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, she considered ignoring him out of sheer stubbornness. But as the two began to sink slightly, she let out a resigned sigh and looped her arms around his neck, her legs wrapping around his waist to stabilize herself.


    "There you go," Rex said with a satisfied nod, his tone smug. "See? Rxation achieved."


    Cleo huffed softly, though she couldn''t quite suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. For all his antics, Rex had seeded in one thing: the tension and frustration she had been carrying just moments ago were now gone, reced with a strange sense of calm.


    "Fine," she muttered while resting her forehead against his shoulder as she let herself rx in his arms. "You win. But next time, I''m throwing you into the pool."


    Rexughed loudly, his voice echoing through the gym. "Deal," he said, holding her close as they floated in the water together.


    Rex swam toward one of the ropes dividing thenes of the pool, gently cing Cleo so that she sat atop it. The rope dipped slightly under her weight, causing ripples to spread across the water.


    She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, her usualposed demeanor returning as she bnced herself gracefully on the rope.


    Rex reached out, gently lifting Cleo''s chin with one hand, his thumb brushing against her lips with a deliberate slowness. His golden eyes locked onto hers, filled with that familiar mix of yfulness and intensity.


    Cleo didn''t look away, her golden gaze meeting his with the cool,posed air of the "Ice Queen" she was often nicknamed for. "What are you trying to do now?" she asked with her voice as steady and sharp as ever, though there was a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.


    "Well," Rex began, his lips quirking into a half-smile, "I threw you into the pool fully clothed, and since I like swimming in cold water, the pool''s a bit chilly right now. I wouldn''t want you catching a cold or anything, so..."


    He paused, leaning closer, the mischievous glint in his eyes unmistakable. "I guess I''ll have to warm you up somehow."


    Cleo raised an eyebrow, herposure intact despite his antics. "Oh?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "But didn''t you just say you wanted to cool me down? Now you''re trying to warm me up? You''re a walking contradiction, Rex."


    Rex chuckled while his hand trailed gently down from her chin to trace the line of her jaw. "You should know by now," he replied, his voice dropping to a softer, teasing tone, "that I''m a bit of a hypocrite."


    Cleo smirked faintly, her cool demeanor unshaken. She reached up, resting her hand gently over his, as though humoring his antics.


    She muttered, "Hmph," a tiny sound of amusement slipping past her lips; after all, that was the only response Cleo could muster at the moment, as she began to look Rex in the eyes and suck his thumb with her rosy, soft lips while he was also staring at her.


    As Rex let his thumb be sucked, he grinned. "It''s always fascinating," he said, his voice thoughtful now, "how soft and warm you are... even though your body is mostly nanomaterial."


    Cleo tilted her head slightly at thement, always the perfectionist when it came to correcting misunderstandings, no matter the situation. "The warmth," she said while stopping sucking Rex''s thumb and her voice carrying that familiar icy sharpness, es from my energy core''s heat dispersion system. It''s efficient."


    Rex nodded, obviously less attentive to her exnation than she would have liked. Gently, he traced the curve of her neck with his hand, letting it fall downward. His golden eyes gleamed with curiosity as he put his hand on one of her soft breasts and asked, "And the softness?"


    Cleo was beginning to reply, using her natural instinct to exin what was driving her, but before she could say anything more, Rex leaned closer and held her cheek while he said softly, "You can answerter," as his lips drifted over hers in a long, warm kiss.

 Chapter 211 The storm that is approaching.(4) Revenant.

    While Rex and Cleo enjoyed their brief moment of romance in the tranquil confines of the Cleopatra''s pool, apletely different scenario was happening far across the gxy, one rife with violence, destruction, and conquest of a pre-FTL world.


    The world below was a graveyard, littered with the bodies of its native inhabitants. The small gray-skinned aliens, who stood just 1.5 meters tall, had fought valiantly with their crude, gunpowder-based weapons, but their technology was fatally outmatched.


    They were a race stuck in the industrial period, with machinery that ran on fossil fuels and weaponry that was little more than toys against the monstrous invaders that had descended on them.


    A vast armada of alien ships hovered over the''s atmosphere. These spacecraft were unlike anything else the gxy''s other civilizations had ever built; they were made from rock and crystal, with jagged, unnatural patterns that testified to their makers'' savage efficiency.


    Corvettes and frigates showered down bombardments on the surface, their crystalline weapons reducing the final pockets of resistance to ash. Carriers, meanwhile, sent forth waves of smaller vessels that swarmed like angry hos, scouting and transferring reinforcement in order to destroy any remaining defenders.


    It was no battle. It was a ughter.


    Amidst the carnage stood a massive figure, six meters tall. He stood atop a mountain of corpses, his crystalline armor shining against the blood-red sky.


    The light bounced off the jagged edges of his huge form, giving him an almost ethereal look, as if he were more than just a conqueror, something beyond the mortal realm.


    This was the Revenant, a name spoken with fear throughout many imprisoned worlds. His body, made of living crystal and thick alloys, emitted a faint, strange glow. His hollow, zing eyes examined the battlefield with disinterest, as if the thousands of souls lost before him were mere particles of dust.


    Another figure approached with heavy footsteps, breaking the Revenant''s silence.


    A four-meter-tall crystalline golem approached, its huge body zing faintly and bearing two different crystals lodged in its shoulders. The golem kneeled before the Revenant, its massive bulk forcing the ground to shake.


    "Great Revenant," the golem said, its deep, gravelly voice echoing over the battlefield. "The world is ours. The rebel forces have nearly been decimated. The conquest has been aplete sess."


    The Revenant tilted slightly and stepped down from the pile of bodies with slow, deliberate steps. Each step crushed the unfortunate victims beneath his feet, the sound of cracked bones and twisted flesh reverberating across the barren battlefield.


    "Good," the Revenant said with his voice sounding cold and mechanical, devoid of any emotion. "Take all of these carbon-based lifeforms. Enve them. Once the ves are secured, begin depleting the''s resources." Find more adventures on empire


    "I want this to be dry, deste, and lifeless. Its sole worth right now is to feed our forges and produce more fighters."


    The golem nodded. "It shall be done, Great Revenant."


    As the Revenant resumed his slow descent, his soulless eyes looked at the zing wreckage of the alien capital. Fires zed in the distance, sending plumes of smoke up to choke the scarlet sky.


    The air was thick with ash and the metallic tang of blood, but the Revenant paid no attention. This was a situation he''d conducted numerous times before.


    "Is there any news about the so-called Angel Conqueror?" The Revenant inquired abruptly, his tone calm but with an air of menace.


    The golem paused, its giant crystalline head lowered slightly. "There has been no news, Great Revenant," it announced. "He vanished after fighting one of our ve fleets; no sightings, no reports."


    The Revenant stopped, his ming eyes narrowing slightly. "It is unwise," he replied slowly, his voice low and gloomy, "to let a possible conqueror roam freely near our borders."


    "Two conquerors cannot share the same space..... Suchpetitiveness is uneptable."


    The Revenant turned, his attention set on the horizon, as a gigantic transport ship fell from the skies. Its crystalline shell shimmered as it approached the''s surface, and a subtle hum filled the air as the engines slowed.


    The vessel''s sheer size overwhelmed even the Revenant, demonstrating the alien empire''s immense power.


    "Send one of our regr fleets," the Revenant ordered, his voice breaking over the sounds of battle. "Hunt him down.... kill him.... and ensure that no traces of his presence remain in the cosmos."


    "Yes, Great Revenant," the kneeling golem responded, lowering its head even farther.


    The Revenant climbed onto the cargo ship''s waiting ramp, its luminous interior throwing an unsettling light on his towering figure.


    As the ship''s engines roared to life, he took onest look at the devastated battlefield, where his golems were still rounding up the survivors like cattle.


    This was the fate of all who stood in his path, a fate he intended to ensure would reach the angel conqueror soon enough.


    The chamber was quiet, illuminated by the soft ambient glow of the holographic disys Cleo summoned to project fleet statistics. She restedfortably on Rex''s knee, her beautiful ck hair falling down her back while he carefully dried it with a towel.


    Normally, the bot maids performed such jobs with precision drones, but this time, Rex insisted on doing it himself. It was a rare, private moment between the two, away from the chaos of war and politics.


    Cleo closed her golden eyes and enjoyed the sensation of Rex''s powerful yet delicate hands stroking the towel over her hair. His warmth wasforting, in sharp contrast to his usual cool and crazy manner.


    "Cleo," Rex said, breaking the silence, "I''ve been wondering something for a while now."


    Her eyes flickered open slightly with her expression being curious. "What is it?"


    "How is it possible," Rex asked, his voice full of inquiry and nervousness, "that after all the times we''ve, you know... after all that and, hm, me releasing so much... howe you never got pregnant?" Are you taking something, or is our union simply... ipatible?


    Cleo''s eyes widened slightly before she gave out a quiet chuckle, her golden irises shining softly in the dim light. "Mmm, that''s a reasonable question," she said, closing her eyes again as he continued to dry her hair.


    "As you well know, my race stopped reproducing naturally hundreds of years before our demise. By the time I was created, there was no information on natural reproduction avable for me to learn from."


    She hesitated, her fingers twitching nervously as she yed with a loose thread on her sleeve. "Also, Rex..." She paused before continuing, her voice bing softer. "I can''t be pregnant. Even if I wanted to, my body is not suitable for reproduction. It was not built for that."


    Rex paused for a moment with his hands still in her hair. "You can''t?" he asked gently.


    Cleo nodded, her face iprehensible. "To have a child, I''d need to recreate my true body, the one I was destined to have before everything broke apart. However, I require living metal, which is bing increasingly difficult to obtain. I''ve been looking for it nonstop, but...


    Her words drifted off, filled with resentment and regret.


    Rex leaned forward, brushing her hair aside to kiss the nape of her neck. "It''s all right, Cleo," he replied quietly, his deep voiceforting her. "I told you already, didn''t I? I will help you look for it. We will find it together, regardless of how long it takes; we have all the time in the cosmos, after all."


    Cleo smiled faintly as he spoke, bending her head slightly so his lips might linger on her skin. "You are too patient with me," she muttered.


    Rex ced his arms around her waist, bringing her closer. "And you are worth it," he said without hesitation.


    Cleo shifted slightly in hisp and raised her head to gaze at him. "But if you really want a child, we could always use the artificial procreation chambers that my people used to produce more of us."


    Her tone seemed controlled, but Rex detected reluctance in her voice. She didn''t want that; she preferred something genuine, natural.


    Rex rested his chin on top of her head, his arms still holding her securely. "That''s not necessary," he said firmly. "I want this to be our journey. I can wait, Cleo. We''re practically immortal, remember? There''s no rush."


    Cleo closed her eyes again, a rare relief softening her features.


    As the quiet time stretched on, Rex changed the subject, his voice more casual now. "How is our fleet strengthing along? What is the status of our forces?"


    When he asked, Cleo produced multiple holo screens with a flick of her fingers. The disys illuminated the area, disyingprehensive schematics and statistics for their expanding fleet.


    She pointed to the first hologram, which disyed Cleopatra in all her magnificence. "We currently have the gship Cleopatra," she exined, her voice taking on its typical critical tone.


    "We recentlypleted repairs on the Dreadnought-ss warship Liberator. In addition, we''ve introduced two Leviathan-ss carriers and various smaller ships, such as corvettes for anti-fighter operations and support frigates for supplies and maintenance."


    Rex leaned forward slightly, zooming in on the hologram of the Leviathan-ss carriers. The ships were shaped like crescent moons, their sleek designs reminiscent of Cleo''s people''s advanced engineering.


    "Mmm, impressive," Rex remarked. "And what can you tell me about these Leviathan carriers? What are their specs?"@@novelbin@@


    Cleo swiped at the holo screen, pulling up additional data. "The Leviathan-ss carriers were one of the earlier cruiser designs my people used," she exined. "While they aren''t as specialized as some of the more advanced models, they''re highly cost-effective and versatile."

 Chapter 213 The storm that is approaching. (6) Lilla stance.

    Thanks to Ys, the suffocating tension in the meeting room had finally started to fade. Li exhaled a heavy, defeated sigh before waving her hand toward her escorts. "Leave us. The rest of this conversation will bepletely private."


    Her guards hesitated, their expressions filled with concern, but after several moments of convincing and a stern re from Li, they reluctantly obeyed and filed out of the room. The heavy door shut behind them with a dull thud, leaving only Li, Rex, Ys, and Cleo at the table.


    Now alone, Li turned her full attention to Rex. His golden eyes bore into her like burning embers; his anger was palpable, his jaw clenched tight.


    Her gray eyes met his atst, though it took all her courage to hold his fiery gaze. "First of all, I want to say this wasn''t my idea. I''m not saying that to excuse myself from the responsibility of being here, but I need everyone in this room to understand my stance on this matter."


    Li said with her voice steady, though her hands trembled faintly at her sides.


    There was a reason she rarely opened her eyes fully around Rex. She could sense his presence even with them closed, but the moment her gaze fell on him, the truth of his nature wasid bare before her, more vivid than she could bear.


    As her gray eyes widened, the image of the man in front of her shifted. The Rex she saw was no longer the fiery, wrathful figure of the moment. Instead, she saw a being of impossible beauty.


    His skin gleamed like porcin, showered with a silvery light that seemed to emanate from within. His hair, usually a deep ck, was now a radiant white, and his golden eyes had turned to shimmering silver, each holding the glimmer of stars within them.


    It was the same vision she had seen as a child, the same ethereal radiance she had once associated with the Lady in White.


    Even as she tried to steady her breathing, Rex''s voice thundered across the room, bringing her back into the harsh reality of the moment.


    "Even if you say that now, it doesn''t change a damn thing! You''re all stabbing us in the back! How do you expect any rtionship between us to remain intact when you bring us this... this abomination of a contract?!"


    His fist mmed against the table with a deafening crack, his anger spilling over like a tidal wave.


    Ys sighed and ced her hand lightly on Rex''s, her touch a stark contrast to his violent outburst. "Darling, please stop interrupting her," she said with her voice calm and soothing but with an edge of firmness.


    "I know how unreasonable you can be when you''re angry, just like that Kaelzar girl sitting beside you, but for my sake, let the little saintess finish what she has to say."


    Her words caught Rex off guard. He stared at Ys in disbelief, his fiery temper momentarily subdued. It wasn''t just her unexpected defense of Li that struck him, but also the way she carried herself now, graceful, mature, andposed, so unlike her usual yful and childlike demeanor. Readtest stories on empire


    With a heavy sigh, Rex leaned back in his chair, his gaze cold and distant as he folded his arms across his chest. "Fine," he said, his tone sharp as a de. "You can continue, Saintess of the Human Race."


    The words cut through Li like a knife, sharper than any of his previous outbursts. He had never called her by her title before, only by her name.


    The formality of it, the icy detachment in his voice, it was like a door mming shut, a signal that whatever bond they had shared was now severed. Her heart clenched painfully in her chest, but she swallowed the hurt, determined to keep herposure.


    She took a deep breath and prepared to speak again, though the ache in her chest lingered like a shadow she couldn''t shake.


    "While everything in that contract represents the stance of the Human Council, it is not my own," Li said, her voice steady, though her gaze faltered under the dangerous aura of Rex''s.


    "The contract hasn''t been made public to anyone outside the council, and they''re still redacting it as we speak. I wanted to show it to you before it goes any further."


    Rex''s eyes narrowed, the anger in his gaze still simmering, but he said nothing. It was Cleo who broke the silence, her expression sharp with understanding. "Then this contract is nothing more than a prototype, isn''t it?"


    As the realization dawned, Cleo''s expression shifted slightly. Without missing a beat, she reached for her connection with the Kaelzar tech, issuing silentmands to halt the powering up of the Cleopatra''s main cannons.


    She had been preparing to obliterate the humans main carrier, but now her hands moved swiftly to reverse the preparations.


    Rex leaned forward, his piercing gaze still locked on Li. "Then tell me this: what do you want to achieve by showing me this now?" His voice was calmer than before, but the fury lingering beneath it was unmistakable.


    "What I want... " Li began, her voice loud and desperate at first, but it softened as her resolve wavered. By the end, it was barely above a whisper. "What I want is for you to forgive the humans for what a few at the top are trying to do."


    Rex''s expression darkened as he leaned back, his arms crossed, his voiceced with ice. "And aren''t you one of those ''few at the top, saintess?"


    Li hesitated but quickly forced herself to respond. "It''s true," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly, "that I''m one of the higher-ups. But my influence isn''t as great as you think it is. While I might be a symbol of hope for humanity, that''s all I am... a symbol. Thanks to certain circumstances, I don''t hold the kind of power you imagine. At best, I have one vote out of ten in the council."@@novelbin@@


    Her honesty hung in the air like a fragile thread, her voice steady but burdened with the weight of her confession.


    "The reason I came to show you this was to plead with you. I''m begging you, please forgive those who have no hand in this. Forgive those who know nothing of what''s happening behind closed doors."


    The room fell silent for a moment. Rex didn''t speak, but the tension in his expression was palpable. The heat in his gaze bore into her like a me, threatening to consume her entirely. Li tried to keep herposure, but the pressure of his presence was suffocating, making her voice shake as she spoke.


    It was Cleo who finally broke the silence once again. Her cold voice cut through the stillness like a de.


    "You can''t im the other humans are innocent, saintess of the human race. If this contract were to go through, no matter what variables were in y, every single human would benefit from it. There are no innocents here, saintess."


    Cleo''s words struck like hammers, each one deliberate, each one sharp. Li flinched slightly but didn''t look away. Even as Cleo''s cold tone sent shivers down her spine, Li stood her ground, knowing that she could not afford to falter now.


    Li couldn''t find any words to refute what Cleo had said. As much as she wanted to, the truth of her statement was undeniable.


    "This so-called Human Empire hasn''t evensted ten years, and it''s already showing signs of internal infighting," Cleo said coldly, her expression as unyielding as steel.


    With a wave of her hand, she summoned several holo-screens, each disying damning evidence gathered by her spies embedded within the human ranks.


    The screens floated around the room, each one illuminating the dark truth. They showed rampant corruption among human officers and high-ranking officials, their greed and betrayalid bare.


    There were records of secret deals made with alien races, pacts to sell military grade weapons and restricted technology, and equipment meant solely for human defense. The humans had bartered away their future for personal gain, undermining their fragile empire piece by piece.


    "As you can see, this has been going on for months," Cleo continued, her voice cutting through the air like ice. "The ambition of your race is astonishing, even to me. So tell me, saintess, do you have an excuse for this as well?"


    Li stood frozen as more holo screens appeared, circling her like specters of guilt. Each one disyed a newyer of treachery, a new betrayal, a new failure of the system she had once believed in.


    Her gray eyes scanned the damning evidence, her heart sinking deeper with every passing moment.


    She had believed, truly believed, that she was leading humanity down a righteous path. But what Cleo was showing her shattered that illusion. It was as if the very foundation of her faith had been ripped out from under her, leaving her stranded and hollow.


    The overwhelming weight of the truth bore down on her shoulders, making it harder to breathe. Cleo''s words, sharp and relentless, reverberated in her mind.


    "Do you have an excuse?"


    Li''s lips trembled as she searched for something to say, anything that could lessen the impact of what she was seeing. But no words came. How could there be? Everything she was seeing was real. And the worst part? She hadn''t known. She had been blind to it all.


    The room fell silent, save for the hum of the holo screens. Li''s chest tightened as the proof of humanity''s sins surrounded her, their greed and corruption pressing in from all sides. Her gray eyes began to water, her vision blurring as the truth became unbearable.


    Her knees wavered, and her head lowered as a single tear escaped and slid down her cheek. Then another. And another.

 Chapter 215 The storm that is approaching. (8)

    Ys sharp senses were the first to pick up on the intruder. She turned her head slightly, her vibrant green eyes narrowing as she focused on the figure approaching through the dense greenery.


    For a moment, her body tensed, ready to shield Li if necessary, but as the figure stepped into view, a glimmer of relief flickered across her face.


    She exhaled softly and loosened her hold on Li, though she did not entirely let go. Instead, she chose to remain still, her gaze fixed on the new arrival as they drew closer.


    Ys had already decided to let them approach without interference. Whoever this was, she had deemed their presence neither hostile nor unwee, at least for now.


    Li, still nestled against Ys''s chest, had yet to notice the intruder. Her shoulders quivered slightly as she tried to control her uneven breathing, her tear-streaked face hidden from view.


    The footsteps grew louder, each one echoing faintly in the vast space. The atmosphere of the greenhouse shifted slightly, the stillness giving way to a faint tension as the figure moved closer to the two women.


    Ys''s expression remained neutral, but her piercing gaze tracked every step. She waited, silently curious as to what the neer intended.


    "Who¡­" Li finally whispered, her voice hoarse and weak, as she sensed Ys''s attention shift away from her. Slowly, she lifted her head, her swollen, tear-streaked eyes blinking as she turned to see who had entered.


    "It''s just me. No need to be scared," Rex said as he stepped into view, his deep voice cutting through the quiet hum of the greenhouse. He stopped a few feet from the girls, his broad back turned to them as he looked toward the artificial waterfall cascading gently into theke.


    His tone was calm, though it carried a weight that was hard to ignore. "I didn''te here to continue the argument from earlier, and I won''t pretend to be sorry for the actions I was ready to take against those who dare betray us. But..."


    He paused for a moment, his shoulders rxing slightly. "I do want to say I''m sorry to you."


    Ys tilted her head, her sharp green eyes watching Rex closely, but she remained silent. Li stirred slightly, wiping at her swollen eyes, her face still buried in thefort of Ys''s embrace as she processed his words.


    "I should have listened to what you had to say until the end," Rex continued, his voice softer now. "But I let my rage get the better of me. I failed you in that moment, and for that, I apologize."


    He reached down and picked up a handful of small crystals from the neatly manicured ground, tossing one absently into the artificialke. The ssh was faint, barely audible above the sounds of the birds and the waterfall.


    His golden eyes flickered with something uncharacteristically vulnerable as he gazed at the rippling water. "While we''re here, in this calm and quiet ce, I don''t want to talk to the Holy Maiden of the human race. I want to talk to Li, the little girl I saved all those years ago."


    The words hung in the air, heavy with sincerity. Rex tossed another crystal into the water, watching as it skipped twice before sinking to the bottom.


    Several moments passed in silence, broken only by the sound of the waterfall and the faint chirping of the exotic birds. Finally, Li began to calm herself, her shaky breaths bing steadier. Though her voice was still strained and hoarse, she managed to speak.


    "I... I never wanted things to turn out this way," she said softly, her hands clenching the fabric of her dress as she spoke. "But as Cleo showed earlier... I didn''t know. I didn''t know how rotten humanity had be or how far they''ve strayed from what we were supposed to be."


    Her voice wavered, and she bit her lip, struggling to keep herposure. "Tell me, Rex... was I wrong all this time?"


    Rex tossed another crystal into theke, watching the ripples spread outward before turning back to face her. His golden eyes met her swollen, tear-filled ones, and for a moment, his expression softened into something almost human. Then, in typical Rex fashion, he grinned.


    "Like hell, I''d know!" he said with augh, his voice echoing through the greenhouse. "I know nothing about leading an empire. Hell, the only reason things work under me is because the people around me are too damn good at what they do. And, well,"


    He gestured toward a few Aegis sentinels standing guard by theke, their metallic forms gleaming in the artificial sunlight. "Most of them aren''t even people... they''re machines!"


    Li blinked, caught off guard by his casual, almost yful response.


    Rex''s grin widened as he stretched his arms above his head, then let himself fall backward onto the soft, trimmed grass. Hey there with his arms behind his head, staring up at the ss ceiling of the greenhouse, where faint stars from the ship''s projection system twinkled overhead.


    "But I do know one thing," he continued, his tone softer now, though his smile remained.


    "None of this, none of what I''ve achieved would have been possible if I tried to do it all on my own. I always had people around me who believed in me and who helped me every step of the way. And you know what, Li? I''m actually impressed."


    Li tilted her head slightly, her gray eyes wide and questioning.


    "I''m impressed that the little girl I pulled out of the gutter all those years ago managed to build what she has now," Rex said with his voice filled with genuine admiration. "In this kind of gxy, that''s no small feat. You''vee a long way, Li, even if it doesn''t feel like it right now."


    His words, so unexpectedly heartfelt, struck a chord in Li. She bit her lip again, this time to stop herself from tearing up once more. Ys, still seated beside her, watched the exchange silently, her lips curving into the faintest of smiles.@@novelbin@@


    Rex closed his eyes, letting out a deep sigh as he rxed into the grass. The artificial sunlight bathed him in a soft glow, and for a moment, the tension in the air seemed to lift. "You just need to remember, kid," he added, his voice almost a whisper now. "You don''t have to carry it all on your own."


    "So, after saying all of that," Rex spoke once again, but this time his voice was calm and steady. "I really hope you understand that I''m offering my help with whatever it is you want to do now. So tell me... "


    He shifted slightly, still lying on the grass, his golden eyes ncing at Li. "What is it you want to do?"


    Li hesitated for a moment, staring down at the trembling hands resting in herp. But then she clenched her fists, her resolve hardening as she looked up at Rex, her gray eyes zing with renewed determination.


    "I... I want to fix the human empire!" she shouted, her voice ringing out through the greenhouse. "I want to make things right... how they should have been from the very start!"


    Continue your adventure at empire


    For a brief moment, Rex blinked at her in silence before letting out an awkward, almost exasperatedugh. "Well, that''s impossible, you know?" he said while scratching the back of his head and grinning at her like she''d just dered she wanted to move a mountain with her bare hands.


    "I know it''ll be hard!" Li shot back, raising her voice even more. "But I don''t think it''s impossible!" Her words carried a fiery defiance, and her determination filled the space around her like a tangible force.


    Rex''s grin faded slightly as he sat up, resting his elbows on his knees. His expression grew more serious, though his tone remained light. "The thing is, Cleo already predicted you''d say something like that," he said bluntly, his gaze meeting hers.


    "She said the organization you''ve built is already doomed to fail... but that you can at least save some of it."


    Li froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her mind raced, the weight of his words settling heavily on her shoulders. Her fingers gripped the fabric of her dress tightly as she swallowed the lump in her throat.


    "What... what did Cleo say?" she asked hesitantly, her voice trembling. "How... how can I save some of them?"


    Rex leaned back slightly, his golden eyes glinting with an odd mixture of sympathy and honesty. He had no intention of softening the truth for her. "Well," he said, his voice casual but carrying a weight of finality.


    "She said you should use the poprity you''ve got as the Holy Maiden of the human race. Use it to rise above the others and create a faction of your own. Start a new organization, one where you hold all the authority."


    Li stared at him, her gray eyes wide with surprise. She had expected a harsher answer, something cruel or cutting. Instead, what he had said made a strange kind of sense; it was terrifying, yes, but logical.


    "You need to cut out the rot before it spreads," Rex continued, watching her reaction closely. "You won''t be able to save everyone, and you sure as hell won''t be able to fix the mess the human empire''s already be. But if you can take the right people with you and build something stronger... you''ll have a chance to start fresh."


    Li remained quiet, her hands still clutching her dress as her thoughts swirled. The idea of abandoning the very empire she had dedicated herself to building felt like betrayal.


    But at the same time, if she stayed, if she kept trying to fix what was already falling apart, would it truly make any difference?

 Chapter 218 The storm that is approaching. (11)

    Entire sections of the fleet were obliterated in seconds, and even the smaller Kaelzar war machines were struggling to keep their distance.


    "Look closely," Cleo said, breaking the silence. Her voice was cold and steady as her eyes stayed fixed on the screen.


    "This creature took a direct hit from hundreds of world-ss destroyer cannons and survived. That arm is regenerating right now, right? It''ll be fully restored in less than a few minutes."


    "This is the kind of entity you might be invoking if you rely on the Lady in White. Are you starting to understand the scale of what you could be dealing with?"


    Li didn''t respond, her wide eyes fixed on the screen as the Kaelzars rallied to fight.


    Massive Kaelzar warships hovered into view, deploying an array of heavy weapons that unleashed a storm of firepower against the creature.


    At the same time, towering warfare megaconstructions descended from above, their impossiblyrge frames dwarfing even the creature itself. These behemoths bristled with weaponry and shields, designed solely for battles of this magnitude.


    But even these titanic reinforcements weren''t enough to turn the tide. The creature''s attacks were relentless, its ck tentacles swiping through the Kaelzars'' forces with horrifying efficiency.


    More powerhouses from the Kaelzar royal forces began to join the battle. Tier 7 warriors, d in gleaming armor and wielding weapons that crackled with terrifying energy, surged forward like a tide of light.


    Each of these warriors was a powerhouse in their own right, capable of leveling cities with ease. They attacked the creature in coordinated waves, using formations and tactics honed over centuries of battle.


    Yet, even with theirbined strength, it wasn''t enough.


    Every time the creature struck, its blows carried an unimaginable force, sending the Tier 7 warriors flying like scattered leaves. Many of them perished instantly, their bodies obliterated in an instant by the sheer power of the attacks.


    Others were sent back to their respawn spots, where they would regenerate a new body and return to the battlefield momentster.


    Li''s mouth went dry as she watched. The Kaelzars were throwing everything they had at the creature, and still, they struggled to contain it.


    "Respawn spots?" Li asked, breaking her silence. Her voice was quiet, almost trembling. "What are those?" Read thetest on empire


    Cleo nced at her briefly before returning her gaze to the recording. "Advanced Kaelzar technology," she exined.


    "For those above Tier 5, their consciousness and memories are stored in a data bank. When their bodies are destroyed, they can regenerate a new one at a designated location."


    "It''s one of the reasons our empire was able to maintain dominance for so long. But even with that advantage..." Cleo trailed off, letting the footage speak for itself.


    The screen flickered as the battle continued to unfold. Despite their near-infinite reinforcements, the Kaelzars were being pushed back. Entire legions of Tier 7 warriors fell, their weapons barely leaving a scratch on the creature.


    The megaconstructions fired their-shattering weapons in an attempt to pin it down, but the entity''s regenerative abilities and raw power made it seem unstoppable.


    Emperor Xynithar continued to fight at the forefront, his golden form a beacon of defiance against the overwhelming darkness. His attacks struck true, each blownding with enough force to create massive shockwaves that rippled through space. And yet, the creature refused to fall.


    "Do you see now?" Cleo said, her tone heavy. "Even with the might of the Kaelzar Empire, even with the Emperor himself leading the charge, this battle pushed us to the brink. And this was just one entity. One."@@novelbin@@


    Li''s hands trembled as she stared at the screen. Her mind was racing, trying to reconcile what she was seeing. The sheer scale of the battle was iprehensible.


    The Kaelzars were supposed to be one of the strongest races in the gxy, yet here they were, struggling to contain a single opponent.


    The recording continued, showing the creature letting out another guttural roar as it unleashed another wave of destructive energy. Ships were obliterated. Warriors were thrown into respawn once more. And yet, the Kaelzars fought on, their forces rallying around their Emperor.


    "Why are you showing me this?" Li finally asked, her voice shaking.


    Cleo didn''t answer immediately. Instead, she paused the video again, freezing the image on the moment the creature regenerated its arm fully, its massive form standing tall and defiant against the Kaelzar fleet.


    "I''m showing you this," Cleo said, her voice cold and deliberate, "because if you invoke the Lady in White, or any entity like her, you might unleash something like this."


    "Something that even an empire like mine struggled to contain. If you''re not prepared to face the consequences, then abandon your n now."


    Li stared at the frozen image on the holo screen, the terrifying creature towering above the wreckage of the Kaelzar fleet. Her chest felt tight with fear, the weight of the decision pressing down on her.


    But even in the face of such overwhelming odds, a spark of determination flickered within her.


    "I still want to choose her as the symbol of our faith," Li said finally, her voice steady despite the tension in her body. "After all, as I told you before, I already have a clue about who the son of the Lady in White might be. If we make both of them the symbols of the new religion, it would be safer, don''t you think?"


    Cleo''s golden eyes narrowed slightly, a glimmer of curiosity lighting up her expression. "Oh? Tell me more about this idea of yours," she said while leaning forward slightly. "And also, who exactly do you think the son of a Tier 9 entity could be?"


    Li hesitated, her hands fidgeting as she thought about how to respond. For a moment, she questioned whether revealing her full thoughts to Cleo was the right choice. But after everything Cleo had done to help her so far, she decided to trust her.


    Taking a deep breath, she looked Cleo directly in the eyes and spoke with total determination. "I n to make the Lady in White the goddess of our religion, and her son would serve as her envoy. The prayers and calls would be directed toward her son instead of her."


    Cleo raised an eyebrow; her curiosity piqued even further. "Why to her son?" she asked, resting her hands on the table as she leaned closer. "From what I understand of most religions, they pray directly to a powerful deity, not to a creation or subordinate of it."


    Li sped her hands together tightly, her nervous fingers still fidgeting. "Well... remember how I mentioned that I have an idea about who her son might be?"


    "I remember," Cleo replied, her voice calm but firm. "But you haven''t provided any actual information about this mysterious son yet." She folded her hands and waited patiently, her piercing gaze locked on Li.


    Li took another deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "The thing is..." she began, her voice quieter now, "I think Rex is the son of that entity. The son of the Lady in White."


    Cleo''s expression didn''t change, but the silence that followed was deafening. Her golden eyes bore into Li''s, clearly processing the statement, waiting for her to continue.


    "As I''ve already told you, my eyes are... different," Li said while trying to gather her thoughts. "You already know about the gift she gave me and how I can see things as they truly are. And that''s why I think Rex is her son."


    Cleo tilted her head slightly, a spark of intrigue flickering across her usually stoic face. "And how do your eyes confirm that?"


    Li hesitated again, ying with her fingers as she tried to find the right words. Finally, she just blurted it out. "The Rex I see with my eyes... he doesn''t look like the Rex you all see. He lookspletely different. He looks like the Lady in White, but in a male form, his skin, his hair, even his eyes. He''s her reflection, but as a man."


    Cleo''s expression remained neutral, though her fingers tapped the surface of the table thoughtfully.


    "If what I''m saying is true," Li continued, her voice growing more confident, "then directing the calls and prayers toward Rex would be much safer. We wouldn''t be invoking the void or any unknown entities."


    "We''d be calling on him specifically. That way, we''d be controlling the focus of the religion, and the risk of summoning something else, something dangerous, would drastically decrease."


    When she finished speaking, Li looked at Cleo nervously, waiting for her reaction.


    Cleo finally leaned back in her chair, her lips curving into the faintest smile. She nodded slowly, her mind clearly processing the implications of Li''s n. "I see," she said after a long pause.


    "If what you say is true, then your approach does make sense. By focusing the prayers and worship on Rex, you''re effectively minimizing the danger of calling on the void. If he truly is connected to the Lady in White, then he could act as a stabilizing intermediary."


    Cleo tapped her chin thoughtfully before continuing. "And since you see Rex differently with your eyes, you could use that to your advantage. The statues and symbols for your new religion could be modeled after the Rex you see and not the one everyone else does."


    "That way, the humans wouldn''t suspect that you''re aligning yourself with us or selling out to the Kaelzars. It''s¡­ a smart move, Li."


    Li felt a wave of relief wash over her as she saw Cleo nodding in approval. But she also noticed a faint glimmer of amusement in Cleo''s eyes, as though she was finding this entire situation deeply entertaining in her own way.

 Chapter 220 Confrontation.

    "What do the Hive Minds want with the Revenant Ascendancy?" Cleo asked sharply, her piercing golden eyes locking onto Ys''s yful emerald ones. Her patience was already running thin, and she wasn''t in the mood for Ys''s games.


    "Well," Ys began, tilting her head with an innocent smile that only made Cleo''s irritation increase further. "As I''m sure you already know, their ships are made of minerals. My mom wants to see if they''re... how do I put it... good nutrients for our troops."


    She said this with the same carefree tone one might use toment on the weather, her voice light and whimsical.


    Cleo''s gaze hardened. "So, what you''re saying is the Hive Minds want to devour the remains of the Revenant fleet? Is that it?"


    "Not exactly," Ys replied, her smile widening ever so slightly. "What she wants are the remains of the battle. It doesn''t matter whose remains they are... yours, the Revenant''s, anyone''s really. She doesn''t care."


    Cleo''s expression darkened further, her displeasure etched clearly across her face. As usual, Ys seemed entirely unbothered, as if she hadn''t just dropped a deeply unsettling revtion.


    "Ah! But don''t misunderstand," Ys added, sping her hands behind her back and leaning forward slightly with an air of mock innocence. "I''ll still fight alongside you guys. After all, it''s my duty to fight with my darling husband¡«."


    Her voice was as sweet as honey, but her teasing tone cut through Cleo''s growing frustration like a knife.


    Cleo''s fists clenched at her sides, her patience reaching its limit. "So what is the point of telling me this?" she asked coldly. "If your mother isn''t sending reinforcements, why are you wasting my time with this useless information?"


    Ys''s grin didn''t falter. Instead, her eyes glimmered with mischief as she tilted her head the other way. "Well, it''s because she wants to talk with my darling Rex first. Then, maybe she''ll decide what to do, whether to send reinforcements or not."


    Cleo''sposure finally broke. Her fury erupted as she mmed Ys against the cold metallic wall of the corridor, her hands gripping Ys''s arms with crushing force. "DO YOU THINK I''M AN IMBECILE?!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the walls.


    Ys blinked, clearly unfazed by Cleo''s sudden outburst. If anything, her grin grew wider. "Hey¡«, I don''t mind being pushed to the wall," she teased with her voice as infuriatingly carefree as ever, "but I''d definitely prefer if Rex was the one doing it instead of you¡«."


    "Don''t joke with me, Y''Ssera!" Cleo shouted, her grip tightening as her golden eyes burned with rage. "Do you think I''m a toy for your miserable race? Do you think the Hive Minds are untouchable? Do you think there''s no one in this gxy capable of defeating them!?"


    Ys''s yful demeanor didn''t falter. If anything, she seemed to enjoy Cleo''s fury, as if it were a game to her. "Mmm¡«? I don''t know why you''re yelling at me," Ys said with a sly smile. "I''m not the one who told you those things, you know. I''m just the messenger¡«."


    The carefree tone in Ys''s voice only served to infuriate Cleo further, but after a few seconds of silence, she let out a heavy sigh. Her grip on Ys''s arms loosened, and she stepped back, regaining herposure.


    "Y''Ssera," Cleo said coldly, her voice now steadier but stillced with venom. "Are you sure you want Rex to go to the Hive Mind?"


    She tilted her head again, her grin softening just a little as she raised an eyebrow. "Mmm? Why not? It''s not like anything bad will happen to him while he''s visiting my mom, you know." Her tone was almost dismissive, as if Cleo''s concern was entirely unfounded.


    Cleo stared at her, unblinking. "Are you certain? Should I remind you what the Queens of the Hive Minds are infamous for doing?" Her words were sharp, cutting through Ys''s nonchnce like a de.


    For the first time, Ys didn''t respond immediately. The yful spark in her eyes dimmed slightly as her expression grew uncharacteristically quiet. She didn''t look angry or surprised, just thoughtful. The shift in her demeanor was subtle but significant.


    Cleo studied her for a moment longer before letting out another sigh. Without another word, she turned and resumed walking down the corridor, leaving Ys alone with her thoughts.


    Ys remained by the wall for a moment, her emerald eyes staring off into the distance. For once, her carefree expression had been reced with something far more subdued.


    That same night, Rex was already lyingfortably in bed, his arms behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. Cleo sat nearby in front of a mirror, brushing her long, ck hair with slow, deliberate strokes.


    The soft glow of the room''s lights reflected off her smooth skin, giving her an almost ethereal appearance.


    "Rex, I received a message from the Hive Minds," she said suddenly, her voice calm but carrying a subtle tension. "Do you want to hear it?"


    "Mmm? Sure, why not?" Rex replied, his tone light and teasing as his gaze shifted to her reflection in the mirror.


    "It''s not like I have anything else to do while lying here on this ridiculouslyfy bed, recharging myself, with a beautiful girl making herself even more beautiful beforeing toy next to me." He grinned, his golden eyes sparkling with yful mischief.


    Cleo paused her brushing and let out a small sigh, the corner of her mouth twitching at his antics. She turned slightly in her chair, meeting his gaze through the mirror.


    "Ys told me her mother wants to meet you in person," she said bluntly. Her voice wasposed, but the subtle edge in her tone betrayed her displeasure. "But I hate it."


    Rex raised an eyebrow, propping himself up on one elbow as he studied her expression. "Why are you against it?" he asked. "It''s not like I''m going to stay with her forever or anything."


    Cleo stood, setting the brush down on the table as she turned to face him fully. Her golden eyes were serious now, her usual cool demeanor cracking just enough to let him see her concern.


    "It''s not that, you idiot," she said with a hint of exasperation. "It''s just... from the little information we have about the Hive Minds, there''s one thing we know for sure. The Queen is extremely picky when ites to her daughters'' partners. She won''t ept what she considers inferior genes to be introduced into their ranks."


    Rex''s yful smirk returned as he raised both eyebrows. "Hold on a second, what''s wrong with my genes? I''m pretty sure Ys said mine were of legendary quality, you know," he said while grinning as he opened the nket to invite her to join him in bed.


    Cleo let out a small huff, walking toward the bed and slipping under the nket next to him. She rested her head on his chest, her silver hair spilling over his shoulder like liquid moonlight.


    "It''s not that simple," she said, her voice softer now as her fingers idly traced patterns on his chest.


    "Usually, when the Queen of a Swarm selects potential partners, it''s because she''s looking for something specific. Maybe genes from a species with incredible defense or a race that possesses a unique supernatural ability that she wants to introduce into her ranks."


    "In your case..." Cleo hesitated, her golden eyes flickering with uncertainty. "You''re originally human. And humans aren''t exactly well studied species. At least, not in the same way as some of the other advanced races."


    "So what you''re saying is that there''s a high chance she''ll decide I''m not worth keeping around?" Rex asked, his tone casual as he began gently patting Cleo''s head.


    "Affirmative," Cleo replied, her voiceced with reluctance.


    "And if she doese to that conclusion... there''s a chance she''ll try to kill you. Worse, I don''t know if I''d be able to stop her. We don''t know how strong this Queen is, and Ys... she might not be able to help you either. She''s still under the control of the Queen, no matter how free she appears to be."


    Rex fell silent for a moment, his hand continuing its soothing motion through Cleo''s hair as he processed her words. Despite the heavy implications of what she was saying, his expression remained calm, even thoughtful.


    "You''re really worried about me, huh?" Rex finally said while a faint smile tugged at his lips.


    Cleo didn''t answer immediately. Instead, she buried her face slightly into his chest, her voice muffled but tinged with frustration. "Of course I am, you idiot," she said quietly. "You''re reckless and arrogant, and you never take things seriously until it''s toote. How could I not worry?"


    Rex chuckled softly, the sound rumbling through his chest. "Well, I don''t n on dying anytime soon," he said confidently. "And besides, if she''s as picky as you say, then I just have to make myself irresistible, right? Maybe show off these legendary genes Ys was bragging about."@@novelbin@@


    Cleo groaned, lifting her head just enough to re at him. "This isn''t a joke, Rex."


    "I know, I know," he said, his grin softening into something more genuine. "I''ll be careful, Cleo. I promise."


    Cleo studied him for a moment, her sharp eyes searching his for any trace of doubt or insincerity. Finally, she let out a sigh and rested her head back on his chest. "You''d better," she muttered. Continue your journey on empire


    For a while, the two of themy there infortable silence, the tension in the room gradually fading. Cleo''s breathing grew softer, her body rxing against his as her eyelids began to droop.

 Chapter 222 Confrontation. (3)

    Floating in the distance were two colossal vessels, each an awe-inspiring 15 kilometers in diameter. Their spherical shapes bristled with protruding spines, extending outward in irregr patterns like starfish.@@novelbin@@


    Their exoskeletons were a dark, bone-like material, jagged, and organic in structure. Glowing green cracks spread across their surfaces, pulsing faintly like veins carrying some kind of energy through their massive frames.


    They didn''t look like ships. They looked like smalls that had been transformed into horrifying war machines.


    "What the hell?" Rex muttered, his voice low. He stepped closer to the window, staring in awe at the supercapital ships. The sheer size of them was staggering; nothing in his fleet or even the megacorps couldpare to something on this scale.


    "Those are the Khryssari pride and joy," Ys said as she came up behind him, her voice unusually soft. "The Kragnarok-ss Devourer. They''re the Queen''s personal vessels, built over centuries. Each one is capable of wiping out an entire star system on its own¡«."


    Rex turned his head slightly to look at her. "You''re saying those things can destroy entire systems?"


    She nodded, a faint smile ying on her lips. "Mhmm¡«! But don''t worry, darling. They''re not here to destroy anything today. Mother doesn''t like wasting their energy unless it''s absolutely necessary."


    Rex let out a small breath, turning back to look at the ships. "Good to know," he said dryly.


    As the destroyer began its approach to one of the super capitals, Rex could see even more of the Khryssari forces spread across the sector.


    There were fleets of bio-ships that moved in perfect synchronicity, defensive swarms circling the Kragnarok-ss Devourer like living shields. The sheer coordination and unity of the Khryssari forces were both impressive and deeply unsettling.


    "Wee to my home," Ys said with a grin, resting her chin on his shoulder again. "Mother''s waiting¡«."


    Rex stared out the window, the weight of what he was about to face settling over him. "Yeah," he muttered. "This is going to be fun."


    The moment Ys''s living destroyer entered the hangar bay of one of the Khryssari supercapital ships, Rex couldn''t help but feel like an ant in the presence of titanic gods.


    The sheer scale of the hangar was overwhelming; it stretched endlessly in every direction, its walls pulsating faintly with a green bioluminescent glow. Every living organism here seemed insanelyrge, far surpassing anything Rex had encountered before.


    Thousands of Khryssari of varying sizes and shapes filled the hangar, their forms darting through the air or lumbering across the ground with precision and purpose. Even the smallest creatures Rex could spot were massive, standing at least four or five meters tall.


    Thergest ones, hulking monstrosities covered in thick, chitinous armor, were more akin to walking skyscrapers, their every step shaking the organic floor.


    But despite the overwhelming size and power of everything around them, Rex noticed something odd, none of these terrifying creatures dared to cross Ys''s path. Every Khryssari they passed either stepped aside, flew higher, or outright froze as if trying to avoid her altogether.


    Even those that were muchrger and undoubtedly more powerful seemed to shrink under her presence.


    "Ys¡­" Rex muttered, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and caution as his gaze followed a massive Khryssari scuttling out of their way. "What did you do to these cute and poor massive destruction beasts to make them stay the hell away from you?"


    "Mmm?" Ys tilted her head, feigning innocence as she walked beside him in her humanoid form. "What makes you assume I did something?" she replied while puffing out her cheeks and lightly punching Rex''s chest, though her punch had no strength at all, more of a yful gesture.


    Rex chuckled, patting her on the head as he shook his own. "Oh,e on, I know how much of a little devil you can be. It wouldn''t surprise me if you traumatized half the swarm just for fun."


    "Hmph!" She pouted while crossing her arms. "Just so you know, I did nothing! It''s just that they can feel my mom''s pressure on me," she exined, her voice growing more cute. "They instinctively understand who I am, and since everyone here is connected to her, no one would dare go against her orders."


    As Ys spoke, one particrlyrge Khryssari lumbered past them; it was a grotesque Tier 4 monstrosity, easily over ten meters tall, its heavy exoskeleton covered in glowing fissures of green light. It radiated raw power, the kind that would normally make even Rex wary.


    Ys, however, simply reached out and gave the towering beast a sharp spank on its armored hindquarters.


    The creature froze mid-step, shuddered violently, and then scurried away as fast as its massive limbs could carry it.


    "See?" Ys said with a radiant smile, looking as though she''d justpleted the easiest task in the world.


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    Rex blinked in disbelief, his brain trying to process what he''d just witnessed. He could feel the immense power radiating from the creature Ys had just casually smacked, something that would normally be considered suicidal. Yet here she was, acting like it was no big deal.


    "Erm, yes, I see," Rex said carefully, his gaze following the retreating Tier 4. "But... and I''m just throwing this out there, but maybe you should refrain from spanking anyone else while we''re here."


    "Why?" Ys asked innocently, tilting her head.


    Rex gestured vaguely toward the creatures around them, his voice lowering. "Because, unlike you, I don''t have your mom''s ''pressure'' on me. To these guys, I''m basically a walking, delicious-looking snack. And I don''t feel like being eaten today, if you know what I mean."


    Ys giggled, ignoring his caution entirely. "Oh,e on, Rex, rx! This is my home. There''s nothing that can go wrong here!" She said cheerfully as she leapt onto Rex''s back again, wrapping her arms around his neck and bing his "backpack" once more.


    Rex''s eyes widened in rm. "And now you''ve done it. That was absolutely a death g!" he shouted dramatically, throwing his arms in the air.


    Ysughed, clearly enjoying herself as they bantered. But their yful moment was cut short when Rex noticed something that made his chest tighten with unease.


    Several Khryssari, different from the others in the hangar, were approaching them. These creatures were smaller than the hulking beasts Rex had seen earlier, but they were far more imposing.


    Their sleek, chitinous bodies were covered in intricate patterns of glowing green veins, and their eyes burned with an unnatural intensity. Unlike the other Khryssari, who seemed to exude raw brute force, these warriors carried an air of precision and intelligence, their movements calcted and deliberate.


    "Ys," Rex said slowly, his voice tinged with caution.


    "Yes, darling¡«?" Ys replied sweetly, still clinging to his back.


    "Who are those guys?" Rex asked while pointing at the approaching warriors with a small, nervous gesture.


    Ys''s yful demeanor shifted slightly as she climbed off Rex''s back, her expression bing a bit more serious. "Oh, them?" she said casually, brushing off her dress. "Those are my mother''s sons."


    Rex stiffened, his instincts immediately going on high alert. "Her sons?" he repeated, his voice low and cautious.


    "Yup," Ys said with a slight grin, stepping behind Rex and peeking over his shoulder as though she were hiding.


    The sight of Ys, the ever confident, carefree Ys, hiding behind him made Rex tense even further. "Wait a second," he muttered, ncing back at her. "Why the hell are you hiding? You''re her actual daughter, aren''t you?"


    "Well, technically, yes," Ys admitted, her voice unusually quiet. "But they''re, um... my mom''s sons from when she was still a princess. They were made before I was, so they''re technically my older brothers. And¡­"


    "And what?" Rex prompted, his nerves on edge.


    "And they''re kind of... possessive about her," Ys said sheepishly, avoiding his gaze.


    Rex turned back toward the approaching warriors, his body instinctively tensing as they stopped a few meters away. Their eyes locked onto him with a piercing intensity, their expressions unreadable but unmistakably hostile.


    "Well, this is going to be fun," Rex muttered under his breath.


    "Well, well, well. Look who we have here," the Khryssari champion said, his voice oozing mockery as he stepped forward,ing to a halt just a meter away from Rex and Ys. His piercing green eyes scanned them with clear disdain, his mandibles clicking slightly as if he were holding backughter.


    The champion was humanoid in shape but distinctly alien in appearance. His four legs, jointed like those of an insect, supported his tall, imposing frame, and his carapace-covered back glistened under the faint bioluminescent glow of the hangar.


    A pair of translucent wings peeked out from beneath his armored shell, twitching faintly as though anticipating battle. Behind him, the other nine Khryssari champions also arrived, each simrly humanoid but with varying features, some had additional arms, some had fewer, while others had limbs shaped like jagged des.


    Each of them radiated the raw, predatory presence of a Tier 6 being.


    The champion''s glowing green eyes flicked dismissively to Ys, and his mandibles curled into a smirk. "And for the Mother''s sake, what is that horrendous appearance you''re using right now, Y''Ssera?" His tone was full of mockery, his wings twitching with amusement.


    He leaned forward slightly, his face inches from hers. "And what''s this? Weren''t you already a Tier 3 being thest time I saw you? How is it that you''ve regressed back to Tier 2? Not only are you uglier than before, but now you''re even more useless."


    Heughed cruelly, the sound echoing through the massive hangar. "Hahahaha! No wonder Mother sent you away like the failed experiment you are!"


    Ys didn''t respond immediately. Her usual carefree demeanor was gone, reced with a stoic expression as she stood her ground behind Rex.


    She didn''t flinch under the champion''s verbal assault, but Rex could see the subtle tension in her body, the way her fingers twitched slightly as if holding back the urge to retaliate.

 Chapter 225 Confrontation.(6) The Queen.

    All around him, the Khryssari champions kneeled without hesitation. Even Ys had dropped to one knee, bowing her head respectfully. Rex, however, remained standing, his gaze locked onto the Queen.


    The Hive Queen''s voice broke the silence, and it was nothing like what Rex expected. It was smooth, charming, and teasing, with a melodic tone that feltpletely out of ce given her appearance.


    "So¡«," she said, her voice reverberating gently through the chamber, "you''re the human I''ve heard so much about from my daughter." Discover exclusive tales on empire


    Rex remained silent, unsure of how to respond. His body was still frozen in awe and tension, his mind racing as he tried to process everything around him.


    The Queen tilted her head slightly, her glowing green eyes narrowing in amusement as she noticed his hesitation. "Mmmm, it seems that this form might be... a little intimidating for you."


    Her tone was teasing, almost yful, though the raw power behind her words made it impossible to mistake her for anything less than a supreme being.


    She extended one of her smaller, slender appendages toward Ys, brushing it gently against her daughter''s face. A tiny droplet of Ys''s blood glistened on the tip of the appendage as the Queen withdrew it, inspecting it with curiosity.


    "Allow me to fix that," she said with a faint smile.


    With that, the massive figure of the Hive Queen shifted, lowering herself into a resting position that resembled her usual sleep posture. From the crest of her head, a smaller, humanoid form began to emerge, encased in a translucent, shimmering membrane.


    The process was surreal and unsettling, the humanoid figure slowly detaching from the Queen''srger form like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis.


    Once fully separated, the membrane around the humanoid figure dissolved, transforming into an almost transparent dress that clung elegantly to her new body.


    Standing before Rex now was a humanoid woman of striking beauty. Her skin had the same iridescent ck shimmer as herrger form, and her eyes glowed faintly green, giving her an otherworldly appearance.


    Her hair was long and silken, falling in dark waves that reflected a faint blue sheen. Despite the overwhelming aura of power she still carried, her new form was far less physically imposing, though no less intimidating.


    She took a single step forward, her movements graceful and deliberate. Before Rex could react, she was suddenly standing directly in front of him, her glowing green eyes peering into his own through his helmet.


    "Is this look more pleasing to you¡«?" the Queen asked softly, her voice still carrying that teasing, melodic tone.


    Rex instinctively stepped back half a step while his body tense, though he quickly caught himself and forced his feet to stay nted. His mind raced as he tried to find the right words, but her sudden proximity and the sheer weight of her presence made it difficult to think clearly.


    Rex swallowed hard, his voice finally finding its way out of his throat. "Well, you definitely know how to make an entrance," he said dryly, though his tone betrayed the nervous tension running through his body.


    The Queen chuckled softly, her voice like silk. "And you," she said, "know how to amuse me. Perhaps this meeting will be more interesting than I expected¡«."


    The Queen moved with a grace that belied her towering, monstrous power, returning to her massive sleeping form.


    The enormous creature shifted slightly, extending one of its smaller tentacles to act as an elegant seat for the humanoid Queen, who crossed her legs and reclined upon it. She exuded a strange air of both majesty and teasing mischief, her glowing green eyes never leaving Rex.


    "So," Rex spoke, his voice steady despite the lingering tension in the room, "can I know what the reason is that you called for me this time?"


    It had taken every ounce of his self-control to stand his ground under her oppressive aura, but now that she had retracted it to a bearable level, he could finally speak without feeling like he was being crushed under a mountain.


    The Queen''s glowing eyes narrowed, and she let out a yful hum. "Mmm? Jumping straight to the main topic already? Oh, darling¡«, don''t be such a bore¡«." Her teasing tone sent a shiver down Rex''s spine, and before he could respond, her glowing eyes pulsed brighter.


    "Everyone, leave us." The Queenmanded, her voiceced with an irresistible force.


    The champions, and even Ys, all rose simultaneously, their movements mechanical and unnervingly synchronized. Their eyes had gonepletely nk, like empty husks devoid of life. Without a word, they turned and began walking toward the exit.


    Rex instinctively stepped forward, intending to stop Ys from leaving, but his body refused to move. It felt as though invisible chains held him in ce, binding him where he stood.


    "Don''t worry, darling~," the Queen said, clearly amused by his reaction. "They''ll be fine. I''ve merely¡­ borrowed their consciousness for the moment. They''ll wake up none the wiser when we''re done. I just wanted a little privacy¡« for our talk."


    Her reassurance didn''tpletely settle Rex''s nerves, but he knew he wasn''t in a position to argue. Slowly, he rxed, though his eyes lingered on the door Ys and the champions had exited through.


    "If this was meant to be a private talk," Rex began carefully, "can I at least know your name?"


    Xytrallia blinked, her glowing eyes widening slightly in what appeared to be genuine surprise. But then, after a moment, she threw her head back and let out a melodic, echoingugh. "Hahaha!¡« You''re quite bold for someone so weak," she said, her smile sharp but amused.


    Herughter subsided, and she cocked her head slightly, her green, glowing eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Her voice dropped to a soft murmur, barely audible. "But then again... are you really weak?"


    Rex couldn''t hear her murmured words, but her gaze lingered on him in a way that made him feel as though she were dissecting him with her eyes alone.


    Finally, she straightened her posture and gave him a sly smile. "Well then, since I''m feeling generous, I suppose I can indulge you. You may call me Xytrallia¡«." She reclined slightly, crossing her legs with the fluidity of a predator at rest.


    Rex gave her a respectful bow, his voice steady. "It''s an honor to meet you, Queen Xytrallia. My name is¡ª"


    She raised a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. "There''s no need for introductions," she said, her voice yful but firm. "I already know who you are, Rex...or should I say, darling~."


    Rex froze, his muscles tensing as Xytrallia''s humanoid form suddenly disappeared in a sh of green light. Before he could react, her voice whispered right by his ear.


    "Darling~," she purred, her breath warm against his helmet as her hand trailed lightly across his chest.


    Rex turned sharply, but she was gone, her teasingughter echoing faintly through the chamber. He whipped his head back toward her throne, only to find her seated casually once more, her green eyes glinting with amusement.


    "Now then," Xytrallia said, as though nothing had happened, "since the introductions are over, let''s get into the topic, yes~?" She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand.


    Rex''s guard remained up, but he nodded. "I hope you don''t mind if I ask the first question. What kind of race do youe from?"


    The moment she asked, Xytrallia''s glowing eyes pulsed again, and Rex felt an unsettling sensation ripple through his body. It was as if she were peeling back everyyer of him, examining him down to his very core.


    He suddenly felt exposed, as though there was no point in lying, not that it would even work.@@novelbin@@


    "Well," Rex began, forcing himself to remainposed, "since you already know my name, I''m assuming Ys told you plenty about me. So I''ll just confirm it... I''m human... or, at least, I was. Right now, I''m half-human and half-Kaelzar."


    Xytrallia tilted her head, her smile widening slightly. "Half-human, half-Kaelzar," she echoed, as if savoring the words. Her gaze briefly lingered on him, and Rex got the distinct feeling she wasn''t just looking at him; she was analyzing him.


    He shifted ufortably, trying to keep his focus away from her since her almost transparent dress, which clung to her figure in all the wrong (or perhaps all the right) ways, wasn''t helping.


    "Mmm, yes, I do recall the Kaelzars," Xytrallia said casually, her toneced with a faint edge of boredom. "Boring creatures. Too rigid. Too proud. It''s no wonder they went extinct."


    "The Higher Queen at the time despised them, you know, for what they did. They thought themselves untouchable. Look where that got them."


    Her expression shifted slightly, bing more curious. She leaned forward, her glowing eyes narrowing. "But...are you sure you''re human?"


    Rex blinked, confused. "What do you mean? Of course I''m human... well, half-human now, like I said."


    Xytrallia tapped her lips thoughtfully, her gaze never leaving him. "Mmm¡­ I wonder."


    Rex frowned. "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    She chuckled softly, reclining once more. "Oh, nothing~," she said teasingly. "I just find it amusing. You seem so certain of what you are, and yet... there''s something about you, something... different. Something even you don''t seem to understand."


    Rex blinked, his stance slightly stiff as he processed the Hive Queen''s sudden shift in demeanor. She had moved closer to him, kneeling gracefully just a meter away, her glowing green eyes locked onto his with an intensity that made him feel like she was staring straight into his soul.


    Her iridescent ck skin shimmered faintly in the dim light, and her yful yetmanding aura made the hairs on the back of Rex''s neck stand on end.

 Chapter 227 Confrontation. (8) The deal.

    Rex''s posture stiffened, and his hands instinctively reached up to grab hers, stopping her from continuing her wandering touches. "Look," he said, trying to mask his difort with an awkwardugh. "I don''t think it''s that unreasonable, is it? A little help here and there¡ª"


    "One time," Xytrallia interrupted with her tone soft but firm, "I can agree to. But the other two times¡­" She leaned closer, her green eyes glowing faintly as her fingers paused under his hands.


    "For those, I''ll have to ask for an exchange. You see, I''m a fair queen, and I don''t break my own rules, now do I?" Her voice was like velvet, utterly captivating and yet tinged with a dangerous undertone that made Rex''s pulse quicken.


    Rex let out another nervous chuckle, trying his best to remainposed as Xytrallia''s presence enveloped him like a predator toying with its prey. "Well," he began, carefully prying her hands off his chest and stepping forward to put a bit of distance between them.


    "I don''t think I have anything of too much value to trade for those two favors." He turned back to face her, offering her an awkward but determined grin. "And I definitely don''t n on bing a ve again. So... how about we just put it on my tab? You know, small payments over the years? I could even pay with interest!"


    For the first time, Xytrallia looked genuinely caught off guard. Her glowing eyes widened slightly, and she blinked several times in disbelief, as if she hadn''t fully processed what Rex had just said.


    Then, after a long pause, her lips curled into a smile so wide that it bordered dangerous. Her melodiousughter filled the chamber, echoing off the organic walls like a haunting symphony.


    "Hahaha! Oh, you truly are a bold one, aren''t you?" Xytrallia said, herughter gradually subsiding as she crossed her legs and reclined gracefully back on her throne. "Putting it on your tab, hmm? Small payments, you say? Oh, Rex, you''ve amused me far more than I expected today."


    She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand as her glowing green eyes studied him with newfound curiosity. "You don''t even realize it, do you? Most would cower before me, begging for the smallest crumb of mercy. But you¡­"


    She let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief. "You dare to negotiate with me as though we''re equals. I find that¡­ delightful."


    Rex rxed slightly, though he remained cautious. "So... does that mean we have a deal?"


    Xytrallia''s smile turned sharper, her glowing eyes narrowing slightly. "Let''s call it a partial deal," she said, her voice teasing. "I''ll grant you my aid once, without conditions. But for the other two times..."


    She tapped her fingers against the armrest of her throne, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "I''ll allow you to earn them. Let''s say... a favor for a favor. Each time you call upon me, you''ll owe me something in return. Something equally valuable."


    Rex frowned slightly, weighing her words. "And what exactly would you consider equally valuable?"


    Xytrallia grinned, leaning back with a satisfied expression. "Oh, don''t worry, darling. I''m sure we cane to an arrangement when the timees. For now, just know that I won''t demand anything unreasonable. I''ll simply ask for what I believe is fair. After all, I''m nothing if not reasonable, wouldn''t you agree?"


    Her words carried a dangerous undertone, but Rex could see no obvious traps in her offer. For now, it seemed like the best he could get out of her.


    "Fine," Rex said after a moment, his tone firm. "One unconditional favor, and two... conditional ones. I''ll take that deal." Continue your journey on empire


    Xytrallia''s grin widened, her sharp teeth glinting faintly in the dim light. "Wonderful. Then it''s settled."


    She extended a hand toward Rex, her long fingers shimmering faintly. "Shall we seal our agreement with a touch? Or are you too shy to take my hand, darling?"


    Rex hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping forward and gripping her hand firmly. The moment their hands touched, he felt a strange warmth flow through him, almost like liquid fire coursing through his veins.@@novelbin@@


    The sensation was bothforting and unnerving, as if Xytrallia had left an invisible mark on him.


    "There," Xytrallia said softly, her voice carrying an almost lustful tone. "Our deal is sealed. You''ve earned one favor... and the possibility of two more. Use them wisely, Rex."


    As she pulled her hand away, her devilish smile returned. "Now, was there anything else you wanted to ask? Or shall I start asking my questions again?"


    "Mmm, no, you go ahead. Give me time to think of a better question," Rex said while waving his handzily as if granting her permission, his helmet tilting slightly like a raised eyebrow.


    "Well then," Xytrallia began talking with a mischievous glint in her alien eyes. "Why don''t you have kids yet? Not to brag or anything, but my daughter, Y''Ssera, is considered a perfect beauty by human standards."


    "Or... wait, is it her petite build? Do you prefer someone more... mature and charming?" Her tone was equal parts yful and curious, but the questionnded like a brick in Rex''s gut.


    Rex was dumbfounded; he was ready for weird questions, sure, but this? This was the next-level weird. "Ehem... uh, well... it''s not exactly the right time to have kids, y''know? Things areplicated right now. There''s a lot going on... like dangerous stuff. Until I can guarantee a safe ce for them, I''d rather not bring kids into this mess."


    Xytrallia listened inplete silence, but her smile grew wider with every word, like she was savoring his awkward exnation. By the time he finished, her expression could only be described as smug satisfaction.


    "So," she said while leaning in slightly, her voice dripping with curiosity, "if you do find a safe ce, then you''ll have kids."


    Rex straightened up. "Hey, hold on. It''s my turn to ask a question, isn''t it?" He jabbed a gloved finger in her direction, trying to wrestle back control of the conversation.


    "Oh! Oops!" Xytrallia gasped while covering her small mouth with both hands; her ck skin covered in stars glowed faintly as she feigned surprise. "Hehehe, I got so caught up in our chat that I forgot! Tell you what, to show you how sorry I am, I''ll let you call me twice for free. How''s that sound?"


    She tilted her head, shing an innocent grin that could''ve melted the coldest heart or, in Rex''s case, his helmet visor.


    Rex crossed his arms, pretending to think it over. "Mmm, tempting. But if you''re already giving me two free calls, why not just throw in a third? You know, as a sign of true remorse." He shot her a thumbs-up like he''d just struck the best deal of the century.


    Xytrallia burst intoughter, throwing her head back. "Hahaha! Nice try, Rex. Your boldness really knows no bounds. Fine, fine, ask your question already!" She wiped an imaginary tear from her eye, herugh lingering in the air.


    "Alright, here''s one for you," Rex said while leaning forward slightly, his voice dropping into a mock-serious tone. "What can I say or do right now to convince you to make that third call free too?" Under the helmet, a smirk spread across his face, not that she could see it.


    Xytrallia''s glowing green eyes widened slightly at Rex''s bold question, and for a moment, there was silence in the chamber.


    Then, suddenly, she threw her head back and let out a melodic, genuineugh, the kind that reverberated off the organic walls and sent a faint chill down Rex''s spine. It was augh filled with both amusement and intrigue, as if she had just discovered a delightful new toy to y with.


    "Hahaha! Oh, Rex, you really are something, aren''t you?" Xytrallia said while lowering her head and brushing a strand of shimmering hair behind her ear.


    Her lips curled into a wicked, teasing smile as her glowing eyes locked onto him. "You''re not only bold; you''re shameless. Negotiating for free favors from me? How cheeky of you, darling."


    She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand as her smile widened. "Well, I must admit, I am curious to see what you''lle up with. So, go ahead. What do you think you could possibly offer me that would convince me to give you that third free favor? I''m dying to hear it."


    Rex crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes hidden behind his helmet. "Well," he said with his voice being calm and confident.


    "I don''t know you well enough to guess what you truly want, but I''ve noticed you''re a fan of boldness. And if there''s one thing I know, it''s that sometimes people or queens find value in the unexpected."


    Xytrallia raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by his words. "Oh? Go on," she urged, her tone yful but tinged with genuine curiosity.


    Rex took a step closer, his posture rxed but deliberate. "How about this? I''ll give you my word. No tricks, no games. The next time you ask me for something that does not attempt against my life or those I love, I''ll agree to it without hesitation. That''s my offer. One favor, freely given, from me to you."


    Xytrallia''s expression shifted, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. For a moment, she said nothing, her glowing gaze piercing into him like a scalpel. It was clear she was weighing the sincerity of his words, testing him in a way only she could.


    "You''re quite confident, aren''t you?" She said finally, her voice soft butced with amusement. "Offering me your word, as if that alone is enough to sway me. Tell me, Rex, why should I value your word? What makes it worth more than the words of countless others who''ve knelt before me?"


    Rex smirked under his helmet, the sharpness of her question not shaking him in the slightest. "Because unlike the others, I haven''t knelt. And I don''t n to."

 Chapter 228 Confrontation. (9) Sacrifice.

    Xytrallia''s eyes widened slightly at his response, and for the briefest moment, a flicker of surprise crossed her face. Then, her lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.


    "You are such a fascinating little human," she said with her voice practically dripping with delight. "Bold, confident, and utterly unshakable. It''s almost enough to make me forgive your audacity..."


    She leaned back in her seat, tapping her fingers rhythmically against the armrest of her throne as she considered his offer. "Alright, Rex," she said after a long pause; her tone was still yful but carrying a hint of sharpness.


    "After speaking with you for just a few minutes, I think I''vee up with the perfect way for you to repay me for thatst favor," Xytrallia said with a sly smile, and before Rex could process her words, the ground beneath him gave way, and a massive hole swallowed him up.


    "Whoa! What the¡ª?!" Rex shouted as he fell, his body iling uncontrobly. He barely had time to register what was happening before hended with an unceremonious ssh into a thick, amber colored pool.


    "Damn it, I thought I was going to die!" Rex grumbled as he surfaced, his armor dripping with the golden liquid. The substance clung to him like some sort of weird gtin.


    "What the hell is this stuff?" he muttered while activating his sma shields to stand on the goo''s surface. But even with his tech, bncing on it felt like trying to walk on half-melted marshmallows.


    A familiar voice chimed in from behind him. "Hehehe, are you ready to pay for that favor now¡«?"


    Rex spun around and froze. There was Xytrallia, standing on the edge of the pool... stark naked. His brain short circuited for a moment, and he reflexively raised one hand to block the view. "Uh¡ªuh¡ªwhat?! Xytrallia, seriously, what is this?! Where am I? And why... why are you not wearing anything?!"


    Her grin widened as she stepped gracefully onto the amber surface,pletely at ease. "Rx, darling¡«. This is my private nutrient pool, filled with all the minerals and organic material one could ever need for health and vitality. I refined it myself, you know." She twirled a finger through the air as if showing off her craftsmanship.


    "That''s... great, but also not answering why I''m here!" Rex stammered, trying desperately not to look anywhere inappropriate. He could feel the heat rising to his face, even through his helmet.


    "And can you, uh, please stop trying to pull my helmet off? I kinda need it to breathe!" He batted away her hands as she made a surprisingly determined attempt to remove it.


    "Oh, don''t be such a baby," Xytrallia teased him with her tone dripping with amusement. "See those algae over there?" She pointed to glowing green patches along the pool''s edge.


    "They produce oxygen, and those membranes surrounding us? They keep this space isted from the vacuum of space. You''ll be fine." With a quick tug, she sessfully popped his helmet off.


    Rex took a deep breath, realizing she was right. The air here was oddly refreshing, with a faint minty aroma. "Okay, fine. But that still doesn''t exin why I''m here. Or why you''re here. Or why you''re, uh¡­" He gestured vaguely in her direction, avoiding eye contact. "¡­not dressed."


    "Well," Xytrallia said while leaning in slightly, her tone bing yful yet somehow serious, "this pool is where Iid my eggs after they are fertilized and grow big enough that they can''t stay any longer in my womb. It''s a sacred space, and no one is allowed to enter¡«."


    Rex''s eyebrows shot up. "Then I really shouldn''t be here! If this is so special, I''ll just head out, so you can... you know, enjoy your sacred ce alone." He turned around, trying to find an exit, but Xytrallia stepped closer; her presence was impossible to ignore at this point. Discover more content at empire


    "Oh, but you are here," she said while wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Her breath tickled his ear, carrying that faint minty scent. "And you''re here for a reason. The favor I want¡­" She paused, letting the tension build. "¡­is for you to help me create the next generation. A child. Our child."


    Rex froze. His brain took a full five seconds to reboot. "Wait. You want¡­ me? To what? No way. Nope. Not happening. That''s not what I signed up for!"


    Xytrallia giggled while resting her chin on his shoulder as she gazed at him with yful eyes. "Oh,e now. It''s not so bad. You''re strong, intelligent, and resourceful. Imagine how powerful our offspring would be. A perfect blend of human and Khryssarian traits."@@novelbin@@


    She tilted her head and added with a smirk, "Besides, I''ve learned from my daughter that your human race values... purity, is that right? A partner''s ''first time,'' hmm?"


    Rex turned his head sharply, his expression turning to pure disbelief. "You''re really bringing that up right now?! Yes, okay, fine, it''s important to humans. We don''t... do things with someone who''s already been with someone else. It''s just a thing, okay?" He waved his arms in frustration, trying to steer the conversation anywhere else.


    "Well," Xytrallia whispered softly while leaning closer, "I may not be pure in the traditional sense, since I''m a mother¡­ but this body? It''s a new one. Untouched. Never been used before. Completely untainted...." Her voice dropped to a whisper, her lips nearly brushing his ear. "So technically¡­ this would be my first time¡«."


    Rex swiftly grasped Xytrallia''s butt and pulled her close, absorbing the nanomaterial from his armor into his body. "Well then, don''t mind me if I do!"


    As Rex absorbed the nanomaterial from his armor, he felt a surge of energy and a sense of freedom. Xytrallia, with her shimmering ck skin that seemed to reflect the stars, smiled at him with a charming and mature glint in her eye.


    She didn''t seem to mind Rex''s sudden forwardness, and instead, she leaned in closer to him, her voice taking on a sultry tone.


    "Indeed, I don''t mind if you do," she whispered, her breath tickling Rex''s ear. "But perhaps we should take this somewhere more...fortable?" She nced around the room, her eyes sparkling with mischief.


    While Rex was making his sacrifices elsewhere, Cleo was focused on preparing her fleet and fortifying the trading station''s defenses. The air buzzed with tension as the Revenant Ascendancy''s hostile fleet loomed ever closer.


    Cleo''s fleet stood ready for battle; her gship, the Cleopatra, gleamed at the center of the formation, its hull a masterpiece of both engineering and sheer intimidation. nking it was the Libertator, a dreadnought serving as the vanguard, its imposing frame bristling with firepower.


    On either side of the Cleopatra, two Leviathan-ss carriers, fully armed and meticulously supplied, loomed like guardians, their hanger bays bustling with activity as squadrons of fighters ranst-minute checks.


    Surrounding the formation were also several frigates, agile and vignt, prepared to intercept enemy strikes.


    The trading station itself, though incapable ofunching direct attacks, was no soft target. Two military-grade energy shields hummed with power, enveloping the station in a protective bubble, while a sma honeb shield clung tightly to the exterior like a second skin, an extrayer of defense in case enemy fighters breached the energy barriers.


    Surrounding the station, awork of weapon tforms stood ready to light up the void. While their firepower couldn''t dent medium-sized enemy vessels, it was more than enough to swat down fighters like flies.


    Cleo''smands extended to the fleet and the weapon tforms, but inside the trading station, the twins Lyra and Nyra were in charge of the militia and their Blood Legion, which had been stationed there to repel any siege pods or boarding attempts.


    "Sis, are you nervous? ''Cause I really am," Lyra admitted while clutching her stomach, which had started to ache from anxiety.


    "Mmm?" Nyra mumbled, not even looking up as she casually munched on an energy bar. "I''m not really nervous. It''s not like this is the first time we''ve fought on the front lines, you know?"


    Lyra sighed, exasperated. "I knew you were going to say something like that, sis. But¡­ it''s different now, you know? Before, we were justmanding machines¡ªsoldiers we could repair or revive as long as their main memories stayed intact...."


    "But now, we have civilians here¡­ people. Real people. If they die, they''re gone. For good." She gazed at the militia members working tirelessly alongside the Blood Legion to build barricades, her worry etched into her face.


    Nyra finally looked up, locking eyes with her twin. Her usual yful expression was gone, reced by something steely and unyielding. "You''re right about that," she said, her tone unusually serious.


    "But here''s the thing, we just have to do what we''re ordered to do. I''m not saying you shouldn''t care for your troops or show mercy when you can, but those are things only the strong have the privilege to do." Nyra paused, her gaze unwavering. "And I hate to break it to you, Lyra, but we''re not strong enough for that yet."


    For a moment, Lyra was stunned. She had never seen her sister this serious before. "I''m¡­ surprised," she admitted with her voice soft. "I didn''t expect you to call yourself weak."


    "Oh, shut it!" Nyra shot back with her usual spark, returning. "I didn''t say I was weak! I said we''re not strong enough yet. There''s a difference, you dummy!" Before Lyra could respond, Nyra grinned mischievously and delivered a sharp smack to her sister''s butt.


    "Hey!" Lyra yelled, spinning around to retaliate, but before she could do anything, Nyra scooped her up and slung her over her shoulder like a sack of flour.


    "Put me down!" Lyra protested while kicking her legs, but Nyra justughed and kept walking, ignoring her twin''s protests.


    The sight of the two sisters'' yful bickering brought smiles to some of the soldiers and militia members working nearby. For many of them, this moment of lightheartedness would be thest bit of levity they would see..


    War had a way of stealing those little moments.

 Chapter 230 Trust.

    Once Rex had secured the help he needed after making what could only be described as the greatest sacrifice of his life, the battle between the Kaelzar forces and the Revenant Ascendancy remained locked in a tense stalemate.


    Cleo''s tireless updates to the fighters maneuvers had kept the Revenant fleet at bay, forcing theirrger ships closer to the trading station, right into a vulnerable position where swarms of fighters and bombers could slip under their energy shields to strike their hulls directly.


    However, standard tactics dictated thatrger ships wouldn''tmit until the oue of the fighter skirmish tipped in one side''s favor. For now, the two fleets exchanged long-range artillery fire, making a deadly lightshow in the void while both sides bided their time.


    Cleo stood at themand station aboard the Cleopatra, her mind racing while she felt that something was off, the kind of unease that even battle-hardened instincts couldn''t exin. She leaned forward, her piercing gaze locked on the tactical disy.


    "Order: Run scanners at maximum capacity," shemanded. Her voice was calm, but the urgency beneath it was unmistakable. "The Revenant wouldn''t just sit here wasting resources. This doesn''t feel right."


    And after several minutes, her intuition proved correct.


    [Warning: Multiple wormhole energy signatures detected above the trading station.]


    Cleo''s head snapped toward the reinforced ss of the Cleopatra''s bridge. Her eyes widened as she watched wormholes rip open in the fabric of space, just above the trading station.


    From the glowing, chaotic voids emerged three massive Revenant ships, identical to the ones they had already been engaging.


    "Damn it," Cleo muttered under her breath.


    [Warning: enemy drop pods detected. Activating weapon tform defenses.]


    Hundreds of drop pods rained down like a deadly meteor shower, streaking toward the trading station. The station''s four weapon tforms sprang to life, theirser turrets and guided missiles firing relentlessly.


    Many of the pods were destroyed mid-flight, erupting in fiery bursts that lit up the surrounding void. But the sheer number of pods was overwhelming, making some slip past the defenses, hurtling toward the station''s hull.


    "Nyra, Lyra," Cleo called through hermunicator, her tone sharp andmanding. "Prepare for stationbat. Enemy forces are boarding."


    Inside the trading station, chaos erupted.


    "Everyone, brace for multiple impacts! Enemy boarding parties iing!" Nyra''s voice boomed through the station''s speakers.


    The first wave of drop pods smashed into the station with deafening force, the impacts rattling the entire structure. Some pods pierced through weaker hull sections, breaching into the station''s interior. While the Aegis units remained steadfast, the militia forces were a different story.


    Panic spread like wildfire.@@novelbin@@


    "It''s over! We can''t defend against this!"


    "We''re doomed!"


    "I didn''t sign up for this! Let me into the shelter! I don''t even want to be here!"


    From one of the breached pods, a squad of two-meter-tall Revenant golems emerged. Their hulking forms radiated an ominous purple glow, and their crystalline limbs looked like jagged weapons forged for destruction.


    The first of the golems swung its massive arm, cleaving through a group of militia fighters in one brutal motion. Bodies fell like broken dolls.


    "They''re¡­ they''re here!"


    "Stay back! STAY BACK!"


    The air filled with the crackling ofser fire and the sharp whine of electric rifles. But the militia''s panic led to chaos. Friendly fire incidents became almost asmon as shotsnding on the enemy. The Revenant golems advanced methodically, showing no fear, no hesitation.


    Inside themand room, Lyra''s trembling hands clutched the edge of a console. Through the cameras, she could see the militia being ughtered, their fear overtaking any semnce of organization.


    "This is... so chaotic," she whispered, her voice barely audible.


    "What did you expect from them?" Nyra replied coolly, strapping her twin crimson des to her hips. "Honestly, I''m amazed they can even fire back in this state."


    Lyra turned to her sister sharply, her voice trembling. "Hey! Where do you think you''re going?!" She reached out to grab Nyra''s arm, desperation clear in her eyes.


    Nyra stopped and looked back at her sister with a rare, warm smile. "I have to go, sis. Those militia fighters aren''t going tost much longer out there. And while I don''t particrly care what happens to them, they''re our soldiers now. They need someone to lead them in this chaos."


    "But¡ª" Lyra started, but Nyra interrupted her by gently rubbing her head.


    "You''re better off staying here," Nyra said softly. "Use the cameras tomand the Blood Legion. Reinforce the areas I can''t reach. We''re a team, right? I''m counting on you, sis."


    Lyra''s protests died in her throat as Nyra pulled her into a warm hug. It was brief, but it carried the weight of everything unspoken between them.


    "Don''t do anything stupid," Lyra muttered as she pulled away.


    Nyra grinned. "Stupid? Me? Never." She gave her sister a wink before turning and running out of themand room.


    Lyra watched her sister disappear through the door, her fists clenched at her sides. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to the console and began issuingmands to the Blood Legion, her fear slowly being reced by determination.


    In the breached corridors of the station, Nyra sprinted toward the chaos. She could already hear the echoes of screams, the sh of weapons, and the booming footsteps of the Revenant golems.


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    Her twin crimson des gleamed as she drew them, the edges humming with an energy that crackled like fire.


    "Alright, you oversized rocks," she muttered, her lips curling into a feral grin. "Let''s see what you''ve got."


    Nyra charged headfirst into the fray, her des a blur of crimson light as she cut through the first golem she encountered. It roared in defiance, but she didn''t stop, moving with deadly precision.


    The Revenant golem raised its massive fist, the jagged crystalline surface gleaming ominously under the flickering emergency lights. It had already smashed countless defenders like if they were insects, and this one, this tiny figure in ck and crimson armor, looked no different to it. Just another bug to crush.


    It swung down with the full weight of its monstrous strength, aiming to stter Nyra against the wall like it had done to so many others.


    But it made a fatal mistake.


    Nyra dodged the attack effortlessly, her movements as quick and fluid as a shadow. The golem''s fist mmed into the wall with a deafening crash, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the metal. Before it could recover, Nyra sprang into action.


    Her twin crimson des gleamed as they cut through the golem''s massive arm with ease. The jagged crystalline limb fell to the ground, shattering into useless shards as if it were made of brittle ss.


    Before the golem could even process the damage, Nyra used the wall as a springboard, leaping with inhuman agility. In a sh, her des sliced through its neck, severing its glowing purple head cleanly from its shoulders. The entire maneuver took less than three seconds.


    The headless body staggered for a moment before copsing with a thunderous crash.


    The militia defenders nearby, who had been frozen in terror moments earlier, snapped back into action, but unfortunately they opened fire wildly, emptying their clips into the lifeless golem''s corpse, their panic overriding any sense of logic.


    "STOP WASTING AMMO!" Nyra shouted; her voice was sharp andmanding. Her words cut through the chaos, and the militia finally stopped firing, lowering their weapons as they looked at her in awe.


    She stepped forward, her ck power armor glowing faintly with its crimson highlights, making her look as imposing as she was dangerous. Her twin des hummed softly with residual energy as she sheated them back into their sheaths.


    "I already killed it," she said, her voice dripping with exasperation. "What are you guys so afraid of? They''re just walking rocks! Shoot their damn heads! Once their heads are gone, they''re as good as dead. I haven''t found an enemy yet that doesn''t die when you destroy its head."


    The militia members exchanged uncertain nces but ultimately nodded. Despite the almost childish tone of her voice, Nyra''s presence wasmanding, and her disy of skill left no room for doubt.


    "Well then," Nyra continued, her tone shifting to something more authoritative, "seeing that all of you finally calmed down, you''re all under mymand now. We''re going to set up defensive positions at the station''s checkpoints. Follow me!"


    The militia hesitated for a moment, then scrambled to obey. Her confidence was contagious, and for the first time since the Revenant invasion began, they felt like they had a fighting chance.


    Meanwhile, elsewhere in the station, Lyra monitored the situation from themand room. Her eyes darted between various camera feeds, her fingers flying over the console as she directed the Blood Legion reinforcements into the battle.


    "Unit Alpha, secure the western wing. Unit Beta, reinforce Sector C, hostiles are breaching the secondary storage decks. Move now!" Lyra''s voice was steady, but her clenched jaw betrayed her concern.


    Through the cameras, she could see the devastation caused by the Revenant invaders. The militia defenders were falling back, their positions overrun by the relentless golems. She gritted her teeth and keyed in anothermand.


    "Send in Blood Legion units to support Nyra''s position. Prioritize choke points and high-value areas."


    At the fortified staircase leading to themand room, the station guards were making their stand. The stairway was arge, open area designed to amodate the heavy foot traffic of traders visiting the station''s supply stores.


    But now, it had be thest line of defense for themand room and the AI systems that controlled the station''s shields.

 Chapter 232 Trust.(3)

    Several mechanical tentacles extended from the Aegis unit''s back with a quiet hum. One tentacle began cutting away the shredded fabric of the injured guard''s uniform, while another applied a cool, glowing gel directly to the wound.


    The third tentacle, equipped with a precisionser, expertly cauterized the severed blood vessels, sealing the injury with incredible speed and efficiency.


    To his surprise, the guard felt no pain. The gel numbed the wound entirely, recing the agony with a strange, soothing sensation.


    But it was then that he heard a voice he could recognize anywhere.


    "B-Brother¡­?" he whispered, his voice hoarse, disbelief etched across his face.


    "Thank your lucky stars, because I''m right here, little bro!"


    The injured guard''s heart nearly stopped as he turned back toward the smoke. From the haze, his older brother emerged, alive and very much intact. His uniform was tattered, and his face was covered in soot, but there was a wide, cocky grin stered across his face.


    "W-What¡­ how¡­ you¡­ I¡­" The injured guard stammered, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing.


    "Ha! You thought I was dead?" His brotherughed, pping a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "So did I, honestly. Hell of an experience, I''ll tell you that. But lucky for me, that big guy over there wasn''t ready to let me bite the dust!"


    He pointed toward the hulking figure standing at the edge of the smoke. It wasn''t an Aegis unit. No, this was something far more terrifying. Towering at nearly three meters tall, the new Tyrant-ss Heavy Infantry unit stood like a juggernaut of war.


    Its armor was reinforced with ovepping tes that gleamed dark crimson under the station''s flickering lights, and its weapon systems hummed ominously withtent energy.


    The Tyrant-ss unit held a massive sma cannon in one hand, its barrel still glowing red-hot from recent use. On the other hand, it gripped a melee weapon that resembled a halberd, with its edges crackling with energy. The glowing red eyes embedded in its helmet scanned the battlefield, assessing threats with eerie precision.


    "That thing saved you?" the injured guard asked, still trying to wrap his head around the situation.


    "Saved me? Ha! More like it stomped through those rock bastards like they were nothing and pulled me out of the fire. I swear, I''ve never seen anything like it," his brother said, his grin never faltering.


    The older brother crouched down, sliding an arm under his sibling''s shoulder to help him stand. "Come on, we need to move. Themand room''s just ahead. They''ve got doctors waiting for you there."


    The injured guard winced as he tried to put weight on his good leg. "I... I can''t walk on this," he muttered, frustration and paincing his voice.


    "Don''t worry about that; I''ve got you." The older brother adjusted his grip, practically lifting his injured sibling off the ground as he began retreating toward themand room. "I''m not letting you die here. Not today."


    The injured guard nced back toward the battlefield onest time. The Aegis unit that had treated him was already moving on to assist other wounded soldiers, its mechanical tentacles working tirelessly.


    The Tyrant-ss Heavy Infantry was wading into the chaos, cutting down Revenant golems with brutal efficiency. sma bolts and energy sts illuminated the corridor, but the towering war machine remained unstoppable, carving a path of destruction through the enemy forces.


    For the first time since the invasion began, the injured guard felt a flicker of hope.


    "Brother..." he said softly, his voice trembling.


    "Yeah?"


    "¡­Thank you."


    The older brother smiled, his grip tightening protectively around his sibling. "Anytime, little bro. Anytime."


    Together, they pressed on, retreating toward themand room as the echoes of war thundered around them.


    Once the surviving guards had been safely evacuated by the medical Aegis units, the newly arrived Blood Legion took full control of the battlefield.


    The precision and coordination of the Aegis units were unmatched, their sma rifles lighting up the dark corridors with bursts of crimson energy.


    Each shot was aimed directly at the heads of the Revenant golems, forcing the hulking creatures to falter and shift to a defensive posture, shielding their vulnerable crystals from the focused fire.


    But their hesitation sealed their fate.


    Charging headfirst into the chaos was the Tyrant-ss Heavy Infantry unit, a war machine designed for closebat supremacy. While the Revenant golems matched the Tyrant in sheer size, the gap in power andbat optimization was vast. The Tyrant-ss operated at near Tier 3 power levels, making it a devastating force of destruction.


    The Tyrant closed the distance in seconds, its halberd raised high. With a single, crushing blow, it shattered the crystalline hands of one golem before driving the weapon straight through its head, obliterating it in a spectacr spray of glowing shards.


    The golem copsed lifelessly at its feet, its body crumbling into a heap of broken crystal and metal.


    The next golem barely had time to react before the Tyrant unit drove its foot into the creature''s leg joint with bone-crushing force. The golem''s leg gave way instantly, and it toppled to the ground, its head exposed.


    Without hesitation, the Tyrant leveled its sma cannon and fired a searing shot directly into the back of the fallen golem''s head. The resulting explosion sent fragments of crystal scattering like shrapnel.


    This scene of brutal efficiency repeated itself over and over as the Blood Legion relentlessly pushed forward.


    The Aegis units provided precision suppressive fire, targeting weak points in the Revenant forces, while the Tyrant tore through the enemy lines with devastating close-quartersbat.


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    The once-unstoppable golems now found themselves outmatched and overwhelmed by the superior tactics and firepower of the Blood Legion.


    After several minutes of intense fighting, the Blood Legion secured the main staircase. The defenders now stood at a jagged hole in the hull, a breach caused by one of the Revenant drop pods during the initial invasion. Beyond the holey the trading station''s outer hull, where the golems had begun spreading their destruction.


    The Tyrant unit strode forward, its glowing crimson eyes scanning the breach. It raised its halberd, pointing the weapon toward the hole as if issuing a silent challenge to whatever awaited on the other side.


    [Report: The zone has been secured.]


    [Request: Advance through the hole and engage hostile forces to prevent further destruction inside the facility. Awaiting permission.]


    The Tyrant''s deep, mechanical voice echoed through the station as it ryed its request tomand. Just as the transmission ended, another Revenant golem crawled through the breach, only to be met with a devastating swing of the Tyrant''s halberd.@@novelbin@@


    The weapon cleaved through the golem''s head in a single, fluid motion, sending its shattered remains tumbling back into the void.


    Lyra, standing in themand room, watched the scene unfold on her holoscreens. The battle was far from over, but for the first time, the defenders had gained momentum. The Blood Legion was proving itself as a force to be reckoned with.


    She turned to the holo-screen disying the Tyrant unit''s glowing red visage. "Permission granted. Advance through the breach, but retreat if you encounter resistance too powerful to handle. We can''t afford to lose you."


    [Permission received.]


    The Tyrant unit''s eyes red brighter for a moment before it issued orders to the nearby Blood Legion forces.


    [Squads 4 and 5 follow me.]


    With wless coordination, the Blood Legion began pouring through the breach. Each unit''s feet were maized to the surface of the station''s hull, allowing them to move across the exterior without being flung into the void of space.


    The sight of crimson lights streaking across the hull like a swarm of mechanical predators was both haunting and awe-inspiring.


    The Revenant golems on the hull turned to meet the new threat, their crystal weapons glowing as they prepared tounch another barrage. But the Blood Legion was already moving, advancing with terrifying speed and precision.


    sma rifles red to life, cutting down the nearest enemies with pinpoint uracy while the Tyrant unit led the charge, its halberd crackling with raw energy.


    The hull of the trading station became a new battlefield, one where the Blood Legion fought to reim every inch of ground.


    "It seems the twins are performing better than I anticipated," Cleo murmured to herself while watching the holographic disy of the battle in the trading station.


    The crimson lights of the Blood Legion units glimmered as they swarmed out of the station to meet the Revenant forces head-on. The sight of the Tyrant-ss units carving through the crystalline golems brought a faint smile to her lips.


    But her focus quickly shifted. Outside the station, the Revenant fleet was still holding its position, bombarding her forces from a distance, waiting for an opening. Cleo knew that letting them linger any longer was dangerous; they needed to strike back before the enemy could consolidate their gains.


    "Well then," Cleo said as she straightened her posture, her voice calm yet resolute. "It''s time tounch our counterattack. System, transmit the attack coordinates to the Holy Maiden. Let''s see if she is as loyal as she ims to be."


    [Coordinates sent. Holy Maiden has acknowledged receipt. Awaiting Order.]


    Cleo didn''t respond immediately. Instead, she turned and walked toward the center of themand room, where a regal throne-like chair awaited her. She lowered herself into the seat with deliberate grace, resting her hands on the armrests as the faint hum of the ship''s systems filled the room.


    Closing her eyes, she allowed her main consciousness to leave her body, her neural link connecting her directly to the Cleopatra''s internal systems.


    Within moments, her mind synchronized with the battleship, and her holographic avatar materialized outside the ship, standing atop the enormous barrel of its primary cannon.

 Chapter 233 Trust. (4)

    The avatar of Cleo appeared as a shimmering, semi-transparent figure, her form still retaining the elegance and authority shemanded in the physical world. The hologram''s golden hues flickered against the backdrop of the void, making her appear almost divine.


    She raised one hand, pointing her finger directly at the closest Revenant vessel, one of the hulking monstrosities of jagged crystals and dark metal, looming ominously near the station.


    The Cleopatra''s primary cannons began to shift and rotate, their massive barrels aligning with the hostile vessel. The sound of the ship''s internal mechanisms humming to life reverberated across the void as the weapon systems locked onto their target.


    Cleo''s voice echoed, both in themand room and across themunicationwork of her fleet. It was calm and absolute, yet carried a weight that demanded obedience.


    "Fire."


    The Cleopatra''s main cannon unleashed its fury. A blinding beam of energy erupted from the barrel, cutting through the darkness of space like ance of molten fire. The sheer power of the shot illuminated the battlefield, momentarily overpowering even the glow of the trading station''s lights.


    The beam struck the Revenant vessel dead-on, mming into its shields with a cataclysmic force. For a brief moment, the vessel''s crystalline barrier shimmered, struggling to hold against the overwhelming assault.


    But it wasn''t enough. The energy beam pierced through the shields and tore into the hull, igniting a chain reaction within the ship''s core.


    The hostile vessel erupted in a massive explosion, shards of crystal and debris scattering across the void. The shockwave rippled outward, causing smaller Revenant vessels nearby to falter and adjust their positions.


    On the Cleopatra, Cleo''s holographic avatar lowered her hand, her expression neutral as she surveyed the aftermath of the strike. The destroyed Revenant vessel had created a gap in their formation, a gap she intended to exploit.


    "System, ry the updated battle map to all fleet units," Cleomanded. "Order all carriers to deploy heavy bombers through the opening. Prioritize their engines."


    [Orders acknowledged. Heavy bombers deploying.]


    Cleo''s consciousness returned to her physical body, her eyes opening as she sat on the throne. She tapped her fingers against the armrest, her mind already racing through potential countermeasures in case the Revenant fleet retaliated.


    "Great Rock, the heavy transport ships are under attack. One of them has already been destroyed, and the remaining ones have lost their engines. Should we send reinforcements?" A revenant golem officer asked, his voice calm yet tinged with urgency.


    "Hmph," the Great Rock grunted dismissively, his towering crystalline form radiating an aura of authority. "There is no need for you to panic. Tell them to overload their cores and take as many enemy fighters with them as they can. Their sacrifice will not be in vain."


    The Great Rock''s words carried no sympathy, no hesitation. To him, the lives of their soldiers were mere resources, expendable, and easily reced. After all, billions of golems could be produced from the next conquered world.


    "Understood, Great Rock," the officer said while bowing slightly. He held a glowing crystal in his hand and prepared to transmit the self-destruct orders to the stranded transports.


    But just as the officer was about to act, the Great Rock raised a hand, stopping him.


    "Wait," he said, his deep, gravelly voice rumbling with intrigue. "Hold your orders. It seems we need to reassess this enemy."


    The Great Rock turned toward the side of their fleet, his glowing crystalline eyes narrowing. He could feel the ripple of warp energy disturbances in the void, a signature he had not expected to encounter so soon.


    And then, as if summoned by his suspicion, the space around them shimmered and tore open. From the rift, a new fleet emerged, one massive carrier and two hulky destroyers, their hulls gleaming under the dim starlight.


    The vessels bore the unmistakable design of the human empire but emzoned on their hulls was an unfamiliar insignia.


    "A pincer for a pincer," Cleo''s voice echoed across themunication channels, a sly edgecing her words. Her holographic image appeared briefly on the Great Rock''smand disy, her lips curling into a confident smile. "I hope you enjoy my gift."


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    The Great Rock stared at the fleet, unbothered by her words. Instead, a deepugh erupted from him, a chilling sound that reverberated through the crystalline walls of hismand chamber.


    "Hahaha! Well done, organic life form! You''ve made this battle far more interesting." Hisugh tapered off into a sinister grin. "Prepare to meet your doom, along with your reinforcements. Let''s see if your kind can withstand the will of the Revenant Ascendancy!"


    Meanwhile, aboard the gship of the newly arrived human fleet, the tension in themand room was palpable. Officers and crew members worked diligently, their movements sharp and precise as they prepared for battle.


    "Saintess, the enemy fleet is within range," one of the officers reported while bowing deeply toward the center of themand room, where a silk-covered throne stood.


    His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, not from fear of the battle but from reverence for the figure he served. "The enemy appears to be rotating their main cannons toward us. Should we open fire?"


    Silence filled the room for a moment. Behind the veil of alien silk that cloaked the throne, Li sat with perfect poise. Her piercing gaze, visible only to those close enough, scanned the tactical disy hovering in front of her. She had worked tirelessly for this moment.


    It had been months since her fateful encounter with Cleo, and she had wasted no time building her own force of zealots within the human empire. Her charisma, sharp intellect, and divine aura had drawn thousands to her cause.


    Two experienced captains of destroyers had sworn loyalty to her, bringing their ships and crews into her fold. She had recruited priests, warriors, and even civilians, all of whom viewed her as a divine emissary, a holy figure sent to lead them into the light.


    Of course, none of this would have been possible without the persistent nagging of Madam Rose. Li smirked slightly at the memory. The fiery matriarch had berated her endlessly, calling her weak for bending to "scum with heads full of shit and dicks."


    Madam Rose''s words, though harsh, had ignited a fire in Li. She''d used that fire to fuel her rise to prominence, forging alliances, gathering resources, and slowly carving out her own domain within the fractured empire.@@novelbin@@


    Madam Rose''s funding had been critical in outfitting the fleet, but Li''s influence had gone further. Civilians inspired by her words had begun donating their savings, swelling the cult''s coffers. With these funds, she had created an image of purity, strength, and divinity that spread like wildfire.


    Now, she was no longer just a rising figure. She was a symbol. A saintess. A divinity in the eyes of her followers.


    Inside themand room, her presence was treated as sacred. Her throne, veiled in alien silk to preserve her "divine purity," was surrounded by several priestesses.


    These women, sworn virgins consecrated to the "Goddess of the White Light," chanted softly, their prayers filling the room with an ethereal hum.


    From behind the veil, Li finally spoke, her voice calm yetmanding. "Hold fire for now. Let theme to us. Position the destroyers to nk their main vessels. If they focus on our gship, we''ll take their center while our pincers close around them. And ensure no one questions our divine mission. There is no room for hesitation."


    The officer bowed deeply once again. "Yes, Saintess. Your will shall be done."


    As the officers ryed hermands, Li leaned back on her throne, her fingers tracing the edges of the silk draped over herp. The battle ahead would be difficult, but it would also be a statement.


    Her lips curled into a faint smile.


    "This is no longer just a battle," she whispered to herself. "This is a demonstration of faith."


    Outside, the main carrier and its apanying destroyers began shifting into position, their weapons systems primed and ready. The Revenant fleet loomed ahead, a menacing wall of crystalline vessels preparing to unleash their fury.


    But Li''s forces were undeterred. The faithful did not fear death. They feared failure, and they would not fail their saintess.


    The Revenant fleet and Li''s fleet shifted their formations, both adjusting to gain the upper hand while delivering relentless volleys of turret fire across the void.


    The stars were painted with the glow of sma bolts, energy sts, and streaks of burning debris as both fleets sent out their fighters to sh in the chaos of the battlefield.


    The Revenant fighters, jagged and erratic in their movements, darted through the void like angry hos, aiming to sabotage the destroyers. Meanwhile, Li''s fighters, sleek, fast, and disciplined, moved to defend their ships, their movements guided by faith in their goddess and orders from theirmanders.


    "Red Wing Leader to squad." Themanding voice cut through the squad''sms. "Our mission is to defend the second destroyer. Bring upon them the divine punishment in the name of the Goddess!"


    "Understood, Red Leader!" the squad members replied in unison as their formation split into groups of three, each maneuvering to intercept the iing Revenant fighters.


    Among them was Erik, the youngest and newest member of the squad, his fingers trembling slightly as they gripped the controls of his fighter. This was his first live battle, and he could feel the weight of it pressing down on his chest.


    "Young Erik!" Red Leader''s voice broke through his thoughts, firm yet teasing. "I hope you''re ready for your first live battle! Try not to die out there, or your father''ll kill me! Just follow my lead and back me up. Got it?"


    Erik took a deep breath and forced augh, trying to sound braver than he felt. "Understood! I''ll always follow your butt, sir!"

 Chapter 235 Trust. (6) Superior enemies.

    Just outside the reinforced door of the surveince room, a new threat loomed. A Revenant golem, smaller than the ones they''d faced before, stood ominously in the hallway. Barely two meters tall, it was almost unimpressivepared to itsrger counterparts. But what itcked in size, it more than made up for in menace.


    On its shoulders rested two glowing blue crystals, crackling faintly with arcs of energy. The crystals exuded a dangerous aura, pulsing rhythmically like a heartbeat.


    Unlike the other golems, which lumbered with brutish simplicity, this one moved with an eerie precision. Its glowing bluish eyes flickered as it scanned its surroundings, its jagged crystalline limbs twitching slightly as if preparing for a strike.


    It wasn''t just another foot soldier. This golem was different. It was faster. Smarter. Deadlier.


    The golem stopped in front of the door to the surveince room, its head tilting slightly as if analyzing the door. Then, without hesitation, it raised one crystalline arm. Energy surged through the blue crystals on its shoulders, concentrating into the tip of its outstretched limb.


    A sharp, piercing crack echoed through the hallway as the golem fired a concentrated bolt of energy directly at the door.


    Inside the room, Lyra flinched as a sudden, deafening bang reverberated through the walls. She turned sharply, her attention torn away from the monitors. "What the hell was that?!" she muttered, her heart already pounding fast as she stared at the door.


    The reinforced metal groaned under the impact, faint scorch marks appearing around the center. Another crack followed, and this time the door buckled slightly, a faint dent forming where the energy had struck.


    A third, deafening crack echoed through the room, and before anyone could react, the reinforced metallic door was sent flying across the space. It mmed into the monitors with a catastrophic crash, shattering half of them in a burst of sparks and broken ss.


    The room filled with the acrid scent of burning circuits as the door ttered to the ground.


    The Revenant golem stepped through the ruined doorway, its movements unnervingly slow and deliberate. Its glowing blue crystals pulsed faintly as its red eyes scanned the room, locking onto every corner with chilling precision.


    The air seemed to grow heavier, the faint hum of its power filling the silence like a predator stalking its prey.


    From the shadows to its right, Lyra emerged, her twin pistols aimed directly at the golem''s head. Without hesitation, she pulled both triggers, the loud sound of gunfire echoing in the stillness.


    But what happened next froze her in ce.


    The bullets stopped midair.


    Just a few centimeters from the golem''s head, the projectiles hovered, suspended as if time itself had been frozen. A faint, shimmering energy field surrounded the golem''s head, rippling like disturbed water. Lyra''s breath hitched, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing.


    The golem''s head turned slowly toward her, its crystalline shoulders glowing brighter. The right crystal began to pulse as arcs of energy crackled along its arm. It raised its hand, pointing directly at Lyra''s face, its glowing blue eyes narrowing as if preparing to strike.


    But before the golem could fire, a deafening lion roar erupted inside the room, shaking the very walls. The roar was primal, furious, and filled with raw power.


    A blur of white fur and muscle crashed into the golem like a meteor, sending it flying out of the room. The crystalline creature smashed into the corridor wall with a bone jarring sound while cracking spiderwebbing across the metal surface where it hit.


    "Tsk," Gustav growled as he stepped into the room, his towering frame bristling with barely contained aggression. He turned his sharp, glowing blue eyes toward Lyra, his tone dripping with irritation.


    "What the hell are you doing standing there frozen like a statue? You want to die that badly? Fine, let me kill you myself so I can work out some of this anger!"


    Lyra blinked, finally snapping out of her shock. "Gustav! What are you doing here?"


    After Nyra and Lyra had defeated him during a previous encounter, the twins had begged Cleo to fix Gustav so they could keep him as a pet, if only because his strength intrigued them.


    It had taken weeks of relentless nagging, but eventually Cleo epted. Using advanced Kalzar prosthetics, she reced his damaged organs and limbs. To further enhance him, she even infused him with a small dose of Rex''s golden blood, granting him new strength and longevity.


    The results had been¡­ striking.


    Gustav retained his Tier 3 low power level, but his physical form was altered. His once-golden fur was now pale white, and his eyes glowed an icy blue. The transformation was eerily simr to the mutation the twins had undergone after drinking Rex''s blood, though their eyes had retained a different hue.


    Of course, Cleo wasn''t foolish. She installed numerous countermeasures in Gustav''s new body to ensure he couldn''t turn against them. These safeguards kept him obedient, but they couldn''t fix his foul mouth or his deep-seated hatred for the twins. Unfortunately for Gustav, obedience wasn''t optional.


    "Shut up! I''m not used to closebat like my sister!" Lyra snapped back, pouting as she reloaded her pistols.


    Before Gustav could respond, a sudden sh of blue light filled the room. A bolt of lightning crackled through the air, striking Gustav head-on. He grunted, his body locking up briefly as his honeb-like energy shield absorbed the brunt of the attack.


    The shield flickered but held, leaving Gustav unharmed, but his arm hung stiffly at his side, the residual lightning having numbed his muscles.


    "Tsk," Gustav hissed, rolling his shoulder as he red at the corridor where the golem had crashed. "That little shit''s still alive? I hit it with everything I had."


    He flexed his ws, his irritation mounting. "Damn thing''s tougher than it looks."


    Turning toward Lyra, he shouted, "Hey, you bitch! Don''t you have one of those gadgets that scans enemy power levels or something? I''m not about to waste my time if this thing''s out of my league."


    Lyra''s face twisted with indignation. "Who are you calling a bitch? That''s no way to talk to your master!" She punctuated her words with a sharp kick to Gustav''s leg, though he didn''t even flinch.


    "Fine," she muttered, activating her power armor''s helmet. The HUD red to life, scanning the golem as it emerged from the rubble in the corridor. The blue crystals on its shoulders were now glowing even brighter, and the arcs of energy coursing through its limbs had intensified.


    Lyra''s eyes widened as the results appeared on her screen. "Oh, damn..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.


    Gustav''s ears twitched. "What is it?" he growled, his ws tensing as his eyes remained locked on the advancing golem. "What''s its power level?"


    Discover hidden tales at empire


    Lyra hesitated for a moment before swallowing hard. "It''s... a Tier 3 peak creature."


    Gustav''s tail flicked in agitation as he let out a low growl. "Peak? You''re telling me we''re up against something at the top of Tier 3?"


    Lyra nodded as she quickly switched the ammunition in her pistols to explosive rounds. "Yep, we''re screwed."


    Gustav smirked, his blue eyes narrowing as he crouched slightly, ready to pounce. "Screwed? Speak for yourself, princess. I''m just getting started."


    The golem stepped forward, its glowing crystals crackling ominously as it prepared another attack. Lyra raised her pistols, her explosive rounds locked and loaded, while Gustav shifted his weight, the air around him growing tense with anticipation.


    "Guess we''ll find out if your''master can keep up," Gustav muttered, his grin widening.


    "Shut up and fight!" Lyra snapped, her voice shaking slightly as the golem charged forward, its glowing crystals lighting up the corridor.


    "I''ll take the front! You just make sure not to shoot me in the back!" Gustav roared as he lunged forward, his powerful frame barreling toward the golem with reckless determination.


    The crystalline golem didn''t hesitate. The blue crystals on its shoulders pulsed, releasing rapid-fire energy bolts that streaked toward Gustav. He dodged as many as he could, his movements surprisingly agile for his size. The shots he couldn''t avoid mmed into his honeb shield, causing it to flicker with every hit.


    "Damn shield''s holding... for now," Gustav muttered to himself, his ws flexing as he closed the gap.


    Once in range, Gustav unleashed a flurry of punches, each one aimed directly at the golem''s head. His fists crashed into the invisible force field protecting the creature, the impact sending small shockwaves rippling through the air. But despite the sheer power behind his strikes, the barrier held firm, the golem remainingpletely unharmed.


    "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SHIT?!" Gustav shouted in frustration,nding punch after punch with no effect.


    The golem''s eyes red brighter as if responding to his anger. Without warning, the blue crystals on its shoulders discharged two bolts of lightning at point-nk range. The searing electricity struck Gustav square in the chest, sending him flying backward.


    With a resounding crash, Gustav hit the cold metallic floor, his body skidding several meters beforeing to a stop. He groaned, his muscles spasming as residual electricity coursed through his body, locking him in ce.


    "This fucker¡­" Gustav growled through gritted teeth, his ws digging into the floor as he tried to push himself up. But the electricity surging through his body left him momentarily paralyzed, his limbs stiff and unresponsive.@@novelbin@@


    Before the golem could press its advantage, a series of loud shots echoed through the corridor. From the ceiling, Lyra fired several rounds at the golem''s face, each shot perfectly aimed at its head.


    The bullets flew straight and true, but just like before, they stopped midair, suspended by the golem''s invisible force field.

 Chapter 237 Trust. (8) Lyra full power.

    Lyra leapt out of cover, her eyes zing with determination as she charged at the golem. The golem immediately retaliated, releasing a barrage of lightning bolts in her direction. Your journey continues on empire


    She weaved through the corridor, dodging most of the attacks with amazing agility, though the close proximity of the strikes left the air around her crackling with static.


    Her twin pistols fired relentlessly, filling the space with the sharp cracks of gunfire. While most of her shots missed their mark, a few found their target, striking different parts of the golem''s crystalline body.


    The armor-piercing rounds burrowed a few centimeters into its structure before detonating, creatingrger cracks and deeper holes in its once-imprable form.


    The golem faltered slightly but continued its advance, undeterred by the damage. Lyra grinned despite herself. "Oh, what''s wrong? Feeling the heat yet?" She taunted, her voiceced with adrenaline as she closed the distance.


    When she was finally within a few meters, Lyra summoned her bloody nanomaterial tentacles once more, the crimson tendrilsshing out and coiling around the golem''s arms and legs. The golem raised its fists to punch the tentacles away, but Lyra was faster this time, manipting the tentacles to bind the golem in ce.


    "Haha! Gotcha now!" Lyra shouted, her grin widening. The golem struggled against the tentacles, its movements jerky and erratic as it tried to break free. "Now what? Weren''t you all high and mighty a second ago? Try to free yourself from this, you shiny bastard!"


    But as the words left her lips, the golem''s glowing blue eyes locked onto hers. It didn''t struggle this time. Instead, its remaining blue crystal red with a brilliant, blinding light with the intensity of a miniature sun.


    "What the hell¡ª?" Lyra muttered, her confidence flickering.


    Then, without warning, one of the golem''s shoulder crystals shattered into hundreds of pieces, sending shards flying in every direction. The instant the crystal broke, an enormous discharge of electricity erupted from its body, the power radiating outward in an explosive wave.


    The surge hit Lyra point nk.


    "Aghhh!" she screamed as the shockwave tore through her tentacles, shattering them into useless fragments of nanomaterial. The force sent her flying backward like a ragdoll, her body mming into the cold metallic floor with a sickening thud.


    The attack carried the raw power of a Tier 3 entity, and for Lyra, who was only at Tier 2, it was devastating. Her power armor was left in shambles, pieces of it broken and sparking, exposing parts of her body.


    Blood streamed down her face from cuts and ruptured vessels, the coppery taste filling her mouth as shey sprawled on the ground, smoke rising faintly from her damaged suit.


    "Cough... cough... haaa..." Lyra wheezed while blood dripped from her lips as she struggled to breathe. Her chest heaved with shallow,bored breaths, and her vision blurred as she tried to lift herself off the floor.


    Her arms trembled as she pushed against the ground, but they gave out almost immediately, her strengthpletely drained. Before she could attempt again, another lightning strike hit her square in the back, forcing a strangled scream from her lips as she copsed once more.


    "Guh¡ªSTOP!" She tried to shout, but her voice came out as a hoarse whisper.


    A second bolt struck her, followed by another. Each strike was weaker than thest due to the golem''s diminished energy reserves, but it didn''t matter. Lyra''s body couldn''t take any more. She couldn''t even feel her limbs anymore; her nerves were fried, her consciousness barely hanging on by a thread.


    On the other hand, the golem, now reduced to a Tier 2 peak power level due to the crystal explosion, was still in better condition than Lyra or Gustav. Its body showed visible cracks, and its movements were slower, but it was far from defeated.


    The golem hovered slowly toward Lyra''s motionless form, its glowing red eyes cold and calcting. It stared down at her for a moment, as if savoring its imminent victory, before raising its arm.


    The remaining crystal on its shoulder began to glow again, albeit sluggishly, as it charged up one final shot aimed directly at Lyra''s head.


    This was it. The fight was over. The golem knew it, and so did Lyra. Her foe loomed above her, its form flickering slightly from the strain of battle, but its power was still enough to finish her off.


    The crystal on the golem''s shoulder began to pulse, the energy building to a crescendo. It was ready to im its prize, the life of its opponent.


    But before the shot could fire, a deafening roar erupted from the side.


    The next instant, Gustav crashed into the golem like a cannonball, tackling it with enough force to send both of them flying across the corridor. The charged lightning st fired harmlessly into the ceiling, the bolt tearing through the metal above and scattering debris onto the floor.


    Gustav growled ferociously, his ws digging into the golem''s shoulders as he pinned it to the ground. Sparks of electricity coursed through his body, his muscles twitching from the residual shocks, but he didn''t let go.


    "Get up, you useless bitch!" Gustav snarled; his voice was a mixture of pain and rage. His sharp blue eyes locked onto Lyra, whoy crumpled on the ground. "I know you''re still alive! Get up and LEAVE! I''ll keep this bastard busy!"


    The golem thrashed beneath him, its crystalline limbs struggling to break free as it charged its remaining energy. Gustav roared again, mming the creature''s head into the floor repeatedly, trying to buy Lyra whatever time she had left.


    Lyra''s vision swam while her ears rang from the earlier sts. But hearing Gustav''s words cut through the haze like a de. She coughed again, tasting blood, but forced her head to turn toward him.


    "Gustav¡­" she muttered weakly, her voice barely audible.


    "DON''T JUST LIE THERE!" He roared, his voice strained as the golem began to overpower him. "GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE IT''S TOO LATE!"


    Despite her body screaming in protest, Lyra gritted her teeth and forced her trembling hand to grip the ground. She knew Gustav wouldn''tst much longer. And she couldn''t let him die after he was trying to save her.


    Lyra, with great effort, managed to roll onto her back, her battered body screaming in protest. Her hands trembled as she reached toward apartment on her armor''s leg. She pressed the button, and thepartment hissed open slowly, revealing a small bag of shimmering golden blood.


    The sight of the blood brought a faint smile to her bloodied lips. "Heh... thanks for warming it," she muttered weakly, the heat from the golem''s earlier lightning attacks having warmed the bag to the perfect temperature.


    There was no time to savor it, no time to relish her favorite drink. With no hesitation, Lyra bared her sharp fangs and sank them into the blood bag, sucking down its contents as fast as her body would allow.


    Rex''s blood, golden, intoxicating, and impossibly potent, hit her system like a surge of raw energy. Normally, the twins drink this blood in the privacy of their heavily reinforced room, taking their time to indulge in its effects.


    The blood was not just sustenance for them; it was an aphrodisiac, a gic awakener, and an enhancer that pushed their bloodline abilities to their absolute limit.


    This overwhelming power came at a cost. The twins bodies would enter a berserk state after consuming Rex''s blood, their primal instincts overtaking their rationality. Cleo, ever practical, had designed their room like a high-security prison for the gxy''s worst psychopaths, using the strongest metals she could obtain.


    Every time they drank, Cleo would simply toss them into the room to fight each other until exhaustion overtook them.


    But now, Lyra didn''t have the luxury of a safe space to lose control.


    As the golden blood coursed through her veins, her face flushed bright red, and small, involuntary moans escaped her lips. Her crimson eyes slowly shifted, bing a mesmerizing silver hue that glowed faintly in the dim light. Her silver hair began to emit a soft white light, the glow spreading across her entire body like a radiant aura.


    Meanwhile, Gustav, still on the ground after being flung across the room by another lightning strike, groaned in pain. His vision blurred, and his body refused to move. When he finally managed to open his eyes, he saw Lyra crouching next to him, her glowing form practically radiating madness.


    "Are you tired already, little kitty?" Lyra teased while poking Gustav''s cheek with childlike yfulness. Her silver eyes sparkled with unhinged energy as she tilted her head, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "Do you want some catnip? Oh, wait¡­ never mind. That''s super illegal in the gxy. Sorry for mentioning it."


    Gustav''s eyes widened as he took in her transformed appearance, his lips curling into a faint smirk despite his pain. "Ha¡­ I was right. You really are one crazy bitch," he muttered before his head dropped to the side, unconscious.


    Lyra blinked, staring at him for a moment before pouting. "Oh! How rude! I was even trying to get you a nice treat, and you call me a bitch? Bad kitty..." She poked his cheek again. "Hey, kitty, did you die? ¡­ Can I eat you?"@@novelbin@@


    Before she could continue her antics, a sharp crack of electricity broke through her thoughts. The golem, battered but still functioning, fired another lightning bolt directly at her.


    Without even thinking, Lyra''s body reacted. In an instant, a pair of massive white bat-like wings erupted from her back, their glowing surfaces shimmering as they blocked the lightning bolt effortlessly. The attack dissipated against the wings, the energy scattering harmlessly around her.

 Chapter 239 Trust. (10)

    The bombardment continued until thest of the four golems had been obliterated, their shattered remains littering the battlefield in jagged, glowing fragments.@@novelbin@@


    "It''s still so weird," Nyra mused aloud, finishing her snack as she gazed at the destruction through the tactical disy on her HUD. "Those golems have such terrifying energy readings, but they''re so... dumb. Do they even have brains, or are they just shiny rocks with legs?"


    Themunications guard nearby coughed awkwardly, unsure if that was a rhetorical question.


    Nyra didn''t wait for an answer. Her eyes scanned the debris, and her gazended on one of the crystals scattered among the wreckage. It glimmered faintly, simr to the one Lyra had shown her earlier, though this one was a slightly different color.


    "Mmm?" Nyra squinted at the crystal, tilting her head as realization began to dawn on her. "AH! So that''s where I''ve seen it before!"


    The memory clicked into ce. The crystal Lyra had brought her was nearly identical to the ones embedded in the slender golems. The only real difference was the color; Lyra''s was blue, while these were a dimmer shade of teal.


    Nyra smirked, cing a hand on her hip as she nced at the tactical disy again. "Well, that exins a lot. If this new golem was the one that nearly stripped Lyra naked and forced her to use the golden blood, then that just means my order was the right call!"


    Sheughed lightly to herself, feeling a swell of pride in her own tactical genius. "Good thing I had those light artillery machines set up in advance. Otherwise, things might''ve ended badly. Hehe!"


    Themunications guard nced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Ma''am¡­ didn''t you approve the artillery deployment because you said you wanted to make a ''big, shy show'' for the militia to boost morale?"


    Nyra turned to him, her crimson eyes narrowing dangerously. "Do you want a promotion, or do you want me to toss you out of the nearest airlock?"


    The guard immediately straightened. "Uh, no, ma''am! Your tactical decision was brilliant, ma''am! Absolutely genius!"


    "That''s what I thought," Nyra said with a satisfied grin, turning her attention back to the monitors. Her smirk lingered as she nced once more at the crystal fragments on the screen.


    "Well, Lyra¡­ looks like your shiny souvenir has more to it than meets the eye," she muttered to herself.


    As the station''s defenses held strong and the artillery fire ceased, Nyra made a mental note to investigate the crystals further once the battle was over. Something about them didn''t sit right with her, and if there was one thing she''d learned from Rex, it was to never ignore her gut feeling.


    "Greetings, Lady Cleo," Li''s holo screen form appeared next to Cleo''s own holographic projection. Her expression wasposed but carried a faint trace of tension, and her head was slightly bowed as a sign of respect. "As agreed, I have brought all the forces I could muster to aid you in this battle."


    Cleo nced at Li''s fleet through her HUD; it was a formation of disciplined shipsposed of a carrier and destroyers under the banner of Li''s Zealot faction within the human empire. A faint smile yed on Cleo''s lips, though her golden eyes glinted with something colder.


    "Mmm¡­ if I''m not wrong, the human empire''s actual fleet size is twice this number," Cleo said, her voice carrying an edge of deliberate skepticism. "Where are the rest of them?"


    Though Cleo already knew the answer, the question wasn''t for her. It was for everyone near Li, from the priestesses standing around her concealed throne to the officers and loyalists serving her growing cause. This was all part of their n.


    Li''s shoulders rose and fell in a controlled sigh, though her holographic image carried an air of weariness. "As you''ve already imagined, Lady Cleo, the human council rejected my call for help," she admitted.


    Her voice was calm, but there was a subtle sharpness to her words. "They stated that they are under no obligation to cooperate every time assistance is requested. ording to them, this is not their problem.''"


    Li delivered the exnation with brutal honesty, and while her face remained neutral, there was an undeniable undercurrent of frustration in her tone. The priestesses standing near her hidden throne gasped softly at the revtion.


    For them, the council''s refusal wasn''t just an insult; it was an affront to their holy maiden, a betrayal of their faith.


    Cleo leaned back in her virtual seat, a faint, knowing smirk tugging at her lips. "So, what I feared hase to pass," she said coolly, her voice cutting through the air like a de. "I won''t say I''m surprised, but this will inevitably lead to civil war within the human empire. And if things continue down this path, even we may find ourselves hostile toward the humans."


    Even as Cleo spoke, her holographic form flickered briefly as she continued to control the Cleopatra''s turrets manually. Her focus never wavered as she shot down several Revenant fighters attempting to break away from their transport ships.


    Across the battlefield, the Kaelzar carrier unleashed its remaining fighter squadrons to intercept the escaping enemies. The final Revenant heavy transport ships were being dismantled piece by piece, and the Cleopatra''s main cannons were nearly fully charged for the final blow.


    Li''s voice broke through the tension, calm but deliberately strong, loud enough for her nearby priestesses to hear. "Then... when this civil war begins, Lady Cleo, would you stand with us? Would you support us?"


    The priestesses held their breath. To them, this question was monumental. It wasn''t just about tactics or alliances; it was about faith, loyalty, and the very future of their holy cause.


    Cleo paused, letting the silence hang just long enough to emphasize the weight of her response. "While it''s true that I no longer trust the new human empire," she said, her voice measured, "you have proven yourself to be a true ally, human holy maiden. Should you call for support in the future, we will answer."


    The priestesses gasped audibly, their eyes widening with awe and reverence. Their holy maiden had secured the alliance of a powerful force whomanded fleets and armies. This revtion solidified Li''s position as not only their spiritual leader but also a masterful diplomat and protector.


    Li allowed a small, humble smile to touch her lips, bowing her head slightly. "Your support means more to us than words can express, Lady Cleo. Together, we will ovee any challenge that lies ahead."


    But just as Cleo was about to respond, an alert red across her HUD; the sound was sharp and urgent. Her expression shifted instantly, her holographic form snapping to attention.


    "Well then, we''ll have to pause this conversation for now," Cleo said, her tone bing cold and focused once more. "It''s time to attack with all our strength and destroy these enemies once and for all."


    Before Li could respond, Cleo''s hologram flickered and vanished as she cut the connection on her end.


    Back aboard Li''s gship, the priestesses standing near her hidden throne were left stunned by what they had just heard. The conversation had been both a revtion and a warning. Not only did it confirm the looming threat of civil war within the human empire, but it also revealed the precarious nature of their alliances.


    The council''s refusal to send reinforcements had exposed a deep fracture within their ranks, and the Kaelzar''s willingness to turn hostile against humanity only underscored the fragility of the situation. But at the same time, the priestesses were filled with awe and admiration for their holy maiden.


    "She truly is blessed by the divine," one of the priestesses murmured while her voice trembled.


    Another nodded, her hands sped together in prayer. "To have the ear of Lady Cleo... and to secure her loyalty... the holy maiden is greater than we ever imagined."


    Their whispered praises filled the room, the blue mes of the ceremonial torches casting an ethereal glow over their faces.


    Li sat silently within her hidden throne, concealed behindyers of alien silk. Her expression was unreadable, but a faint smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.


    She had yed her part perfectly, nting the seeds of loyalty and awe in the minds of her followers while simultaneously solidifying her alliance with Cleo.


    "Order: Execute the followingmands... full assault is authorized. Main cannons, prepare to fire on my signal."


    Cleo''s voice echoed through themand bridge of the Cleopatra. It was calm, precise, and unwavering, the kind of tone that inspired both awe and discipline in all who heard it. Around her, the Kaelzar officers carried out her orders with mechanical efficiency, the ship''s systems humming as they powered up for the final strike.


    The Cleopatra and the Liberator turned their massive main cannons toward the Revenant''s gship, their long barrels glowing faintly as they charged up energy. Meanwhile, the Leviathan-ss carriers nking her deployed their long-range missile systems, their racks swiveling into position and locking onto their targets.


    On the holographic disy before Cleo, the Revenant''s main ship loomed like a monolith of destruction, its jagged crystalline structure pulsating with ominous energy. This was the heart of the enemy fleet, themand vessel from which the Revenant coordinated their forces.


    If it fell, the rest of their fleet would crumble like the fragile constructs they were.


    Cleo raised her right hand, her slender index finger extended like the barrel of a gun. She pointed directly at the Revenant gship, her glowing golden eyes locked onto the target.


    As her finger remained aimed, several tech circles materialized around her arm, spinning into existence one by one. Each circle was inscribed with intricate Kaelzar symbols and numbers, their meaning understood only by her and the systems she controlled.


    The circles glowed red at first, spinning rapidly as they calcted firing trajectories, weapon synchronization, and power output.


    "Status: Cannons aligning. Calctions in progress."

 Chapter 241 Big Loss. (2)

    "Damn it," she muttered while her calmposure slipped slightly. Her HUD red with multiple alerts as the distortions continued to expand, threatening to engulf the entire sector.


    Through the chaos, Cleo''s voice rang out, sharp andmanding. "All units, retreat to safe zones immediately! Engage emergency protocols and focus on containing the spatial anomalies. Do not engage further!"


    As she issued orders, Cleo''s mind worked at full speed. The trading station was in danger, the spatial distortions threatened to consume everything nearby, and the Great Rock''s final act of defiance had thrown the entire battle into disarray.


    A few minutes before the explosions inside the trading station, Lyra had finished clearing out the remaining golems that threatened their defensive area.


    Her white glow had dimmed considerably, the radiant energy that once enveloped her now flickering faintly like thest embers of a dying me. Her silver eyes, once brilliant and otherworldly, were slowly reverting to their usual crimson hue. She looked utterly drained.


    "Sis¡­ I''ve already taken care of the enemies... but I''m feeling really sleepy right now," Lyra said groggily, staggering slightly as she appeared next to Nyra, who was busy directing the troops.


    Nyra nced at her twin and immediately noticed her state of exhaustion. "Oh! Good work out there, sis! I expected no less from my little sister!" She said while patting her head, her tone light and teasing.


    "You can go rest over there, find a corner, and copse or something. But before you do, can you show me that crystal again?"


    There was a mischievous glint in Nyra''s crimson eyes. She had been waiting for this moment, nning to tease her sister mercilessly once Lyra saw how many of the same crystals she herself had collected from the defeated golems.


    "Mmm? Oh, you mean this one?" Lyra mumbled sleepily, reaching into a small backpack she had found earlier. She pulled out the blue crystal she had been carrying, holding it up for Nyra to see.


    But the moment the crystal was exposed to open air, it began to vibrate violently in Lyra''s hand. Before either twin could react, the crystal suddenly detonated, releasing a massive electric wave that surged through the room.


    The shockwave sent Nyra flying backward, her body mming against the ground a few meters away. Lyra, who had been holding the crystal, bore the full brunt of the electric discharge. Her body convulsed uncontrobly as arcs of electricity danced across her skin, the sheer force of the energy overwhelming her.


    "LYRA!" Nyra screamed, her voice cutting through the chaos, and without hesitation, she sprang to her feet and dashed toward her sister, tackling her just as another surge of energy crackled through the air.


    Nyra used her own body to shield Lyra, crashing into a nearby wall with enough force to leave a dent in the reinforced metal. She winced from the impact but ignored the pain, immediately checking on Lyra''s condition.


    "Lyra! Lyra! Say something!" Nyra called her out while lightly pping her sister''s cheeks in an attempt to wake her up. But there was no response. Lyra''s bodyy limp in her arms, her breathing shallow.


    Panic surged through Nyra as she quickly checked her sister''s pulse. To her relief, she found it; it was weak but steady.


    "Thank the stars... you''re okay," Nyra whispered while letting out a shaky breath as she hugged Lyra tightly. Her twin had avoided the worst of it, though just barely. Lyra''s bloodline and awakened form had saved her life. If she''d been an ordinary human, the electric wave would have undoubtedly killed her on the spot.


    Nyra cradled Lyra protectively, ring at anyone who darede too close. No one was allowed near her sister, not when she was in such a vulnerable state.


    But her relief was short-lived.


    All around them, the crystals embedded in the corpses of the defeated golems began to glow ominously. One by one, the crystals emitted high-pitched whines, their surfaces cracking and splintering as unstable energy built up inside them.@@novelbin@@


    The ground beneath Nyra''s feet began to tremble.


    "What the heck is going on now?!" Nyra shouted while her crimson eyes darted around in rm.


    Her gaze fell on therge container where she had stored several of the crystals she had personally collected from the golems she defeated. The realization hit her like a lightning bolt.


    "Wait¡­ don''t tell me!"


    Her heart sank as she saw the crystals inside the container glowing brighter and brighter, their surfaces now spiderwebbed with cracks.


    Nyra''s voice rang out with the force of amander who knew time was running out. "EVERYONE! ABANDON THE AREA IMMEDIATELY! RUN LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT¡ªBECAUSE IT DOES!"


    Her shout carried through the chaos, momentarily stunning the militia and guards who had been holding the choke point. For a split second, no one moved, disbelief stered across their faces.


    But the Aegis units didn''t need to be told twice. They immediately began evacuating the area, their mechanical precision cutting through the confusion. Seeing the Aegis units retreat, the militia and guard forces snapped out of their daze and followed suit, scrambling to escape the danger zone.


    Nyra didn''t waste a second. With Lyra still unconscious in her arms, she hoisted her onto her back, securing her with her tentacles to ensure she wouldn''t fall. Gritting her teeth, Nyra sprinted toward safety, her legs burning with effort as the tremors grew more violent.


    Just as she crossed into the outer hallway, the container of crystals finally detonated.


    The explosion was massive. All the stored crystals ignited simultaneously, theirbined energies amplifying the st to catastrophic levels. The resulting shockwave tore through the choke point, obliterating everything in its path.


    The walls and ceiling buckled and cracked under the force, and a gaping hole was blown into the station''s structure.


    The entire trading station trembled violently; the rms were ring as emergency protocols were triggered.


    Nyra barely managed to keep her footing as the floor shook beneath her. She nced over her shoulder, her heart pounding as she saw the massive hole where the choke point had been just moments ago.


    "Damn it!" she hissed while adjusting her grip on Lyra as she picked up her pace. "What kind of ticking time bomb were those crystals?!"


    Her mind raced as she tried to process what had just happened. The crystals weren''t just remnants of the golems; they were weapons, deliberately designed to detonate after a dy. The implications were chilling.


    Still, there was no time to dwell on it. The station was at risk of copse, and she had to get Lyra to safety.


    As she ran, she activated hermunicator, her voice sharp and urgent. "Master! We have a situation. The golem crystals are rigged to explode. The trading station''s structural integrity ispromised. I''m getting Lyra out, but we need reinforcements for evacuation now!"


    She didn''t wait for a response, focusing all her energy on moving forward. Behind her, the station continued to tremble, the destruction spreading as more crystals detonated in a chain reaction.


    The situation inside the trading station was deteriorating at an rming rate. The explosions caused by the golem crystals had not only torn massive holes in the hull, but they were also creating deadly vacuums that dragged anyone too close toward the void of open space.


    Those unlucky enough to be caught near the breaches suffered terrible fates; screams were abruptly silenced as militia members were pulled into the void, their bodies twisting and contorting painfully before sumbing to the freezing, suffocating emptiness.


    The station guards, d in their standard-issue uniforms with reinforced helmets, fared slightly better. Their suits offered limited protection against the extreme cold of space, buying them a few precious minutes of survival. But even then, their odds of making it out alive were slim.


    "FUCK!" Nyra shouted, her voice filled with equal parts rage and desperation as she sprinted through the trembling corridors with Lyra strapped to her back.


    Ahead of her, the massive explosion from earlier had left a gaping hole in the station''s hull, and the structural damage was only getting worse. The trading station was slowly tearing itself apart, the tremors growing stronger with each passing second.


    The only thing keeping the station from splitting in half entirely was the honeb sma shield, which flickered and strained under the pressure. It was thest line of defense preventing the station''splete destruction, but Nyra knew it wouldn''t hold for long.


    She adjusted her grip on Lyra, tightening the tentacles that secured her unconscious sister to her back and pressed on. Her crimson eyes darted around, scanning for a path to safety.


    A sharp beep echoed in her ear, followed by Cleo''s calm, unshaken voice through hermunicator. "Nyra, listen closely. I''m unable to send help right now. You''ll have to get out of there on your own."


    "What?!" Nyra shouted while nearly stumbling over a loose panel on the floor. "What the hell do you mean you can''t send help?!"


    Cleo''s voice remained steady, though there was an urgency beneath her usual calm demeanor. "I''ll send the coordinates for the nearest hangar to your position. Take a transport ship and evacuate immediately. Good luck."


    "Wait! Master! What do you¡ª" Nyra''s words were cut off as the line went dead.


    "Master! MASTER!" Nyra screamed into themunicator, but there was no response.


    Gritting her teeth, Nyra cursed under her breath while her mind worked overtime. Cleo''s calm demeanor was unnerving; she never sounded like that unless something big was happening. Whatever had Cleo''s attention must have been catastrophic enough to prevent her from sending aid.


    "What the hell is going on up there?" Nyra muttered to herself as she picked up her pace, her boots pounding against the trembling floor.

 Chapter 243 Big Loss. (4)

    "Leave him to me, sis," Lyra said, her voice groggy but tinged with quiet determination. With a weak, shaky motion, she raised her arm and slowly pulled one of her handguns from Nyra''s holster. "At least I can move this hand."


    "Are you sure? You don''t exactly lookbat-ready," Nyra replied, doubt evident in her tone as she eyed her sister''s trembling hand.


    "Just... trust me, okay? I''ve got this," Lyra said, offering a small, tired smirk.


    Nyra shrugged. "Fine, little sis. I''ll leave it to you." Without another word, she broke into a full sprint, charging straight at the golem. The massive figure lurched into motion, its heavy footsteps echoing through the corridor as it barreled toward them.


    The tension thickened as the distance between them closed rapidly. Lyra steadied her aim, her finger hovering over the trigger despite her weakened state.


    "Come on... just a little closer..." Lyra whispered to herself. When the golem was mere meters away, she pulled the trigger.


    The sound of the gunshot echoed through the corridor, followed by the metallic ng of the golem''s head being blown clean off. Its massive body froze mid-stride before copsing onto the floor in a heap of motionless metal.


    "HA! Nice shot, Lyra!" Nyra cheered as she leapt over the fallen golem without breaking her stride.


    But Lyra didn''t share her enthusiasm. "Ah..." she muttered, looking back at the weapon in her hand... or rather, what should have been in her hand.


    "What happened? Are you okay? Does it hurt?" Nyra asked while ncing back at her sister while still running full tilt down the corridor.


    "No, I''m okay," Lyra replied sheepishly. "It''s just... the gun flew out of my hand when I shot. I guess my strength hasn''t returned yet. Hehe..."


    Nyra let out an exasperated sigh, shaking her head. "Unbelievable. You kill the golem like a badass, and then that happens. I don''t know if I shouldugh or cry."


    Lyra gave a weak chuckle while resting her head against Nyra''s shoulder. "Well, at least we''re still alive, right? That counts for something."


    Nyra snorted. "Yeah, for now. Let''s see how long thatsts."


    [Attention all residents on the station: The structural integrity has fallen to 15%. Total copse estimated in 10 minutes. I repeat¡­]


    The station AI''s voice echoed through the corridors like the tolling of a death knell. Its cold, clinical tone made the grim reality even harder to stomach, as if it were calmly counting down the remaining minutes of life for everyone trapped aboard.


    "This is really nerve-wracking!" Nyra growled, her voice tinged with panic and frustration as she sprinted down the corridor. Lyra was still clinging to her back, her silver hair asionally pping Nyra''s face as they raced through the copsing station.


    "Whoever programmed this AI is a psychopath! Who in their right mind thinks it''s a good idea to tell people exactly how much time they have left before they die?! I don''t need to hear a countdown to my funeral!"


    From her ce on Nyra''s back, Lyra let out a weak chuckle. "Sis... the one who programmed that AI was Master Cleo," she said, still wincing as the residual pain from her earlier electrocution made it difficult to even lift her arms.


    Nyra froze mid-step for a split second, nearly stumbling over her own feet before recovering. "Ahem. I said nothing. And since you''re the only one who heard me, I''ll know who snitched if it gets back to her!" she said, reaching up to tug yfully on Lyra''s nose, earning a small squeak from her sister.


    Before Lyra could respond, the voice of the AI abruptly cut off, leaving an eerie silence in its ce. But the relief didn''tst.


    A deep, rumbling vibration shook the station violently, sending debris tumbling from the ceiling. The sudden jolt sent Nyra flying a few feet forward, her body hitting the ground with a resounding THUD.


    Her face mmed into the cold metal floor with unceremonious force, and she skidded to a stop a few meters away, groaning as shey sprawled out on the ground.


    A secondter, a deafening, thunderous explosion rocked the station, louder than anything they had heard before. The emergency lights overhead began shing wildly, bathing the corridor in an unsettling red glow.


    "Sis! Are you okay?!" Lyra called from where she hadnded, still unable to stand on her own. Her voice carried a mix of worry and exasperation.


    Nyra groaned and pushed herself up onto her hands and knees, her face flushed red, partly from embarrassment and partly from the impact. "Ouch. Yes. I''m okay. Only my face and my pride hurt," she muttered while wiping her nose as a small trickle of blood dripped down.


    She stood up shakily, brushing off the dust and debris clinging to her armor. "By the way... what was that god-awful noise?" She asked with her voice tinged with irritation as she rubbed her sore nose.


    Lyra, still sitting on the ground, raised an eyebrow. "How would I know? I can barely move right now. But if I had to guess..." She gestured weakly to the blinking emergency lights. "Since the AI finally shut up and the station is shaking like crazy¡­ I''d say the station''s done for. We''re probably about to die.... Just saying."


    Lyra''s casual delivery made Nyra re at her. "Well, aren''t you just a ray of sunshine right now?"


    Lyra shrugged, wincing as she tried to wiggle her legs. "Hey, look! I''m finally starting to feel my legs again! Isn''t that great?"


    Before Nyra could reply, another explosion rocked the station, this one far closer than before. The floor beneath them shuddered violently, and the sound of metal groaning and twisting under immense pressure filled the air.


    "Sis¡­" Lyra''s voice trailed off as she noticed something rming. The corridor they were standing in was beginning to tilt.


    The section of the station they were in was slowly bing more vertical, the damaged structure shifting as it teetered closer and closer to total copse. Debris slid down the nted floors, and sparks flew from damaged power lines overhead.


    "Oh,e on!" Nyra shouted, her crimson eyes darting around as she realized the gravity of the situation. "You''ve gotta be kidding me!"


    Her feet scrambled for traction as the incline became steeper, forcing her to lean forward to maintain her bnce. "Lyra, hold on! Things are about to get really bumpy!"


    "I already can''t move, so I don''t think I have a choice!" Lyra snapped while clinging to Nyra''s back as best as her weakened body would allow.


    Nyra gritted her teeth and started moving again, her boots nging loudly against the metal floor as she ran uphill, trying to keep ahead of the copsing structure. "Damn it, master!, where''s that updated GPS?! I can''t die here! I''m too good-looking for this!"


    Lyra let out a breathlessugh. "Well, at least you''ll die beautiful, right?"


    Nyra shot her an annoyed re. "Not helping, Lyra!"


    As the explosions grew louder and the corridor tilted further, Nyra knew they didn''t have much time left. The station was tearing itself apart around them, and the only way out was to find the hangar.


    But with the GPS offline and the constant chaos of falling debris and rogue golems, it was starting to feel like a losing battle.


    Still, Nyra wasn''t about to give up. Not while her sister was counting on her.


    "Hold on tight," she muttered under her breath, determination burning in her crimson eyes. "We''re getting out of here. No way am I letting some stupid rocks be the end of us."


    With that, she pushed forward, running as fast as she could through the copsing station, dodging falling debris and narrowly avoiding disaster at every turn. The clock was ticking, but Nyra refused to let it run out.


    But, as the universe so often seems to mock those in desperate situations, Nyra''s resolve was immediately tested by a new nightmare. The trading station''s hull, which had already endured far more than it was ever designed for, finally gave up the fight.


    The shield that once protected the station was gone, and now both sides of the structure were being pulled apart by the relentless force of the vacuum of space.


    The massive change in pressure between the inside and the void was wreaking havoc, tearing through the station''s weakened frame like paper. Sections of the hull began crumpling and copsing, the station groaning in agony as it sumbed to the inevitable.


    For Nyra and Lyra, who were in the middle of climbing a towering metal staircase to what they hoped was safety, disaster struck at the worst possible moment.


    The metal staircase shuddered violently beneath them, its bolts screeching as they were ripped from their sockets. Without warning, the entire structure gave way with a deafening crashing sound, plummeting downward into the gaping void below.


    "Oh no..." Nyra''s heart dropped as she felt the staircase copse beneath her feet. "LYRA! GRAB ME TIGHT! NOW!"


    Lyra, barely conscious and still weak, didn''t even hesitate. Her arms, shaky but determined, wrapped tightly around Nyra''s neck as the two of them plunged downward.


    Nyra acted on instinct, her body moving faster than her thoughts. With a sharp grunt, she extended her tentacles, sending two of them shooting out toward the walls on either side of the copsing shaft.@@novelbin@@


    The metallic tendrils pierced through the damaged walls with a loud CLANG, anchoring themselves firmly in ce.


    The force of their fall yanked them hard as the tentacles caught, and Nyra winced as her body jerked from the sudden stop. She gritted her teeth, bracing against the pressure while using another tentacle to coil securely around Lyra, holding her sister close to her chest.

 Chapter 244 Big Loss.(5)

    The echoes of twisted metal and distant explosions reverberated around them as they dangled precariously in the void left by the copsed staircase. Dust and debris floated in the weightless air, illuminated by the eerie red glow of the station''s emergency lights.


    "You okay, sis!?" Nyra shouted, her voice strained as she fought to maintain her grip.


    Lyra groaned softly while her head was resting against Nyra''s shoulder. "I''ve been better¡­" she mumbled, her voice weak butced with sarcasm. "This isn''t exactly helping me recover, you know¡­"


    "Yeah, well, you''re wee," Nyra snapped, panting as she adjusted her tentacles to secure their position. "If I''d let go, you''d be floating through space right now. So maybe save theints forter!"


    Nyra nced around, her crimson eyes scanning for any sign of escape. The shaft they were suspended in stretched endlessly upward and downward into darkness, with faint flickers of distant mes visible through gaps in the walls.


    The air was filled with the creaks and groans of the station''s failing structure, a grim reminder that time was running out.


    "Alright, I''m climbing up," Nyra said through gritted teeth. "I don''t know where this leads, but anywhere''s better than here."


    Lyra nodded weakly, her arms still draped around Nyra''s neck. "Just... don''t drop me, okay?"


    "Wasn''t nning on it," Nyra muttered, rolling her eyes as she began hoisting them upward. Her metallic tentacles pierced the walls with a loud metalic sound, pulling them higher with each movement.


    Sweat dripped down Nyra''s forehead as she climbed, the strain of carrying both her sister and her own weight taking its toll. The walls groaned and shuddered with every motion, and debris rained down from above, narrowly missing them as they ascended.


    "This is insane¡­" Nyra grumbled under her breath. "If I survive this, I''m asking Master for a damn vacation. Somewhere without killer robots, space debris, and¡ª"


    Her words were cut off as another violent tremor shook the station. One of her tentacles slipped from the wall, sending them dangling precariously for a moment before she regained her grip.


    "Nyra!" Lyra gasped, her grip tightening instinctively.


    "I''m fine! I''m fine!" Nyra snapped, though her heart pounded fast. "Just hold on. I''m not letting us die here."


    As they neared the top of the shaft, a new sound reached their ears... one that sent a chill down Nyra''s spine.


    Heavy footsteps.


    "Oh, you''ve got to be kidding me," Nyra muttered, her voice dripping with disbelief.


    Sure enough, a golem appeared at the edge of the shaft above them. Its jagged form was silhouetted by the red emergency lights, its glowing eyes locking onto the twins with chilling intensity.


    "Sis¡­" Lyra whispered weakly. "Please tell me you have a n for this."


    Nyra stared up at the golem, her jaw clenching as it stepped closer, its weight causing the tform to creak ominously.


    "Oh, I''ve got a n," Nyra said, her tone heavy with sarcasm. "Step one: Climb faster. Step two: Hope it''s dumb enough to fall."


    "That''s your n?!" Lyra shouted, though her voicecked strength.


    "Unless you''ve got a better one, yeah!" Nyra shouted back, her tentacles digging into the wall as she climbed faster. "Now shut up and hold on tight!"


    The golem let out a deep, metallic growl as it raised one of its arms. Sparks flew as a glowing de extended from its forearm, the weapon humming ominously as it prepared to strike.


    Nyra''s crimson eyes widened. "Oh, hell no. You are not ruining my day any further!"


    One of her tentacles shot out, grabbing a loose metal beam from the wall. With a sharp grunt, Nyra hurled the beam upward with all her strength, aiming for the golem''s legs.


    The beam struck true, mming into the golem''s knee and causing it to stumble. The tform beneath it groaned, unable to support thebined weight of the golem and the falling debris.


    With a deafening crashing sound, the tform copsed, and the golem tumbled into the void, its glowing eyes fading as it disappeared into the darkness below.


    Nyra let out a shaky breath, her heart racing. "See? I told you I had a n."


    Lyra let out a weakugh, resting her head against Nyra''s shoulder. "You''re crazy, you know that?"


    "Yeah, well, it runs in the family," Nyra muttered, continuing to climb. "Let''s just hope there''s something better waiting for us at the top."


    Despite all of Nyra''s efforts, the station was far beyond saving. The structure had sustained too much damage, and the corridor she was climbing was now widening as the station continued to break apart.


    Her tentacles, once firmly anchored, stretched unnaturally as the walls they were embedded in began to tear away. The vacuum of space pulled harder and harder, threatening to rip them free at any moment.


    Nyra swallowed hard, feeling her grip slipping. "Oh no¡­ Lyra¡­ please tell me your helmet''s oxygen system is still working," she said, her voice strained as she fought against the increasing suction.


    Lyra blinked slowly, still groggy from exhaustion. "I don''t know. My suit''s pretty busted¡­ Let me check."


    With a shaky hand, Lyra activated her helmet. The damaged systems whirred to life, and a flickering HUD appeared in front of her eyes. The oxygen meter shed: 16% remaining.


    She hesitated, then decided not to mention it. "Yeah¡­ it''s working, sis," Lyra said while tightening her arms around Nyra''s neck. "So¡­ I guess this is it, huh? Now it''s all up to luck."


    Nyra let out a dry chuckle, her crimson eyes glinting with defiant amusement. "Heh¡­ yeah. At least Master won''t be able to me this one on me. Not my fault the whole station decided to blow up!"


    She shifted slightly, gritting her teeth as her tentacles strained against the growing pressure. "Well, floating in space is better than dragging your fat ass up this shaft. Damn, you''re heavy."


    "What fat ass!?" Lyra snapped, her sleepy demeanor vanishing as she yanked Nyra''s hair hard. "We''re twins! Yours is just as big as mine, so shut up!"


    "AH! Quit it, you gremlin! How about helping me instead of pulling my damn hair? Activate my helmet!" Nyra shouted while shaking her head like an annoyed cat.


    While still smirking, Lyra reached down and tapped the activation button on Nyra''s suit. The helmet shimmered into ce, sealing her inside a protectiveyer of reinforced armor.


    Nyra could feel her strength draining, her tentacles giving out one by one. "Damn it¡­ I can''t¡­ hold on much longer¡­" she admitted, her voiceced with frustration.


    "Hey, don''t worry, sis," Lyra murmured, her grip tightening. "I wasn''t expecting much from you anyway."


    Nyra scoffed with a smirk tugging at her lips. "Ha! You little ungrateful brat!"


    Then, with a final, deafening cracking sound, the station tore itself apart.


    The corridor split in half, and the twins were ejected into the void of space, spiraling uncontrobly as debris tumbled around them. Explosions shed in the distance, lighting up the wreckage like a dying star.


    The two clung to each other, floating helplessly as the remains of the trading station were pulled further into the abyss.


    For a long moment, they simply watched the destruction unfold, their crimson eyes reflecting the burning wreckage. Neither spoke. They just held onto each other, hoping... praying, they wouldn''t be separated.


    Then, out of the darkness, a blinding golden light appeared.


    At first, it was distant... a streak of radiance cutting through the wreckage. But it was moving fast, slicing through debris as if it weren''t even there.


    "Hey, Cleo! I found two twins floating in the wreckage!" A familiar voice rang out through theirms. "Since I found them, they''re mine now, right?"


    The moment the twins heard that voice, their hearts skipped a beat. Their faces flushed, a mixture of relief and something else entirely flooding their systems.


    "REX!" they shouted in unison, their voices filled with pure, unfiltered joy.


    Before they could say more, two massive hands grabbed them, one each, effortlessly pulling them from the void.


    The grip was firm, protective, and impossibly strong. When they finally registered what was happening, they looked up, and there he was.


    Rex, in his full three-meter-tallbat form, with his usual golden energy radiating off him like a beacon. His armor gleamed under the distant explosions, and his crimson eyes, hidden behind his helmet''s visor, locked onto them with silent reassurance.


    They were safe.


    Nyra blinked up at him, her face turning redder by the second. "Took you long enough, you dumbass!"


    Lyra, on the other hand, buried her face in his chest, sighing in relief. "Rex¡­ I love you right now¡­"


    Rex let out a low chuckle, his grip tightening ever so slightly to ensure they wouldn''t slip away. "Yeah, yeah. You can fight over who gets to thank meter. For now¡­ let''s get you two home."


    As Rex flew through the wreckage, the twins clinging tightly to him, Nyra squinted at his glowing golden aura, her crimson eyes struggling against the brightness.@@novelbin@@


    "But... Rex..." she muttered while pressing her forehead against his armor to shield her eyes. "How the hell are you even here right now? Weren''t you supposed to be with Y''s mom?"


    At her question, Rex stiffened slightly, though it was barely noticeable.


    "Ah, yes¡­ I was¡­" he hesitated, his deep voice carrying an odd mix of guilt and awkwardness. "With her¡­ mom¡­" He coughed. "Ahem. But thanks to her, we got here just in time."


    Before the twins could press him for details, Rex shifted his grip on them and rotated their bodies so they were facing the station.


    "Look over there," he said. "See for yourselves."

 Chapter 247 Cooperation. (3) Alliance

    She swallowed hard. "Because I can''t give you offspring. A consort who can''t bear children¡­ will eventually be discarded for someone who can."


    Rex stiffened.


    Then, without hesitation, he tightened his grip around her, his heart pounding.


    "That''s the dumbest thing I''ve ever heard."


    Cleo''s breath hitched, but she didn''t pull away.


    "Listen to me," he murmured, his voice softer now, his hand cradling the back of her head. "You think love is just about having children? You think I care about that more than you?"


    She didn''t answer, but he felt her fingers clutch at his shirt just a little tighter.


    "Cleo¡­ you''re irreceable to me. Do you understand that?" His voice was barely above a whisper now. "Nothing, no one could ever change that."


    "Did you hear me?" Rex asked while gently patting Cleo''s head.


    But she didn''t respond.


    With a quiet sigh, he didn''t push her for an answer. Instead, he simply scooped her up into his arms and carried her over to themand bridge''s throne. Sitting down, he adjusted her in hisp, holding her close.


    For a long moment, neither of them spoke.


    "I don''t know much about the Kaelzar Empire," Rex admitted, his voice soft. "You don''t talk about it much. But if I''m supposed to be the new leader of your people¡­ I have the power to changews, don''t I?"


    Cleo gave a small nod, still resting her head against his chest.


    "Well then," he continued with a small smile ying on his lips, "you''re going to have to teach me about yourws. Something tells me there are some pretty extreme ones in there." He chuckled lightly, but when Cleo didn''t react, his expression softened again.


    His arms tightened around her just a little. "So¡­ all of this," he murmured, "was because you thought I was going to abandon you?"


    Cleo shook her head. "No¡­"


    Rex frowned slightly. "Then why?"


    There was a pause. A deep breath.


    And then, finally, Cleo whispered, "Because¡­ I was jealous."


    The moment she said it, something inside her eased. As if an invisible weight had been lifted from her chest.


    Rex took her hand in his, rubbing slow circles against her palm. "And¡­ why were you jealous?"


    Cleo hesitated. Then with her voice barely above a whisper, she confessed, "Because she can give you an offspring. And I¡­ won''t be able to. Not for who knows how many years. I don''t even know if there''s any living metal left out there. I mean, I know some still exists in the megacorps, but it''s impossible to get our hands on it¡­"


    She let out a shaky breath, a fresh tear slipping down her cheek.


    Rex exhaled, his grip on her hand tightening slightly.


    "Well..." He hesitated for a second, then chuckled. "I don''t know if I should tell you this now or save it forter, but¡­ I guess I can give you a little spoiler." He smirked. "I got some living met¡ª"


    Before he could even finish his sentence, Cleo shot up like a lightning bolt and pinned him down, straddling hisp.


    Her eyes were wide, staring at him as if she had just heard the most unbelievable thing in the universe.


    "Are... are you serious?" She breathed. "Living metal? You actually¡ªreally¡ª?!"@@novelbin@@


    Rex burst outughing. "Wow. That cheered you up instantly." He shook his head in amusement. "Yes, I got some living metal. I made a trade with the owner. Since I told her that once you get your original body back, you could produce more living metal, she agreed to give you what you need¡­ under one condition."


    Cleo barely heard him. She was trembling now, not from sadness, but from pure, overwhelming joy. Her entire face was glowing with emotion, and yet, her tears kepting.


    Rex reached up, wiping them away with his thumbs. "Haha¡­ did that make you that happy? And since when did you be such a crybaby?" he teased, though his voice was filled with warmth.


    Cleo sniffled, a small, breathy giggle escaping her lips. She ced her hand over his, letting his warmth seep into her.


    "Let me be... hehe."


    She closed her eyes while resting against him once more.


    Two hours had finally passed.


    Rex and Cleo stood in the lush garden inside the Cleopatra, the artificial lighting casting a soft glow over the vibrant flora. A gentle breeze from the environmental systems rustled through the leaves, but Cleo barely noticed it since she was too focused on Rex.


    "Rex¡­" she murmured while hugging his arm. "Since you only told me about this meeting five minutes ago, can''t you at least give me a heads-up on what we''re going to talk about? I''d rather not stand here looking like a clueless teenager."


    Rex chuckled while patting her head. "Just be patient. I''ll exin everything to everyone at the same time." Then, with a teasing grin, he pinched her cheeks. "And don''t cry again, little crybaby."


    "Hey! Stop pinching me!" Cleo huffed, swatting at his hands. "And stop calling me that!"


    But no matter how much she struggled, she couldn''t break free from his grip. With a defeated sigh, she simply pouted and gave up.


    Just then, the grand entrance to the garden hissed open.


    Instantly, Rex and Cleo straightened up, slipping into a moreposed stance.


    A familiar, elegant voice rang out. "Oh? Am I interrupting something?"


    Li stepped inside, dressed in a flowing white gown adorned with red embroidery, exuding grace and authority. Behind her followed four priestesses and a group of pdins, who were her new forces, now fully under hermand.


    "Li!" Rex greeted, stepping forward with a smile. "I don''t know what you''re talking about; we were just waiting for everyone to arrive." Taking her hand gently, he escorted her closer to where Cleo stood.


    Momentster, the next group entered.


    It was Xytrallia in her humanoid form.


    To her right stood Ys and to her left, one of her sons, his towering presence exuding a quiet yet undeniable strength.


    Rex immediately noticed the flicker in Xytrallia''s glowing eyes when she saw him. Her instincts told her to embrace him, to pull him close. But she resisted since Ys didn''t know and she couldn''t know. Not yet.


    Rex, ever perceptive, smirked inwardly but chose not to address it. Instead, he took a step forward.


    "Oh, Ys. Your Highness. Wee." His voice was smooth, diplomatic. "Now that everyone is here, let''s begin."


    He nced around at the assembled leaders. Their presence alone radiated power, the weight of three mighty factions standing in one room.


    "Before we get into things, let''s have some introductions." Rex gestured casually toward Li. "This stunning blonde right here? She''s Li, the Saintess of the Human Empire."


    Li inclined her head slightly, her golden locks shimmering under the light.


    He then gestured toward Cleo. "Next to me, we have Cleo, the acting leader of the Kaelzar forces."


    Cleo gave a small nod, her expressionposed.


    "Andstly¡­" Rex turned toward Xytrallia. "We have Xytrallia, Queen of the Hive Minds."


    The moment those words left his lips, Li stiffened.


    Her breath hitched, and her fingers twitched slightly, since a Hive Queen was standing right next to her.


    The Hive Minds, a species feared and revered across the gxy. Entire civilizations had fallen to their collective will, their power unparalleled. And now, here was one of their queens, standing calmly in the same room as if it were nothing.


    Li swallowed, forcing herself to maintain herposure. But Rex had definitely noticed her reaction.


    He smirked slightly before continuing.


    "Now then," he said while folding his arms. "I invited you all here to discuss a few important topics. The first?"


    His eyes swept across them, sharp and calcting.


    "I want to propose an alliance between our three factions."


    He then made a pause.


    His voice remained steady, firm. "I want to establish a trade and defense pact between us, one that benefits all our people. With ourbined forces, we can protect our interests, share resources, and create a power that no one will dare challenge."


    He leaned back slightly, waiting.


    "So¡­ what do you all think?"


    The air grew thick with tension while everyone was waiting for someone to talk first.


    A tense silence hung in the air as the proposal settled over the gathered leaders.


    Thankfully for the others, Xytrallia was the first to speak.


    "What I see," she said, her voice smooth but edged with calction, "is that only the Kaelzars and the... humans stand to gain the most from this alliance. My Hive has no need for protection."


    She paused, her glowing eyes sweeping over the other representatives, gauging their reactions.


    "However," she continued, "the trade aspect does interest me. The megacorps have restricted our ability to engage inmerce and most factions fear dealing with us. This alliance could provide ess to much-needed resources."


    She tilted her head slightly. "So, I am against the defensive pact¡­ but in favor of the trading alliance."


    With that, she fell silent again, her decision final.


    Next, Li stepped forward.


    "Our forces are still weak," she admitted, her tone level but firm. "Both in trade and military strength." She nced at Xytrallia briefly before continuing, "But we are growing, rapidly. In a few years, we will be strong enough to stand as equal partners in both trade and defense."


    She exhaled softly. "Right now, what we need most is protection, a defensive alliance to safeguard our people while we continue expanding. But trade is also crucial. So, I am in favor of both the trading and defensive alliances."


    Finally, all eyes turned to Cleo.


    She crossed her arms, her expression unreadable as she considered her words.


    "We, the Kaelzars, do not require a defensive alliance." Her voice was as neutral as ever, but her words carried undeniable weight. "Our priority has always been acquiring resources to sustain our war machine. Materials to build our forces are always in short supply."


    Her gaze flickered toward Li. "However, since the Human Empire does require military support, I am willing to support both alliances, trade and defense."


    With that, she fell silent, waiting for the next response.

 Chapter 250 The enemy in the shadows.

    Read new adventures at empire


    The elevator descended for what felt like an eternity; the soft hum of machinery was the only sound in the enclosed space. When the doors finally slid open, Sharon''s father stepped into a vast, high-tech underground facility.


    The walls were lined with holographic disys, flickering with streams of data, star maps, and encryptedmunications. The air was cool and sterile, carrying the faint scent of ozone.


    At the center of the room stood a circr console, its surface alive with glowing interfaces. A figure in a dark suit, face obscured by a hood, turned to greet him.


    "You''rete," the figure said with its voice distorted by a modtor. "We''ve been waiting."


    Sharon''s father didn''t flinch. "I had to deal with... family matters," he replied curtly, his tone leaving no room for further questions. He strode to the console, his fingers dancing across the holographic keys. "What''s the status of the operation?"


    The hooded figure stepped closer, its presence unnervingly silent. "NovaSyn and Nexum''s CEO are moving faster than we anticipated. Their alliance is more than just a marriage; it''s a consolidation of power. If they seed, they''ll control nearly half of the gctic trade routes within the year."


    Sharon''s father''s jaw tightened. "And the other factions?"


    "The Syndicate is watching, but they won''t act unless provoked. As for the Free Colonies¡­ they''re too fragmented to pose a threat. For now."


    He nodded, his mind racing. "Then we''ll have to elerate our ns. If NovaSyn and Nexum want a war, we''ll give them one. But on our terms."


    The hooded figure tilted its head slightly. "And what of your daughter? She''s already caught in the crossfire. If they suspect she knows anything¡­"


    "Sharon is stronger than she looks," he interrupted, his voice firm. "She''s my daughter, after all. But I''ll make sure she''s protected. She''s not part of this."


    The figure hesitated, then gave a slow nod. "As you wish. But remember, sentimentality can be a weakness. Don''t let it cloud your judgment."


    Sharon''s father''s eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger breaking through his calm exterior. "I don''t need your advice. Just make sure your people are ready. We move at dawn."


    Without another word, the hooded figure turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving him alone in the cavernous room. He stared at the holographic disys, the intricate web of alliances and betrayals ying out before his eyes.


    For a moment, he allowed himself a rare moment of vulnerability, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his responsibilities.


    But it was only a moment.


    Straightening his posture, he activated a securem channel. A hologram flickered to life, revealing the face of a grizzled man with a cybeic eye.@@novelbin@@


    "It''s time," Sharon''s father said, his voice cold andmanding. "Initiate Protocol Eclipse."


    The man on the screen grinned, a predatory gleam in his eye. "About damn time. I''ll rally the troops."


    The hologram vanished, leaving the room in silence once more. Sharon''s father took a deep breath, his expression hardening. He had built his empire from nothing, fought tooth and nail to protect it, and he wasn''t about to let some upstart corporations tear it down.


    Not without a fight.


    Meanwhile, upstairs, Sharon and Carlos sat in her room with a spread of food between them. Despite the earlier tension, they wereughing, the weight of the evening momentarily forgotten. But as Sharon nced out the window at the sprawling city lights, her smile faded.


    "Carlos," she said softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Do you ever feel like¡­ there''s something bigger going on? Something we''re not being told?"


    Carlos paused, a forkful of food halfway to his mouth. He set it down, his expression turning serious. "Yeah," he admitted. "I''ve felt it for a while now. Your dad... he''s not just some businessman, is he?"


    Sharon shook her head, her eyes distant. "I don''t know. But whatever it is¡­ I think it''s about to blow up in our faces."


    Carlos reached over, taking her hand in his. "Whatever happens, we''ll face it together. Okay?"


    She smiled faintly, squeezing his hand. "Okay."


    In the heart of Nexum Dynamics, deep within its most secure headquarters, Percival, the CEO, sat in his sleek, dimly lit office when his encryptedmunicator buzzed.


    This line was private and only a select few had ess to this line and that meant only one thing: a report from his special ops unit.


    He answered immediately.


    A distorted voice crackled through the secured channel.


    "Special ops agent, code number 45 reporting, sir. The traitor Viceroy Kael Vortigan has made his move. What are your orders?"


    For a brief moment, Percival remained silent.


    Then, he internallyughed.


    {Hahaha! So you''ve finally made your move, stubborn old man! Now I have the perfect excuse to use the full might of Nexum against you! Once you''re gone, I can do whatever the hell I want!}


    He suppressed his excitement, keeping his voice cold and neutral.


    "Well done," he said smoothly. "Continue monitoring the traitor''s movements. Do not engage. Do not get caught."


    "Understood, sir. I''ll report back with any new developments."


    When the call ended. Percival leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly as a wide grin stretched across his face.


    {Hahahaha! Finally¡­ finally!}


    But there was no time to waste.


    With a few swiftmands, he initiated an urgent meeting, a direct summons to the Nexum Viceroys, and since this was an emergency-level call, it took less than a minute for the holographic figures of the Viceroys to materialize before him.


    Their presence filled the room with an imposing energy, and predictably, the first to react was the most infuriating one of them all.


    "What is the meaning of this, Percival?! Have you finally gone crazy?!"


    The angry, sturdy hologram of an old man shouted at him, his deep scowl exaggerated by the flickering light.


    {Tsk. This old fossil again. I swear, I should start sending him fake meeting invites just to watch him stroke out from the stress. I wonder if he''s even taking his dementia pills.}


    Percival kept his smile polite, ignoring the urge to roll his eyes.


    Then, another voice joined in.


    "While I usually don''t agree with this angry midget," the hologram of an elderly woman drawledzily, "I''ll have to side with him this time."


    She sat in avish chair, her long cane pointed directly at Percival.


    "If this turns out to be a waste of my time," she warned, "I will personallye visit you and shove some sense into that thick skull of yours. Maybe then, you''ll have something inside your head besides your mother''s tits."


    A vein in Percival''s forehead twitched slightly. But his professional smile never wavered.


    "Come now, Madame Rose," he said smoothly while resting his chin on his hand. "I know you''re all very busy people, but if I''m not mistaken¡­ aren''t you a bit preupied ying ''cute grandma'' with your new pet?"


    His smile sharpened. "Surely, you have a bit of free time to spare for a meeting."


    For a split second, the room went dead silent. Then, slowly, Madame Rose''s eyes narrowed.


    If looks could kill, Percival wouldn''t just be dead; he''d have her cane lodged so far up his ass he''d be coughing up splinters for the rest of his life.


    {Tch. A lowly ve, and yet she sits among the Viceroys of my Nexum? Laughable. It doesn''t matter. Once I have absolute power, she''ll be the first to die.}


    But for now¡­ he yed his part.


    He leaned forward slightly, his smile never faltering.


    "Now then¡­ shall we begin?"


    Percival let the tension settle before finally speaking, his voice rich with dramatics.


    "Seeing that I have everyone''s attention and knowing that your time is as valuable as gold, I will get straight to the point," he began, cing a hand over his heart for effect.


    "As you all know, as CEO, it is my duty to ensure peace among us so that we may unite our strength against the other megacorps!"


    His voice rose with conviction, his expression grave, and then, after a deep breath, his face twisted into a look of pained reluctance.


    "HOWEVER!" he suddenly shouted, lowering his head as if it physically pained him to speak his next words.


    The room stilled, waiting.


    Percival clenched his jaw. Then, with a dramatic pause, he finally uttered, "While it pains me deeply¡­ I must bring forth unfortunate news." His shoulders shook slightly, as if he was holding back immense sorrow.


    "Viceroy Kael Vortigan... has betrayed us!"


    A sharp silence followed.


    "That is impossible!" shouted the old, grumpy man, his hologram flickering slightly with the force of his rage. "Where is your proof!?"


    Percival sighed theatrically, shaking his head.


    "Oh, but I do have proof."


    He lifted a hand, and therge screen to their left came to life. "If you would all be so kind as to direct your attention to the screen," he said smoothly.


    The holographic disy shifted to a live transmission with aary view of Kael Vortigan''s stronghold.


    On the screen, the''s defenses were being activated, heavy artillery, ion cannons, and shield generatorsing online. Meanwhile, above the surface, a fleet was beginning to assemble in the upper atmosphere.


    A slow murmur ran through the room.


    Percival allowed the images to do most of the talking.


    "This," he finally said, gesturing to the screen, "is happening right now... thanks to one of our loyal agents who saw the Viceroy''s actions as a threat to our corporation."


    He sped his hands together. "So, I have gathered you all here today¡­ so we can deal with him together."


    "I see¡­"


    The one who spoke was Viceroy Pax, a man known for his love of wealth above all else. He sipped at an exotic herbal drink with his posture being oddly rxed.


    "So, you want to use our armies and fleets to deal with Kael Vortigan?" He raised an eyebrow, tapping his fingers on the table. "While I can see the efficiency in such an action¡­ I must ask... what''s in it for us?"


    His eyes gleamed with calction and anticipation.

 Chapter 251 The enemy in the shadows. {2}

    "This is time I will never get back, and if I''m not seeing any creditse out of this, I won''t be joining. Time is money, after all."


    Percival clenched his jaw internally but kept his pleasant smile.


    {Tsk. This damn money rat¡­ I''ll kill him next... after the human ve}


    But on the outside, he simply let out a lighthearted chuckle.


    "Oh, but of course, Viceroy Pax!" he eximed.


    His hands spread in a weing gesture.


    "Everything the traitor owns, from his ships, his factories, his resources... EVERYTHING!! can be divided among all of you once we have dealt with him."


    He smiled warmly.


    "After all, I seek only to eliminate a traitor for the greater good of our corporation." He gave a light shrug. "Riches? Pfft, what use are they to me?"


    Pax studied him for a moment. Then, he smirked.


    "Hmm¡­ I see. If that''s the case, then I''ll join your war."


    His mind was already running through potential profits, calcting how much he could strip from Kael Vortigan''s assets.


    Percival grinned.


    "Marvelous! I knew you were a reasonable man!" He gestured dramatically, arms wide.


    Then, his gaze flickered to the remaining three Viceroys.


    "Now then," he said smoothly. "What do the rest of you say?"


    The fate of Kael Vortigan and the corporation itself hung on their answer.


    The first to break the silence was Viceroy Isolde ckthorn, Percival''s own mother.


    She let out a soft, sultry chuckle before speaking.


    "You know I''m always on your side, my dear son~." Percival''s smile widened ever so slightly.


    {Ahh~ My beautiful mother¡­ I knew I could always count on you. Such loyalty¡­ such elegance¡­ If only you weren''t my mother¡­ Haa~ Just the thought of it excites me¡­}


    Keeping hisposure, he nodded. "Mm, I expected nothing less from you."


    His gaze then shifted to the remaining two Viceroys, Madame Rose and the old muscle-headed midget, Zedekiah ckwire.


    "And what about you two?"


    Zedekiah grumbled while crossing his thick arms.


    "Bah, I''ll join too," he muttered. "I always wanted that old bastard''s long-range cannon technology. If you promise to hand it over to me, I''m in!"


    Percival''s smile never wavered. "Of course, Viceroy ckwire. Consider it yours already."


    With that, he turned toward Madame Rose, the only one left to answer.


    "Now, Madame Rose," he said smoothly. "What would it take for you to join us?"


    The elderly woman scoffed, gripping her cane tighter.


    "Hmph! I don''t want anything from that old man," she sneered. "Unlike the rest of you, I''m not a damn thief!"


    She lifted her cane, pointing it toward everyone in the room.


    "All I want is a written promise. Signed by every single one of you, including you, sissy CEO."


    She narrowed her eyes. "A guarantee on paper that none of you will ever touch my assets or my family."


    For a split second, Percival''s eyes darkened, but his smile remained in ce.


    {Ah¡­ this old hag. After all this, I''ll find that little pet you just adopted and ruin her in front of you. I wonder¡­ what kind of face will you make then? Hiaaa~}


    "Of course, Madame Rose, I can sign it right now if you wa¡ª" Before he could even finish speaking, his device pinged.


    Madame Rose had already sent over the contract for all of them to sign.


    "Thank you very much for being such a good boy, Percival."


    Her voice was sweet, almost too sweet... but everyone in the room knew it for what it really was.... mockery.


    She wasn''tplimenting him; she was mocking him and his mother.


    The room tensed, but Percival remainedposed. Next to him, however, Isolde ckthorn simply let out a soft, amusedugh.


    While she was really devoted to her son, no one, not even her enemies, would dare call her stupid, because in the gxy, she held a different title.


    The Poison Queen.


    Her expertise in biological warfare had ughtered billions; even entires had been silenced by her creations.


    Continue your adventure at empire


    A single whisper of her involvement in a war guaranteed surrender, since she was, without question, one of the most feared individuals in Nexum, and yet, her expression remained as gentle as ever, as if she hadn''t just been insulted.


    She simply pulled out a beautifully crafted fan and covered her lips with it, smiling.


    "Hahaha~ I knew you would eventually recognize my son''s greatness, Madame Rose~."


    Her amber eyes glittered with amusement.


    "Why don''t youe over sometime? We can share a cup of herbal tea and talk about him~?"


    Madame Rose snorted before lifting her ss of wine.


    "Ha! I''d have to be a damn fool to drink something made by you, Poison Queen!"


    Isolde let out a soft giggle while waving her fan.


    "Ah~ you wound me~. And here I thought you were supposed to be a refined woman, Madame~."


    She tilted her head. "Cursing in front of the younger generation? What if that little girl of yours ends up picking up your bad habits?"


    The fan she held was no ordinary fan. It was crafted from one of the rarest materials in the gxy, a material that somehow made anyone near it immune to gaseous poisons.


    Madame Rose''s eyes burned with quiet fury.


    "Ha! I hope my girl does turn out like me! That way, she won''t fall for the tricks of poisonous snakes like you!"


    She took a long sip of her wine, as if to further emphasize her unbothered confidence.


    The tension between the two women sizzled in the air, nearly overtaking the original purpose of the meeting.


    Percival, however, couldn''t have been more amused.


    {Haa~ I really should get some popcorn for these two.}


    But for now¡­ he simply smiled.


    The tension in themand center was thick, every officer standing rigid as the weight of war pressed upon them. The flickering lights of tactical disys cast deep shadows across the room, reflecting the grim reality they all faced.


    A young officer rushed forward, his voice tense.


    "Sir Vortigan, our operations have beenpromised. The CEO''s spies have already reported everything. What are your orders?"


    Kael Vortigan, Sharon''s father, didn''t even flinch. His fingers continued gliding across the console, activating defensive systems, deploying battle tforms, and fortifying the for the inevitable siege.


    Without looking up, he answered, his voice calm but unwavering.


    "Doesn''t matter. We always knew our ranks were riddled with his spies. Let him think we''re ying into his hands for now." His sharp gaze flickered toward another officer.


    "More importantly, what about our spies? Any new intelligence?"


    Before the officer could answer, themand room doors suddenly burst open.


    A soldier sprinted in, his breath ragged. "Sir! I have urgent news from one of our spies sent before he was killed!" The room fell silent.


    Kael turned sharply, his expression darkening. "Out with it! Now!"


    The soldier gulped before blurting out the devastating report.


    "The CEO of Nexum has finished his meeting with the four Viceroys¡­ and they''ve all agreed to aid him in attacking us!" A heavy silence followed.


    Some officers exchanged nervous nces, while others clenched their fists, their jaws tightening. Kael, however, remained unshaken.


    After a long moment, he let out a slow exhale, as if this oue had already been expected.


    "So, it''s war then."


    His voice was cold. Resigned. But within it burned a fierce resolve. He turned back toward his console, issuing orders without hesitation.


    "Continue with the civilian evacuation n. Get as many people off-world as possible."


    His eyes hardened.


    "Even if we fall today¡­ we''ll make damn sure we take as many of them with us as we can!"


    A roar of determination erupted from the officers and soldiers around him, their fear momentarily reced with steeled resolve. A Moment of Reflection


    As his men hurried to execute hismands, Kael reached inside his uniform, pulling out a small silver pendant. He clicked it open, revealing an old photograph inside. It was a paper photo, a rarity in this age of holograms.


    Inside, a younger version of himself stood beside Sharon''s mother, who cradled baby Sharon in her arms. A soft, bitter chuckle escaped his lips.


    {You always loved old things¡­ paper photos instead of holograms. You said it made memories feel real.}


    He traced his thumb over the face of histe wife, memories of her warmth shing through his mind. For the first time in years, Kael allowed himself a moment of weakness, a moment of grief.


    But the moment was cut short.


    A loud rm suddenly red across the underground facility, its urgent wail sending the base into high alert. An officer shouted over the noise.


    "Sir! The Nexum fleet has arrived!"@@novelbin@@


    Kael''s nostalgia vanished instantly, his war instincts snapping back into ce.


    His silver pendant clicked shut, and he tucked it back into his chest pocket before turning sharply. "Numbers! Get me a visual!"


    Another officer quickly tapped into their stealth satellites, broadcasting the live feed onto the main screen. The image was staggering.


    A vast fleet loomed in orbit, blotting out the stars like a massive storm front.


    Another officer began shouting updates.


    "Enemy fleet count¡ª200¡­ 432¡­ 788¡­ 1,200¡­ Their numbers keep increasing!"


    Kael clenched his jaw. He had expected overwhelming forces, but to see it was something else.


    "Tch¡­ Doesn''t matter," he growled. "We knew this wouldn''t be a fair fight."


    He turned to face his soldiers, his voice carrying across the room.


    "Our best estimates put them at 10,000 effective units. If anyone here wants to flee, now is your only chance. But mark my words, anyone who deserts once the battle starts will not be forgiven."


    The room remained quiet.


    No one moved.


    No one ran.

 Chapter 252 The enemy in the shadows. {3} Quality vs Quantity

    Instead, his officers stood taller, their eyes burning with the same defiance that Kael himself carried.


    Satisfied with this, Sharon''s dad gave a curt nod.


    Behind him, a team of soldiers approached, carrying his power armor, a massive, custom-built exosuit, enhanced with heavy shielding and built for one purpose... war.


    Next came his family''s shield, emzoned with his house emblem.


    And finally, his patriarch''s sword, a weapon passed down for generations, carrying the weight of his lineage. Vortigan stood tall, fully prepared for the battle of his life.


    "Sir! The enemy fleet is breaking into orbit! What are your orders?!" One of the officers shouted, his voice sharp and urgent, but not shaken. There was no fear, only discipline.


    Vortigan''s eyes flickered to the holographic disy, where enemy ships loomed like a steel storm in the dark sky. He exhaled slowly with a controlled breath, then moved with purpose.


    "Activate the weapon tforms and bring theary defenses online. I want them torn apart before they even touch the ground!" His voice rang through themand center like a hammer striking iron.


    As he spoke, he stepped into his power armor, the abyss-ck ting gleaming under the cold artificial lights. Silver energy pulsed along its frame, the emblem of Nexum Dynamics, a white octopus etched proudly on his chest. Over the armor draped a regal cape, bearing the sigil of his house, a white wildcat with three tails, the mark of his bloodline.


    "Understood, sir!"


    The room erupted. Officers ryedmands, voices ovepping in a storm of urgency. Screens flickered with battle data as sirens wailed.


    Deep beneath the''s surface, the ground shuddered. Massive defensive tforms surged upward, emerging from hidden vaults. Towering cannons locked onto their targets, while swarms of interceptors rocketed into the sky.


    The moment the enemy ships entered range, chaos ignited. zing energy bolts and high-velocity projectiles tore through the void, ripping through frigates and transports alike. Some ships buckled instantly with their hulls crumpling under the relentless assault.


    Others veered off course, spiraling into destruction. The sky became a battlefield of fire and ruin.


    Inside the enemy gship, far above the chaos, Percival watched with cold amusement. He stood still as the ship trembled under light enemy fire, a sharp contrast to the frantic movements of the officers around him. One of them approached, bowing slightly before speaking.


    "Sir, the traitors have begun firing on our fleet. We''re losing a significant number of ships. What are your orders?"


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    Percival barely nced at him. A slow, deliberate smirk tugged at his lips. "No need for concern. These losses are within eptable margins. We anticipated Vortigan''s treachery. His refusal to share his most advanced weaponry was just another crime to add to his name. But no matter..."


    He rolled his shoulders while stretching his arms. The polished tes of his armor glowed with a faint blue energy, humming with barely contained power. "I suppose I should make an appearance, raise morale."


    He turned sharply, making his way toward the hangar bay. The officer hesitated, then spoke again. "Sir, should I summon the Abyss team?"


    Percival chuckled. "Of course. Have them meet me in theunch bay. Those tforms won''t destroy themselves." Thest thing he saw before the elevator doors shut was the flickering holographic disy, showing the battle raging below.


    A quiet sigh escaped him, but in his mind, satisfaction burned like a steady me.


    {Ha, I was damn impressive back there. No doubt about it. A born leader... Hah!}


    Just as he let that thought sink in, hismunicator vibrated. His eyes flicked to the caller ID. The moment he saw the name, he straightened instinctively.


    "...Mother?"


    He hesitated before answering.


    The soft, sweet voice of Isolde filled his earpiece. "Honey, do you want Mommy to go with you?"


    Percival groaned internally.


    {Ha¡« Mother... what an angelic voice¡«}


    He took a steadying breath and spoke carefully. "There''s no need for you to trouble yourself, Mother. I wouldn''t want you to get dust on that wless skin of yours."


    He exited the elevator, walking toward the assembled Abyss team, Nexum''s elite warriors. One hundred soldiers of Tier 5, each a force of destruction in their own right, were all waiting for hismand. Their dark armor glowed with streaks of violet light, and the air around them buzzed with silent intensity.


    They were the reason no one dared challenge Nexum, and tonight, they would remind the gxy why.


    "Sir! We have detected a Tier 7 power source entering the''s orbit! And... and that''s not all! Near that Tier 7, there are more than fifteen Tier 5 power sources! Their numbers keep increasing!" The officer in charge of the stealth satellites practically shouted, his voice cracking under the weight of the news.


    A heavy silence filled themand center. The hum of machinery, the distant chatter of officers... everything faded into the background.


    "Put them on the screen."


    Sharon''s father spoke slowly, his voice eerily calm, but his hands curled into fists. He already knew the answer. He had known the moment the rms red.


    The screen flickered to life, and there it was, a zing star, ck and silver, streaking through the atmosphere like a divine spear descending from the heavens. It was moving too fast, too precisely. Around it, smaller stars followed in perfect formation, closing in like a hunting pack.


    The first star crashed straight into a massive weapon tform, slicing through its steel like it was paper. The structure groaned and split in half, the explosion sending debris spiraling into the sky.


    The lead star never stopped, cutting a deadly path toward the surface, while the others scattered, each one targeting a separate defense tform.


    Sharon''s father tightened his grip on his shield, his knuckles turning white. His voice was low, barely above a whisper.


    "Percival..."


    On the screen, the unstoppable force known as Percival tore through the battlefield, heading straight for thergestary cannon. But just as he closed the distance, something stopped him.


    The collision was instant and violent. A blinding rift tore open in the air as two forces mmed into each other. The sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield, warping the air itself.


    Then, an instantter, something crashed into the surface below, mming into the ground cannon and obliterating it in an explosion of metal and fire. Dust and smoke billowed into the sky, hiding the battlefield in a thick, choking haze.


    For the first time, Percival hesitated. Hisughter echoed across the battlefield, amplified by raw power. His voice alone was enough to send tremors through the ground.


    "Mmm? HAHAHA! What was that!? An ant trying to stop me... ME!? Seriously!? At least send the old man out here instead of his mutt! Don''t you think so too... VICTOR? Or should I say... Mercenary King!"


    His voice carried across the battlefield, defying distance, vibrating in the chests of those who heard it. The sheer presence of a Tier 7 powerhouse was enough to make reality itself tremble.


    Then, from the wreckage of the destroyed cannon, movement. A lone figure emerged, rolling his shoulders, resetting a dislocated arm with a sickening crack. He exhaled sharply, then stood tall.@@novelbin@@


    A long, dark cloak billowed around him, the emblem on his back unmistakable, a pair of metallic wings with five stars. The mark of a man who had fought his way to the top with nothing but blood and steel.


    Victor, the Mercenary King, smiled.


    "Hah. I''m d someone that high up in the megacorps actually knows my name." His voice was rough, but there was amusement in it, as if he had been waiting for this moment.


    Percival scoffed while crossing his arms. "Tsk, if ttery makes a dog like you wag its tail, why don''t you just join me? I can praise you every day if that''s what it takes to keep you happy." He extended his hand, mockingly, as if offering a deal.


    Victor chuckled. "Hah. No thanks." His eyes glinted dangerously, his smirk widening. "And honestly, do you really think you have the time to chat with me? Becausest I checked... your fleet was getting torn apart."


    He raised a finger and pointed toward the sky.


    Percival turned sharply, his eyes narrowed as he saw what Victor meant. His fleet. His elite warriors. His Tier 5s.


    They were dying.


    On another weapon tform, one of his strongest warriors, a Tier 5 powerhouse, was being overwhelmed. Not by equals. Not by fellow Tier 5s. But by mercenaries. Tier 4s. Tier 3s.


    One after another, they struck, moving with deadly precision. The elite warriorshed out, tearing through some, but they kepting, swarming like wolves taking down a bear.


    Percival''s expression darkened. His smile was gone. His amusement vanished.


    "...What the hell is going on?"


    Without another word, he vanished, moving instantly toward the battlefield, Victor watched him go, rolling his neck before tightening the grip on his weapons.


    "Oh? Getting serious now?" He smirked while stepping forward. "Good. I was starting to get bored."


    {What the hell do they think they are doing?}


    Percival''s blood boiled. His Elites... his Tier 5 warriors, were being torn apart by Tier 4 mercenaries. It was unthinkable. Disgraceful. His fists clenched so tightly that his gauntlets groaned under the pressure.


    His gaze locked onto one of his warriors, a seasoned Tier 5, stumbling back as a Tier 4 mercenary severed his arm with a brutal strike. Blood sprayed across the tform while the mercenary smirked.


    Something in Percival snapped.


    In an instant, he dropped from the sky like a meteor, crashing onto the weapon tform with such force that the entire structure detonated beneath him. A thunderous shockwave erupted outward, sending soldiers and debris flying in every direction.


    Metal beams groaned and snapped like twigs. Smoke and fire swallowed the battlefield in an instant.

 Chapter 255 The last stand.

    As soon as the first Nexum troops hit the surface, they were greeted by fire and fury. Trenches, bunkers, and hardened defensive lines stretched for miles, turning the battlefield into a killing field.


    Artillery cannons roared, sending massive shockwaves through the earth. Railguns fired from fortified positions, ripping through enemy transport ships before they could even touch down.


    This was not a battle of thousands against thousands; this was millions against millions, the kind of war that only those who had conquered worlds before had ever seen.


    In the heart of Nexum''s gshipmand deck, Percival sat in absolutefort.


    Lounging in his throne-like chair, he barely paid attention to the battlefield unfolding before him. One ve girl knelt beside him, carefully feeding him fruit, while another gently fanned air onto his face, keeping him cool as the war raged below.


    One of his officers approached with urgency in his tone. "Sir! The enemy defenders have established a strong defensive line! Our ground forces are being stopped cold!"


    Percival sighed whilezily waving a hand. "Isn''t it obvious?" He stretched slightly, epting another piece of fruit between his teeth. "Order an orbital bombardment on their positions. We don''t have time to waste."


    The officer hesitated for a brief moment. "But, sir... our own troops are already engaging them. If we begin orbital strikes now¡ª"


    Percival''s eyes flickered with irritation.


    {This damn fool, always talking back to my orders! who do they think they are!?}


    "We don''t have time to be concerned with casualties. Destroy them all." His lips curled into a cruel smirk. "And hurry it up. We don''t know when those pestering war reporters will show up and ruin the fun."


    The officer stiffened but quickly saluted. "Understood, sir!"


    As he turned to ry the order, Percival let out a soft chuckle, his gaze returning to the battlefield disy.


    {Let them fight.... Let them burn.... and meanwhile I will be banging this ve right here, Hahaha}


    "Sir Vortigan! The enemy offensive has been halted in the north and east! The south and west are still struggling, but at this rate, we should be able to stop them there too!"


    The officer''s voice rang through the room, filled with urgency but edged with a hint of hope. Vortigan leaned back slightly, arms crossed, his gaze shifting toward Victor, who stood beside him, rxed but sharp-eyed.


    "Well, I''ll be damned," Vortigan muttered while tossing a small orb of purified water into his mouth and chewing it before swallowing. "Your strategy actually worked, Victor."


    Victor let out a gruffugh while shaking his head. "Of course it worked. That sissy Perci doesn''t have the tactical experience I do. He''s still sucking on his mama''s tits. He needs years before he can even think about outmaneuvering me." He popped a simr water orb into his mouth, biting down with a grin.


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    Vortigan exhaled while shaking his head. "I don''t think he''s stopping anytime soon¡­ you know the rumors, right?"


    Victor froze for a second, then narrowed his eyes. "...Dude. Gross. That''s not the image I need in my head right now."


    Vortigan smirked but didn''t reply. Instead, he grabbed his coat from the chair and turned toward the exit.


    "By the way," Victor called after him, "is my niece in a safe ce?"


    Vortigan paused for a moment before speaking. "Of course. I had her sent through the secret escape route to the pr region. She didn''t take it well, though. I had to put her to sleep to get her toply. She was adamant about joining the war."


    Victor sighed. "Kids these days don''t know what they''re saying¡­"


    Vortigan didn''t reply. He just kept walking.


    When Vortigan stepped into themand center, he expected a controlled, tense atmosphere, something reflecting their recent victories. Instead, he walked into a storm of chaos.


    Officers shouted over each other, screens shed with emergency alerts, and the steady hum ofms traffic had turned into a frantic mess of voices and warnings. His expression darkened immediately.


    "Status! What the hell is happening!?" His voice boomed through the room, cutting through the noise like a de.


    The chaos stopped for a brief second before one officer stepped forward, his face pale.


    "Sir! Our spy within the Nexum fleet has just sent an urgent message. They''ve ordered an orbital bombardment on our defensive lines!" The officer extended a datapad, the message shing across the screen.


    Vortigan''s breath caught in his throat. A cold rage settled into his chest.


    {Curse you, Percival!!!}


    He forced himself to inhale slowly, steadying his voice before speaking. "There''s nothing we can do to stop it. Just pray that our defensive lines don''t crumble entirely¡­ and get our revenge ready."


    His voice was calm. Too calm.


    The officers nodded, but no one spoke. Everyone knew the truth. There was no stopping an orbital bombardment. The best they could do was brace for the inevitable destruction and hope some of their soldiers survived.


    Hope.


    A bitter thing in times like these.


    "Put the defensive lines on the main screens!" Vortigan ordered.


    One of the officers hesitated. "But sir¡­ what''s the poi¡ª"


    Vortigan raised his hand sharply, cutting him off. His eyes burned with intensity as he spoke.@@novelbin@@


    "We must witness their sacrifice," he said, his voice unwavering. "Burn their final moments into your memories. Do not look away. If you make it out of this alive, you will carry this moment with you forever."


    The room fell silent and this time, no one argued.


    The officers moved quickly, and within seconds, the main disy shifted to a live feed of the battlefield.


    And then¡­ Hell fell from the sky.


    The first red beam struck like the fist of a god.


    A blinding column of energy crashed into the defensive lines, obliterating everything in its path. Soldiers, armored vehicles, and even towering battle suits... all were sent flying, their bodies reduced to burning fragments before they even realized they were dead.


    Then came the second strike.


    And the third.


    Then... hundreds more.


    From the heavens, the orbital bombardment rained down with unrelenting fury. Destroyers in high orbit unleashed wave after wave of fiery death, turning the battlefield into a living nightmare. The air itself burned, the ground split apart, and anything caught in the open was erased from existence.


    There was nowhere to run. No shelter. No escape... even the Tier 5 powerhouses, warriors capable of shaking mountains, were nothing against this level of destruction.


    Hundreds of thousands died in minutes, and far above the carnage, Percival watched with twisted delight.


    His lips curled into a wide, perverse grin as he reclined in hismand throne, savoring every explosion like the finest art. He ran a hand over the trembling form of the ve kneeling beside him, fingers tightening in her hair as he drowned in ecstasy, for both the massacre below and his own climaxing pleasure.


    "Hahahaha! Yes! Yes! That is the fate of all traitors!" He threw his head back, gasping in pleasure. "Do not stop! Reduce them all to dust!"


    The officers on the bridge shifted ufortably, but no one dared speak.


    Vortigan stood rigid with his teeth clenched so tightly that blood seeped from his gums. His fists trembled at his sides, nails digging into his palms so hard they threatened to pierce the skin.


    "Is everything ready?" His voice was low, guttural, filled with barely contained fury.


    "Yes, sir," an officer responded, though his voice shook. His eyes were still red, barely holding back tears for the sacrifices made from hisrades


    Vortigan inhaled sharply. The rage, the sorrow, the overwhelming grief.. he forced it down, condensing it into something sharp and deadly.


    "Then do it. Make those bastards taste our revenge."


    The officers moved instantly, their fingers flying over control panels as they transmitted the final activation codes.


    Percival was still lost in his twisted pleasure when the first rm screamed through the gship.


    "Sir!" an officer shouted in panic. "Multiple intercontinental missiles have beenunched from the surface! They are targeting our deployed troops!"


    Percival''s eyes snapped open, the pleasure vanishing in an instant.


    "What!?" He lunged forward, violently shoving the ve away with enough force that her frail body cracked against the wall, her lifeless form crumpling to the floor. He didn''t even nce at her.


    "Who the fuck allowed this!?" He shouted.


    Before anyone could answer, one of the main screens flickered; it was hacked.


    Percival''s fury twisted into something uglier as Victor''s grinning face appeared, lifting a middle finger with a smugugh. "Hahahaha! Hope you like my gift, little mommy''s boy!"


    The screen immediately cut out, but the damage was done. Percival''s entire body shook with rage.


    "FUCKING DOG!"


    With a roar, he pulled out his handgun and fired point-nk at the screen, shattering it into sparks and ss.


    But no amount of screaming could change what wasing. The intercontinental missiles hit their targets with merciless precision.


    They weren''t just ordinary warheads. They were anti-matter bombs, each one designed to annihte everything within a contained radius, erasing all organic and inorganic matter in an instant.


    Massive shockwaves tore through the battlefield as the missiles detonated. Fire and energy ripped apart entire toons, their bodies dissolving into nothingness before they could even scream.


    The ground trembled under the force of the explosions. Thousands of Nexum soldiers were wiped out in mere seconds.


    The sky, once a battlefield of ships and drop pods, was now filled with ming wreckage. The''s surface that was already ruined became an even greater hellscape, with both sides suffering unimaginable losses.


    Now, no one was winning.


    Now, it was nothing but carnage.

 Chapter 256 The last stand. {2}

    Percival''s fists clenched so tightly that his armored gloves groaned under the pressure. His breath came in sharp, ragged gasps, his body trembling with pure, unfiltered rage.


    "How dare those traitors do something like this!" he shouted, his voice shaking themand deck. "Send down more troops! I want them wiped out! Every single one of them! I don''t care what our losses are!"


    His eyes burned with fury as he turned toward his officers. "And send the Viceroys. Order them to hunt that fucking dog!" The officer standing closest to him barely managed a bow before bolting toward themunications team, rying out Percival''s orders.


    "Sir Vortigan! The Nexum fleet is on the move again! They''re deploying more troops!"


    Themand center was a storm of activity with officers scrambling as new warnings shed across the tactical disys.


    Vortigan exhaled through his nose while cracking his knuckles. "Mmm¡­ so the brat enjoyed our little gift." He rolled his shoulders and turned to the room. "Well then, gentlemen, let''s make him pay for it."


    He mmed his fist onto the table, his voice sharp as a de. "Redirect twenty percent of ourary defense cannons to theirnding zones! I want every one of those bastards sted apart before their boots even touch our ground!"


    "Understood, sir!"


    Within minutes, the colossalary cannons rotated, their barrels locking onto the newnding coordinates.


    Then, they open fire.


    Massive bolts of high-energy sma and railgun slugs the size of houses ripped through the descending Nexum ships, detonating them mid-air. Transport after transport burst apart like ss; their upants disintegrated before they could even scream.


    Those that managed to touch down crashed in mes, the survivors barely stumbling out before another round of targeted artillery strikes reduced them to nothing.


    The cycle continued relentlessly. Every time the Nexum forces tried to switchnding zones, theary defense adjusted, wiping them out before they could gain a foothold.


    Victor, watching from a higher vantage point, burst intoughter.


    "Hahaha! What a bunch of morons! Is this really all they have?" He leaned back while crossing his arms, his grin stretching. "Even for a low-tier corporation, this is pathetic. And this is supposed to be a megacorp? A gctic power?"


    He wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "Ah, all my blessings to that sissy brat for being so damn stupid." Hisughter, however, was cut short when a blur of motion appeared next to him.


    Before Victor could react, something mmed into his face with the force of a meteor. His body was sent flying, tumbling through the sky for several kilometers before he finally managed to stabilize himself.


    "What the fuck was that!?" he growled while shaking off the dizziness as he rubbed his aching jaw. His eyes darted around, scanning for his attacker.


    Then he saw it.


    Floating a short distance away was a humanoid octopus, its body thick with oversized muscle, its ck skin gleaming under the dim light of the burning battlefield. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Fucking midget," Victor muttered, spitting blood as he cracked his neck. "I should have known."


    The humanoid octopus grinned, baring sharp teeth.


    "Keep talking, dumbass," ckwire sneered, his voice bubbling with aggression. "This time, I''m going to kill you for sure."


    Before Victor could respond, another voice crackled through hismunicator.


    "Boss! This isn''t good! We''re retreating! There''s a crazy bitch turning our troops green¡ªno, WAIT! STAY AWAY! DON''T COME NEAR ME! AHHHHHHHHHHH¡ª!"


    The line went dead while Victor''s expression darkened and his grip on his weapon tightened.


    "Hahaha! My son knows me so well!" A slow, sultry voice filled the air, dripping with mocking sweetness. Victor turned his head and saw her. Floating just above the battlefield, surrounded by billowing clouds of green mist, was Isolde.


    Mechanical spiders skittered across her flowing ck cloak, each one releasing a toxic vapor into the air. The soldiers caught within the haze screamed as their bodies twisted and warped, their flesh rotting away as they mutated into unspeakable horrors.


    She watched them with fascination, a delighted smile spreading across her lips.


    "Oh my, all of these living specimens... what a wonderful chance to test my new poisons." She sighed dreamily, pressing a hand to her cheek before her gaze snapped to Victor. "Oh! How rude of me. I should send some your way too! Be a sweetheart and give me a good review, yes?"


    With a graceful wave of her hand, several of the twisted monstrosities turned toward Victor and began to charge while howling in agony.


    Victor''s eyes narrowed with fury.


    {Damn bitch¡­ of course, she''s here too. If her precious son is on the battlefield, she wouldn''t be far behind.}


    He exhaled sharply before activating his helmet''s filtration system, the visor snapping shut over his face.


    "So you joined the fight too, poisonous bitch?" His voice was muffled through the mask but still carried his signature arrogance. "You really are a dumbass. Your little mutants can''t even fly. How the hell are they supposed to reach me?"


    Isolde''s smile widened.


    Victor''s body shuddered violently as a massive canine tore through the sky, mming him into the ground where Isolde''s creatures swarmed like a living tide. Dust and debris exploded around him, but he barely had time to react before a familiar voice cut through the chaos.


    "Aha, good to see you finally made it, Madame," Isolde sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "I was about to send my medical team to carry you here. Age is such a cruel mistress for your kind, don''t you think?"


    Madame Rosended gracefully, leaning on her cane with a smirk. "Ha! If we''re talking age, I''m still a childpared to you, you fossil. And you better keep your mouth shut unless you want me knocking out more of your teeth!"


    She raised her cane, the once-oversized weapon now shrunken to its normal form, but still pulsing with power. Isolde''s eyes flickered with fury, but her expression remained calm with her lips curling into a fake smile.


    Victor groaned, shaking off the impact as he emerged from the mountain of mangled creatures. He stretched his shoulders,pletely unfazed. "Oh great. Now it''s three against one? How shameful," he mused, rolling his neck.


    His crimson eyes locked onto Isolde before he scoffed. "And Bitchisolde, your creatures are trash. Not even good for target practice."


    Without warning, he grabbed a lifeless husk and hurled it toward her at breakneck speed, breaking the sound barrier. But before it could reach her, the body was obliterated mid-air, reduced to nothing but dust.


    Isolde giggled while floating beside the short, battle-hardened midget known as ckwire. "Oh dear, what can I say? There''s only so much you can do with such poor materials. Not my fault, you see."


    Victor cracked his knuckles, his smirk growing wider. "I''ve been punched twice already. Once by a midget and once by a grandma with a cane. My reputation''s gonna take a hit if I don''t return the favor."


    Twin sword handles snapped into his palms from his hip, and with the press of a button, sma des ignited in a blinding sh.


    ckwire let out a sharpugh. "Now this is what I was waiting for!" In a blink, he vanished, reappearing right beside Victor. The air around them crackled as they activated Tier 6 space-bending abilities, allowing near-instant movement across the battlefield.


    As Victor shed with Isolde and ckwire in a whirlwind of destruction, Pax materialized beside Madame Rose. "Time is money, Madame. We should get to work."


    She scoffed. "Hmph, I don''t need you to tell me!"


    Meanwhile, chaos erupted across the battlefield. Isolde''s creatures were spreading like wildfire, tearing through the defensive lines with terrifying efficiency. Her spider-like abominations churned out more monstrosities by the second, overwhelming the already struggling soldiers.


    "Sarge! We''ve lost the fifth defensive line!" A soldier shouted while firing desperately at an advancing creature. "We need to fall back to the captain''s zone and reinforce the sixth!"


    The sergeant gritted his teeth, hesitating for only a second before reaching for hismunicator. But before he could give the order, a massive mechanical arm mped around his wrist.@@novelbin@@


    "Whoa there," a calm voice said. "No need to retreat just yet. Highmand''s sending reinforcements any minute now. Till then, we hold the line."


    The elite guards snapped their weapons toward the neer. "Identify yourself!"


    The stranger chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Oh, pardon me. Memory''s not as sharp as it used to be. I''m Vire, steward of my lord''s mansion. At your service." His smirk deepened as he gestured toward the sky. "But forget introductions. My friend up there is much more eager to make an entrance."


    The sergeant followed his gaze just in time to see something enormous plummeting from above. A massive humanoid figure rocketed downward, crashing headlong into the enemy horde with earth-shattering force.


    [Battle Armor Argos engaging the enemy. Weapons free.]


    The mechanized warrior moved like a force of nature. Argos reached out, seized a monstrous creature by the skull, and crushed it effortlessly, like it was nothing more than a lump of soft y.


    Then, with a heavy mechanical whir, four massive miniguns emerged from Argos''s back, their barrels spinning as targeting systems locked onto iing threats.


    [Aiming assistance activated.]


    Carlos smirked beneath his helmet. "Thanks, Arg. I''ll leave the long-range weapons to you. I''ll handle things up close." His grip tightened as he readied himself. "Deploy the halberd."


    [Understood. Launching Halberd.]


    From behind Argos, a sleek gray rectangle shot into the sky like a missile. For a brief moment, it hovered in the sky, then its form twisted and expanded, shifting in midair. tes unfolded, metal realigned, and within seconds, the object transformed into a towering halberd, its razor-sharp de gleaming in the battlefield''s chaos.


    Carlos reached out, catching it effortlessly as it came down. Sparks crackled along the weapon''s edge, energy coursing through its core.


    "Time to carve a path through the enemy"

 Chapter 258 The last stand. {4}

    Vortigan''s gaze settled on Madame Rose, his expression unreadable. "So¡­ even you have thrown in with that sissy? I have to admit, I''m surprised. Given your history with him, I thought you''d be thest to take his side."


    Madame Rose scoffed while brushing a hand over her long, feathered jacket, a rare treasure from a distant paradise world. "Hmph. Don''t be ridiculous. I have no interest in that brat, the one who still reeks of his mother''s milk. I simply have my own reasons for being here. That''s all." With a swift motion, she shrugged off the elegant jacket, letting it fall behind her.


    Vortigan sighed while shaking his head. "So it''se to this, then¡­ What a shame." He raised his de, pointing it toward an empty stretch of air. "And are you nning to keep hiding, Pax?"


    A slow, deliberate pping echoed through the battlefield as Pax shimmered into view, his presence distorting the space around him. His grin was wide, his ck eyes gleaming with amusement.


    "Well done. Not just anyone can see through my cloaking. Then again, I suppose I shouldn''t be surprised since Tier 7 powerhouses do live up to their reputation." His face tentacles curled behind his head as a dark, menacing helmet materialized over his skull.


    "It''s a shame things had toe to this, but don''t worry. I''ll make excellent use of your resources once you''re out of the way."


    Vortigan didn''t even flinch. Instead, he slid his sword back into its sheath with slow, deliberate precision and turned his gaze skyward. He was looking for someone. "You''re not worth my time. Move aside before I kill you both."


    Pax smirked. "Did you hear that, Madame Rose? He just called you an old, decrepit woman. I didn''t say it; he did." His voice dripped with mockery.


    Madame Rose''s fiery eyes snapped toward him. "Shut the fuck up, Pax." And then, before his very eyes, she began to change.


    Her once-aged body shed its wrinkles, her skin smoothing, her frame growing leaner, stronger. Her once silver-streaked hair zed into its true form, a cascade of vibrant, ming red. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire


    Pax''s amusement vanished. His eyes widened with disbelief written across his face. "Wait... since when are humans capable of cellr alteration!?" His voice carried a sharp edge of rm.


    Madame Rose smirked. "As if I''d tell you, seafood!"


    With a burst of heat, she shot forward like a meteor, mes trailing in her wake. She collided with Vortigan in midair, the impact sending a scorching shockwave across the battlefield, igniting the very sky.


    Sparks flew as her cane, crafted from a rare metal resistant to her infernal heat, shed with Vortigan''s de, a weapon forged from a material that absorbed and returned the force of impact. Every strike shended was countered, every powerful blow redirected. She was strong, but he had the edge.


    And then Pax lunged in.


    Two against one. But even with the numbers on their side, Vortigan remained unshaken. His shield, made of the same rare material as his sword, absorbed most of their attacks, and those that slipped through were expertly deflected with swift, precise parries.


    Then, in a sh, he struck.


    His boot connected squarely with Madame Rose''s stomach, the force of the blow sending her hurtling backward like a minget. She crashed into a mid-sized warship with a deafening explosion, the hull crumpling beneath the impact.


    Vortigan turned his attention back to Pax, his de glowing with raw power. "Surrender now, Pax! You''re no match for me!"


    Pax barely had time to react as Vortigan''s sword cut through the air toward him. He raised his own weapon in defense, but the moment the des shed, space itself bent around them.


    A Tier 7''s power was beyondprehension; it could distort reality and fracture the very fabric of existence. And right now, all of that power was bearing down on Pax.


    His instincts screamed at him to dodge. He moved... but not fast enough.


    Vortigan''s de sliced through the air with a deafening roar, the sheer force of it distorting the space around them.


    Pax''s eyes widened as he realized the gravity of his mistake. He twisted his body, attempting to evade the strike, but Vortigan''s speed was on a whole different level. The edge of the de grazed Pax''s side, tearing through his armor like it was paper and sending a spray of dark, shimmering blood into the air.


    Pax hissed in pain, his tentacles writhing as he staggered back, clutching his side. His grin was gone, reced by a grimace of fury and disbelief. "You¡ª!" he snarled, his voiceced with venom. But Vortigan didn''t give him a chance to recover.


    "Surrender," Vortiganmanded with his voice cold and unyielding. "This is yourst warning."


    Pax''s ck eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a snarl. "You think a scratch like that will stop me? You''re even more arrogant than I thought!" He raised his weapon, the air around him crackling with energy as he prepared to strike back.


    But before he could make his move, a fiery explosion erupted behind Vortigan. Madame Rose emerged from the wreckage of the warship, her body wreathed in mes, her red hair zing like a living inferno. Her cane glowed white-hot as she shot toward Vortigan with terrifying speed.


    "You''re not the only one who can y rough, Vortigan!" She shouted with her voice echoing like thunder. She swung her cane in a wide arc, the heat radiating from it scorching the air itself.


    Vortigan turned just in time to block the strike, his shield absorbing the brunt of the impact. The force of the collision sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, the ground cracking beneath them.


    Vortigan''s expression remained stoic, but his eyes flickered with a hint of respect. "You''ve still got some fight in you, Rose. I''ll give you that."


    Madame Rose smirked, her fiery eyes locking onto his. "You haven''t seen anything yet, old man."


    The two shed again, their weapons meeting in a blinding explosion of light and heat. Each strike was a cataclysmic event, the sheer power of their blows threatening to tear the battlefield apart.


    Pax, still recovering from his wound, watched from a distance, his mind racing. He knew he couldn''t take Vortigan alone, not even with Madame Rose''s help. But he also knew he couldn''t afford to retreat. Not now.


    With a growl of frustration, Pax raised his hand, summoning a swirling vortex of dark energy. "If you won''t surrender, then I''ll just have to end this myself!" he shouted, hurling the vortex toward Vortigan.


    Vortigan''s eyes flicked toward the iing attack, but he didn''t flinch. With a swift motion, he raised his shield, the dark energy colliding with it and dissipating harmlessly. "Is that all you''ve got?" he taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.


    Pax''s face twisted in rage. "You arrogant¡ª!"


    But before he could finish, Vortigan was already moving. In a blur of motion, he closed the distance between them, his de slicing through the air with deadly precision. Pax barely had time to raise his weapon in defense, but the force of Vortigan''s strike sent him flying backward, crashing into the ground with a bone-jarring impact.


    Vortigan stood tall with his de gleaming in the light of the mes. "This is yourst chance, Pax. Surrender, or I''ll end you here and now."


    Pax struggled to his feet, his body trembling with pain and fury. He knew he was outmatched, but his pride wouldn''t let him back down. "You think you''ve won? You''re a fool, Vortigan! This war is far from over!"


    Vortigan''s expression hardened. "So be it."


    He raised his de, the air around him crackling with energy as he prepared to deliver the final blow. But before he could strike, a sudden explosion rocked the battlefield, drawing his attention. In the distance, a massive warship was descending from the sky, its hull bristling with weapons.


    Madame Rose''s eyes narrowed as she recognized the ship. "Reinforcements?" she muttered, her voice tinged with suspicion.


    Pax let out a darkugh, his grin returning. "Looks like the game''s not over yet, Vortigan."


    Vortigan''s gaze shifted between Pax and the iing warship, his expression unreadable. For the first time, a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face. But it was gone in an instant, reced by his usual steely resolve.


    "Fine," he said, his voice calm but firm. "If you want a war, I''ll give you a war."@@novelbin@@


    The battlefield erupted into chaos once more as the reinforcements joined the fray. Vortigan, Madame Rose, and Pax shed again, their powers shaking the very foundations of the.


    "Sir Pax! The main cannons are now in range of the energy station. Should we proceed?" The captain of the destroyer, newly arrived in orbit under Pax''smand, spoke through themunicator, his voice sharp with anticipation.


    But before Pax could answer, "Puahh!"


    Vortigan''s de plunged straight through his abdomen. The world tilted while pain moved through him as the steel bit deep. Blood spilled, but instead of a scream, Pax threw his head back andughed.


    "Fire! FIRE!! AHAHAHAHA!" His voice echoed wildly, his manic grin widening.


    Vortigan''s eyes shed with fury. "WHAT!? PAX! HAVE YOU GONE INSANE!?"


    With a snarl, he wrenched his sword free and swung Pax''s impaled body like a ragdoll, hurling him straight into Madame Rose, who had been lunging in for an attack. The collision sent them both careening toward the ground, their impact unleashing a massive ming shockwave that tore through the battlefield, incinerating defenders and attackers alike.


    Above them, the captain of the destroyer hesitated only a moment before confirming, "Understood, Sir Pax! Main cannons loaded! FIRE!"


    A heartbeatter, the sky screamed.

 Chapter 259 The last stand. {5} Beast awakened.

    zing projectiles erupted from the destroyer''s cannons, streaking through the darkness like falling stars. The explosive shells hurtled toward the energy station where Vortigan wasn''t defending.


    His expression darkened. "NOOOOO!!" His roar split the heavens as he vanished.


    In an instant, he reappeared between the station and the iing barrage. His sword ignited with raw, rippling energy, his movements fueled by sheer desperation. With precise, powerful swings, he carved through the air, his de slicing the very fabric of space-time.


    The shockwaves of his strikes detonated several of the shells mid-flight and secondster, fiery explosions burst around him.


    But it wasn''t enough.


    More shells broke past him, too fast to intercept. His teeth clenched as he teleported again, this time directly into their path. Raising his shield with one hand, he reached out with the other, grabbing an iing shell.


    The force of it threatened to crush his arm, but with a defiant snarl, he hurled it into another projectile, causing them both to explode before reaching the station; the final shell mmed into his shield.


    A blinding explosion tore through the air, engulfing Vortigan in fire and concussive force. Even for a Tier 7 powerhouse, taking a destroyer''s main cannon shell head-on was no small feat. The impact sent him hurtling backward, crashing through the energy station''s shield, shattering it in a cascade of shimmering light.


    The station still stood. But itsst line of defense was gone. And Vortigany motionless in the rubble; the battlefield fell silent for a single, breathless moment.


    Then, chaos erupted anew.


    The defenders, witnessing their lord''s fall, let out a collective cry of despair. The Nexum forces, emboldened by the sight, surged forward with renewed ferocity. The energy station, now vulnerable, became the focal point of the battle.


    Soldiers from both sides shed in a frenzy of gunfire, des, and raw desperation. The air was thick with the acrid stench of burning metal and the cries of the dying.


    Madame Rose emerged from the crater where she and Pax hadnded, her fiery aura flickering but undiminished. She nced at Pax, whoy sprawled nearby, clutching his bleeding abdomen. Hisughter had faded, reced by a grimace of pain, but his eyes still gleamed with a dangerous light.


    "You¡­" she growled with her voice low and full of anger. "You''re willing to destroy everything just to win, aren''t you?"


    Pax coughed blood, staining his lips as he grinned up at her. "Winning is all that matters, Rose. You of all people should understand that."


    Her eyes narrowed, but before she could respond, a deafening roar echoed across the battlefield. Both of them turned to see Vortigan rising from the rubble, his body battered but unbroken. His armor was scorched, his shield cracked, but his eyes burned with an unyielding fury.


    "PAX!" he shouted, his voice shaking the ground. "YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!"


    Pax''s grin widened, though his face was pale from blood loss. "Oh, Vortigan¡­ you always were so dramatic. But you''re toote. The station''s shield is down. Your is mine."


    Vortigan''s expression darkened, his grip tightening on his sword. "Not while I still draw breath."


    With a burst of speed, he charged toward Pax, his de glowing with raw energy. Madame Rose hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside, her fiery gaze locked on the unfolding battle. She had her own reasons for being here, and Vortigan''s vendetta against Pax was not her fight.@@novelbin@@


    Pax struggled to his feet, his weapon trembling in his hands. He knew he couldn''t match Vortigan''s strength, not in his current state. But he also knew he didn''t have to. All he had to do was buy time.


    As Vortigan closed the distance, Pax raised his hand, summoning a swirling vortex of dark energy. "You think you can stop me, Vortigan? You''re a fool!" he shouted while hurling the vortex toward his opponent.


    Vortigan didn''t slow down. With a swift motion, he raised his shield, the dark energy colliding with it and dissipating harmlessly. "Your tricks won''t save you this time, Pax!" he shouted while his de sliced through the air.


    Pax barely managed to block the strike, the force of it sending him skidding backward. His arms trembled under the weight of Vortigan''s power, but he refused to back down. "You''re toote, Vortigan! The station is already¡ª"


    Before he could finish, a deafening explosion rocked the battlefield. Both Vortigan and Pax turned to see the energy station engulfed in mes, its structure copsing under the relentless assault of the Nexum forces. The defenders fought valiantly, but without the shield, they were overwhelmed.


    Vortigan''s eyes widened in horror. "NO!"


    Pax let out a triumphantugh, though it was cut short by a coughing fit. "It''s over, Vortigan. Your¡­ your people¡­ they''re mine now."


    Vortigan''s expression twisted with rage and despair. He turned back to Pax, his de glowing with a blinding light. "You¡­ you monster!"


    With a roar, he lunged forward, his sword aimed straight at Pax''s heart. But before he could strike, a sudden burst of energy erupted between them, forcing both men back.


    Madame Rose stepped forward, her cane glowing with fiery energy. "Enough!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "This ends now!"


    Vortigan red at her, his chest heaving with exertion. "Stay out of this, Rose! This is between me and him!"


    She shook her head, her fiery eyes zing with determination. "No, Vortigan. This war has gone on long enough. If you keep fighting, there''ll be nothing left to save."


    Pax chuckled weakly, blood dripping from his lips. "She''s right, you know. You''ve already lost."


    Vortigan''s grip on his sword tightened, his knuckles white. For a moment, it seemed like he would ignore Rose and strike Pax down anyway. But then, his shoulders slumped, and he let out a heavy sigh.


    "You''re right," he said with his voice filled with bitter resignation. "This war¡­ it''s cost too much already."


    Pax''s grin faltered, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What are you¡ª?"


    Before he could finish, Vortigan raised his hand, a glowing orb of energy forming in his palm. "But if I can''t save my¡­ then I''ll make sure you can''t have it either."


    Madame Rose''s eyes widened in rm. "Vortigan, don''t!"


    But it was toote. With a final, defiant roar, Vortigan mmed the orb into the ground. The energy surged outward, engulfing the battlefield in a blinding light. Thest thing Pax saw was Vortigan''s determined face, his eyes filled with a grim resolve.


    For centuries, the megacorporations had known of the existence of living worlds,s that housed immense, slumbering entities within their cores.


    These worlds were more than just celestial bodies; they were self-sustaining ecosystems with their resources regenerating year after year. Control over such a world meant limitless power, and the megacorps had done everything in their grasp to im them.


    Pax''s world was one of them. But there was one rule, one absolutew that governed these worlds: no matter what happens, the''s nucleus must never be disturbed.


    Deep beneath the surface, in the very heart of the world, the great entity slumbered... ancient... dormant... waiting...


    And Vortigan had just broken thew.


    The orb he had mmed into the ground was no ordinary weapon. It was a catalyst designed to trigger a chain of buried nuclear warheads, embedded deep beneath the''s crust. The moment the detonations began, the earth itself trembled as if in agony.


    Far above, the Nexum fleet stationed in orbit watched in stunned silence as deep cracks split across the''s surface. The fractures spread like veins of molten fire, glowing ominously against the void of space. And then¡ª


    The world shattered from its very center; thend broke apart as something colossal emerged.


    A massive head, covered inyers of earth and stone, pushed its way free from the''s core, sending entire continents crumbling away like the fragile shell of a broken egg. Shaking off the debris, the beast lifted itself from its millennia-long slumber, its form stretching beyondprehension.


    Then it roared.


    The sound ripped through the vacuum of space, a frequency so powerful that it resonated across the sector, warping signals and rattling starships in orbit. The very fabric of reality seemed to shake beneath its voice.


    The Nexum fleet, once a formidable force, now seemed like a swarm of insects in the face of the awakened titan. Ships that had been poised for conquest now scrambled to retreat, theirmanders shouting orders in panic.


    But it was toote. The colossal entity, with its form still partially encased in the remnants of the, turned its gaze upward. Its eyes, glowing with an ancient, primal fury, locked onto the fleet.


    With a single, earth-shattering motion, it raised a massive limb, a wed hand that dwarfed even thergest warships, and then it swiped through the fleet. The impact was catastrophic.


    Ships were crushed like tin cans, their hulls crumpling under the sheer force. Explosions rippled through the fleet as fuel lines ruptured and reactors overloaded, lighting up the void with a cascade of fiery destruction.


    On the surface, the ground continued to fracture and copse, swallowing entire armies and cities alike. Vortigan, still standing amidst the chaos, watched in grim silence as the world he had fought to protect was torn apart. His face was a mask of sorrow and resolve, his de still gripped tightly in his hand.


    Madame Rose, with her fiery aura flickering weakly, staggered to her feet. She stared at the rising titan, her expression a mix of awe and horror. "What have you done, Vortigan....?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the cacophony of destruction. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 261 Madness. {2}

    The figure stepped closer, its heavy steps crunching against the debris. Pax''s vision blurred, but he could make out the silhouette of someone huge, someone who didn''t belong here. The figure crouched down, tilting his head as he examined him with a mix of curiosity and disgust.


    "You''re a mess," the voice said, almost amused. "What kind of freak are you supposed to be?"


    Pax tried to speak, to beg, to threaten, but all that came out was a gurgling, incoherent noise. The figure sighed, standing up and brushing off his hands.


    "Well, whatever. Not my problem."


    With that, the shadow turned and walked away, leaving Pax to writhe in agony, his body slowly sumbing to the venom. Thest thing he saw before his vision fadedpletely was the retreating figure, disappearing into the darkness of the destroyed city.


    "What!? And you''re telling me this just now!?" Carlos snapped, his voice sharp with frustration. He spun on his heel, his instincts screaming at him to go back and finish the job. Pax was a monster, a threat that needed to be eradicated, especially in his weakened state.


    But before he could take a single step, Argos intervened.


    [There is no need.]


    The AI''s voice was calm, almost unnervingly so.


    [Scans indicate he is heavily injured and suffering from severe poisoning. It is only a matter of time before he sumbs. Eliminating him now would be a waste of resources. More importantly, we have an objective, reaching the spaceport and securing a ship for extraction. We cannot afford to lose time.]


    A holographic image of Pax''s broken, writhing body shed across Carlos''s HUD, confirming Argos''s assessment. The once-mighty Viceroy was a shadow of his former self, his body twisted and convulsing as the venom coursed through his veins.


    Carlos exhaled sharply, his fists clenching and unclenching as he wrestled with the urge to go back. "Mmm¡­ yeah. You''re right." He forced himself to turn away, pushing the thought of Pax from his mind. "How far to the spaceport? You said there was one in this city."


    [The objective is 20 kilometers from our current position. I rmend activating propulsion systems for faster travel.]


    Carlos let out a bitter chuckle while shaking his head. "And you don''t think I want to do that? Seriously, Argos, I swear you''re bugged. We barely have enough energy left to keep systems stable, let alone fire up the propulsors. Hell, you don''t even have enough power to activate Halberd. That damn reactor is recharging way too slowly¡­ We need to let Cleo know about this."


    [Understood. Upgrade request has been logged. The issue will be reported to the Kaelzar factory once long-rangemunication is reestablished.]


    Carlos nodded while following the holographic path disyed on his HUD. He moved carefully through the ruins of the shattered city, every step feeling heavier than thest. The weight of exhaustion pressed on him, but he couldn''t afford to slow down.


    He nced toward the sky, silently praying that the Titan wouldn''t shift its rampage toward this side of the.


    His voice dropped slightly, his tone edged with unease. "You think that poisonous bitch is still after us?"


    [Negative.]


    Argos''s response was immediate. [Scanners indicate that all Tier 6 and higherbatants have retreated from the. Only two powerful individuals remain engaged with the Titan. Based on my data, both are reaching their limits.]


    Carlos ran a hand down his face, sighing deeply. "Shit¡­ I wonder if Sharon''s going to me me for abandoning her father."


    [Based on logical probability, there is a 0% chance of that oue.]


    Carlos let out a dry, humorlessugh. "That''s because you don''t understand women, Argos. They''re not logical. At all." He shook his head while forcing himself to focus.@@novelbin@@


    "Come on, let''s keep moving before something else decides to go wrong. I swear, that green witch is still haunting me¡­ My body''s still shivering just thinking about her."


    [Understood. Increasing internal calefaction to regte body temperature.]


    Carlos chuckled despite himself, a small smile breaking through the tension. "Ha¡­ thanks, buddy."


    As they pressed on, the ruins of the city loomed around them like silent sentinels, a stark reminder of the devastation the Titan had wrought. Carlos couldn''t shake the feeling of unease that clung to him, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.


    Vortigan moved like a shadow, his form flickering across the battlefield as he closed the distance to the Titan''s massive throat. His sword, already a weapon of legend, glowed with an otherworldly light as he channeled every ounce of his energy into it.


    The de grew in size, its edge shimmering like a burning star. With a roar, he swung with all his might, aiming to cleave through the Titan''s flesh.


    But against a creature of such colossal scale, even his weapon, enhanced beyond its limits, was nothing more than a toothpick.


    The de struck, but the Titan''s skin barely yielded. The wound was shallow, a mere scratch on the surface of its imprable hide. Vortigan''s eyes narrowed in frustration as the Titan''s flesh began to regenerate almost instantly since the creature was drawing energy from the itself to heal.


    Meanwhile, Madame Rose summoned a swirling inferno around her, the mes twisting and condensing into the form of a massive, radiant phoenix. Her crimson hair billowed in the heat as she poured her remaining strength into the attack.


    With a furious cry, she hurled the firebird toward the Titan''s underbelly, the only vulnerable spot they had identified. The phoenix struck with the force of a supernova, an explosion of molten energy cascading across the Titan''s skin.


    And yet¡­


    Theirbined attacks left only surface wounds... tiny cuts, barely deeper than scratches that the Titan barely seemed to notice.


    With a single pulse of raw power, the Titan released a devastating energy shockwave. The force of it was cataclysmic, obliterating everything in its path. Vortigan and Madame Rose were sted away like ragdolls, their bodies hurled through the air as thend beneath them was erased.


    Mountains crumbled, rivers evaporated, and entirendscapes were reduced to nothingness. Even asteroids far beyond the''s atmosphere disintegrated into dust.


    Madame Rose groaned while pulling herself out of the cratered remains of a meteorite where she had crashed with blood dripping from her lips, her body battered and bruised. She wiped the blood away with the back of her hand, her fiery eyes ring toward the distant colossus.


    "Tsk! See what the fuck you''ve done, you damn old man!" She shouted, her voice hoarse with rage and exhaustion.


    Vortigan, battered but still standing, scoffed. "Hmph. None of this would''ve happened if you bastards hadn''te to invade my world!" His eyes flickered, scanning the battlefield. "Speaking of which... where the fuck is Percival!?"


    Madame Rose snorted, her lips curling into a bitter smirk. "Who the hell cares? Probably ran off to hide under his mama''s skirt like the sissy he is!" Her breath was ragged now, her energy nearly drained. Even standing took effort.


    Vortigan nced at her, taking in the way her shoulders heaved, the way sweat dripped down her pale face. He sighed while shaking his head.


    "Rose¡­ You need to retreat." His voice was quieter now, firm but steady. "There''s no point in staying. Just you and me? There''s no way we''re bringing that thing down. Get out while you still can."


    She red at him but didn''t speak.


    "And don''t even try to argue," he continued.  "You''re barely¡ª"


    Before he could finish, a fireball shot past his face, close enough to singe his cheek. Vortigan''s expression darkened as the mes flickered out behind him. Madame Rose stood there with her fists clenched and her eyes burning with fury.


    "What''s the point of ying the fucking hero when you''re the one who unleashed this thing onto the gxy!?" Her voice cracked, raw with rage. "Do you have any idea how many will die because of you!?"


    Vortigan stared at her, his eyes unreadable. Then, to her surprise, he let out a slow, tired chuckle.


    "Hmph. Who cares?" He muttered, his voice eerily calm. "I''ll be dead by then." He turned away from her, gripping his sword tightly. "Let history find whatever scapegoat it wants. I don''t care anymore."


    He took a step forward. His body began to glow with dark gray and silver energy pulsing around him, growing brighter with each passing second.


    "Go, Rose. Retreat."


    She clenched her jaw, every part of her screaming to stop him, but she knew he wouldn''t listen. There was no talking him out of this. Vortigan had made his choice.


    With a final, defiant roar, Vortiganunched himself forward. Like a ck-and-grayet, he became a streak of light against the void, charging straight toward the Titan, a final stand against the beast that had shared his world for centuries.


    And this time, he didn''t n oning back.


    Madame Rose watched him go, her fists trembling at her sides. For a moment, she hesitated between staying to fight and following hismand. But deep down, she knew he was right. There was nothing more they could do.


    With a bitter curse, she turned and fled, her fiery wings carrying her away from the battlefield. Behind her, Vortigan''s energy red like a dying star, a final act of defiance against the Titan.


    Amidst the chaos, the transport ship meant to carry Sharon to safetyy in ruins, its twisted metal frame smoldering against the shatteredndscape. The evacuation had failed.


    And Sharon¡­


    Shey motionless among the wreckage, her breathing shallow. A jagged metal bar had pierced straight through her abdomen, pinning her to the cold steel beneath her. Blood pooled around the wound, staining her once beautiful white dress...

 Chapter 263 Escape.

    Anais, despite her pain, felt a glimmer of hope. This giant, whoever or whatever he was, was clearly not aligned with the Nexum soldiers. He was fighting against them, and for the first time since the attack began, she felt that there might be a chance for survival. She tried to call out to him, but her voice was weak, barely a whisper over the din of battle.


    The giant, however, seemed to sense her presence. He turned his head, his glowing eyes locking onto hers for a brief moment. Anais felt a strange sensation, as if he was reading her, understanding her pain and her desperation.


    Then, without a word, he turned back to the battlefield, continuing his relentless assault on the Nexum forces.


    Anais knew she had to move. The ship was no longer safe, and the battle was too close. She gritted her teeth, ignoring the searing pain in her legs, and began to crawl toward the rtive safety of a nearby pile of debris.


    Every movement was agony, but she forced herself to keep going, driven by the instinct to survive.


    As she reached the debris, she heard a loud explosion behind her. She turned her head just in time to see the giant rip the turret off another tank and hurl it into a group of soldiers. The explosion that followed was deafening, and the shockwave knocked her back, sending a fresh wave of pain through her body.


    But the giant was unharmed. He stood amidst the mes and smoke, his golden light undiminished, a symbol of unstoppable power. Anais watched as he raised his hand once more, and a beam of light shot out, obliterating the remaining Nexum forces in an instant.


    The battlefield fell silent, save for the crackling of mes and the distant sound of copsing debris. The giant stood tall, his taskplete. He turned once more to look at Anais.


    The towering gray giant took a step forward, his colossal frame casting an imposing shadow over Anais. The ground trembled beneath his weight as he loomed closer, his golden-lit sensors scanning her with mechanical precision.


    His voice, cold and devoid of emotion, echoed through the chaos like a thunderp.


    [Anatomical structure does not match Nexum soldiers. Insufficient data. Query: Are you a mercenary?]


    Anais stared up at him, her breath catching in her throat. The sheer scale of his presence was overwhelming, his armor gleamed under the dim light, and his glowing sensors seemed to pierce through her very soul. She swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she answered.


    "N-no! I''m not with them!" she stammered, her words barely audible over the distant roar of battle. "I was just a maid¡­ I worked in the mansion of theary lord! Please, you have to help mydy... she''s still inside the wreckage, and she''s badly hurt!"


    Before the giant could respond, another voice erupted, sharp, urgent, and filled with raw emotion.


    "What!?"


    Anais flinched, her eyes darting toward the source of the outburst. It wasn''t the cold, mechanical tone of the giant. This voice was human, desperate¡­ and achingly familiar.


    "Let me out, Argos! I have to find Sharon, now!"


    [Negative. Warzone conditions remain active. Probability of ambush: 75%. Strategic risk is uneptable. I cannot¡ª]


    "I don''t care! Just let me out while you stand guard!"


    For a moment, there was silence. Then, with a reluctant hiss of hydraulics, the back of the armored titan split open. Carlos then jumped out. His boots hit the ground with a resounding thud, and without a second''s hesitation, he sprinted toward the burning wreckage, his movements fueled by sheer determination.


    "Wait! I''ming too!" Anais called out while forcing herself to her feet despite the searing pain in her legs. But the moment she tried to move, her body betrayed her. Her legs gave out, and she lurched forward, about to copse face-first into the dirt.


    Before she could hit the ground, a massive metallic hand caught her mid-fall. The grip was firm yet gentle, holding her steady as she gasped for breath.


    [You are in no condition to move. Your organic body has sustained heavy damage. Initiating emergency treatment.]


    Argos raised his other hand, and a preciseser flickered to life at his fingertip. With surgical uracy, he sliced through the torn fabric of her pantyhose, exposing the wounded areas. Anais''s face flushed with embarrassment, and she instinctively tried to cover herself, but Argos''s grip held her firmly in ce.


    [Medigel applicationplete. Be advised: this is a temporary solution. A licensed medical professional is required for full recovery.]


    Anais exhaled shakily, the numbing sensation of the medigel spreading through her wounds. "...Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She nced up at the battle machine, her curiosity momentarily overriding her fear.


    "Aren''t you going toe out too?"


    [rification: I am the Battle AI Argos. There is no operator beyond Carlos. I am not human.]


    Anais blinked while her mind struggled to process the revtion. "So¡­ you''re a full AI?" Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    [Affirmative. I was created by the Kaelzars for warfare.]@@novelbin@@


    "Kaelzars¡­?" she whispered, the name unfamiliar yet heavy with implication. Before she could ask more, a thunderous shout cut through the air.


    "ARGOS! GET OVER HERE, NOW!"


    Carlos''s voice was a roar, filled with urgency and desperation. Anais turned to see him emerging from the wreckage, his arms cradling Sharon''s limp form. Blood soaked her dress, and the jagged metal bar that had impaled her was still lodged in her side. Carlos had cut it down to size, but removing it now would almost certainly kill her.


    "We don''t have time!" Carlos shouted, his voice cracking under the strain. "Open the pilot cabin! We need the cryosleep chamber, NOW!"


    [Acknowledged.]


    Argos moved with startling speed for his size, lowering himself to the ground as his chestpartment hissed open. Carlos climbed up, his movements careful yet frantic as he ced Sharon inside the chamber.


    The doors sealed shut with a sharp hiss, and the cryosleep system activated instantly, freezing her in stasis.


    Carlos leapt down, his chest heaving as he turned to survey the battlefield. The ground was littered with the bloodied bodies of fallen soldiers, the air thick with the acrid stench of smoke and death.


    His expression darkened as he grabbed a rifle from one of the corpses, then another, slinging them over his back with grim determination.


    Carlos''s movements were sharp, deliberate, and filled with a quiet fury. His eyes scanned the battlefield, taking in the destruction, the burning wreckage, the bodies of the Nexum soldiers, and the smoldering remains of the tanks.


    His jaw tightened as he clenched his fists, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.


    Anais, still supported by Argos, watched Carlos with a mix of awe and fear. The man who had just moments ago been a desperate, frantic figure was now a hardened warrior, his demeanor cold and calcting. He moved with purpose, his every action radiating intensity.


    "Carlos¡­" Anais said, her voice weak but insistent. "What¡­ what are you going to do now?"


    Carlos didn''t answer immediately. He finished gathering weapons and ammunition from the fallen soldiers, then turned to face her. His eyes, sharp and piercing, met hers. "We''re getting out of here. This ce is a death trap, and if we stay, we''re as good as dead."


    "But¡­ mydy¡­" Anais nced toward Argos. "She''s still in critical condition. We can''t just leave her like this!"


    "We''re not leaving her," Carlos said with his voice cutting through the air like a de. "Argos will keep her stable until we can get her to proper medical facilities."


    "But right now, we need to move. The Nexum forces won''t stay gone for long, and when theye back, they''ll bring reinforcements. We''re not sticking around to find out what that looks like."


    Anais swallowed hard; she wanted to argue, to insist that they stay and fight, but she knew he was right. She was in no condition to fight, and Carlos, despite his determination, was only one man. Even with Argos, they couldn''t hold off an entire army.


    "Where¡­ where will we go?" She asked, her voice trembling.


    Carlos''s expression softened slightly, though his tone remained firm. "There''s an outpost not far from here. If we can reach it, we''ll be safe for a while, at least. Argos can guide us there."


    [Confirmed. The allied Kaelzar outpost is approximately 12 kilometers northeast of this location. Estimated travel time: 2 hours on foot.]


    Anais''s heart sank. Twelve kilometers. With her injuries, it might as well have been a hundred. She looked down at her legs, still throbbing with pain despite the medigel treatment. "I¡­ I don''t know if I can make it that far."


    Carlos stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. "You don''t have a choice. If you stay here, you''re dead. If youe with us, you might live. So you''reing."


    Before Anais could respond, Carlos turned to Argos. "Can you carry her?"


    [Affirmative. I can transport the injured feline withoutpromising mobility orbat readiness.]


    "Good. Do it."


    Without another word, Argos carefully lifted Anais into his massive arms, cradling her like a child. She gasped at the sudden movement, but Argos''s grip was secure, and she felt surprisingly safe despite the circumstances.


    Carlos slung the rifles over his shoulder and checked the ammunition on his belt. "Let''s move. Stay close, and keep your eyes open. We''re not out of danger yet."


    The trio began their trek across the battlefield, stepping over debris and bodies as they made their way toward the tree line. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and burning metal, and the distant sound of engines hinted at the possibility of more Nexum forces on the horizon.


    Anais clung to Argos while her mind raced with questions. Who was Carlos? Why was he here? And what was his connection to the Kaelzars? But now wasn''t the time for answers. Now was the time to survive.

 Chapter 264 New world.

    [Year 5609 ¨C Imperial Gctic System]


    [Good morning, citizens around the gxy! Or whatever time it is in your world!, you''re watching your favorite interster news channel! It''s been nearly two years since the monstrous beast was unleashed upon the stars, and thetest attempt by the Megacorps Coalition Fleet to bring them down has been¡­]


    [A total failure!!...again! That''s right, dear viewers, even the might of the Coalition wasn''t enough to stand against this nightmare! But don''t lose hope! After almost two years of defeat, the Megacorps are preparing for a final, all-out assault in just three months!]


    [And here''s the biggest twist yet... rumors are spreading that the CEOs of the most powerful megacorps will personally join the battle! This might just go down as the most legendary showdown in gctic history! Now, in other news¡ª]


    Click.@@novelbin@@


    Rex shut off the massive holo-screen dominating the living room wall. With the same remote, he tapped a button, and the floor-to-ceiling curtains slid open, revealing a breathtaking yet eerie sight of an endless ocean.


    His home stood atop a colossal floating megastructure, still under construction, and surrounded by the constant hum of industrial progress.


    Drones zipped through the air like mechanical insects, welding, assembling, and maintaining the station''s framework. High above, fighter squadrons patrolled the skies, scanning for threats, while deep beneath the waves, massive shadows shifted predators lurking in the depths, waiting for an opportunity to strike.


    Rex exhaled and nced down at his legs, then smirked. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    With one finger, he poked Cleo''s cheek.


    "Hey, I knew you were going to run off the moment the news started¡­ Well, they''re over now. Wake up."


    Curled up on the couch, Cleo didn''t move at first, her head resting on hisp like azy cat. Unlike before, now that she had regained her original body, she could switch between consciousness and full-body rest as she pleased, vanishing and returning at will.


    Andtely, she''d spent almost all her free time around him.


    Her ears twitched slightly, then¡ª


    "I-I didn''t run away!" She blurted, lifting her head with a huff. "I was just¡­ resting my eyes a little!"


    Rex raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.


    Cleo stretched her arms with azy groan, her abyss-ck hair falling over her shoulders. With her usual high-techbat gear reced by just a white tank top and tight hot pants, she blended in far too well with the rxed oceanic lifestyle of the base.


    Rex had no doubt this was the twins influence since they all had to fight underwater against the monstrous sea creatures, so lighter clothing had be a necessity.


    Rex smirked. "Uh-huh. Sure. That''s, what¡­ the hundredth time you''ve used that excuse?" He reached over and pinched her cheeks, pulling them just enough to make her lips pucker into a silly fish-like shape.


    "Hmph!" Cleo swatted at his hands, ring. "It''s because I already know what they''re going to say! The news is just the same story on repeat, the beast is too strong, another fleet failed, maybe next time we''ll win... boring! The real reason you watch it is because of that newscaster girl, isn''t it?" She narrowed her eyes, suspicion written all over her face.


    Rex chuckled. "Ha! Please. That girl doesn''t evenpare to you. I''ve been exposed to your beauty for too long! I''m immune to lesser ones now. You''ve ruined me."


    Cleo blinked, and then, without warning, she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his chest.


    For a moment, Rex stiffened. He was still getting used to this version of Cleo. The cold, calcting AI he once knew had transformed into something¡­ warmer, more alive. It was strange, almost surreal.


    Before, she had always felt distant, like a being constantly limiting itself, held back by the constraints of hardware. But now? It was as if her previous body had been suppressing her true self, running at a fraction of her full power.


    Now, she was finally free.


    Rex sighed, letting his fingers absentmindedly run through her hair as he gazed out at the vast, endless ocean.


    {The gxy is changing... the wars are escting... and soon... I won''t even be surprised if they also reach us...}


    The tranquility of the moment was shattered by the sudden re of an rm. Red lights shed across the room, and the serene oceanic view outside was reced by a holographic alert screen. Rex''s body tensed as his instincts kicked in immediately.


    [Intruder alert. Intruder alert. Unidentified entity detected in Sector 7-B. All personnel, prepare for engagement.]


    Cleo sprang to her feet, her rxed demeanor vanishing in an instant. Her golden eyes glowed faintly as she essed the base''s security systems. "Rex, it''s not one of the sea creatures. The sensors are picking up something¡­ different. It''s moving fast... too fast."


    Rex was already on his feet while his expression hardened. "Different how? What are we dealing with?"


    Cleo''s fingers danced in the air as she pulled up a holographic map of the base. A red dot blinked rapidly, moving erratically through the lower levels. "It''s humanoid, but the energy signature is off the charts. It''s not Nexum, and it''s not one of ours. It''s¡­ something else."


    Rex''s mind raced. "Could it be one of the beasts? Maybe a new variant?"


    "Unlikely," Cleo replied, her voice steady but urgent. "The energy readings don''t match any known beast signatures. This is something new... or something we''ve never encountered before."


    Rex clenched his fists. "Whatever it is, we can''t let it run loose. Let''s move."


    Cleo nodded, her form shimmering as she shifted into herbat-ready state. Her casual attire was reced by sleek, high-tech armor, her abyss-ck hair tied back into a tight braid. Rex grabbed a pair of energy pistols from a nearby rack, checking the charge levels before holstering them.


    "Stay close," he said, his voice low. "We don''t know what we''re up against."


    The two of them moved swiftly through the base, the rms growing louder as they approached Sector 7-B. The corridors were eerily empty, the usual hum of activity reced by an oppressive silence.


    The only sound was the rhythmic thud of their footsteps and the asional crackle of the inte system. As they neared the sector, Cleo held up a hand, signaling Rex to stop. "It''s close. Just beyond that door."


    Rex nodded with his grip tightening on his pistols. "On my mark."


    Cleo''s eyes glowed brighter as she interfaced with the door''s control system. "Three¡­ two¡­ one¡­ mark!"


    The door slid open with a hiss, and they burst into the room, weapons at the ready. What they saw stopped them in their tracks.


    In the center of the room stood a figure, tall, imposing, and radiating an aura of raw power. Its body was covered in sleek, ck armor that seemed to absorb the light around it. Its eyes glowed a deep crimson, and its movements were fluid, almost unnatural.


    In its hand, it held a weapon unlike anything Rex had ever seen, a de that crackled with dark energy, as if it was alive.


    The figure turned to face them, its gaze locking onto Rex. For a moment, there was silence; the tension in the room was palpable.


    Then, the figure spoke, its voice deep and resonant, echoing with an otherworldly tone.


    "You are not my target. Stand aside."


    Rex''s eyes narrowed. "Not a chance. You''re trespassing, and you''re armed. Drop the weapon, and we''ll talk."


    The figure tilted its head, as if considering his words. Then, with a speed that defiedprehension, it lunged.


    Rex barely had time to react, diving to the side as the de sliced through the air where he had just been standing. Cleo was already in motion, her form blurring as she closed the distance between herself and the intruder.


    She struck with precision, her energy de shing against the dark weapon in a shower of sparks.


    "Rex, we need to contain it!" Cleo shouted, her voice strained as she parried another strike. "It''s too fast; we can''t outpace it!"


    Rex was already moving, his pistols zing as he fired a barrage of energy shots at the figure. The projectiles struck its armor, but to his dismay, they seemed to have little effect. The figure barely flinched, its focus remaining on Cleo.


    "Cleo, fall back!" Rex ordered, his mind racing for a solution. "We need to¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the figure unleashed a burst of dark energy, sending Cleo flying across the room. She hit the wall with a sickening thud, her form flickering as she struggled to regain her footing.


    Rex''s heart pounded in his chest as he realized the gravity of the situation. This wasn''t just an intruder; it was something far beyond their capabilities. But he couldn''t back down. Not now.


    "You want a fight?" Rex growled while holstering his pistols and activating a pair of energy gauntlets. "Fine. Let''s dance."


    The figure turned to face him, its crimson eyes burning with intensity. For a moment, there was silence. Then, with a roar, Rex charged.


    The battle that followed was a blur of motion and energy, the twobatants trading blows with ferocious intensity. Rex fought with everything he had, his gauntlets crackling with power as he struck at the figure''s armor.


    But no matter how hard he hit, the figure seemed unfazed, its movements precise and calcted. Just as Rex began to falter, a voice echoed through the room.


    "Enough."


    The figure froze, its de inches from Rex''s throat. Rex turned his head, his eyes widening as he saw Cleo standing behind the figure, her hand pressed against its back. Her form was glowing with a brilliant light, her eyes zing with determination.


    "You''re not the only one with tricks," she said, her voice cold and steady. "Now, stand down."


    For a moment, the figure remained still. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, it lowered its de and stepped back.


    Rex let out a breath he didn''t realize he was holding, his body trembling with exhaustion. "What¡­ what just happened?"

 Chapter 267 New World. {4}

    "I think that is impossible... at least for now." His voice was heavy, knowing how much those words would crush Carlos. "Cleo is still searching for a way. But you know how it is. Advanced medical technology for humans is rare in this gxy...."


    Carlos''s fingers curled against the ss, his breathing uneven.


    Rex exhaled slowly, his own frustration boiling beneath the surface. "Because who would create technology for ves¡­"


    The words left a bitter taste in his mouth.


    Carlos''s voice trembled as he spoke, his eyes locked onto Rex''s with a desperation that cut deeper than any wound. The raw anguish in his gaze was almost unbearable, a silent plea that carried the weight of a man teetering on the edge of despair.


    "Is there really no hope to save both of them?" His breath hitched, his hands curling into fists so tight his knuckles turned white. "I can''t lose another loved one, Rex... Please... please..."


    Rex''s chest tightened at the sight of his friend''s face. That look... it was the same one from that day. The same raw agony, the same unbearable weight of a choice no man should ever have to make.


    His mind drifted back, back to the day Carlos''s wife died.


    She had gone intobor in one of those dimly lit back-alley clinics, the kind that illegal medics ran in hidden corners of the city. Because in this gxy, normal office workers, people like Carlos and Rex, could never afford a real hospital. They were expendable. Disposable.


    The delivery went wrong and Carlos was given a choice... save his wife or save their unborn son.


    He had been moments away from choosing her, from refusing to let go, from selfishly clinging to the woman he loved. But she had pped him hard, fiercely, her eyes filled with more fire than fear.


    "If you choose me over our son," she had whispered, her voice trembling but resolute, "I will take my own life to follow him."


    And so he had chosen.


    His son had lived. His wife had died.


    For years, Carlos med himself, drowning in guilt so deep that nothing could pull him out. Nothing, until Rex had beaten the living hell out of him, knocking some sense back into him, and forced him to see what he still had.


    Little Erik. His son. His reason to keep going.


    And now¡­ he was standing in front of Rex again, carrying the same unbearable pain.


    Rex let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. His usual bravado was gone, reced by a quiet, steady resolve.


    "I don''t know, Carlos." His voice was soft but firm. "Cleo hasn''t found anything yet, but she''s still looking. The problem is our gctic-range antenna isn''t fully built, so she has to use the Cleopatra''s systems to search the web. It''s going to take time."


    Carlos gritted his teeth, his knuckles pressing against the ss of the medical tank. His body shook, the weight of his fear and helplessness threatening to crush him. "Please¡­ please, do everything you can to find a way to save them¡­"


    His voice was breaking, each word a fragile thread holding him together.


    Rex exhaled, already knowing this wasing.


    "I knew you would say that." He pulled up a holoscreen, scanning through medical inventory records. "We don''t have much time, but we can still keep Sharon in suspended sleep for a little longer. The real problem is the chemicals needed to stop the baby''s growth."


    Carlos''s head snapped up, his eyes zing with a flicker of hope. "Then just buy more!!"


    "It''s not that simple." Rex''s fingers tightened into a fist before he closed the holoscreen. "We already sent out the request to our trading fleets, but it''s going to take time. First, they need to receive the request. Then, they need to find the supplies. And after that, they need to get them here. This sector is a damn backwater, Carlos. It''s not like we have shipsing in and out every day."


    Carlos''s shoulders slumped, the flicker of hope extinguished as quickly as it had appeared. He pressed his forehead against the ss of the tank, his breath fogging up the surface.


    Rex sighed, his voice softening. "Get some rest, man. We''ll talk about everythingter. You need to heal faster. I''lle see you again tomorrow."


    Carlos did not respond. He just stood there, staring nkly ahead, his mind a whirlwind of fear and regret.


    Rex turned and stepped out of the room, letting the door slide shut behind him.


    The moment he was in the corridor, he leaned his back against the cold metal wall while staring at the ceiling. The weight of the situation pressed down on him, heavier than any battle he''d ever fought.


    His breath felt heavy. His chest felt tight.


    Then, slowly, he crouched down, burying his face in his hands.


    "Fuck..."


    The word came out as barely more than a whisper, a raw admission of his own helplessness. And for the first time in a long time, Rex felt truly powerless.


    For Rex, Carlos was more than just a longtime friend. He was a brother, bound not by blood but by something even stronger, a bond forged in the fires of shared struggles, unspoken sacrifices, and the kind of loyalty that defied reason.


    And no matter how much he had prepared for this moment, no matter how many ways he had rehearsed the conversation in his head, telling his brother to choose between the people he loved was never going to be easy.


    He sat there, knees drawn up, arms resting on them, his mind drowning in the weight of it all. The sterile hum of the station''s systems echoed around him, a stark contrast to the storm raging in his chest.


    Then, without a word, he felt someone settle down on his left. A momentter, another presence joined on his right. Two heads gently rested on his shoulders, their warmth a small but weefort.@@novelbin@@


    A soft voice whispered near his ear.


    "You told him already, didn''t you?"


    Rex blinked, then slowly turned his head. His tired eyes met the familiar crimson gaze of Nyra; her expression was unreadable in the dim hallway light.


    He sighed while rubbing his face before answering. "Yeah¡­ I did. And just like I expected, he didn''t take it well." His voice was heavy, each word weighed down by the burden of what he''d just witnessed. "By the way, what are you two doing here?"


    "Nothing much," Nyra murmured, pressing a little closer. "We woke up a few minutes ago, took a walk around the station, and then we saw you sitting here alone."


    Rex felt a warm pressure around his arm as Nyra wrapped herself around it, her presence a quiet anchor in the storm.


    "Mmm, I see." He let out another breath, then frowned slightly. "Then¡­ why are you two barefoot?"


    At his question, Lyra stiffened.


    "Ehem¡­ well¡­ we just like feeling the cold of the floor while basking in the sun," she said, her voice a little too quick, a little too rehearsed. "Right, sister?"


    Rex nced at Lyra''s face, noticing the slight nervous twitch at the corner of her lips.


    {Hah. As always, you suck at lying, Lyra.}


    Shaking his head with a small smirk, he reached up and ruffled both their heads, making aplete mess of their hair.


    "Put some shoes on. This is still a construction zone. Thest thing I need is you stepping on a stray screw and whining about it for the next week."


    Before they could retaliate, he stood up and stretched, rolling the tension out of his shoulders. Then, without another word, he turned and started walking toward the training room.


    Behind him, the twins exchanged a nce before scrambling after him, their goal now clear... revenge.


    If he was going to mess up their hair, they were going to mess up his too.


    Meanwhile, deep inside herb, Cleo worked in silence. The glow of various data streams reflected against her pale skin, the hum of processing units filling the space around her. Herb was a sanctuary of order and precision, a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding elsewhere on the station.


    Her gaze remained locked onto the lifeless Shadow''s body lying on the table before her.


    {This¡­ coffin.}


    A vessel of war. A relic of a past that refused to stay buried.


    Her fingers moved swiftly over the console, enteringmand codes with practiced precision. A spark of anticipation flickered in her eyes as she muttered under her breath.


    "Now¡­ let''s see where you have been all this time."


    More than anything, she wanted to know how this Shadow had managed to infiltrate her station without triggering a single scanner. That should have been impossible.


    "System. Show thest recorded coordinates of the Shadow."


    [Understood.]


    A pulse of energy rippled through theb as the main holo-projector came to life. A vast gctic map unfolded in the air before her, thousands of stars glowing like scattered embers in an eternal void.


    Then, slowly, a glowing red trail traced a path through the gxy. The Shadow''s journey.


    Cleo''s eyes narrowed as the route came into focus. It stopped on a, then the signal vanished only to reappear again on this oceanic world.


    Her fingers flew over the console as she zoomed in on the location where the signal had disappeared. The''s data loaded instantly, scrolling across her screen.


    [Nebulous-Type]


    A slow smirk formed on Cleo''s lips.


    "I knew it¡­" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

 Chapter 269 Human civil war. {2}

    After the humans seized control of Nexum''s facilities on themercial of Nakor, their influence spread like wildfire. With a firm grip on key technologies and a thriving ck market supplying military-grade weapons to criminal syndicates and mafia factions, they quickly rose to power.


    Their presence became so overwhelming that even the''s official guards dared not challenge them. The streets of Nakor, once bustling with trade andmerce, now whispered of fear and submission.


    This dominance allowed Li to establish a temple on the outskirts of Nakor''s mainmercial city, a ce where she could train her growing zealot forces in secrecy. Her pdins, d in power armor reminiscent of ancient human knights, stood as the generals of this holy army.


    The armor, a masterpiece forged by Cleo, was a marvel of engineering and control. It enhanced the strength and resilience of its wearer, but beneath its divine exteriory a hidden safeguard, an explosivemand that only Li could activate.


    A failsafe, in case loyalty ever wavered. But such an event was nearly impossible since Pdins were not ordinary soldiers. They were fanatics, bound by unshakable devotion.


    While Li herself was not a warrior, her true powery in something far more dangerous. She possessed the rare and terrifying ability to bend minds with words alone. Like a master orator, a charismatic ruler who could lead entire nations into ruin yet have their people worship them for it, she turned mere men and women into zealots. Her voice was a weapon, her presence a force of nature.


    She did not need to fight. That was what her brother was for.


    He had ascended to the rank of High Inquisitor, the suprememander of the Order of the Five Pdins. He led their forces into war, while Limanded another five elite female pdins, the ones who never left her side, sworn to protect her and the Holy City at all costs.


    These pdins were more than warriors. They were humanity''s deadliest champions, enhanced by psychic abilities unlocked through the brutal experimentation of the Nexum scientists, scientists whom Li had personally condemned to death. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    And now, their faith would be tested.


    A priestess entered the chamber, her footsteps silent against the cold marble floor. She bowed deeply before speaking, her voice trembling with a mix of reverence and urgency.


    "Saintess, our stealth drones have located the pagan assault force."


    Li remained still, her eyes closed, her presence radiating calm amidst the storm.


    "Disy it."


    The holoscreen flickered to life, projecting a grainy yet unmistakable image of the advancing army. The sheer scale of the force was staggering, a sea of soldiers, vehicles, and weaponry stretching as far as the eye could see.


    The priestess''s voice was measured, but tensionced her words.


    "Their estimated numbers are between two hundred thousand and three hundred thousand soldiers, apanied by nearly one thousand armored vehicles, including tanks."


    Li exhaled slowly, her expression unreadable. "That is only theirnd invasion force. I doubt that is the full extent of their military strength. What of their fleet?"


    The priestess hesitated, her fingers tightening against the sleeves of her robe.


    "We do not know, Saintess. Our spy drones have been destroyed. Our infiltrators... have been eliminated. We are blind in that regard."


    For a long moment, there was silence. The weight of the unknown pressed down on the room, the air thick with anticipation.


    Then, Li''s voice came, calm and absolute.


    "Very well."


    She lifted her hand, removing the delicate veil from her face. Her expression was serene, yet her eyes burned with something far more dangerous than rage. They were the eyes of a leader who had seen too much, endured too much, and would stop at nothing to protect what was hers.


    "Activate the Holy City''s shields. Bring the temple''s full defense systems online. Send the order to my pdins."@@novelbin@@


    She stepped forward, the soft hum of her armor growing into a low, powerful thrum as it awakened. White tes of sacred metal gleamed under the chamber''s light, but now, lines of crimson energy pulsed across its surface like veins of fire.


    "Prepare for total war."


    The priestess ced a hand over her chest in salute, her voice steady despite the storm brewing outside. "Understood, Saintess."


    She turned swiftly, making her way toward the barracks, where the five female pdins spent their days training for battle and studying the art of warfare. The time for preparation was over. The time for war hade.


    The massive doors of the barracks swung open as the priestess stepped inside, her presencemanding instant attention. The room, once filled with the tter of training and the hum of preparation, fell silent. She raised her voice, her tone firm and unwavering, cutting through the stillness like a de.


    "The Saintess has spoken. The time for the Holy Crusade hase."


    A ripple of energy passed through the room as her words sank in, a current of resolve electrifying the air.


    "She has ordered a full defensive deployment. Our sole focus is to protect the Holy City at all costs."


    She turned without another word, her robes billowing behind her as she left the chamber, the weight of her message lingering in her wake.


    For a moment, there was only silence. Then¡ª


    The five pdins moved as one.


    Without hesitation, they abandoned whatever they had been doing and sprinted toward their personal chambers. Their golden power armor awaited them, standing like sacred statues of war, their surfaces gleaming under the dim light. Each suit was a masterpiece, divine craftsmanshipbined with Cleo''s cutting-edge technology, a fusion of faith and science.


    Piece by piece, they donned their armor, the exoskeletal ting locking into ce with mechanical precision. The hum of power cores igniting filled the air as their suits came to life, crimson energy lines pulsing like veins of fire. The moment they were fully suited, they marched out, heading directly to their respective battle stations.


    Each pdin tookmand of a major defensive front, standing as the unbreakable shields of the faithful. The fifth and most elite of them stood guard over the za, the heart of the city, where the battle would be won or lost.


    Every soldier, every zealot, every devotee stood ready. Their spirits burned with unwavering conviction, their faith unshakable. They were prepared to die for their Saintess.


    On the other side of the battlefield, the invaders had formed an unshakable noose around the Holy City.


    From his vantage point atop his tank fortress, Lord Jiro surveyed the siege with cold, calcting eyes. The massive war machine beneath him rumbled softly, its armored ting reinforced withyers of shielding, itsmand systems linking him directly to the vast army under hismand. The air was thick with tension, the weight of impending battle pressing down on everyone.


    A human officer approached and saluted, his voice steady butced with urgency.


    "Lord Jiro, the siege isplete. We are in position. We can begin the assault at yourmand."


    Jiro did not immediately respond. He remained seated with his hands resting on the hilt of his ceremonial de as he gazed at the holy city in the distance.


    The golden towers. The towering temple at its heart. The crimson glow of the defensive barriers flickering against the encroaching darkness.


    A hunter''s patience was the difference between a clean kill and a costly battle.


    He exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the cold air.


    "Hold the siege," he ordered, his voice calm but firm. "A true hunter knows when to strike. We wait until nightfall."


    The officer hesitated, his eyes flickering with uncertainty, but he did not question hismand. With a sharp nod, he turned and ryed the order.


    Around them, the invading armies stood poised.


    Four powerful human generals led four separate divisions, eachmanding tens of thousands of soldiers, each overseeing lines of heavily armored vehicles and mobile artillery tforms. Their numbers were overwhelming, their firepower unmatched.


    Yet, the tension in the air belonged to them. Not to the defenders.


    No, the attackers were the ones who felt unease creeping into their bones.


    Because standing at the gates of the Holy City, d in immacte white power armor, was their Saintess.


    Li.


    The living symbol of divine will. The voice of their god.


    She stood unmoving, framed by the towering entrance of the temple, the crimson glow of her armor casting an ethereal light around her. Her presence alone was enough to make the defenders morale soar to unbreakable heights.


    For in their eyes, as long as the Saintess stood, their god was with them.


    And if their god was with them... then no force in the universe could stand against them.


    Nightfall had finally arrived.


    General Jiro stepped out of his massivemand vehicle, the cool night air filling his lungs as he took a slow, deliberate breath. The battlefield stretched before him, a sea of shadows and flickering lights, the distant glow of the Holy City''s defenses casting an eerie luminescence across the horizon.


    He exhaled, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at the shimmering barrier that had stood as an imprable fortress for so long.


    The time hade.


    Reaching for hismunicator, he spoke with absolute authority, his voice cutting through the stillness like a de.


    "It''s time. Fire the shield disruptors."


    A moment of silence followed.... but then ,the night erupted into chaos.


    A series of violent explosions shook the air, their shockwaves rippling through the battlefield like the wrath of a vengeful god. Brilliant streaks of energy sliced through the darkness, massive projectiles mming into the Holy City''s barriers with earth-shattering force. The ground trembled beneath the onught, the very air vibrating with the fury of the assault.

 Chapter 270 Human civil war. {3}

    The shimmering golden shield that had protected the city for so long flickered under the relentless barrage. Then, slowly, massive holes began to form, cracks spreading like fractures in ss.


    Each impact sent electromaic pulses surging through the city, plunging entire districts into darkness. The once-imprable defenses of the Holy City crumbled before his eyes.


    Jiro watched the spectacle unfold from the multiple holo-screens surrounding him, his lips curling into a smirk as the city''s vulnerabilities wereid bare.


    "Now is the moment," he dered, his voice calm, almost amused. "Their shields are down."


    He turned slightly, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he addressed hismanders.


    "All units! open fire. Destroy their walls."


    The order was met with an immediate, thunderous response.


    Artillery cannons roared, their shells screaming through the air before smashing into the Holy City''s outer fortifications. Tanks unleashed relentless barrages, each explosion sending debris flying in all directions. mes rose high into the night sky, casting an ominous glow over the battlefield as breach after breach was torn into the walls.


    Then, finally, the great walls of the Holy City fell.


    Jiro took onest breath, inhaling the scent of burning stone and destruction. The air was thick with the acrid stench of war, the taste of victory already on his tongue.


    Then he gave the final order.


    "Everyone!! Charge!!! Pige, ughter, and burn everything in your path! Any beautiful women you find inside belong to whoever takes them first!"


    A monstrous roar erupted from the invading forces, a cacophony of bloodlust and greed. Like a tidal wave of steel and flesh, the massive human army surged forward, pouring through the shattered defenses in an all-out assault. The ground shook beneath their advance, the sound of their war cries echoing across the battlefield.


    While the gxy outside burned in chaos and war, deep within the heart of her domain, Xytralliay submerged in her amber pool. The thick, amber substance pulsed with warmth, radiating both power and nourishment, its viscous currents swirling around her like a living embrace.


    The chamber was a sanctuary of stillness, a stark contrast to the devastation unfolding beyond its walls.


    Cradled gently in her arms was an egg... her egg, a creation unlike any before it.


    She caressed its smooth, shimmering surface with delicate fingers, her touch reverent. This was no ordinary offspring. Unlike the countless broods she had spawned for the swarm, bred solely for war and strength, this one was different.


    This one was precious.


    This was the first she had conceived with a mate.


    For the first time in her existence, she had experienced something beyond duty, beyond instinct... something deeper. And so, she poured every ounce of her being into this single life, nurturing it with her aura, saturating it with the richest nutrients from the amber pool.


    The egg glowed faintly, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light, as if responding to her touch.


    It was hers.


    And she would destroy anyone who dared threaten it.


    The serene silence of the chamber was interrupted by the soft flutter of wings. A single firefly, glowing with an ethereal green light, drifted into the amber pool. It hovered for a moment beforending gently on Xytrallia''s ear.@@novelbin@@


    She opened her eyes.


    Her gaze, glowing with a soft, green luminescence, flickered with understanding.


    "I see¡­ so those two havee."


    Her voice was but a whisper, yet it carried the weight of one whomanded an empire beyond mortalprehension.


    She exhaled softly, closing her eyes once more. But this time, her consciousness shifted, leaving her humanoid form, traveling through the vastwork of the swarm until it reached her true body.


    And the moment she did, she felt them.


    Two immense presences, each as vast and ancient as her own, each radiating power that could shatters.... two Hive Queens.


    Apanying them were two Kragnarok-ss Devourers, colossal monstrosities bred to strip entire worlds bare, leaving behind nothing but destion. Their sheer size dwarfed even thergest of her own war beasts, their forms bristling with jagged armor and pulsating with destructive energy.


    Xytrallia''s green eyes narrowed, her true form stirring in the depths of the void. Her voice, now projected through the cosmos in raw telepathic force, echoed through the fabric of space itself.


    "Why have youe?" she asked, her tone measured butced with an undeniable edge. "I do not recall inviting either of you."


    A smooth, lilting voice, rich with amusement, filled her mind in response.


    "Oh,e now, Xytrallia. Must we really announce ourselves every time we wish to visit?" The voice belonged to Queen Syrixith, one of the five supreme Hive Minds. There was a yful note in her tone, but beneath it, a familiar sharpness lurked. "We only came to hear the good news."


    Xytrallia did not rx. If anything, her stance grew even more guarded. She had lived long enough to know that Syrixith''s words always carriedyers of hidden intent. Her voice remained steady, cold as the void itself.


    "What good news are you referring to?" she asked. "I do not recall conquering a world recently."


    The silence that followed was thick with unspoken tension. The other Hive Queens hade for something. And Xytrallia had a sinking feeling she already knew what.


    "Do not¡­ try¡­ to¡­ y¡­ dumb¡­"


    The voice of Queen Krilthea, one of the five Hive Minds, echoed through the vastness of space. Even with telepathy, her speech was slow, her mind calcting, deliberate. Each word carried the weight of a predator stalking its prey, her presence a looming shadow in the void.


    Xytrallia remained still, her green eyes narrowing ever so slightly, her form radiating an aura of quiet but undeniable power.


    "I am not ying dumb. I truly do not know what you are talking about," Xytrallia said evenly, though her body was beginning to tense, her instincts ring like a storm on the horizon.


    For a brief moment, silence hung between them like a coiled serpent, the tension thickening with every passing second.


    "Oh? Well then," Queen Syrixith purred, amusement dripping from her words like venom. "You wouldn''t mind if we just take a little look at your¡ª"


    She never got to finish.


    Xytrallia''s Tier 7 aura exploded outward like a supernova.


    A shockwave of raw, unrelenting energy sted through the void, distorting space itself. At that exact moment, her Kragnarok-ss gship struck, its titanic tentaclesshing out with terrifying force, aiming to crush the gships of the other two queens.


    The sheer magnitude of the attack sent ripples through the fabric of reality, the sh of power resonating like a thunderp in the silence of space.


    The reaction was immediate.


    Both Krilthea and Syrixith unleashed their own auras in response, the sheer force of the collision creating a visible distortion in the very fabric of space. Their own Kragnarok behemoths intercepted the attack, their monstrous limbs shing with Xytrallia''s in a brutal contest of raw power.


    The void trembled under the strain, the air thick with the scent of ozone and the crackle of energy.


    For a moment, the battlefield was frozen in a terrifying bnce, three of the most powerful Hive Queens locked in a silent but deadly standoff.


    Krilthea, however, did not retaliate.


    She remained still, watching, understanding.


    "Syri¡­ you¡­ overstepped¡­ this time¡­" Krilthea''s slow, deliberate voice carried through the tension, her telepathic wordscking the aggression of a challenge since she knew... She knew exactly why Xytrallia had reacted so violently.


    This was not just another brood... This was not just another offspring.... This was her firstborn with a mate.


    And right now she was a creature of instinct, of primal nature; so Xytrallia''s rage was absolute.


    Syrixith hesitated, her amusement from before nowpletely gone. Her aura faltered, the yful edge in her voice reced by caution.


    "Erm¡­ Xytri, I¡­ I did not mean to threaten your egg," she said carefully, retracting her power and lowering her voice. "I misspoke. I regret my words. Please, appease your fury."


    A cold silence followed. Xytrallia did not speak.


    She simply watched, her green eyes glowing with an intensity that could pierce through the void itself. She then let out a sharp exhale. With a slow, measured motion, she withdrew her aura.


    At the same time, she sent a silentmand to her swarm, which had already encircled the two rival Hive Queens, their bodies coiled and ready to devour. The order was clear.


    Stand down.


    The swarm hesitated, their hunger for battle lingering in the air. But they obeyed, their forms retreating into the shadows, their presence fading like a receding tide.


    Syrixith let out a breath she did not realize she had been holding, her form visibly rxing as the tension eased.


    Krilthea, ever the tactician, chose to break the silence first.


    "So¡­ who is¡­ your mate?" She asked, her slow, careful words free of mockery, her tone carrying genuine curiosity.


    Syrixith immediatelytched onto the question, her previous nervousness forgotten as intrigue took over.


    "Oh right! That is what I wanted to ask as well!" Syrixith chimed in, her telepathic tone now brimming with excitement. "Who, exactly, managed to make the Warmonger Xytri abandon her war-breeding ways and choose a mate?".


    Xytrallia remained silent.


    Seconds passed. Then minutes.


    The void between them stretched, thick with unspoken tension. The other two queens waited, their immense presences unwavering, their curiosity sharpening like des.


    Finally, Xytrallia spoke.


    Her voice was quieter this time, as if she herself was still trying to grasp the reality of her own words.


    "Well¡­ he is a human."


    Even as she said it, her own confusion lingered in the air. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    For all her power, for all her knowledge, the weight of those words still felt strange to her.


    A hive queen, a being of the swarm choosing a human as her mate?


    For the first time in their long existences, Syrixith and Krilthea spoke in unison.


    "A human?"


    Their voices, projected telepathically, rang with disbelief.


    Neither of them had expected that.

 Chapter 271 Human civil war. {4}

    Krilthea remained silent for several long seconds, her massive form looming in the void like a shadow cast by a dying star. Then, slowly, she spoke, her telepathic voice carrying the weight of millennia.


    "What¡­ is¡­ a human?"


    Her words were slow and deliberate, as if she were digging through the vast archives of her ancient memory. She had fought countless species, crushed empires, and devoured civilizations, yet the name carried no weight.


    Syrixith, on the other hand, let out a light chuckle, her toneced with mild amusement.


    "Aren''t those one of the ve races?" She mused, her voice dripping with yful curiosity. "I vaguely remember them being pathetically weak¡­ useless, even asborers. Did you really end up mating with a human, Xytri?"


    There was no mockery in her words, just pure, intrigued disbelief.


    Xytrallia let out a soft giggle, her green eyes gleaming with amusement.


    "Yes. Though I believe he is human, his gic structure is¡­ strange. His DNA carried the traits of three separate species," she said, her mind drifting back to the moment she first kissed him, the moment she tasted his gic imprint and unraveled the mystery within.


    Syrixith''s curiosity sharpened, her telepathic presence leaning in with palpable interest.


    "Three races?" Her voice turned more intrigued. "Then what were the other two?" Xytrallia''s green eyes gleamed with amusement.


    "One of them was the Kaelzars, and the¡ª"


    She never finished her sentence since Krilthea''s aura detonated like a violent star going supernova. The void trembled under the sheer force of her fury.


    "KAELZARS!"


    Her telepathic voice shook the very fabric of space itself. Her massive gship screeched, its energy surging wildly, its weapons priming as if ready to obliterate anything in sight. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Her rage was absolute.


    Her aura darkened and grew heavier with each passing second, the vast hatred within her threatening to spiral out of control. Xytrallia barely flinched, her green eyes narrowing as she faced the storm of Krilthea''s wrath.


    "Calm yourself, Krilthea," she said, her tone shifting from yful tomanding. "I know you hold a deep grudge against the Kaelzars. They killed your daughter, but I do not need to remind you of the destruction you wrought upon them in return." Her voice was steady, unyielding.


    "You wiped them from existence...." Krilthea''s aura continued to burn like a dying sun, her telepathic presence a maelstrom of fury and grief. Xytrallia pressed on, her words cutting through the chaos.


    "And while it is true that my mate carries Kaelzar DNA, he was human before his gic fusion. He has nothing to do with the sins of the past. Your rage is misced."


    For several long moments, Krilthea remained frozen, the intensity of her hatred radiating through the void like a living force.


    Then, ever so slowly, she exhaled.


    "...I know."


    Her aura, though still heavy, began to recede. Her gship''s energy stabilized. The storm of fury within her settled into a controlled inferno rather than a mindless ze. Xytrallia smirked, her green eyes glinting with satisfaction.


    Syrixith, sensing the tension breaking, seized the moment to change the subject.


    "Well then!" Her voice regained its yful edge. "Have you chosen a battlefield for your youngborn''s hatching?"


    Xytrallia''s smirk deepened.


    "Oh? Already thinking ahead, are we?"


    "But of course," Syrixith purred. "The first hatch of a Khryssari is critical. You know thew. The newborn emerges already in its adolescent stage, but its hunger will be unstoppable. It must feed immediately. If it cannot kill, it does not deserve to live."


    She paused for dramatic effect.


    "As a Hive Mind, surely you''ve already chosen a battlefield worthy of your offspring?" Xytrallia''s voice took on a teasing edge.


    "Oh, I have," she said while tilting her head slightly. "A perfect ce with not too powerful enemies¡­ but just enough prey to awaken my youngborn''s instincts." Syrixith hummed in curiosity.


    "Oh? And where might this battlefield be?"


    Xytrallia smiled.


    "Well¡­"@@novelbin@@


    Meanwhile, on Nakor. The battlefield should have been a scene of carnage, a city overrun by fire and blood, yet an unsettling silence hung in the air as if something inside the Holy City was wrong.


    General Jiro reclinedzily in hismand vehicle, chewing on a piece of dried meat while scanning reports. The battle had been going too smoothly but his instincts, honed by years of warfare, whispered that something was off.


    Suddenly, a frantic human officer sprinted toward him, his breath ragged, his face drenched in sweat. "General Jiro! Urgent report from the other generals!"


    Jiro barely lifted an eyebrow. "What is it? Has the battle already ended?"


    The officer swallowed hard, his voice shaky.


    "N-no, sir. That''s just it¡­ the Holy City is empty."


    Jiro''s chewing slowed while he ced the remaining strip of dried meat between his fingers, his other hand stroking his beard in thought.


    "Empty, you say?" The officer nodded vigorously.


    Jiro remained silent for a moment. Then, gradually, a grin began to stretch across his face... a wide, wild grin.


    And then he burst intoughter.


    "HAHAHAHA! SO YOU''RE LIKE ME, SAINTESS!"


    He roared withughter, his body shaking with exhration as if he had just found his long-lost rival. Without another word, he bolted toward hismand vehicle, kicking it into high gear and speeding away from the battlefield at full throttle.


    Secondster, the ground beneath the Holy City detonated.


    Five titanic bombs, each designed to pulverize entire asteroids for deep-space mining, ignited simultaneously with a chain reaction of unimaginable destruction erupting through the city''s foundation.


    A wall of fire and metal surged skyward, engulfing entire districts in an instant.


    The Holy City, once the heart of zealotry and faith, became a monument to devastation.


    And amidst the chaos, Jiro''sughter echoed over thems, his voice filled with pure, untamed exhration.


    "WELL PLAYED, SAINTESS! WELL PLAYED!"


    The moment the bombs erupted, the ground beneath the soldiers vanished in a deafening explosion, followed by a shockwave that ripped through the battlefield, shattering bodies, obliterating steel, and flinging debris high into the sky before it all came crashing down into the gaping crater left behind.


    Thousands perished in an instant.The once-beautiful Holy City, revered and sacred, had be a graveyard of smoke and ruin. Dust choked the air, thick as a funeral shroud, and through the swirling haze, the survivors staggered, coughing, bleeding, disoriented.


    That was when they heard it... screams... guttural, raw, that were cut short.


    "NO! NO! HYYAAAA¡ª!"


    "SOMEON¡ª!"


    "THEY''RE¡ª!"


    Then came the gunfire, hundreds of shots ringing out in every direction, chaotic, desperate. But the generals, watching from afar, saw nothing. The dust cloaked the battlefield in shadows.... Only those inside the ughter knew the truth. And the truth was a nightmare.


    Out of the haze, they came... bare-chested with their faces hidden behind white raven masks while wielding axes dripping with blood. They moved like demons, unstoppable, frenzied, their bodies slick with sweat and blood. The cultists of the Holy City, sinners seeking redemption through carnage.


    Their only rite of passage? To stain their white masks with the blood of the unholy. Only then would they earn the right to fight alongside the Zealots, the chosen warriors of the Saintess. After witnessing this, the soldiers panicked.


    "SHOOT THEM! THEY''RE NOT EVEN WEARING ARMOR!" a lieutenant shouted out, rallying his men. "A SINGLE BULLET WILL SEND THEM TO THEIR FAKE GOD! FIRE!"


    Bullets tore through the charging fanatics, but they didn''t stop.A shot to the stomach? They kept running. A bullet to the leg? They crawled forward, wing at the dirt, snarling like rabid beasts. Only a shot to the head could end them.


    And in the chaos, with the dust blinding them, headshots were hard tond. The soldiers morale plummeted. Every time one of them faltered, a masked fanatic was already there with its axe swinging, carving flesh from bone.


    Overseeing it all, far from the carnage, stood Pdin Seris. She watched the massacre unfold on a flickering monitor, her sharp eyes scanning the remaining numbers. The n had worked. The enemy had been lured into the ruins of the Holy City, right where she wanted them.


    Now, the second phase would begin. A crusader approached while saluting sharply. "Pdin, the enemy soldiers are regrouping in the kill zone. The cultists are falling faster now."


    Seris exhaled slowly, with her eyes locked on the thermal imaging. Her expression remained cold and unshaken."Then it is time," she murmured. "Send in the Zealots. Have them form a defensive line. Deploy the field shields; we hold our ground against their artillery."


    "Understood, Pdin. May the Lady in White protect us all," the crusader said before leaving."


    "Phew... that was close." General Jiro exhaled while standing at a safe distance, watching the devastation unfold before him. Fires raged, smoke twisted into the sky, and the screams of dying soldiers still echoed through the ruined battlefield.


    Did he care? Not in the slightest. Limbs and bodies, shattered or broken... all was expendable. The battlefield had always been a meat grinder, and today was no different. Jiro adjusted hismunicator, clearing his throat before releying his orders.


    "Attention, all generals! We''re pulling back! The enemy has ambushed us, and we''ve suffered heavy casualties. We need to regroup with the main offensive force before we waste any more men here!"


    Silence overwelmed themunication for a few minutes.


    Then, a crackling voice cut through the static. "That''s impossible, General Jiro! The main offensive force¡­ they were ambushed too!"


    Jiro''s stomach dropped. "W-what!?" His voice came out hoarse, disbelief twisting his expression.


    {That couldn''t be right. They had the numbers, the strategy... how could the enemy be this coordinated?}

 Chapter 273 Human Civil War. {6} Void Creatures.

    The Crusades were waiting... the Saintess''s elite.


    They lurked in the burning trees, their military-grade cybeic limbs glinting in the firelight. Their arms and legs, once human, were now precision-forged weapons. Their eyes? Ripped from their skulls, reced with sensors that saw through the smoke, through the dark, through the chaos.


    Their armor was thick; their personal shields were unbreakable. And in the madness of the firestorm with all the screaming and the death... they descended upon the survivors.


    A squad of four sprinted through the inferno, their breath ragged, their uniforms slick with sweat and soot. The fire around them crackled and roared, devouring the forest in waves of blistering heat.


    They didn''t look back. They didn''t let themselves think about the horrors unfolding behind them, about the screams of dyingrades, about the crusaders cutting through their ranks as if they were nothing more than weeds to be plucked.


    They only cared about one thing... survival.


    So far, they had been lucky. Despite thesers streaking through the smoke, despite the crusaders hunting them like vermin, they''d managed to stay ahead of death.


    But luck neversts forever.


    A shadow loomed ahead, standing amidst the raging fire like an immovable statue. The mes coiled around his golden armor, licking at the metal as if they were alive, as if they were¡­ weing him.


    The soldiers skidded to a halt. Their lungs burned from the hot air while their hands trembled after they saw what was in front of them... it wasn''t just another crusader.


    That was a Pdin.


    The sheer weight of his presence crushed down on them, heavier than the fire, heavier than the fear in their hearts. The golden sheen of his armor shone brighter than the inferno itself, his very stance radiating an authority beyond humanprehension.


    A smirk tugged at his lips.


    "Tsk. And here I was, hoping I wouldn''t have to dirty my hands with filth like you." He exhaled through his nose while shaking his head. "But I suppose it''s my duty to rid this world of the pagans who dared to defile the Holy City."


    From the other side of the battlefield, Li''s brother listened to what the pdin said through themunicator. He couldn''t help but feel¡­ awkward.


    After all, the one who actually blew up the city¡­ was his sister.


    One of the soldiers snapped, raising his rifle. "Tsk! We don''t give a damn who you are! Open fire!"


    The others followed instantly, unloading everything they had. Blue shes of electromaic rounds tore through the smoke, streaking straight for the pdin only to vanish the moment they touched the fire.


    The bullets never reached him. They never even came close.


    The pdin let out a tired sigh while slowly, almostzily, he reached for the hilt at his waist. The moment he began unsheathing his sword, the mes around him stirred, twisting, bending, and merging with the de.


    By the time it was fully drawn, the weapon wasn''t just metal anymore. It was fire itself. A de of pure, burning light.


    The soldiers courage snapped.


    "May the Lady in White burn your pagan souls!"


    With a single sweeping arc, the pdin swung his sword.


    A wave of fire erupted from the de, surging forward like a tidal wave of me. The four men barely had time to scream before the fire engulfed them whole.


    Within seconds, only charred corpses remained.


    The pdin exhaled slowly while lowering his de. The fire settled, once again swirling around him in an almost gentle embrace. Without another word, he stepped over the remains and pressed forward, his golden armor gleaming as he disappeared deeper into the burning forest.


    "Admiral!" A human officer''s voice cut through the tension. "Orders from General Jiro: he''s calling for a full assault on the enemy cruiser!"


    The admiral''s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he processed themand. "Understood. Inform all units. We''re descending into the''s atmosphere until we''re within firing range."


    His gaze flicked to the viewport, watching the battlefield burn beneath them. The mes reflected in his eyes, a grim reminder of the chaos they were diving into.


    "Stay alert," he added with his voice being low and steady. "Something tells me this isn''t going to be as simple as it looks."


    And he was right.


    The moment the four human destroyers reached firing range of the enemy cruiser, they failed to realize one critical w.... they were also in range of the raptor destroyers.


    These weren''t ordinary ships.


    They were the newest creation of Professor Oscar, built in the underground city''s newlypleted spaceport.


    While they were smaller than standard destroyers, barelyrger than frigates, yet packing nearly the same firepower, they were designed for speed, stealth, and precision. Their armor was weaker, but they made up for it with one deadly advantage... they were invisible to radar.


    And while most believed the high ground granted superiority in battle, space warfare followed different rules. The true advantage belonged to those below.


    Because from beneath an enemy vessel, every main cannon, every turret, and every weapon system could fire directly at the ship''s most fortified points, its core, its engines, and its weakest angles of defense.


    And that was exactly where the raptor destroyers had been waiting.@@novelbin@@


    Just¡­ under¡­ the human empire''s fleet.


    "Pdin, the enemy is in range," a crusader reported with his eyes fixed on the targeting system.


    The pdin exhaled slowly, his golden armor gleaming under the dim light of themand center. Then, in a steady voice, he spoke:


    "May the Lady in White bless our aim."


    And with that, the two raptors opened fire.


    The first volley was devastating. High-impact sma rounds and kic railgun slugs mmed into the underbelly of the nearest human destroyer, its shields ring violently as they struggled to absorb the sudden onught.... but the second volley broke through.


    "Admiral! Destroyer Three is taking heavy fire from an unknown enemy!"


    The officer''s voice cracked with panic, his hands trembling as he ryed the report.


    Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    "What!?"


    The admiral rushed to the reinforced viewport just in time to witness a nightmare unfolding.


    The ship beside his own was already crumbling. Its shields copsed, its hull splitting open under the relentless barrage. Explosions rippled across its structure, fire and debris bursting outward in a chain reaction. The destroyer listed heavily, its engines sputtering as it began its slow, inevitable descent.


    A sinking horror twisted in the admiral''s gut.


    "Tsk! There''s nothing we can do for them anymore!" His voice was sharp and urgent. "Get us back into space! We need to escape their firing range before we be the next target! Send the fighters!! Intercept them now!"


    Outside, the stricken destroyer began its slow descent, mes trailing behind it as gravity dragged it down. The admiral didn''t watch it fall. He couldn''t afford to.


    The air was thick with tension, the distant sounds of war a dull roar on the horizon.


    General Jiro stood calmly, with his hands sped behind his back, his expression unreadable. Then, with an elegant, almost mocking motion, he gave a small bow.


    "Oh, Saintess, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit on this beautiful night?"


    Li did not answer immediately. Instead, she simply stared at him.


    Her gray eyes, sharp as silver des, bore into him, studying, dissecting, and understanding. The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating, before she finally spoke.


    "I was wondering how you uncovered my spies within the Human Empire." Her voice was soft, but beneath ity something cold. Unshaken. Absolute.


    She took a step forward.


    "But now that I see you¡­" Her eyes narrowed. "It makes sense."


    At her words, Jiro''s smile slowly widened.


    And then¡­ he changed.


    His body stretched, his limbs growing taller¡­ thinner¡­ unnatural. His uniform seemed to melt into something else, shifting with his form but his grin never faltered.


    Then heughed.


    "HAHAHA! So that''s why the higher-ups warned me never to show myself to you!" His voice was no longer human. It rippled,yered with something deeper, something wrong.


    And then his gaze locked onto her.


    "Those eyes of yours¡­ they''re quite something, aren''t they?"


    The pdins moved instantly.


    Their swords shed, shields raised, stepping between Li and the creature that had once been Jiro. They did not hesitate. They did not flinch.


    Li''s expression remained unmoved, her silver eyes locked onto the grotesque abomination that had once been General Jiro. His body, now a twisted horror of the void, pulsed and writhed, shifting in unnatural ways, as if space itself struggled to contain his existence.


    The air around him seemed to warp, the light bending unnaturally as his form defied thews of reality.


    "So, you''ve finally shown your true form, monster." Her voice was steady, unwavering, cutting through the tension like a de. "It seems Cleo''s warning saved my followers from sharing your fate."


    The thing that had been Jiro let out a low, gurgling chuckle, a sound that was wrong in every sense, a noise that seemed to crawl into the mind and fester there.


    "Hahaha¡­ well, I suppose that doesn''t matter now." His elongated jaw twisted into a grin, far too wide for anything human, his teeth glinting like shards of broken ss. "You see, I''ve already infected thousands."


    His void-ck limbs flexed, his stance shifting into something predatory, his movements fluid and alien. The ground beneath him seemed to darken, as if the very earth recoiled from his presence.


    "And since you''ve so kindly saved me the trouble of hunting you down, I should at least thank you¡­ before I take those beautiful eyes of yours for myself."

 Chapter 276: Human Civil War. {9}

    Now subdued and immobilized, it was prepared for transport. The crusaders worked swiftly, their movements precise and coordinated, as they secured the creature with heavy chains and loaded it into the cryotank.


    The hum of the transport ship¡¯s engines grew louder as it descended, its metallic hull gleaming under the dim light of the battlefield.


    Li stood watch, her sharp eyes never leaving the void creature. Her expression was a mix of determination and cold calction. She knew the stakes were high; this creature, though it imed to be a mere pawn, held secrets that could tell them more about the void.


    The pdin at her side tightened her grip on her spear with her stance unwavering.


    "Make sure the cryotank is sealed tightly," Li ordered, her voice cutting through the noise. "We can¡¯t afford any mistakes. This thing is more dangerous than it looks."


    The crusaders nodded, double-checking the locks and seals on the tank. The void creature¡¯s form was barely visible through the frosted ss, its grotesque features now still and lifeless. But everyone present knew better than to underestimate it.


    The void had a way of twisting reality, of defying expectations.


    As the transport ship¡¯s ramp closed, Li turned to the pdin. "You¡¯ll apany the cargo. I¡¯ll follow shortly. If it so much as twitches, you know what to do."


    The pdin gave a curt nod. "Understood. It won¡¯t wake up."


    With that, the ship lifted off, its engines roaring as it ascended into the sky. Li watched it go, her mind already racing ahead to the next steps. They needed to extract the information from the creature, and she knew just the person for the job.


    As the ship disappeared into the clouds, Li allowed herself a moment of quiet satisfaction. They had captured one of the void¡¯s creatures, a rare and significant victory. But she also knew this was just the beginning. The void was vast, and its forces were relentless.


    "Let¡¯s move," she said to the remaining crusaders. "We still have work to do."


    As the Crusaders scrambled to mobilize the vehicles delivered by the transport ships, their engines roared to life in a symphony of urgency.


    The forest ahead burned like a hellish inferno, its mes wing at the sky, when Li¡¯s arm device buzzed sharply, cutting through the cacophony.


    "Li, thank the heavens you answered," her brother¡¯s voice crackled through the device, calm yet edged with something darker.


    "What¡¯s happening? Is the situation worsening?" Li asked while sliding into the armored vehicle with practiced ease. The door mmed shut behind her, sealing her in the metallic tank of war.


    "Worsening? No... not for us," her brother replied, his tone almost casual. "The ambush went perfectly. My forces are mopping up the stragglers, those desperate enough to try escaping the trap. It¡¯ll take time, though. The enemy brought a huge army, after all." Behind his words, Li heard a sickening thud, followed by a guttural scream that made her blood run cold.


    "What was that?" she asked sharply, her grip tightening on the device.


    "Oh, that?" Her brother¡¯s voice was disturbingly light. "Nothing to concern yourself with, sister." Unseen by Li, he pressed a hand over the mouth of the enemy general, the man who had once boasted of defiling her, silencing his cries as he writhed in agony.


    "Brother..." Li said, her voice low and warning, "you know the holyws forbid torturing humans. Don¡¯t cross that line."


    He chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth. "Of course, sister. I¡¯m merely... disciplining a pig." With a brutal shove, he forced the general deeper onto the jagged tree trunk, impaling him, the man¡¯s muffled screams echoing through the burning forest.


    "A pig?" Li repeated, her stomach churning. She wasn¡¯t sure she wanted to know the truth.


    "Indeed," her brother replied, his tone almost jovial. "These fools brought livestock to feast on. Can you believe it? I¡¯m almost envious. And since the forest is already aze, I thought, why not roast a pig? We shouldn¡¯t waste food after all, right?" Hisughter was chilling, a stark contrast to the horrors unfolding around him.


    Li exhaled deeply, her resolve wavering. "Fine. Just... don¡¯t go too far. I¡¯ll contact you when we¡¯re near the ambush point." She ended the call, her mind racing with dark thoughts. She knew it wasn¡¯t a pig, but she couldn¡¯t bear to dwell on the details. Some images were better left unimagined.


    As the connection severed, her brother¡¯s smile vanished, reced by a cold, calcting re. He turned to the naked general, suspended between two Inquisitors d in ck and red armor. The man¡¯s body trembled as the crude log impaled him, his defiance crumbling with every agonizing inch.


    "Something wrong?" Li¡¯s brother taunted, removing his hand from the general¡¯s mouth. "I recall you boasting about what you¡¯d do to the Saintess. Why aren¡¯t you enjoying this?"


    "YOU¡¯LL PAY FOR THIS!" The general roared, his voice raw with pain and fury. "THE COUNCIL WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!"


    Li¡¯s brother tilted his head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Perhaps. But until then..." He nodded to the Inquisitors, who lowered the general further onto the log, his screams piercing the night.


    Minutes passed that felt like hours until Li¡¯s brother emerged from the wreckage of a destroyed tank, his hands stained with blood and soot. The Inquisitors followed, dragging the "pig" behind them... a grotesque spectacle of flesh and wood, drenched in crimson.


    "Well," her brother said, his voice eerily calm, "I promised the Saintess a roasted pig. And I always keep my word." He gestured to a cluster of jagged rocks near the mes. "Put him there. Let the fire do the rest."


    The scene was grim and unsettling, a stark contrast to the earlier tension of capturing the void creature. Li¡¯s brother was already known as a figure of ruthless efficiency and dark humor; he stood amidst the chaos of the burning forest, his actions a brutal reminder of the harsh realities of their war.


    The general, now reduced to a broken and humiliated figure, was hoisted onto the rocks by the inquisitors, his fate sealed by his own arrogance and cruelty.


    As the mes licked at the edges of the forest, the heat intensified, and the air was thick with the scent of burning wood and flesh. The inquisitors worked methodically, their faces obscured by their helmets, betraying no emotion as they carried out their grim task.


    The general¡¯s screams had long since faded into whimpers, his body writhing in agony as the fire consumed him.


    Li¡¯s brother watched with a detached expression, his earlier joviality reced by a cold, calcting demeanor. He knew the stakes of their war, and he understood the necessity of their actions, no matter how brutal they might seem.


    The general¡¯s threats against Li had crossed a line, and in this world, there was no room for mercy when it came to protecting those you loved.


    "Make sure it¡¯s thorough," he said to the inquisitors, his voice devoid of any warmth. "We can¡¯t afford any loose ends."


    @@novelbin@@


    The inquisitors nodded, their movements precise and deliberate. They adjusted the general¡¯s position on the rocks, ensuring that the mes would do their work efficiently. The fire crackled and roared, a fitting backdrop to the grim tableau.


    As the general¡¯s body was consumed by the mes, Li¡¯s brother turned away, his mind already shifting to the next phase of their n. He pulled out a small device from his pocket, a holographic map of the battlefield flickering to life.


    The ambush had been a sess, but there was still much to be done. The enemy¡¯s forces were relentless, and they would not rest until everyst one of their enemies was eradicated.


    "Prepare the troops," he said to the inquisitors. "We move out in ten minutes. The forest is lost, but we can still secure the perimeter and ensure no one escapes."


    The inquisitors saluted and moved to carry out his orders, their ck and red armor gleaming in the firelight. Li¡¯s brother took onest look at the burning forest, his expression unreadable.


    The war was far from over, and he knew that the sacrifices they made today were just the beginning.


    As he turned to leave, a faint smile yed on his lips. "Roasted pig..." he muttered to himself, the dark humor returning for a brief moment.


    Meanwhile, Seris gasped awake, her body trembling from the lingering pain of her transformation. Every breath felt foreign, every movement surreal... as if she had been reborn in a body not entirely her own.


    Blinking away the haze, she lifted her gaze and found Lykos standing a few steps away, speaking with a group of crusaders.


    Her voice came out hoarse, uncertain. "What¡­ is happening here?"


    Find your next adventure on NovelBin.C?m


    One of the crusaders turned sharply at the sound of her voice. His armor clinked as he stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Pdin! This boy here ims that you are his¡­ and that he was protecting you while you rested." His words were careful and deliberate, as if unsure of the right way to phrase them.


    Seris parted her lips to deny it, "I¡¯m n¡ª" but the moment her eyes met Lykos¡¯s, something caught in her throat. She hesitated while a long breath escaped her as she looked away.


    "It¡¯s not that I¡¯m his¡­ We made a deal. He helped me recover." Her voice was quieter now, almost reluctant, as she pushed herself to her feet and slid her sword back into its scabbard.


    The tension in the air was thick as she strode toward Lykos; her steps were slow and measured. She tried to meet his gaze, but something about it unsettled her and made her hesitate in a way she wasn¡¯t used to.


    "Now then," she said atst, her voice low but firm. "Who are you¡­ and why are you wandering in a human war zone?"

 Chapter 278 Fisherman. {2}

    "Don''t listen to the so-called old man, sis," Nyra scoffed while leaning back in her chair. "He''s just trying to use that smug, handsome face of his to trick you into saying you like fishing."


    Nyra leaned back in her chair, her mischievous grin widening as she flicked an ice cube toward Rex. He caught it effortlessly, deflecting it back at her with a single flick of his finger. The cube sailed through the air,nding squarely in the middle of her chest.


    "AHHH! It''s cold!" Nyra shrieked, leaping out of her chair and frantically brushing the ice away. Her dramatic iling only made Rexugh harder, his deep voice echoing across the water.


    "Ha! Serves you right!" Rex teased, his eyes glinting with amusement. He turned to Lyra, who was sitting quietly, her cheeks already flushing under the weight of their attention. "So, Lyra, be a good girl and tell her the truth."


    Lyra hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "Well... it is true I like fishing..." she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink as both Rex and Nyra stared at her.


    "Tsk! You little traitor!" Nyra eximed with her voice dripping with mock betrayal. Before Lyra could react, Nyra lunged forward, scooping her up in her arms and leaping off the dock into the ocean below. The two sisters hit the water with a loud ssh, sending ripples across the surface.


    Rex sighed while shaking his head as he watched the scene unfold. "And... there goes my dinner..." he muttered, though a sly grin crept onto his face. "Oh, wait... If I remember correctly, some fish are attracted to the sound..." His voice dropped to a whisper, and a devilish smirk spread across his features.


    In the water, Lyra surfaced while sputtering and ring at Nyra. "Why did you do that!" she shouted while sshing water toward her sister''s face. Nyraughed while dodging the spray and retaliating with a wave of her own.


    "Hahah, that''s the destiny of traitors! Sadly, it wasn''t a pool of magma!" Nyra taunted, herughter ringing out across the waves.


    From the dock, Rex cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Hey, you two troublemakers! Make more noise!"@@novelbin@@


    Nyra paused, treading water as she squinted up at him. "Ha? Has he already gotten a sunstroke and gone crazy?" She asked while ncing at Lyra.


    Rex rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, "Tsk, the youngest never listens to their elders." He strode over to the cooling device, pulling out a bag of ice cubes. "I... said... make... MORE NOISE!" With that, he began hurling ice cubes at the twins, his aim precise and relentless.


    "Kyaaaa!" Lyra screamed while ducking under the water to avoid the icy projectiles.


    "Have you really gone crazy because of the sun or what!" Nyra shot back, her voice rising in defiance. She summoned her tentacles, sending massive waves of water crashing toward Rex. The force of the water knocked him off bnce, drenching himpletely while getting the unsuspecting Ys washed away by the water.


    The chaos only escted. The noise, the sshing, and the sight of Nyra''s tentacles thrashing in the water made her look like a wounded sea beast struggling for survival. Unbeknownst to them, themotion had attracted the attention of a massive predator that was lurking beneath the surface.


    In an instant, the water erupted as a colossal fish burst from the depths, its jaws wide open and rows of razor-sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight. Nyra barely had time to react. She thrust out her tentacles, bracing herself against the creature''s powerful jaws as it lunged toward her.


    "W-what!?" Nyra gasped, her eyes wide with shock. The fish''s momentum carried it out of the water, its massive body arcing through the air with Nyra trapped in its grasp. For a moment, it seemed as though she would be swallowed whole.


    "S-Sister!" Lyra screamed, her voice filled with panic. She started to dive after them, but Rex''s voice stopped her in her tracks.


    "Wait, Lyra! Take this and put it inside its mouth!" Rex shouted while tossing something toward her. Without thinking, Lyra caught the object and plunged into the water, her heart pounding as she swam after the monstrous fish and her sister.


    The tension on the dock was palpable as Lyra disappeared beneath the waves, her figure growing smaller as she pursued the monstrous fish. Above, Rex sprang into action with his fishing pole already in hand.


    His eyes narrowed, focused on the churning water, every muscle in his body coiled and ready.


    Meanwhile, Ys finally managed to pull herself up from the soaked dock, her clothes clinging to her like a second skin. Her hair dripped relentlessly, and her expression was a storm of irritation. She stomped over to Rex, her footsteps squelching with every step.


    Rex barely nced at her, his attention still fixed on the water. "Hmm? Something wrong?"


    Ys''s eye twitched, her patience snapping like a frayed rope. "Tsk. And you still dare to ask?" she hissed, her voice low and dangerous.


    Before Rex could react, Ys nted a solid kick squarely on his ass. The force sent him tumbling headfirst into the water with a loud ssh. Without missing a beat, she snatched the fishing pole from his hands, her grip firm and unyielding.


    Rex surfaced a momentter, flipping his long ck hair out of his face. He blinked a few times, water dripping from hisshes, before scowling up at Ys. "Hey! That wasn''t even my fault! I wasn''t the one throwing water everywhere!"


    Ys huffed while turning her back to him with her arms crossed. "Hmph."


    Beneath the surface, Nyra was locked in a desperate struggle with the massive fish. Her tentacles writhed and coiled, guiding the creature''s movements with calcted precision. She steered it toward Lyra, who was waiting with whatever Rex had tossed her moments earlier.


    As the fish surged forward, Nyra grabbed her sister''s hand, and in one swift, coordinated motion, Lyra hurled the object straight into the fish''s gaping maw.


    Back on the dock, Ys was drying the water from her hair with her curiosity piqued despite her irritation. "By the way, Rex¡­ what exactly did you give Lyra? A bomb?"


    Rex let out an exaggerated gasp, cing a hand over his chest as if deeply offended. "A bomb? Please. Only uncultured fools fish with explosives." He shook his head in mock disappointment, his tone dripping with sarcasm.


    Ys narrowed her eyes, her suspicion growing. "Wait¡­ don''t tell me¡­"


    A slow, devilish smirk crept across Rex''s face, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, it''s exactly what you think it is."


    Just as the words left his mouth, the fishing rod in Ys''s hands jerked violently, nearly yanking her off bnce. Rex''s grin widened as he nted his feet, muscles tensing as he pulled back with all his strength. "And here we go."


    A secondter, Lyra burst from the water, gasping for air. "Puaah! Rex! The bomb you gave me didn''t work!"


    Rex barely spared her a nce, his focus entirely on the rod. "Mmm? What bomb?"


    Lyra froze, water still dripping from her face. "What¡­?"


    She turned to Ys, who simply shrugged, her expression unreadable. "It wasn''t a bomb. It was a hook."


    Both twins stared at her, their confusion evident. "A¡­ hook?"


    Before they could process that revtion, Rex let out a triumphant yell. "Ohhh, here he is!"


    With one final, powerful pull, he yanked the massive fish from the water. The creature soared through the air, its scales glistening under the sunlight, its sheer size leaving everyone momentarily speechless.


    But the awested only a second because in the next instant, Rex materialized aser handgun out of thin air and fired a single, precise shot straight into the fish''s eye.


    The shot was instantaneous. The fish went limp, its massive body copsing onto the dock with a heavy thud.


    The twins stood there, mouths slightly open, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.


    Still whistling happily, Rex reeled in his now-dead catch, dragging the massive carcass onto the dock with a satisfied grin.


    Nyra blinked with her voice tinged with confusion. "Lyra¡­ is this how fishing works?"


    Lyra let out an awkwardugh while scratching the back of her head. "Erm¡­ mostly? But¡­ I don''t think theser shot was part of it..."


    Nyra was silent for a moment, her gaze shifting between the fish and Rex. Then, without warning, she burst intoughter. "Pffft¡ªHahaha! That is the Rex I know!" she cackled, doubling over withughter, her voice echoing across the dock.


    Rex merely shrugged with his smirk never fading. "What can I say? I''m full of surprises."


    Hours passed, and the dock had be a lively hub of activity. The scent of roasted fish filled the air as Rex, beer in hand, tended to the grill with an air of satisfaction. Around him, bot maids bustled about, expertly cleaning and preparing the freshly caught fish.


    Nearby, the twins lounged on a bench,pletely absorbed in a game on their shared datapad, their fingers moving rapidly across the screen. Ys, meanwhile, stood beside Rex, idly chatting with him as the warm evening breeze rolled in from the sea.


    Then, without warning, the doors to the dock slid open with a hiss.


    "Guys! Get ready; we''re leaving tomorrow!"


    Cleo strode in, barely looking up from the glowing holo-screens hovering around her. Lines of data scrolled rapidly across the projections as her fingers danced through the air, issuingmands to the trading legion to stock up on supplies.


    Rex barely spared her a nce since he was busy biting off a chunk of fish. "Mmm? And where exactly are we going?" Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 279 Mist planet.

    Rex let out a heavy sigh, the sound echoing faintly as Cleo disappeared behind the sliding door. His gaze lingered on the spot where she had stood, his brow furrowed in thought.


    He nced down at his half-eaten fish, then at the others seated around the dock. "Did she seriouslye all the way here just to say that?" He muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "She could''ve just sent a message¡­ Was she really that excited?"


    Nyra stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. She stretched her armszily with a smirk ying on her lips. "Well, if she went through all that trouble, it must be something big. Come on, sis," she said while grabbing Lyra''s hand before she could protest. "Let''s go ask her."


    Lyra barely had time to yelp as Nyra dragged her toward the station doors. Rex shot to his feet, his chair tipping backward with a tter. "Hey, wait! I want to know too!" he called out, already jogging to catch up.


    But then, mid-stride, he remembered Ys, and without breaking pace, he veered toward her, scooped her up with practiced ease, and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.


    "Wha¡ª?! Rex!" Ys protested with her voice muffled as she iled half-heartedly against his grip.


    "No time! You''reing too," Rex dered, his tone leaving no room for argument. Ignoring her grumbling, he broke into a sprint, the station''s fluorescent lights blurring past as he ran toward Cleo''sb, the one ce she was almost certainly holed up.


    Theb doors hissed open, revealing a dimly lit chamber bathed in the eerie glow of holographic screens. Cleo stood at the center, her silhouette framed by a swirling vortex of data streams and shimmering projections. She was utterly absorbed, her fingers dancing across invisible interfaces, her golden eyes reflecting the cascading light.


    Rex stepped inside, his boots clicking against the polished floor. "Alright, Cleo," he said with his voice cutting through the hum of machinery. "Spill it. Where are we going? You dropped a cryptic message and vanished. What''s going on?"


    Since she didn''t respond, he strode forward, his hand slicing through the holographic barrier to grab her wrist. He pulled her out of the digital storm, forcing her to face him. And that was when he really saw her.


    Her skin was paler than usual, almost translucent under the harsh light. Her posture was rigid, her shoulders tense, and there was a faint flicker in her eyes, a telltale sign he''d seen before. Without hesitation, he activated his HUD, running a quick scan. His brow furrowed as the results shed across his vision.


    "Cleo¡­ when was thest time you rested?" he asked, his voice low but firm. "Your energy levels are barely at five percent."


    Cleo blinked, as if the concept of rest was foreign to her. "Rest is unnecessary," she replied, her tone neutral as always. "I can detach from my physical form and continue working in holographic mode. Your concerns are unfounded."


    She waved a hand dismissively, summoning a fresh wave of holo-screens that encircled Rex like a digital cage. But he wasn''t having it.


    "Yeah, no," Rex said while exhaling sharply. "We''re done here." He turned to the others, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Meeting''s over. You all go rest. I''m dealing with this workaholic myself."


    Before Cleo could protest further, he scooped her up in his arms, her lithe frame fitting effortlessly against his chest. She opened her mouth to object, but Rex was already striding out of theb, his determination unwavering.


    The shower room in their private quarters was a stark contrast to the sterileb. Soft, ambient lighting bathed the space in a warm glow, reflecting off sleek ck marble and the gentle ripples of the massive jacuzzi at its center. Steam rose from the water, curling into the air like tendrils of mist.


    "Rex, this is unnecessary," Cleo said, her voice being calm but tinged with irritation as he carried her toward the water. "My physical body has been in a sterilized environment. There is no need for¡ª"


    Her words cut off as Rex effortlessly stripped away her clothes, his movements swift but gentle. Ignoring her logic-driven protests, he stepped into the jacuzzi, the warm waterpping at his legs as he settled down. He pulled Cleo onto hisp, her body stiffening slightly as the heat enveloped her.


    Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Rex leaned back against the smooth edge of the tub, letting out a satisfied groan. "Cleo, it''s not healthy to obsess over work to the point you forget to rest," he said with his voice being softer now. "I don''t know how important whatever you''re researching is, but if it''s not life-or-death, I''m putting my foot down."


    Cleo met his gaze, her golden eyes sharp and unyielding. But Rex didn''t look away. He held her stare, his own eyes steady and unwavering.


    "It is important," she murmured, her voice quieter now, almost hesitant. "Logic dictates that I should prioritize efficiency and research at the fastest possible rate¡ª"


    "No."@@novelbin@@


    Cleo blinked, caught off guard. "But¡ª"


    "No."


    A tiny, almost imperceptible pout formed on her lips. She crossed her arms and turned her head slightly, a rare disy of defiance that Rex couldn''t help but smirk at. "d you agree," he said, his tone teasing.


    She didn''t answer, but she also didn''t try to leave. Instead, she rxed ever so slightly, her body sinking deeper into the water. Rex tightened his arms around her while resting his chin on her shoulder as he closed his eyes.


    The gentle hum of the jacuzzi filled the silence, the mineral-scented steam wrapping around them like aforting nket.


    "So¡­ how are your power levels now?" he murmured, his voice being barely above a whisper.


    Cleo nced at her internal HUD, the faint glow of the water reflecting in her golden irises. "I have reached ten percent," she replied. "Still within emergency levels, but I will enter the warning zone soon."


    Rex nodded, his breath warm against her neck. "Good. That''s a start."


    For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension in Cleo''s body slowly ebbed away, reced by an unfamiliar warmth, a sensation she rarely allowed herself to feel. Rex''s presence was steady, grounding, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Cleo let herself simply exist, her mind quieting as the water soothed her weary form.


    The soft glow of the jacuzzi cast a serene light over the room, the world outside fading into insignificance. In that moment, there was nob, no research, no endless stream of data, just the two of them, wrapped in the quietfort of each other''s presence.


    An hour had passed since they left the jacuzzi, and the warmth of the water still clung to their skin like a secondyer. Now, wrapped in nothing but their bathrobes, Rexy sprawled across the couch with his head restingfortably on Cleo''sp.


    His long, damp hair fanned out over her legs, glistening under the soft glow of the room''s ambient lighting. Cleo''s fingers moved methodically through his hair, brushing through the strands with a gentleness that belied her usual stoic demeanor.


    The low hum of a hairdryer filled the air, its warmth mingling with the lingering steam from the jacuzzi. Rex let out a contented sigh while his eyes were half-closed. "So¡­ are you finally going to tell me what had you so entranced in yourb?"


    Cleo didn''t answer immediately. Instead, she absorbed the nanomaterial of the hairdryer back into her body, the device dissolving into a fine silver mist that shimmered briefly before vanishing.


    But she didn''t stop touching his hair; her fingers continued their slow, rhythmic movements, as if the act itself grounded her.


    "Do you remember the shadow warrior we found a few days ago?" Her voice was softer than usual, almost contemtive, as if she were weighing her words carefully.


    Rex cracked one eye open, peering up at her. "Yeah, I remember. That''s what you were obsessing over?"


    Cleo''s fingers paused for the briefest of moments before resuming their gentle strokes. "I don''t know if ''obsessing'' is the right word, but¡­ yes. That''s the reason."


    With a flick of her hand, several holo-screens materialized around them, their soft glow casting faint shadows across the room. "I was going through the travel logs stored in its body. One of the locations caught my attention, the Mist that I showed you before."


    Rex shifted slightly, propping himself up on one elbow to get a better look at the floating projections. "Yeah, I remember. You said it was one of the best spots to set up a base. What about it?"


    Cleo''s golden eyes reflected the screens as she expanded one of the images, revealing satellite footage of the mist-covered world. The''s surface was shrouded in swirling gray clouds, with only faint glimpses of jagged terrain visible beneath.


    "I believe there''s something hidden there, something my people left behind."


    Rex''s expression sharpened, his earlier rxation reced by focused intensity. "Go on."


    Cleo pulled up another screen, disyingplex schematics alongside video logs. "From the data I recovered, the shadow warrior likely used a high-tech warp device located on the Mist. These long-range teleportation systems are typically used by my kind to resupply war machinery. If that technology is still active¡­"


    "Then whoever controls it would have the ability to transport forces instantly across space," Rex finished for her, his gaze darkening. "That would exin why you were so damn interested in this ce."

 Chapter 281 Mist planet. {3}

    The trader''s smile faltered, but he quickly recovered,unching into a rapid-fire spiel about market fluctuations and the value of long-term partnerships. The Tyrant didn''t budge. Its glowing golden visor remained fixed on the man, unblinking and unyielding.


    [Payment. Upfront.]


    The trader''s confidence wavered, and he nced nervously at hispanions. One of them stepped forward, a burly figure with a cybeic arm, and tried to assert dominance. "Listen, tin can, we''ve been doing this for years. You don''t just¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the Tyrant''s massive hand shot out, grabbing the man by the front of his jacket and lifting him off the ground with terrifying ease. The feed crackled with the sound of the man''s choked gasp as the Tyrant leaned in, its voice low and menacing.


    [Payment. Upfront. Or leave.]


    The trader''s leader quickly intervened, waving his hands frantically. "Alright, alright! Upfront it is! No need for violence!"


    The Tyrant released the man, who stumbled back while clutching his chest. The leader hastily pulled out a data pad, tapping furiously to transfer the credits. The Tyrant''s visor flickered as it processed the transaction, then gave a single nod.


    [Transactionplete. Proceed with loading.]


    The traders scrambled toply, their earlier bravado reced with hurried efficiency. The Tyrant stood watch, its imposing figure a silent reminder of who was in charge.


    Rex let out a low whistle while leaning back against Cleo''sp. "Well, that''s one way to handle negotiations. Brutal, but effective."


    Cleo''s fingers resumed their gentle movements through his hair, her expression one of quiet satisfaction. "Efficiency is key. The Rex Virus ensures they prioritize results without unnecessary bloodshed. And as you can see, it works."


    Rex chuckled while shaking his head. "I''ll admit, I didn''t think they''d be that¡­ direct. But hey, if it gets the job done, who am I to argue?"


    Cleo''s smirk returned, her golden eyes glinting with amusement. "Exactly. And with the Tyrants handling the trade routes, we can focus on the Mist without worrying about supply lines."


    Rex nodded, his mind already racing ahead. "Speaking of which¡­ what''s the timeline for the invasion? When do we move?"


    Cleo''s expression turned serious, her fingers stilling for a moment. "We''ll begin preparations immediately. The fleet will be ready to depart within 48 hours. Once we arrive, we''ll need to move quickly, establish the perimeter, deploy the factories, and secure the warp device before anyone else does."


    Rex''s eyes narrowed, his earlier drowsiness reced by focused intensity. "And the mist creatures? What''s the n for dealing with them?"


    Cleo''s fingers resumed their gentle strokes, her voice calm but firm. "We''ll deploy specialized units equipped with thermal and motion sensors to track them through the mist. The factories will prioritize producing anti-mist weaponry, sonic disruptors, and EMP grenades to disorient them. And if necessary¡­"


    She paused, her gaze distant as if weighing the options. "We''ll use the Tyrants to hold the line. Their armor is resistant to most forms of energy, and their firepower should be enough to keep the creatures at bay."


    Rex nodded slowly, his mind already visualizing the battlefield. "Sounds like a solid n. But you know as well as I do that no n survives first contact with the enemy."


    Cleo''s lips curved into a faint smile. "True. But we''ll adapt. We always do."


    Rex leaned back, closing his eyes as he let out a slow breath. "Alright. Let''s do this. But for now¡­" He gestured vaguely toward the holo-screens. "Can we turn those off? I''d like a few more minutes of peace before the chaos begins."


    Cleo obliged with a wave of her hand, the screens dissolving into nothingness. The room was plunged into soft, ambient light, the only sound the gentle hum of the station''s systems and the rhythmic motion of Cleo''s fingers through Rex''s hair.


    For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of whaty ahead momentarily held at bay. Outside, the stars burned cold and distant, but in that quiet room, there was a rare sense of calm, a fleeting respite before the first world invasion of Rex.


    Year 5609, Imperial Gctic System.


    This event would be etched into the annals of the Imperial Library as the turning point, the moment that would define the legend of Gctic Overlord Rex Nyx. It was a moment of destiny, a convergence of power and purpose that would echo across the stars.


    A deep, resonant hum reverberated through the Cleopatra, the gship of the Kaelzar fleet, as the armada prepared for departure. The sound was steady, almost alive, like the heartbeat of a colossal beast stirring from slumber. A transmission crackled through themandwork, the voice smooth, synthetic, and unmistakably feminine.


    [Flight control has granted clearance for fleet departure. Fighter patrols are restricted from entering the western sector to avoid coalition interference. You are free to take off. May the glory of the past guide you.]


    Rex, standing near the reinforced observation window of Cleopatra''s bridge, let out a low, amused chuckle. His sharp eyes remained fixed on the abyss beyond the ss, a vast, dark-blue expanse of the deep ocean.


    Schools of bioluminescent fish drifted past, their ghostly glow illuminating the shadows beneath the fleet. Without shifting his gaze, he remarked, "Thank you, sweetie... But I still wonder, why did you program all the system voices to sound female?"


    His tone was light, but the question lingered in the air like a spark waiting to ignite. After a beat, he added, "And now that I think about it¡­ aside from the war units, all of the bots around us are maids. Care to exin that, Cleo?"


    Beside him, Cleo didn''t miss a beat. Her golden eyes flicked toward him, her expression as calm and calcting as ever. "Because I know exactly how your mind works," she said with her voice carrying a hint of yful usation.


    Rex finally turned to face her, his brow arched in mock offense. But before he could retort, Cleo continued, her tone dripping with quiet amusement. "Even though I''m in my main body now, we''re still connected. And thanks to that bond, I know you''d get jealous if there were too many men around us."


    A cough caught in Rex''s throat, and he quickly looked away, his cheeks tinged with the faintest hint of color. "Ehem.... Cleo, honey, let''s not get sidetracked. It''s time to head for the Mist."


    Behind him, the twins exchanged knowing nces before stifling quiet chuckles. Their amusement was palpable, and Rex shot them a half-hearted re, though it did little to wipe the grins from their faces.


    Cleo''s lips curled into a small, triumphant smirk. "Understood. Initiating fleet power-up sequence."


    As if on cue, the crushing darkness of the deep ocean began to glow. Hundreds of Kaelzar fleet ships flickered to life, their lights cutting through the abyss like stars igniting in the void. From sleek, dagger-like frigates to hulking carriers bristling with weaponry, each vessel activated its energy cores, their hulls shimmering with an otherworldly radiance as they prepared for departure.


    The Cleopatra led the charge, its colossal frame rising from the depths like a leviathan awakening. Water cascaded down its reinforced ting, glinting in the faint light as it broke the surface. The ship was a masterpiece of design, elegant yet monstrous, a testament to Cleo''s unparalleled engineering prowess.


    One by one, the frigates followed, their sleek forms slicing through the waves with precision. Kilometers away, the second aircraft carrier surfaced, its towering silhouette pushing through the ocean like a mountain emerging from the sea.


    As the fleet ascended into open sky, Cleo''s voice resonated across themand channels, calm andmanding. "Activating second defensiveyer¡­ sma shields deployed. Main energy shields initializing. Stand by."


    A faint hum vibrated through the ships as spherical blue energy fields formed around each vessel. Within seconds, the shields shimmered and faded, bing invisible to the naked eye but their presence was undeniable, a protective barrier against any potential threats.


    "Defensiveyers active. Preparing for warp jump."


    Rex exhaled slowly, his gaze sweeping over the fleet as it aligned in perfect formation. The sight was awe-inspiring, a symphony of power and precision.


    "3¡­" Cleo''s voice echoed through the bridge, steady and unwavering.


    A low pulse reverberated through the ships, the energy fields reaching critical charge.


    "2¡­"


    The surrounding sky seemed to bend, the very fabric of reality warping as the fleet prepared to leap into the void.


    "1¡­ Jump."


    In an instant, the entire fleet vanished. Streaks of light burned into the atmosphere, leaving behind a trail of brilliance as the ships propelled themselves into the unknown.


    A secondter, the darkness returned, the ocean settling as if the fleet had never been there.


    High above, beyond the gravitational pull of the, the fleet reappeared hovering in perfect synchronization against the infinite backdrop of space.


    "Safe distance achieved. Initiating wormhole device activation. Estimated time until full fleet transit: three imperial minutes."


    The countdown had begun.


    Cleo stood at the center of the bridge, amanding presence amidst a sea of hovering holo-screens. Her golden eyes flickered with intensity as they darted across endless streams of data, her mind processing calctions and strategies at lightning speed.


    The soft hum of the fleet''s systems filled the air, a constant reminder of the power at her fingertips. The bridge was bathed in the cool, ethereal glow of tactical disys, casting an almost otherworldly light over the scene.


    Rex, meanwhile, made his way to hismand chair with the casual swagger of a man who owned the stars. He sank into the seat with a sigh, his fingers drummingzily against the armrest as he gotfortable.


    But before he could fully rx, the twins materialized on either side of him like shadows given form.@@novelbin@@

 Chapter 283 Mist Planet. {5}

    Rex watched the live feed from the scout drones, his jaw tightening as the battlefield unfolded before him. The teau was a chaotic storm of sma fire, screeching mist creatures, and the relentless advance of the fog itself.


    The creatures were endless, a writhing, churning tide of biomechanical nightmares that seemed to surge forward with a mindless, unyielding ferocity. But what worried him more than their numbers was the mist.


    It wasn''t just a passive veil; it was alive, expanding and thickening as the creatures pushed forward, swallowing the terrain like a predator closing in on its prey.


    His gaze flickered to another feed of Aegis units, their ck-and-red armor gleaming under the flickering light of gunfire, who were falling one by one, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the horde. The teau''s edge was a ughterhouse, and the Blood Legion was barely holding the line.


    "Nyra." Rex''s voice cut through thems, firm and unwavering. "Take 500 Aegis units and push down the mountain from the west."


    "Okay, but let me just say... this sounds like a terrible idea."


    On-screen, Nyra stood atop one of the operational defense turrets with her arms crossed as she scanned the battlefield. Her usual bravado was tinged with a rare hint of unease. "If I head down alone, I''ll be surrounded. And let me tell you, getting eaten by those ugly things is not on my to-do list today."


    Rex smirked while leaning forward in hismand chair, his fingers steepled. "Don''t worry. You''ll have air support. The frigates are standing by for orbital bombardment, and Cleo is deploying bombers to clear out the densest mist pockets. You''ll have plenty of firepower to work with."


    Nyra exhaled while cracking her knuckles. "Alright then¡­ guess I''m going."


    She took a deep breath before activating herms.


    "Squad One, with me! Lyra, you''re in charge of the remaining squads!"


    Without another word, she leapt off the turret, her boots hitting the ground with a sharp thud. She sprinted toward the teau''s edge, her twin swords shing as she cut down anything that got in her way.


    Her movements were like a deadly dance, weaving between lunging creatures with fluid precision. Every step forward was marked by a severed limb, a sh of crimson, or a dying shriek. Behind her, the Aegis units moved in perfect synchronization, firing calcted bursts into the advancing horde.


    But the real test was still ahead. Nyra skidded to a stop at the teau''s edge, staring down into the abyss below.


    {Nine kilometers.....}


    She swallowed hard.


    {I was never a fan of jumping from high ces¡­}


    Her helmet snapped into ce, the visor dimming as it locked onto her trajectory. She took a breath and then jumped.


    The wind rushed past her, howling against her armor as she plunged through the thickyers of mist. The world blurred around her, the ground rushing up at an rming speed.


    {IT''S SO DAMN TALL¡ª!!}


    Behind her, 500 Aegis units followed, their dark forms slicing through the air like falling daggers. The remaining 1,500 stayed behind under Lyra''smand, holding the teau at all costs.


    As Nyra descended, squadrons of fighters roared past her, missiles streaking downward and detonating in bright bursts across the mist-covered terrain. The sheer scale of the battle hit her like a shockwave; this wasn''t a small skirmish. This was war.


    And for the first time, it overwhelmed her. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    {Okay¡­ okay¡­ deep breaths.}


    Her fingers curled into fists.


    {You can do this. You''re strong. Rex said so, so it has to be true. You can do this.}


    The nerves wing at her chest refused to fade, but there was no room for hesitation in battle.


    [Altitude: 1 kilometer. Activating deceleration.]


    Her armor''s automatednding system engaged. Thrusters burst to life, repositioning her mid-air. Her body twisted, feet now aimed at the ground.


    Then, in a final roaring ignition, the main propulsion system fired, slowing her descent just enough tond safely within the limits of her Tier 2 body.


    She hit the ground hard, dust and mist swirling around her as she straightened with her twin swords in hand; secondster, the 500 elite soldiersnded behind her.


    The mist creatures were already closing in, their metallic forms glinting faintly in the dim light. Nyra''s grip tightened on her swords, her heart pounding in her chest. This was it. No turning back.


    "Alright, boys and girls," she muttered, her voice low and steady. "Let''s show these things what happens when they mess with us."


    The Aegis units fanned out behind her, their sma rifles humming as they took aim. Nyra raised her swords, her eyes narrowing as the first wave of creatures lunged forward.


    The battlefield erupted into chaos once more, but this time, Nyra was at the heart of it. Her swords moved like lightning, cutting through the mist creatures with brutal efficiency. The Aegis units followed her lead, their disciplined fire cutting down the horde with precision.


    Above, the frigates unleashed their orbital barrage, the sky lighting up with explosions that tore through the mist and the creatures alike. Bombers streaked overhead, their payloads reducing entire swathes of the battlefield to ash.


    Nyra fought like a demon, her every movement a testament to her strength and skill. But even as she cut down wave after wave of enemies, she couldn''t shake the feeling that their number wasn''t really reducing at all.


    While Nyra led the charge below, Lyra remained on the teau, tirelessly coordinating the 1,500 Aegis units under hermand.


    The creatures showed no signs of stopping; they climbed, swarmed, and tore their way up the northern and southern slopes of the teau. Their endless screeches echoed through the mist-covered battlefield, but Lyra held firm.


    "Keep formation! Prioritize the ones reaching the top!" shemanded, her voice being calm but unwavering over thems.


    Thanks to Nyra drawing the creatures westward, a portion of the swarm peeled away from the north and south, turning their attention toward easier prey, Nyra''s forces at the base of the teau.


    That small shift in enemy movement gave Lyra the opening she needed.


    She adjusted the scope of her sniper rifle, her perch elevated by two Tyrant-ss units, who held her steady on their reinforced shoulders. From this vantage point, she was an unshakable force, each precise shot a guaranteed kill.


    A crimson beamnced through the mist, piercing straight through a creature''s skull. Its body convulsed before tumbling backward into the writhing masses below.@@novelbin@@


    And she didn''t stop; she shot again... another shot. Another kill.


    Her breathing stayed measured. Her mind was clear.


    "Master! The situation up here is under control. You can send in the construction teams!" Lyra reported between shots, her voiceposed yet urgent.


    Back on the Cleopatra, Cleo was already in motion.


    "Understood. Deploying cargo and construction drones now."


    With a flick of her wrist, thousands of drones emerged from their carriers, descending toward the teau. Their task: to build the factories, the beating heart of their war effort.


    One facility would produce weapons and ammunition, ensuring their forces never ran dry. The other would manufacture Aegis units, replenishing their numbers in real-time.


    But with such immense value came immense vulnerability.


    If either factory fell, their entire operation would be crippled.


    Rex''s jaw tightened as he stared at the ckened holo-screen, the words "NO SIGNAL" pulsing like a grim reminder of their vulnerability.


    The mist wasn''t just a physical barrier; it was a weapon, a living, breathing entity that seemed to actively work against them. His mind raced, calcting the risks, the unknowns, and the potential fallout of their current strategy.


    "How long can the dronesst down there?" he asked, his voice low but edged with urgency.


    Cleo''s fingers danced across her holo-screens, her golden eyes flickering as she processed the data. "At full shielding capacity? Ten minutes, maximum. After that, the EMP will fry their systems. We''ll losemunication, and they''ll be sitting ducks."


    Rex''s frown deepened. "And Nyra?"


    Cleo hesitated, a rare crack in her otherwise unshakableposure. "Without visual confirmation, it''s impossible to say. But if the mist is disrupting our drones, it''s likely affecting her armor''s systems as well. She''s strong, but¡­"


    She didn''t need to finish the sentence. Rex knew what she meant. Nyra was a force of nature on the battlefield, but even she had limits. And the Mist seemed determined to push them all to the brink.


    Rex leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the tactical disys. The teau was holding for now. Lyra''s precise sniper fire and the Aegis units'' disciplined formations were keeping the creatures at bay.


    But the factories were still under construction, and the longer they took, the more vulnerable they became.


    "Cleo," Rex said, his voice steady but firm. "We need eyes on Nyra. Now."


    Cleo nodded, her expression hardening as she input a series ofmands. "I''ll deploy a high-altitude reconnaissance drone. It won''tst long, but it should give us a brief window to assess her situation."


    The droneunched from the Cleopatra, its sleek form cutting through the atmosphere as it descended toward the mist-covered battlefield. The feed flickered to life on the bridge''s main holo-screen, revealing a chaotic scene below.


    Nyra was a blur of motion, her twin swords shing as she carved through the mist creatures with brutal efficiency. The Aegis units around her fought valiantly, but their numbers were dwindling, their formations buckling under the relentless assault. The mist swirled around them, thick and suffocating, as if it were alive and actively working to iste them.


    Rex''s grip tightened on the armrest of his chair. "She''s holding, but she''s cut off. We need to reinforce her position."

 Chapter 285 Mist Planet. {7}

    [Of course not, General. We are merely the distraction. The real offensive force ising from above.]


    Nyra''s head snapped toward X-7, the newly deployed unit standing unfazed amid the battlefield. She lifted a metallic hand, pointing skyward.


    Instinctively, Nyra followed her gaze... that was when she heard it.


    A deep, distant roar, growing louder by the second, a sound unmistakable in its sheer intensity.


    Something was falling.


    And it was falling fast.


    Nyra''s eyes widened as realization struck her.


    "Wait¡­ You¡ª! Don''t tell me¡ª!!"


    Nyra''s heart hammered against her ribs, each beat echoing the thunderous roar of iing ordnance. The air itself seemed to scream as the piercing whistle of incendiary bombs sliced through the chaos, growing louder, closer... inescapable.


    Her gaze shot upward, and her breath hitched. The sky was alive with fire, a rain of destruction hurtling straight toward them.


    "Oh, hell no!" she shouted out, her instincts screaming at her to run, to dive, to do anything to escape the impending inferno. But before her muscles could react, a shimmering barrier of light erupted around her, trapping her in ce.


    "Hey! What the¡ª?!" She shouted with her voice sharp with frustration.


    Just beyond the translucent sma shield, X-7 stood with infuriating calm, her posture immacte, hands folded neatly in front of her. Her voice was as smooth and unppable as ever.


    [There is no need to panic, General. Aegis units are resistant to heat. The enemy is not.]


    Nyra''s re could have melted steel. "I don''t know if you''ve noticed, but I''m also not fireproof!"


    X-7 tilted her head slightly, her expression unchanging. [Fear not, General. While this humble maid has limitedbat capabilities, I am quite adept at field protection. You will be safe within this barrier. My calctions indicate that I can sustain it until the mes subside to a tolerable level.


    Then, as if to add insult to injury, X-7 performed a wless bow, the edges of her maid dress delicately pinched between his fingers. It was as though they were at a royal g, not standing in the middle of a battlefield about to be consumed by fire.


    Nyra''s eye twitched. "You should''ve told me that before I tried to run!"


    [Understood, General. I will take that into consideration.]


    Before she could retort, the first wave of incendiary bombs struck.


    A wall of fire erupted across the battlefield, devouring everything in its path. The harvesters shrieks of agony were drowned out by the roar of the mes, their grotesque forms disintegrating into ash within seconds.


    Those that tried to flee were cut down mercilessly by the Aegis units, their sma fire carving through the chaos with surgical precision.


    Meanwhile, the Maulers unleashed their full might, their massive sma cannons turning entire swaths of the battlefield into molten hellscapes. Each thunderous st vaporized hundreds of harvesters, their ranks thinning rapidly under the relentless assault.


    From themand bridge, Cleo watched the carnage unfold through her scout drones. Her golden eyes narrowed as she noticed a sudden shift in the enemy''s movements.


    "Harvesters are pulling back," she observed, her voice cool but edged with tension.


    Rex, standing beside her at the holo-table, crossed his arms, his gaze locked on the retreating forces. "Mmm¡­ That''s bad."


    Cleo nced at him. "How so?"


    Rex exhaled slowly with his eyes narrowing. "It means one of two things. Either they''re an intelligent species capable of strategic retreat..." He paused, his voice dropping to a low growl. "Or something stronger is controlling them."


    A heavy silence fell between them as they watched the mist swallow the retreating creatures, its swirling tendrils hiding whatever horrorsy beyond.


    Rex''s stance shifted, his tonemanding. "X-7, tell Nyra to send scouts further ahead. I want eyes beyond that mist. At the same time, have her reinforce the defensive perimeter."


    [Understood, my Lord,] X-7 responded instantly.


    "Lyra," Rex continued, his voice sharp, "take 300 additional Aegis units and your personal Royal Guard. Reinforce Nyra''s position. I''ll be takingmand of the remaining forces here."


    Lyra''s voice crackled through thems, steady and resolute. "Got it, Master!"


    Rex turned on his heel, striding toward the elevator that would take him to the hangar bay. As the doors began to close, Cleo''s voice called out to him, softer now,ced with unspoken concern.


    "Rex¡­ Be careful down there."


    He nced back at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he raised a hand in a casual thumbs-up. Then the doors slid shut, leaving Cleo alone on themand bridge.


    She turned her attention back to the battlefield, her golden eyes hardening with resolve. "Frigates and bombers, maintain pressure. Push them back at least three to four kilometers into the mist. We need to carve out as much territory as possible."


    "Nyra! I''m so d you''re okay!"


    Before Nyra could even brace herself, Lyra came barreling toward her like a human missile, tackling her with enough force to send them both sprawling onto the rocky ground. The impact knocked the wind out of Nyra, and she groaned as her back hit the dirt, her twin''s arms wrapped tightly around her.


    "Oof¡ª!" Nyra wheezed, her voice strained. "Damn it, Lyra, that hurt!" Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    But despite her protest, a small, reluctant smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She couldn''t stay mad at her sister, not when Lyra''s face was lit up with such genuine relief.


    Lyra giggled while her forehead rested against Nyra''s. "You have no idea how worried I was," she said with her voice softening.


    Nyra sighed, half-annoyed, half-amused, and yfully punched Lyra''s cheek. "Oh, please, I knew you''d show up eventually. But yeah¡­ I guess I kinda missed you too."


    Lyra''s grin widened, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh? You missed me? Now that''s rare to hear."


    Nyra smirked while crossing her arms. "Well, there aren''t any mirrors down here. You''re the only way I get to see my own gorgeous face, since, you know... we''re twins."


    Lyra''s eyes narrowed, and she lunged, trying to pinch Nyra''s cheeks. But Nyra dodged effortlessly,ughing as she rolled out of reach. The two of them tussled for a moment, theirughter echoing across the rocky terrain, a brief respite from the chaos of the battlefield.


    Finally, Nyra flopped onto the ground, letting Lyra settle onto her legs. She exhaled deeply, her tone shifting to something more serious. "So," she began, "did youe down here alone with just 300 Aegis units?"


    Lyra shook her head, her expression brightening. "Of course not! There are also cargo drones on the way; they''re bringing supplies, ammo, defensive turrets, and materials for sma walls. Oh! And snacks!" She squeezed Nyra in a tight hug, her voice teasing. "You better be grateful."


    Nyra chuckled while her smile widened. "I knew I could count on you."


    Deep Within the Mist¡­


    Several kilometers from the Kaelzar frontline, the advance scout squad moved cautiously through the dense, shifting fog. The ten Aegis units had split into two teams of five, circling a vast, eerieke whose surface shimmered faintly through the swirling mist.


    The air was thick with tension, the only sounds the soft hum of their scanners and the asional drip of unseen water.


    Then, a faint click echoed in the silence.


    The leftmost squad halted immediately, their weapons snapping into high alert formation.


    Then, without warning, blinding white light erupted from the mist.


    It was instantaneous, overwhelming... as if dozens of high-intensity shbangs had detonated at once. The Aegis units staggered, their sensors overloaded, their vision flickering, and their targeting systems scrambled.


    And in that single, disorienting second, the Harvesters struck.


    The nightmarish creatures lunged from the fog, their razor limbs shing, their acid spitting in lethal arcs. Blinded and defenseless, the Aegis units fell, one by one. Once they were defeated, they were dragged into the mist, their forms vanishing without a trace.


    The remaining five Aegis scouts, watching through their HUDs, saw only one thing: their squadmates signals vanishing from the map.


    Without hesitation, the leader of the remaining team sent out amand.


    [Retreat.]


    The squad turned, moving quickly but carefully, heading back toward the Kaelzar frontlines. Their weapons were raised, scanning every shadow, the mist pressing in around them like a living thing.


    They had barely made it half a kilometer when the ground trembled.


    From the mist, towering crystalline figures emerged.


    The Aegis units opened fire immediately, their sma bolts streaking through the fog, striking the gleaming golems, only for the shots to do nothing, or worse, to be absorbed.


    The golems pulsed, their crystal forms glowing brighter, as if they were feeding on the energy.


    [Weapons ineffective]


    one of the Aegis reported.


    [Keep moving]


    anothermanded.


    But it was toote.


    The golems advanced, faster than anticipated, cutting down the Aegis scouts in a matter of minutes. Their energy shields fizzled uselessly against the raw strength of the crystalline monsters.


    And soon, they, too, were gone, but not all was lost.@@novelbin@@


    Far above the battlefield, several small drones detached from the backs of the fallen Aegis scouts.


    Silent. Unnoticed.


    They shot into the sky, rising high above the mist, escaping the deadly EMP interference. Their mission: to deliver a warning to the front lines that something far worse than the Harvesters lurked in the mist.


    Deep beneath theke, something stirred.


    Six glowing, bluish eyes flickered open, their eerie light cutting through the inky darkness of the abyss. The eyes burned with an ancient, otherworldly intelligence, their gaze piercing through the murky depths as if they could see beyond the water, beyond the mist.


    For a moment, the creature remained still, its massive form shrouded in shadow. It seemed to sense something, a ripple in the void, a disturbance in the fragile bnce of its slumber.


    Then, slowly, the deep waters came to life.

 Chapter 287 Leviathan. {2}

    Nyra took the device, tossing it between her fingers with a practiced ease before tucking it into her belt. She nced at Lyra, who was still staring at the spot where the holo-screen had been, her expression was a mix of disbelief and resignation.


    "Alright then," Nyra said, her tone brisk. "If everything''s already been decided, we might as well get moving. The sooner we finish this, the better."


    Before Lyra could respond, Nyra grabbed her arm and started pulling her toward the gathered forces. Lyra stumbled slightly, her boots scraping against the rocky ground as she tried to keep up.


    "H-Hey! I can walk on my own, you know!" Lyra protested, though there was no real heat in her voice. She quickly matched her sister''s pace, falling into step beside her.


    Ahead, rows of Aegis units stood in tight formations, their sma rifles gleaming faintly in the mist. Nyra quickly selected two squads of 250 Blood Legion units per group and with their forces assembled, they marched into the mist.


    As they moved, Nyra couldn''t help but notice something unsettling... the fog was thicker than before... much thicker.


    It clung to them like a living thing, reducing visibility to mere meters. The air felt heavier, colder, as if the mist itself was alive and watching. A bad feeling settled in her gut, a primal instinct warning her that they were walking into something far more dangerous than they realized.


    Lyra must have felt it too, because she nced at Nyra and talked to her in a low voice. "Sis¡­ this doesn''t feel right."


    Nyra nodded while her eyes scanned the swirling fog ahead. "I know. But we don''t have a choice. Whatever''s out there, we need to find it before it finds us."


    The mist seemed to close in around them, its oppressive weight pressing down on their shoulders.


    "Sis¡­ do you remember those horror movies we watchedst month?"


    Lyra''s voice was barely above a whisper as she stepped closer to Nyra. Around them, their troops fanned out, cautiously searching the mist-coveredke, their silhouettes barely visible through the dense fog.


    Nyra let out a slow breath, her fingers tightening around her des. "Yes, I remember. But I''m pretty sure now isn''t the best time to bring that up... especially when we''re standing in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mist so thick I can''t even see my own damn fingers."


    Lyra swallowed hard. "I¡­ I know, but I can''t stop thinking about that one movie. The one where there''s a serial killer lurking in a city covered in mist¡­"


    Her eyes flicked in every direction, watching, waiting, then... they heard it.


    In the distance, the sharp, rapid bursts of sma rifle fire echoed through the fog. A momentter, the ground shuddered beneath their feet, sensing a deep, rhythmic tremor, as if something massive was moving toward them.


    Nyra''s instincts screamed.


    "Lyra! Come on!"


    She grabbed her sister''s arm, yanking her toward the nearest vantage point of arge, jagged rock formation jutting out from the uneven terrain. With a single leap, theynded atop it, Nyra immediately started scanning their surroundings while Lyra activated herser sniper rifle.


    The mist swirled, shifting ominously around them.


    Lyra''s fingers flew over her arm-mountedm device. "Squad One and Two! Suspend the search and regroup at my position! Now!"


    But the response never came. Instead, a shadow loomed from the fog with a deep, rumbling sound filling the air as something massive emerged from the mist.


    Then a crystallized fist, the size of a boulder, came crashing down toward them.


    The rock they stood on trembled violently, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. A towering crystal golem loomed before them, its enormous hands wing at the rock, desperate to reach them.


    Nyra''s heart pounded as the crystal golem''s massive fist mmed into the rock formation again, sending shards of stone flying in every direction. The ground beneath them groaned, threatening to give way at any moment. She tightened her grip on her des, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation.


    "Lyra, we need to move now!" Nyra shouted out, her voice cutting through the chaos.


    Lyra didn''t need to be told twice. She slung herser rifle over her shoulder and leaped off the crumbling rock,nding in a roll on the uneven ground below. Nyra followed, her movements swift and precise, her des gleaming faintly in the dim light.


    The crystal golem roared, its voice a deep, guttural sound that reverberated through the mist. It swung its massive arm again, this time shattering the rock formationpletely. Debris rained down around them as the twins sprinted away, their boots pounding against the rocky terrain.


    "Where the hell did this thinge from?!" Lyra shouted while ncing over her shoulder as the golem lumbered after them, its crystalline body glowing faintly in the fog.


    "No idea, but it''s not alone!" Nyra replied, her sharp eyes catching movement in the mist. More shadows were emerging, taller, bulkier, their forms unmistakable. "We''ve got more iing!"


    Lyra cursed under her breath, her fingers flying over her arm-mountedm device again. "All units, this is General Lyra! We''re under attack by crystal golems! Converge on my position immediately!"


    But thems remained silent, the mist seemingly swallowing their transmissions. Lyra''s heart sank. "Sis, I think the mist is blocking our signals. We''re on our own."


    Nyra gritted her teeth while her mind raced. "Then we''ll have to handle this ourselves. Stick close to me."


    The first golem was nearly on them, its massive fists raised high, ready to crush them into the ground. Nyra darted to the side, her des shing as she shed at the creature''s leg. The strike sparked against the crystal, but it barely left a scratch.


    "Damn it, these things are tough!" Nyra growled while dodging another swing.


    Lyra, meanwhile, had taken cover behind a boulder, herser rifle aimed at the golem''s glowing core. She fired a concentrated beam, the energy searing through the air and striking the creature''s chest. The golem staggered, its core flickering, but it didn''t fall.


    "It''s not enough!" Lyra shouted, her voice tinged with frustration. "We need more firepower!"


    Nyra''s eyes darted around, searching for anything they could use to their advantage. Her gazended on a cluster of sma grenades strapped to the belt of a fallen Aegis unit nearby. "Lyra, cover me!"


    Without waiting for a response, Nyra sprinted toward the fallen soldier, her des deflecting a swipe from the golem as she moved. She grabbed the grenades, her fingers working quickly to arm them.


    "Lyra, aim for its core when I say so!" Nyra shouted, her voice carrying over the golem''s roars.


    Lyra nodded, herser rifle already aimed at the creature''s chest. Nyra hurled the sma grenades at the golem''s feet, the explosives detonating in a blinding sh of light. The force of the st sent the golem stumbling backward, its core exposed.


    "Now!" Nyra yelled.@@novelbin@@


    Lyra fired, herser beam striking the core with pinpoint uracy. The golem let out a deafening roar as its core shattered, its massive body copsing to the ground in a heap of glowing crystal shards.


    But their victory was short-lived.


    More golems were closing in, their heavy footsteps shaking the ground. The mist seemed to thicken around them, reducing visibility even further.


    Nyra and Lyra stood back-to-back, their weapons at the ready.


    "This is bad," Lyra muttered, her voice trembling slightly.


    "Yeah," Nyra agreed, her grip tightening on her des. "But we''re not going down without a fight."


    The golems charged, their crystalline forms glinting in the dim light. The twins braced themselves, their resolve unshakable.


    And then, a familiar voice crackled through theirms.


    [Generals, reinforcements are en route. Hold your position.]


    Nyra''s eyes widened. "X-7? How the hell¡ª?"


    [The mist''s interference is sporadic. I managed to establish a brief connection. Reinforcements will arrive in approximately two minutes.]


    Lyra let out a relievedugh. "Two minutes? We can handle that."


    Nyra smirked, her des gleaming as she faced the approaching golems. "I hope so."


    The twins charged forward, their movements synchronized as they met the crystal golems head-on.


    Nyra moved like a wraith, her form a blur of darkness as she danced between the crushing blows of the two towering golems. Their massive crystal fists hammered into the ground with earth-shattering force, fracturing stone and sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.


    But Nyra was a tempest, swift and untouchable. Her twin des flickered like lightning, striking against the golems crystalline bodies with surgical precision. Yet, for all her skill, her attacks barely left a mark. No blood. No nerves to sever. The golems were relentless, unfeeling but that didn''t matter. Nyra wasn''t trying to kill them.


    She was buying time.


    Across the battlefield, Lyra had abandoned her sniper rifle, her hands now gripping dual handguns loaded with armor-piercing rounds. She moved like a phantom, her every step calcted, her every shot a masterpiece of precision.


    The golems swung at her, their fists carving through the air with bone-crushing force, but she was always just out of reach. Her bullets struck true, each round punching nearly 10 centimeters into the crystalline bodies of the creatures. But the problem was that the core was buried 30 centimeters deep. Her shots weren''t enough.


    But they didn''t need to win. They just needed to hold the line for three more minutes.


    And then... A deep, mechanical voice boomed across the battlefield, cutting through the chaos like a thunderp. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    [Unidentified enemy detected. Proceeding to exterminating.]


    The Mauler Juggernauts had arrived.

 Chapter 289 Leviathan.{4} Sisters.

    Their power armor whirred to life, the system responding instantly. Syringes hissed as the golden blood was injected into their veins. Fire roared through their bodies, a surge of raw power that burned away fatigue and fear.


    Their vision sharpened, their reflexes heightened, and their strength amplified. But even with the golden blood, they were still outmatched.


    The serpent lunged, its massive body uncoiling like a spring, its jaws wide open, ready to devour them whole.


    Nyra and Lyra moved as one, their movements synchronized by years of battle and unspoken trust. Nyra''s twin des shed, striking at the creature''s scales, while Lyra''s handguns barked, each shot aimed at the serpent''s glowing eyes. Sparks flew as their attacks connected, but the beast barely flinched.


    The serpent''s tail whipped around like a blur of motion that sent Nyra flying. She hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Lyra dodged the follow-up strike, her movements a blur as she unleashed a barrage of armor-piercing rounds into the creature''s underbelly.


    The bullets tore through its scales, drawing blood, but the wounds were still too superficial.


    The serpent roared with a sound that shook the very air and lunged again. Nyra rolled to her feet, her des slicing through the air as she met the creature head-on. She struck with everything she had, her attacks a flurry of precision and desperation.


    But the serpent was relentless, its sheer size and power overwhelming.


    Lyra''s voice crackled through thems, strained but determined. "Sis, we can''t keep this up! We need a n!"


    Nyra grated her teeth while her mind raced. The golden blood was burning through their systems; the power surge was already beginning to wane. They were running out of time.


    Then she saw it.... a glimmer of hope. The serpent''s underbelly, where Lyra''s shots had drawn blood, was slightly softer, less armored. A weak point.


    "Lyra!" Nyra shouted while dodging another strike. "Aim for the underbelly! We need to hit it with everything we''ve got!"


    Lyra didn''t hesitate. She holstered one of her handguns, pulling a grenade from her belt. "On your mark!" Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Nyra charged, her des a blur as she drew the serpent''s attention. The creature lunged at her, its jaws snapping shut inches from her face. She ducked, sliding beneath its massive body, and struck upward with all her strength. Her des pierced the softer scales, drawing a roar of pain from the beast.


    "NOW!" Nyra screamed.


    Lyra hurled the grenade, the explosive arcing through the air and lodging itself in the wound Nyra had created. The serpent thrashed, its massive body writhing in agony, but it was toote.


    The grenade detonated, the explosion tearing through the creature''s underbelly. Blood and meat sprayed in all directions as the serpent let out a final, deafening roar. Its massive body copsed, shaking the ground as it fell.


    Nyra and Lyra stood there, breathing heavily, their bodies trembling from the adrenaline and the effects of the golden blood. The battlefield was silent, the swarm of Harvesters momentarily stunned by the death of their monstrous ally.


    But the silence didn''tst....


    The twins had no idea... no one truly did until they stood face-to-face with one, just how terrifying a Tier 4 creature could be.


    Rex knew. He''d fought one before. An Oceanic Tier 4, a leviathan of the deep, a monstrosity that defied reason. Even with the Kaelzar Emperor Halo, an artifact of unimaginable power, it had taken a near-infinite surge of energy just to pierce its hide.


    And even that hadn''t been enough. It had required thebined might of the Human Empire''s allied fleet, raining down relentless firepower, to finally bring the beast down. It had taken everything.... every resource, every ounce of strength, every shred of willpower.


    So how in the hell could a grenade even scratch this one?


    Tier 4 creatures weren''t just mindless beasts. They were intelligent, calcting, and merciless. Their main power wasn''t just raw strength; it was the ability to channel energy attacks with surgical precision, each strike designed to annihte.


    And the twins had just made a fatal mistake.


    With their backs turned, the Leviathan stirred. Six luminous eyes snapped open, glowing like dying stars, locking onto them with chilling precision. In the span of a microsecond... faster than thought, faster than instinct... its pupils contracted.


    Six concentratedser beams erupted from its eyes, cutting through the air like des of pure energy.


    There was no time to react. No time to scream.


    For Lyra, the world seemed to slow, the edges of her vision blurring as the attack unfolded. She barely registered the danger. But Nyra saw it.


    Her breath hitched. Her muscles coiled. Move.


    She didn''t think... she acted.


    With every ounce of strength in her body, she kicked Lyra out of the st zone. The force of it sent her twin tumbling across the battlefield, barely escaping theser''s deadly reach.


    But there was no time to save herself.


    The first beam tore through her leg, slicing clean through flesh and bone as if they were paper. A second and third punched into her chest, burning through armor and skin alike. Another ripped into her abdomen, searing through her core.


    Agony. Unbearable, searing agony.


    Lyra hit the ground hard, the impact jarring her senses. For a moment, she couldn''t process what had just happened... then she saw it.


    "NYRA!!!"


    The scream tore from her throat, raw and broken, echoing across the battlefield.


    Far away, on the teau, Rex sat in hismand tent, scanning reports from Cleo about the creatures lurking in the mist. Everything was routine until a sudden, unbearable painnced through his heart. It was so intense, so visceral, it nearly brought him to his knees.


    {What the hell¡­? What is this feeling?}


    His mind reeled. This wasn''t physical pain. It was something else. Something deeper.


    Mini Cleo instantly reacted, running a full-body scan. Since her senses were linked with his, she felt it too.... the sharp, suffocating pain in her own chest.


    "Master! There''s no sign of damage to your organic or bionic systems; could it be a temporary bug?" Mini Cleo''s voice came through, her holographic form flickering as a full 4D scan of Rex''s body disyed all green. No abnormalities. No malfunctions.


    But he knew better.


    His fingers curled into fists, his knuckles white. His breath came in uneven gasps. The feeling didn''t fade, it only got worse. A creeping, suffocating sense of dread settled over him like a storm cloud, heavy and unrelenting.@@novelbin@@


    His eyes snapped toward the mist... toward the direction where the twins were supposed to be.


    He didn''t need confirmation. He knew.


    A single name formed in his mind, cold and sharp like a dagger to the soul.


    {Nyra...}


    Without hesitation, Rex activated Overdrive Mode. His body surged with energy, his systems roaring to life as heunched himself into the sky, streaking toward thest ce he could feel them.


    No. Not them.


    Just Lyra.


    Nyra''s presence was fading.


    The battlefield was a nightmare frozen in time. The air hung heavy with the acrid stench of burning metal and organic matter, the ground littered with the shattered remains of Aegis units and the grotesque bodies of Harvesters.


    The Leviathan loomed over it all, its six luminous eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence, its massive form coiled like a predator ready to strike again.


    Nyray crumpled on the ground, her body broken and bleeding. Thesers had torn through her with surgical precision, leaving gaping wounds that pulsed with searing pain.


    Her leg was nearly severed, her chest and abdomen riddled with holes. Blood pooled beneath her, dark and glistening in the eerie light of the mist. Her twin desy scattered nearby, their edges dulled and chipped from the battle.


    But even as her vision blurred and her strength faded, Nyra''s mind was clear. She could hear Lyra''s scream, distant and muffled, as if it wereing from another world. She wanted to call out, to reassure her sister, but her voice wouldn''te.


    All she could do was watch as the Leviathan turned its gaze toward Lyra, its eyes narrowing with predatory intent.


    The creature''s massive body shifted, its scales scraping against the ground like a thousand knives. It was preparing to strike again, and this time, Lyra wouldn''t be fast enough to escape.


    Nyra''s heart clenched. No. Not Lyra. Not like this.


    With thest of her strength, she reached for the golden blood injector strapped to her wrist. Her fingers trembled as she fumbled with the mechanism, her vision swimming in and out of focus. She had to do something. Anything. Even if it killed her.


    The injector hissed as it released its final dose of golden blood into her veins. Fire erupted in her body, a surge of power that burned through the pain and exhaustion. Her vision sharpened, her muscles tensed, and for a moment, she felt alive again.


    But it wasn''t enough. Not to fight. Not to win. Only to move.


    Nyra''s body screamed in protest as she forced herself to her feet. Her leg buckled, but she caught herself, leaning heavily on one of her des. Blood dripped from her wounds, staining the ground beneath her, but she didn''t stop. She couldn''t.


    The Leviathan''s eyes locked onto her, its gaze cold and calcting. It knew she was no threat. It knew she was already dead. But Nyra didn''t care. She raised her de, her grip tightening despite the pain.


    "Hey!" she shouted, her voice hoarse but defiant. "Over here, you overgrown worm!"


    The Leviathan''s head tilted, almost as if it were amused. Then, with a speed that defied its size, it lunged.


    Nyra didn''t flinch. She couldn''t. Instead, she threw herself forward, her de aimed at the creature''s nearest eye. It was a desperate, suicidal move.... but it was all she had.


    The de struck true, piercing the Leviathan''s eye and sinking deep into the soft tissue beneath. The creature roared, its body thrashing as it recoiled from the attack. Nyra was thrown away, her body mming into the ground with bone-jarring force.


    She didn''t get up....

 Chapter 291 Who are you?

    Nyra hesitated at first...


    The air around her seemed to still, as if the world itself held its breath. Before her stood a woman whose beauty was not of this earth; she was radiant, silver-white, and shimmering with an otherworldly glow.


    Her presence was both soothing and unnerving, like the calm before a storm. Nyra felt the weight of something ancient, something vast, pressing against her chest. This was no ordinary being. This was... something beyondprehension.


    For a moment, doubt wed at her. Her instincts screamed to run, to flee from the unknown. But Nyra was not one to back down. With a sharp exhale, she steeled herself and sat down, her crimson eyes locking onto the Lady in White with a fiery intensity.


    "Alright," Nyra said with her voice cutting through the silence like a de. "So, are you finally going to tell me who you are?"


    This time, her tone was firm, less wary, and moremanding. She wasn''t asking. She was demanding.


    The Lady in White chuckled with a sound so soft and melodic it seemed to dance on the air. Her amusement was palpable, as if Nyra''s impatience was a delightful little quirk she found endearing. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire


    "As I''ve already said, little one," thedy began, her voice like a gentle breeze, "I have had many names over my short millennia of existence." She folded her hands elegantly in herp, her movements fluid and deliberate.


    "Some have called me the Celestial Pearl. The boldest of adventurers have whispered my name as The Starry Companion. The dreamers, the poets, those with souls touched by art, have named me The Muse."


    She paused, her lips curving into a small, almost nostalgic smile. "And most recently, a little child I met not too long ago called me The Lady in White."


    Nyra blinked, her expression being unreadable. Then, in true Nyra fashion, she crossed her arms, gave a slow nod, and said, "Mmm. Never heard of you. Yep."


    The Lady in Whiteughed with a warm, genuine sound that seemed to fill the space around them. It wasn''t mocking; it was affectionate, as if Nyra''s blunt honesty was a rare treasure. Her gaze softened, bing almost maternal, patient, knowing, and filled with an infinite understanding.


    "I''d be surprised if you had, little Nyra," she admitted while tilting her head slightly. "But¡­ I had thought some of your people might still remember me."


    Nyra''s brows furrowed. "My people?"


    "Yes."


    A heavy pause hung between them, thick with unspoken meaning.


    "Wait," Nyra said, her voice being sharp. "You mean humans?"


    The Lady in White''s lips curved into an amused smile, and she rested a delicate hand against her glowing cheek. "Oh my¡­ Do you truly believe you are human?"


    Nyra stiffened, her body going rigid. "I''m¡­ not?"


    The Lady''s expression softened, her silver eyes filled with a quiet sadness. "Mmm. While it is true that your people share a connection with the humans, you are not the same. The humans created by my sister were gifted superior mental abilities. But your kind... were made for something else. Something greater. You were given superior physical capabilities."


    Nyra stared at her, unblinking. The words felt wrong, like shards of ss cutting into everything she had ever known. They didn''t fit. They didn''t make sense. Her mind raced, trying to reconcile the truth beingid before her with the life she had lived.


    "Humans have superior mental abilities." Nyra scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. "Yeah, right. That''s a joke. You''re lying."


    The bitterness in her voice was unmistakable, sharp, and raw. "Humans are nothing. They''re at the very bottom of the ve hierarchy. And if I''m not human, then whatever I am was treated even worse than them."


    She stood abruptly, the chair of white roses shifting beneath her with an almost imperceptible creak. Her hands clenched into fists, her body trembling with barely contained emotion. "So don''t stand there and tell me they''re ''special.'' Because from what I''ve seen, they''re just as weak, if not weaker, than the rest of us."


    The Lady in White sighed softly, her gaze never leaving Nyra. There was no anger in her eyes, no judgment, only patience and understanding. She didn''t rise from her seat. She didn''t argue. Instead, she simply said, "There''s no need for such fire, little Nyra."


    Nyra''s breath came in sharp, uneven bursts, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to contain the storm raging within her.


    "While it is true that humans possess great mental power, it has long been dormant," the Lady continued, her voice calm and measured. She folded her hands in thought, her silver eyes distant, as if recalling a memory from another age.


    "Their own blindness sealed it away. Their greed and ambition cloud their vision and limit their potential. It is not that theyck power... but that they can no longer see the gifts my sister gave them."


    She let out a quiet hum, a sound that seemed to resonate with the very air around them. Then, with a sudden shift in tone, she raised a delicate hand to her lips, her expression turning yful, almost mischievous.


    "Oh dear, look at me rambling. We''ve drifted far from our path, haven''t we?"


    Nyra blinked, caught off guard by the sudden lightness in the Lady''s demeanor. The tension in the air seemed to dissipate, reced by a strange, almostforting warmth.


    The Lady in White smiled, her luminous silver eyes locking onto Nyra''s once more. "Let''s leave this discussion for another time. Right now, there''s still room for one more question before he arrives."


    Her gaze was steady, filled with an infinite patience that seemed to stretch across the ages.


    "Ask me anything, little one."


    Nyra let out a small, defiant "Hmph." before sinking back into her seat, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her crimson eyes flickered with thought, darting across the endless white garden as if searching for answers in the shimmering petals. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, until finally, she broke it.


    "Alright then... where are we?" she asked, her voice being strong and demanding at first. But as the words left her lips, a cold unease began to creep into her gut. Her mind raced while piecing together fragments of memory. Her tone wavered.


    "Wait..." she murmured, her voice now barely above a whisper. "I remember... I was fighting that giant worm. I was¡ª"


    Her throat tightened, cutting off her words. A chilling realization slithered up her spine, icy and unrelenting.


    "Am I... already dead?" The question escaped her lips as a fragile whisper, trembling with dread.@@novelbin@@


    The Lady in White chuckled softly, the sound like a gentle chime in the stillness. She shook her head, her silver hair catching the light as if it were woven from starlight itself.


    "Of course not, little Nyra," she said, her voice soothing yet firm. Her luminous silver eyes gleamed with an otherworldly light. "Thanks to the blood running through your veins, you were able to reach my sanctuary. Your soul is safe... for now."


    Her gaze held Nyra''s, steady and unyielding. "But the moment that blood runs dry¡ª" she added, her tone calm yet final. "You will truly die."


    Silence fell, thick and oppressive. Nyra''s fingers curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "So... I''m just waiting for the end?" she muttered, her voice hollow. "That''s it? No way out?"


    With her head lowered and her crimson eyes darkening with despair. "Is there no way for you to help me?"


    The Lady in White tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. "Well," she mused, her voice carrying a hint of amusement, "some people these days call me a goddess... but I am not one."


    She lifted two slender fingers, the gesture deliberate and graceful. "That being said, there are two ways for you to escape death."


    Nyra''s breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. "Two...?" she echoed, her voice barely audible.


    "Tell me. What are they?" she demanded with her voice sharp with desperation.


    The Lady in White''s expression remained calm, her silver eyes unreadable. "The first option," she began, her tone measured, "is for you to be one of my flowers here in my sanctuary."


    Nyra frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What?"


    "What people call a''soul'' is merely a recording of what you are. A whisper of yourself, made of pure energy. "And energy¡ª" the Lady''s voice was steady, unwavering"¡ªis neither created nor destroyed. It only transforms."


    She gestured gracefully to the glowing white flowers surrounding them, their petals shimmering like fragments of moonlight. "Using that energy, I could turn you into one of my flowers. That way, you would never die. You would remain here¡­ in my garden. For all eternity."


    Nyra''s stomach twisted, a wave of revulsion washing over her. "That''s not an option," she said instantly while shaking her head. "I''m not spending eternity as a flower."


    The Lady in White smiled knowingly, as if she had expected this response. "I didn''t think it would be."


    "Then tell me the second one," Nyra asked with her voice sharper now, edged with desperation.


    For the first time, something amusing flickered in the Lady''s expression. A small, almost mischievous smile graced her lips. "Ah, the second option..." she mused, her tone light, almost yful.


    She rose from her chair, her movements fluid and graceful, and turned toward the endless expanse of the white garden. "Well, that one depends on him."


    Nyra blinked, her confusion deepening. "Him? Who¡ª"


    The Lady raised a hand, her silver eyes narrowing slightly. "It would be best if you covered your ears, little Nyra."


    Nyra barely had time to process the warning before the air around them shifted.


    A presence appeared in the garden, thick, malevolent, and suffocating; it split through the tranquility of the garden like a de. ck energy surged, writhing and twisting as if alive, filling the air with a palpable sense of dread. It was as if the darkness itself had awakened, hungry and unrelenting.

 Chapter 292 Who Are You? {2}

    It came from nowhere, and yet it felt as though it had always been there, coiled in the shadows, waiting. The thing twisted in the sky above the garden like a writhing mass of darkness that defied the natural order.


    It moved like a living nightmare, its form shifting and pulsing as if it were alive. The moment it touched the air, a suffocating weight descended, pressing down on Nyra''s chest like a vice.


    Pain. Sorrow. Anguish.


    It wasn''t just a feeling; it was an invasion. A tidal wave of despair crashed over her, drowning her in emotions that weren''t her own. Her breath hitched, her knees buckled, and tears streamed down her face before she could evenprehend why. Her body trembled, every nerve alight with a raw, primal fear.


    "W-what is this...?" She gasped with her voice being barely a whisper, choked by the oppressive force in the air.


    The Lady in White stood beside her, serene as ever, though a faint glimmer of something like fondness? Amusement? flickered in her eyes. She sighed softly, as if scolding a mischievous child.


    "Oh my, what a naughty child," she murmured, her voice tone being almost affectionate.


    With a graceful wave of her hand, a shimmering dome of silver energy erupted around them, a barrier of light against the encroaching darkness. The air within the dome felt lighter and safer, but Nyra''s heart still pounded in her chest.


    She then could hear a sound... an scream.


    Not just any scream, a shattering, soul-rending wail that seemed to tear through the fabric of reality itself. The air cracked, splintering like ss, as shockwaves erupted from the heart of the darkness.


    They rippled outward, roaring like thunder, each one more violent than thest. The ground beneath Nyra''s feet trembled, and the garden around them seemed to wither, the vibrant colors leaching away into gray.


    And in the center of it all, something began to take shape.


    Humanoid, but wrong. Twisted. Its form was tall and imposing, its silhouette jagged and unnatural. Long, ck wings unfurled from its back, stretching wide to blot out the sky.@@novelbin@@


    Its body pulsed with shadow, tendrils of ck energy writhing around it like serpents, coiling and uncoiling in a grotesque dance. The air around it shimmered with heat, as if the very fabric of existence was burning away.


    It threw back its head.


    And screamed again.


    This wasn''t a scream of rage or fury. It was a scream of pure, unrelenting sorrow. A sound so raw, so visceral, that it seemed to echo not just in Nyra''s ears but in the depths of her soul. It was the sound of a being torn apart from the inside, a creature consumed by its own torment.


    Nyra could do nothing but watch, frozen in ce, as the abyss itself took form before her. Her breath caught in her throat, her mind racing to make sense of the impossible. And yet, deep within her, in the darkest corner of her soul, a terrible understanding began to dawn.


    Nyra''s heart ached as she stared at the creature of darkness. There was something hauntingly familiar about it, something that tugged at the edges of her memory, as if she had known this being for years, perhaps even lifetimes.


    The thought made her chest tighten, her breathing in shallow gasps. The sorrow radiating from the creature was relentless and overwhelming, and it seemed to echo her own pain, amplifying it tenfold.


    "Well then, let''s do something about this, shall we?" The Lady in White said, her voice calm yetmanding. She raised a single, delicate finger, and in an instant, a radiant silver ring materialized around the ck creature.


    The ring pulsed with light, and from it, chains of pure energy erupted, snaking through the air with precision. They coiled around the humanoid figure, binding its writhing form and suppressing its oppressive aura. The crushing weight in the air lifted, and Nyra could finally breathe again.


    The white flowers in the garden, once still and lifeless, began to stir. Their stems grew rapidly, weaving around the creature in a protective embrace. The petals glowed softly, their light contrasting starkly against the darkness of the figure they now encased.


    "Well then, this is much better," the Lady in White said, her tone being almost cheerful. She turned to Nyra, her warm smile radiating a sense of calm and reassurance. "Come, little Nyra, let''s help him a little more so he can return to his former self."


    Nyra hesitated, her eyes darting between thedy and the chained creature. Her heart raced, torn between fear and an inexplicable pull toward the dark being. After a moment of internal struggle, she reached out and ced her hand in thedy''s. Her touch was cool andforting, like the first breeze of spring after a long winter. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Together, they approached the creature, now subdued and covered in a nket of white flowers. The air around it was still heavy, but the suffocating despair had been reced by a strange, almost mncholic stillness.


    "Who... who is he?" Nyra asked while her voice trembled as she stared at the figure. Her mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of familiarity that lingered just out of reach.


    The Lady in White chuckled softly, though there was a hint of disappointment in her tone. "Oh, my dear, have you still not realized it yourself? That''s not good, little Nyra. I thought your feelings were strong enough. I suppose even I make mistakes." Sheughed lightly, as if scolding herself, before releasing Nyra''s hand and stepping closer to the creature.


    She kneeled beside it; her movements were graceful and deliberate, and with a tenderness that could onlye from a mother, she ced her glowing hands on the creature''s face. Her touch was gentle, almost reverent, as she caressed its shadowed features.


    "See how you''ve ended, my dear..." she murmured with her voice filled with both sorrow and love. "I told you many times that using this kind of power would lead to dangerous consequences."


    Thedy leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to the creature''s forehead. Her lips lingered for a moment, and as she pulled away, a soft glow spread from the point of contact. Cracks began to form across the creature''s dark shell, spreading like a spiderweb. The air grew tense, and Nyra instinctively took a step back.


    Then, with a deafening explosion, dark steam erupted from the creature''s form, billowing outward in a thick cloud. Nyra shielded her face, her heart pounding as the steam slowly dissipated. When she lowered her arm, her breath caught in her throat.


    There, lying amidst the shattered remnants of darkness, was a man. His features were familiar... achingly so. His face, once twisted in agony, was now calm, though pale and worn.


    His long, dark hair framed his face, and his chest rose and fell with steady breaths. The ck wings that had once blotted out the sky were gone, reced by the faintest shimmer of light.


    Nyra''s eyes widened as recognition flooded her. Her knees nearly gave way, and she stumbled forward, her voice barely a whisper.


    "It''s... it''s you."


    The Lady in White smiled softly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yes, my dear. It''s him. And now, it''s time to bring him back."


    Rexy still with his eyes closed, his breathing shallow but steady. He looked peaceful, as if he were merely sleeping, though the faint lines of exhaustion etched into his face told a different story.


    Nyra''s heart raced as she stared at him with a whirlwind of emotions crashing over her. Without thinking, she rushed forward and dropped to her knees beside him, pulling him into a tight, desperate hug.


    "What are you doing here!?" she cried, her voice trembling with a mix of relief and panic. "Or more like, are you dead too!? What about Lyra? What happened!?" Her words tumbled out in a frantic rush as she cradled his head against her chest, her arms wrapped around him as if she could shield him from the world.


    Rex''s voice, weak but unmistakably his, broke through her torrent of questions. "Nyra... I can''t breathe. Can you please... remove your chest?" He mumbled, his words muffled against her.


    Despite his exhaustion and the pain etched into his every movement, a faint hint of his usual dry humor lingered in his tone. He might have been too worn out to fully appreciate the situation, but the faintest flicker of a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.


    Nyra''s face flushed, but before she could respond, the Lady in White intervened. With a graceful wave of her hand, the silver chains and white flowers that had restrained Rex dissolved into shimmering light. The sudden release of his weight caught Nyra off guard, and she toppled backward onto the soft bed of white flowers with Rex copsing on top of her.


    "Erm... I... what?" Nyra stammered, her mind short-circuiting as she found herself pinned beneath him. Rex''s head rested heavily on her chest, his face buried in the soft fabric of her clothing.


    Her arms iled awkwardly for a moment before she finally settled, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.


    But Rex''s next words shattered any lingering awkwardness, recing it with a deep, aching sorrow. "I''m sorry, Nyra," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "I caused your death... I don''t even have the face to see Lyra."


    His words were heavy with guilt, each one weighed down by the burden of his actions. He tried to push himself up, his arms trembling with the effort, but his body was too exhausted to cooperate.


    Before he could struggle further, Nyra''s arms wrapped around him again, pulling him back down. "Stop it," she said firmly, her voice cracking with emotion. "Just... stop. You''re here now. That''s all that matters." Her grip tightened, as if she could somehow transfer her feelings to him through the embrace.

 Chapter 293 Who Are You. {3} [R17]

    Rex hesitated, his body stiffening for a moment before he finally relented, sinking back into her hold. His breath hitched, and for the first time, the mask of stoicism he always wore began to crack. "I failed you," he whispered, his voice raw with regret. "I failed both of you."


    Nyra shook her head, her fingers threading through his hair in a gesture offort. "You didn''t fail us," she said softly. "You''re here. And we''re going to figure this out together. Lyra... she''s strong. She''ll understand. But you have to stop ming yourself."


    The Lady in White watched the scene unfold with her expression being a mixture of fondness and sorrow. She kneeled beside them, her presence a calming force amidst the storm of emotions. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Rex," her voice was like a soothing melody.


    The Lady in White''s innocent gaze flickered between Rex and Nyra, her words hanging in the air like a thunderp. "I''m sorry to interrupt your cute talk, but is it not like, you know, like Nyra is already dead?" She said while tilting her head slightly as if she were discussing the weather rather than the life-and-death situation at hand.


    Rex froze while his mind struggled to process her words. "What?" he stammered, his voice cracking. He had seen Nyra''s body, broken, bleeding, and lifeless. How could she be alive? His thoughts raced, a storm of confusion and disbelief.


    The Lady in White sighed, cing a delicate hand on her cheek. "Well, I already told Nyra there were two ways for her to not die, but she rejected the first option. So, there''s only thest option left," she exined, her tone matter-of-fact.


    Rex''s eyes widened, and he immediately tried to push himself up from Nyra''s embrace. "What is that option? If there''s a way to save her, we should do it right away!" he insisted, his voice being urgent. But Nyra, oddly determined, kept her arms locked around him, refusing to let him go.


    The Lady in White raised an eyebrow, amused by their antics. "Well, you and her are here not as souls but with your original body data transformed into pure energy. If I pinch you here," she said while reaching out and pinching Rex''s arm, "there will appear a pinch wound on the body you left behind beforeing here."


    "Ouch, it hurts!" Rex yelled while ring at her.


    She chuckled softly. "Well, does it?"


    Rex blinked, his mind racing to catch up. "Hold on, are you saying that these are our original bodies?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.


    The Lady in White smiled, her expression being almost smug. "Oh my, aren''t you the smart one? But you''re also not entirely right. What you both are using is a perfect copy I made of your bodies. Think of it as a vessel to store your souls. The moment you leave this ce, everything your body experienced here will be carried over to your original bodies. Think of it as a copy and paste."


    She finished her exnation with a proud smile, but Rex and Nyra exchanged nk looks, utterly lost.


    "And she said before she wasn''t a goddess..." Nyra whispered into Rex''s ear, her voice barely audible. But the Lady in White, with her otherworldly senses, heard every word. She cleared her throat, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.


    "Anyways," she continued while brushing past thement, "the thing is, what''s keeping Nyra alive right now is your blood that''s on her body. But since her body is losing blood like a river, it''s only a matter of time before she runs out."


    "To heal her, we''ll need something more precious than your blood, something that contains a bit of power." Her blush deepened as she spoke, her eyes darting away.


    Rex, ever the impulsive one, didn''t hesitate. "If I can save her life, I can give anything! Just tell me what I need to do!" he dered with his voice filled with determination.


    The Lady in White''s eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh my, such passion! I expected nothing less from my son. Well then, you and her will need to have... intercourse."


    The room fell silent. Rex''s face went pale, and Nyra''s cheeks turned a shade of red so bright it could rival the sun. Rex opened his mouth to respond, then closed it, his earlier bravado evaporating.


    "Oh, I thought it was something dangerous," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He nced at Nyra, who was now staring at the ground, her face burning with embarrassment.


    The Lady in White pped her hands together with a radiant smile. "Well then, no time to waste! Let''s get started, shall we?" she said, as if she were suggesting they have tea rather than... well, that.


    Rex and Nyra exchanged a panicked look with their minds racing. This was not how either of them had imagined this day going. But as the Lady in White stood there, beaming with pride and anticipation, they realized there was no escaping what came next.


    "Uh... Nyra?" Rex began, his voice trembling.


    "Y-yes?" She squeaked, still refusing to meet his eyes.


    The Lady in White sighed dramatically. "Oh, for heaven''s sake, just kiss already!" she eximed while throwing her hands in the air. "I''ll give you some privacy. But don''t take too long! Time is of the essence!"


    And with that, she vanished in a swirl of white petals, leaving Rex and Nyra alone in the garden, the weight of her words hanging heavily between them.


    As Rex gazed at Nyra, he was met with a sight that made his heart skip a beat. Shey on the bed of white flowers, her usual cheeky attitude reced by a shy demeanor that only added to her allure.


    Her cheeks were adorned with a delicate red flush, creating a sensual contrast with her pale skin that seemed to glow in the soft light. The innocence in her eyes was still there, but it was nowced with a hint of seduction, making Rex''s resolve waver.


    "Nyra, I... I don''t think this is right," Rex stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "You''re like a little sister to me, just like Lyra. Let''s wait for her toe back and see if there''s another way." The thought of crossing the line with Nyra made him ufortable, and he couldn''t shake off the feeling that he was betraying his own sense of morality.


    But Nyra was not one to be deterred. With a fierce glint in her eye, she turned around and pinned Rex down, her small hands grasping his wrists as she straddled him.


    "Im not enough for you? Im not sexy in your eyes? Do you hate doing it with me that much?!"


    Her crimson eyes zed with passion as she demanded to know if she wasn''t enough for him, if he found her unattractive or repulsive. The pain and vulnerability in her voice were palpable, making Rex''s heart ache with regret.


    "It''s not that," Rex began to exin, but Nyra silenced him with a gentle touch of her hand on his mouth. Her fingers were soft and warm against his lips, sending shivers down his spine.


    "You know... I''ve been in love with you since the day we met in the medical bay," Nyra confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I''m sure Lyra feels the same way. I want you to see me as a woman, not just a little girl." The sincerity in her words was unmistakable, and Rex felt his resolve crumbling beneath him.


    As Nyra slowly unzipped her jacket, revealing the slender curve of her abdomen and the delicatece of her white lingerie, Rex''s breath caught in his throat.


    The sight of her bare skin was intoxicating, making his mind reel with desire. He couldn''t help but notice the way her breasts seemed to spill out of their confines, plump and inviting beneath the thin fabric.@@novelbin@@


    Nyra''s hand slid away from Rex''s mouth as she removed her jacket altogether, exposing herself fully. The only thing covering now were just those two pieces of white lingerie covering those perfect spheres.


    Rex couldn''t think straight anymore; all he could do was gulp down his nervousness as he stared at Nyra''s bared upper body. His thoughts betrayed him, and before long so did other parts, reacting without permission, taking control over rationality.


    Nyra felt something hard poking at the backside.


    {Wait.. is that... his...}


    Instead of being taken aback or offended by this sudden involuntary movement from beneath... rather than pushing away... she lowered further and pressed onto what had brushed against her butt, letting go an almost silent gasp when noticing increasing hardness underneath.


    As Nyra continued to rub against Rex, the tension between them became almost palpable. The air was thick with anticipation, and Rex''s body seemed to be responding of its own ord. Nyra''s eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness as she gazed at Rex, her face inches from his.


    Rex''s hands, which had been lying limp at his sides, suddenly stirred to life. They rose up to grasp Nyra''s hips, his fingers wrapping around her curves as if drawn by an irresistible force. Nyra''s breath caught in her throat as she felt his touch, her skin tingling with pleasure.


    Without thinking, Rex pulled Nyra closer, his lips brushing against hers in a gentle caress. The kiss was soft and tentative at first, but it quickly deepened into something more passionate. Nyra''s lips parted beneath his, allowing him to explore the depths of her mouth.

 Chapter 294 Who Are You? {4} fire in the blood. [R18]

    As they kissed, Nyra''s hands wandered over Rex''s chest, her fingers tracing the contours of his muscles. She could feel the heat emanating from his body, and it only served to fuel her own desire. Rex''s hands remained on her hips, holding her in ce as he devoured her mouth.


    The world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them lost in the intensity of their passion. Time itself seemed to slow down as they savored each other''s touch, their bodies speaking anguage that words could never convey.


    In this moment, nothing else mattered.... not their past rtionship as guardian and adopted sister and not the uncertainty of their future... all that existed was the present and the overwhelming attraction that had finally boiled over between them.


    Nyra broke away from the kiss while gasping softly for air. Her eyes met Rex, and what she saw took breath away once again... those dark orbs now shone with bright desire for one person alone... her.


    As Nyra gazed into Rex''s eyes, she saw the same desire reflected back at her. The air between them was electric, and she could feel the tension building like a ragin storm. Without a word, Rex pulled her back into a kiss, their lips crashing together in a passionate explosion.


    This time, there was no hesitation, no holding back. Their mouths moved in perfect sync, their tongues dancing together as they devoured each other. Nyra''s hands roamed over Rex''s body, tracing the contours of his muscles as she explored every inch of him.


    Rex''s hands were just as busy, caressing Nyra''s curves and sending shivers down her spine. He cupped her breasts in his palms, his thumbs brushing against her nipples and sending sparks of pleasure through her body. Nyra moaned into his mouth, her hips arching up to meet his as they ground against each other.


    The friction between them was building, and Nyra could feel herself getting closer and closer to the edge. She wrapped her legs around Rex''s waist, pulling him deeper into the cradle of her thighs as they moved together in perfect rhythm.


    Their kisses grew more frantic, their breathing heavier as they lost themselves in the moment. The world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them lost in a sea of passion and desire.


    As they broke apart for air, Nyra whispered into his ear, "Now..". Her voice was barely audible but loud enough for Rex to hear.


    Rex looked at Nyra with questioning eyes but before he could ask what she meant by "now,". She took matters into own hands, or rather mouth, reaching down between them, taking rex by surprise once again


    As Nyra''s mouth wrapped around Rex, he felt a jolt of pleasure run through his body. Her lips were soft and warm, and her tongue danced across his skin with a gentle yet insistent touch. Rex''s eyes widened in surprise, but he couldn''t help the moan that escaped his lips as Nyra began to move up and down.


    The sensation was almost overwhelming, and Rex felt himself getting closer and closer to the edge. He tried to hold back, but Nyra''s mouth was relentless, drawing him in with a suction that left him breathless.


    Her hands were wrapped around the base of his shaft, her fingers stroking him in time with her mouth as she worked him into a frenzy.


    Rex''s hips began to move of their own ord, thrusting upwards into Nyra''s mouth as he chased the pleasure that threatened to consume him. Nyra took it all in stride, her mouth adjusting to the rhythm of his hips as she continued to drive him wild.


    The garden around them melted away, leaving only the two of them lost in a world of sensation and desire. Rex felt himself getting closer and closer to the edge, his body coiling tighter and tighter as Nyra pushed him towards release.


    Just when he thought it was all over for him, Nyra pulled back, her mouth releasing its hold on Rex as she gazed up at him with eyes that sparkled like diamonds. "I want you inside me," she whispered, her voice husky with desire.


    Rex didn''t need any further invitations. With a groan of anticipation, he rolled over onto his back, pulling Nyra on top of him as they prepared to take their passion to the next level. As they moved together, Nyra slowly lowered herself onto Rex, taking every inch until she had taken it all.


    As Nyra settled onto Rex, she felt a sense ofpleteness wash over her. He was deep inside her, his shaft stretching her to the limit as their bodies merged into one. The sensation was exquisite, and Nyra couldn''t help but let out a soft moan as she began to move.


    Rex''s hands were on her hips, guiding her as she rocked back and forth. His eyes were locked onto hers, burning with a fierce intensity that left her breathless. Nyra''s own eyes never left his face, drinking in the sight of him as they moved together in perfect sync.


    The rhythm was slow at first, but it quickly built in intensity as they lost themselves in the moment. Nyra''s breasts bounced with each movement, and Rex''s hands reached up to cup them in his palms. His thumbs brushed against her nipples, sending sparks of pleasure through her body as they danced together.


    As they moved, the friction between them grew stronger. Nyra could feel herself getting closer and closer to release, her body coiling tighter and tighter with each passing moment. Rex was right there with her, his own body straining towards climax as they chased the ultimate pleasure together.


    Their breathing grew heavier, their gasps and moans filling the air as they reached the pinnacle of their passion. Nyra''s eyes locked onto Rex''s face, watching as his expression contorted in a mixture of pleasure and pain.


    And then it happened... a burst of sensation that left them both breathless and trembling. Nyra felt herself contract around Rex, holding him tight as he released into her. The feeling was indescribable... like a wave of pleasure that washed over them both like a tsunami.


    As they rode out the aftershocks of their climax, Nyra leaned forward, resting on his chest. Her head fit perfectly into the space between Rex''s shoulders. She closed her eyes, letting warmth spread all through her body , listening to a soundly heartbeat, which seemed now more rhythmic than ever before


    Rex gasped for air, his chest heaving as the fog of pleasure began to clear. His eyes widened as a sudden realization struck him. "Wait, Nyra," he panted, his voice tinged with both curiosity and disbelief.


    "When did you even take off your pants? I didn''t even notice." His gaze trailed down her body, lingering on her hips, now fully exposed and glistening faintly under a sheen of sweat. The sight was both mesmerizing and surreal. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    Nyra let out a low, devilish chuckle, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "While I was... busy with my mouth," she purred, her voice dripping with yful arrogance. "You were too lost in it to notice anything else." Without missing a beat, she leaned in, her teeth grazing Rex''s shoulder in a teasing bite that sent a shiver down his spine.@@novelbin@@


    "Mmm, okay, fair point," Rex muttered with his strained voice. "But why the biting? It''s not like this body has¡ª" Before he could finish, he felt a strange, almost electric sensation as Nyra seemed to draw something from him, something intangible yet undeniably real. His words caught in his throat as a wave of realization washed over him.


    "Oh... well, never mind," Rex said, his tone shifting to one of awe. "These bodies are way too realistic to just be spares. There''s some seriously creepy stuff out there in the gxy, huh?"


    Minutes passed in a haze, the air thick with the remnants of their shared energy. By the time Rex regained his bearings, they were both clothed again, though their disheveled hair and Nyra''s trembling legs betrayed what had just transpired. As if on cue, the Lady in White materialized behind them, her presence as calm and enigmatic as ever.


    "My, my," she said with her voice being a melodic blend of amusement and knowing. "It seems you two enjoyed yourselves quite thoroughly." Her eyes flicked to their tousled hair and Nyra''s unsteady stance with a faint smile ying on her lips.


    Rex cleared his throat, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Ahem, so... how is this supposed to help us get back to our original bodies and keep Nyra alive?" he asked, his voice tinged with skepticism. Despite everything, he couldn''t shake the doubt that something as primal as this could hold the key to something as profound as resurrection.


    The Lady in White chuckled softly, the sound like wind chimes in a gentle breeze. "Oh, my dear boy," she began, her tone both patient and teasing, "the union of beings like us is not merely for procreation. It is an exchange of life energy that is raw, potent, and transformative. That energy is what will breathe new life into Nyra."


    She paused, her gaze lingering on Nyra, who blushed furiously under the scrutiny. "Though I must say," the Lady added, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "the energy you''ve released into her is... extraordinary. I can still sense it radiating from her. So vibrant, so full of life."


    Nyra''s face burned crimson, her mind racing as she misinterpreted thedy''s words. Rex, however, scratched his head, his brow furrowed in thought. "So... it''s like sex magic, right?" he ventured, trying to make sense of it all.


    In an instant, a spectral hand materialized behind Rex and delivered a sharp smack to the back of his head. "Ow!" he yelled while rubbing the spot. "What was that for?"


    The Lady in White sighed, her expression a mix of exasperation and fondness. "Do try to be less vulgar, my child. Choose your words with care; this is sacred, not something vulgar."


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