《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.


    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."


    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!


    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.


    "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.


    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.


    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.


    ["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."]


    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.


    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.


    "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.


    ["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?"


    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?!"


    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.


    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."


    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."


    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?"


    "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."

 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."


    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.


    "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."


    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.


    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."


    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."


    "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.


    "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.]


    "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.


    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."


    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."


    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.


    "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.


    "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.


    "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!"


    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."


    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.


    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?"


    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?"


    "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.


    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."


    "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."


    "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.


    "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.


    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!"


    "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."


    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.


    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.


    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.


    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.


    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.


    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.]


    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?"


    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.


    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."


    "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.


    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.


    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.


    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.


    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.


    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.


    "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.


    "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."


    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!"


    "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.


    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."


    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."


    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.


    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."


    "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.


    "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."


    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."


    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?"


    "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.


    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.


    "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!"


    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."


    "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."


    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.


    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.


    "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."


    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.


    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."


    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.


    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.


    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."


    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.


    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.


    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.


    "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.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 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!"


    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.


    "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.


    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.


    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?"


    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."


    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.


    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.


    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?!"


    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.


    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."


    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!"


    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.


    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.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 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.


    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.


    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 say


    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.


    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.


    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.


    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?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 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.


    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 Circle


    , 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.


    "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.


    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.


    "''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."


    "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.


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