Intergalactic conquest with an AI

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 claymores lay 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 black bird, still writhing as it tried to stay airborne, was being pursued relentlessly by several Wraith-class fighters.

Their sleek, predatory forms zipped through the storm, trailing the monstrous bird like wolves hunting wounded prey.

Lightning flashed, illuminating the scene as one of the fighters broke formation and launched a missile unlike anything Rex had seen before. It didn't explode upon contact. Instead, the missile expanded into a swirling black void, an artificial black hole.

The bird let out an ear-piercing screech as the black hole consumed a large chunk of its abdomen and tore away one of its wings. The monstrous creature spun uncontrollably, 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-class 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 blazing 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 his communicator, 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 and composed 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 glanced at the still-twitching body of the creature as the Aegis units surrounded it, their weapons at the ready.

"Kill it,"

she ordered flatly, sliding the test tubes into her belt pouch.

"It's no longer useful."

At her command, the Aegis units unleashed a storm of firepower. Their plasma 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 collapsing completely, its regenerative abilities overwhelmed by the onslaught.

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 occurred there.

A heavy transport ship descended from the clouds, its engines rumbling as it approached the Mauler Unit. Massive mechanical clamps 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 speculation 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 becoming her clothing, a sleek, black, form-fitting ensemble that pulsed faintly with green bio-energy.

Ys stretched lazily, 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 black blades. 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, clawed 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, replaced 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 plating dissolved into thin streams of light, leaving him in his usual attire, his fitted black 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 odd comfort.

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 playful 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 relaxing 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, replaced 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 black. 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 occurred 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 playful 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 sheepish laugh, 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. Wanna come?"

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 placed 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 glanced 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.