Intergalactic conquest with an AI

"You sound like someone who's used to taking direct action. Unfortunately, that's not an option, at least not yet." Lilla leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on her knees.

"Attacking a megacorporation like Nexum Dynamics outright would be suicide. Their resources, their private armies, their political connections... Even with Lady Cleo and Lord Rex backing us, we simply aren't strong enough to handle the retaliation they'd unleash. Not yet."

Lyra, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her soft voice cutting through the tension. "So... this is about endurance. Wearing them down little by little."

Lilla glanced at her, her smile growing slightly. "Exactly. For now, all we can do is endure. Take out their operatives here, disrupt their plans as much as possible, and survive long enough to build our strength. Every enemy we kill weakens their grip on this city, even if only by a fraction."

Nyra scowled, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. "Hmph. It feels like we're just playing defense. I hate defense."

Lilla chuckled again. "I can see that. But patience is as much a weapon as any blade, young lady. And trust me, there will come a time when we'll strike at Nexum Dynamics directly. When that time comes, I'll gladly have you by my side."

Nyra's expression softened slightly, though she still looked annoyed. "Fine. But don't expect me to sit still forever."

Lyra glanced at her sister, then at Lilla, her silver eyes filled with quiet determination. "We'll help however we can."

Lilla nodded approvingly. "I'm glad to have you both here. With your abilities, I'm confident we can finally turn the tide."

The car hit a slight bump as the convoy continued down the winding road, the dim glow of the underground city lights flickering through the windows.

Outside, the environment began to shift; the clean, industrial architecture of the upper levels gave way to darker, more decrepit surroundings. The air felt heavier here, the shadows deeper, as if the very walls of the city were watching them.

Lilla glanced at her wrist device, pulling up a 3D map of their destination. "We're almost there. Once we arrive, the Blood Clan will take point and scout ahead. The Techno Knights will secure the perimeter, and we'll be ready to move in."

Nyra cracked her knuckles, her crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Finally. I've been itching to get some action."

Lyra stayed quiet but placed a hand on her sister's shoulder, her touch grounding her slightly.

Lilla smiled faintly. "Just remember, these enemies are dangerous. Don't underestimate them, no matter how many of us there are."

The convoy slowed as they approached their destination, the vehicles coming to a stop in a wide, desolate section of the underground city. The surrounding buildings were crumbling, their windows shattered, and the air was thick with dust.

As the group disembarked from their vehicles, the Blood Clan assassins immediately melted into the shadows, their presence almost imperceptible. The Techno Knights took up defensive positions around the convoy, their exosuits humming softly as they powered up their weapons.

Lilla turned to the twins, her expression serious now. "Alright. This is where it begins. Let's find these creatures and put an end to them."

Nyra grinned, drawing her dual blades. "Oh, I'm ready."

Lyra took a deep breath, her hands glowing faintly with energy as she prepared herself. "Let's make sure we all make it back."

As the team moved into the darkened streets, the faint sounds of the city faded behind them, replaced by an eerie silence that seemed to stretch endlessly.

"Everyone, be on high alert," Lilla commanded, her voice calm but firm as her eyes swept across their surroundings.

"The enemies we're facing are Void Assassins. They're not run-of-the-mill threats. These bastards are elusive, highly coordinated, and very, very dangerous. Report any movement or suspicious—"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Before she could finish, a deafening explosion ripped through the air, cutting off her words. The first blast erupted beneath the road where their convoy had stopped, sending chunks of concrete and metal flying like deadly rockets. Almost simultaneously, additional explosions detonated in the nearby abandoned buildings.

The blasts were coordinated perfectly, bringing the decrepit structures down in a catastrophic chain reaction. Massive chunks of debris tumbled down like meteors, raining destruction on the team.

"Shit!" Nyra yelled, her instincts kicking in. She reached out for her sister. "Sis!"

Lyra immediately grabbed Nyra's hand, her crimson eyes glowing faintly as their connection ignited. The twins' synchronized powers surged, their blood thrumming with latent energy.

"Blood dome!" Nyra shouted, and the two of them wove a protective dome of crimson energy around themselves and those nearest to them, including Lilla and her guards.

The dome shimmered with a bloody hue, its surface alive with swirling currents of nanomachines mixed into the twins unique blood.

Cleo's engineering brilliance had enhanced their abilities, making the dome strong enough to withstand both the crushing weight of debris and the concussive force of the explosions.

The blasts tore through the air for what felt like an eternity. Flames roared, the ground quaked, and the falling debris smashed down against the bubble, but it held firm.

When the explosions finally subsided, a strange, eerie silence settled over the area. The dome pulsed once before retracting, its surface splitting as bright red tentacles shot outward, piercing through the debris to clear a path.

Nyra stepped out first, her crimson broadsword in hand, its blade glinting ominously in the dim light. The blood-red tendrils receded behind her as she scanned the area, her crimson eyes glowing faintly with an unnatural light.

"Do you see anything, sis?" Nyra asked, her voice low and tense.

Lyra emerged behind her, four glistening red tentacles writhing and flexing from her back like living extensions of herself. She turned her crimson gaze across the rubble, her expression calm but focused.

"Nothing," Lyra replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Her tentacles coiled protectively, ready to lash out at the first sign of danger.

Nyra glanced down at the hole left behind by the collapsed debris. "You guys okay down there, or do you need some help to climb out?" She called down.

A faint metallic clank echoed from below as one of Lilla's guards activated their exosuit. "No need for that," Lilla's voice replied, smooth as ever. "We can manage on our own, but thank you for the offer."

Seconds later, Lilla emerged, carried effortlessly by her brother. Using the gravitational boosters built into their techno armor, he leaped out of the pit with powerful, calculated movements. His boots emitted faint pulses of energy as he ascended in three smooth jumps, landing gracefully on solid ground.

The other guard followed close behind, her exosuit humming softly as she cleared the debris with the same efficiency. Once on the surface, Lilla's brother gently set her down. Without hesitation, he pulled a metallic rod from his back.

The device unfolded with a smooth, mechanical hiss, transforming into a compact, high-tech shield. A honeycomb-like energy barrier shimmered to life over its surface, ready to absorb incoming attacks.

The other guard mirrored his actions, her shield deploying with the same precision. Together, they formed a protective circle around Lilla, their stances disciplined and unyielding.

"How are your losses?" Lilla asked, her tone calm but edged with urgency as she glanced toward the twins.

Nyra smirked, resting her broadsword on her shoulder with a casual air. "Losses? None." Her voice carried an edge of pride. "Don't worry about us. Our people are harder to kill than roaches."

Lyra winced slightly, glancing at her sister. "Sis… I don't think they like being compared to roaches."

From the shadows near the rubble, one of the Blood Clan assassins emerged, his glowing red eyes narrowing slightly. "We can hear you, you know," he muttered dryly, though there was no real malice in his voice.

Nyra waved him off with a grin. "I meant it as a compliment! You guys are survivors, right?"

The assassin didn't reply, instead vanishing back into the shadows with a faint huff.

Lilla stepped forward, brushing dust from her uniform as she surveyed the area. The once-stable road was now a jagged wasteland of craters and rubble, and the surrounding buildings were reduced to smoking ruins.

"This was a trap," Lilla said, her eyes narrowing as she studied the carnage. "They knew we were coming. They've been watching us."

Nyra twirled her broad sword, the weapon's edge glinting ominously. "If they wanted to scare us, they'd have to try harder than this."

Lyra, still scanning the area, frowned. "This wasn't just to scare us. It was to isolate us. Split us up. If we're not careful, they'll pick us off one by one."

Lilla nodded in agreement, her sharp gaze flicking toward the shadows. "You're right. Stay close. Everyone, maintain formation and keep your eyes open. Void Assassins thrive in chaos. Don't give them what they want."

As if on cue, a faint, unnatural clicking sound echoed from the rubble. It was soft, almost imperceptible, but enough to send a chill down their spines.

Did you hear that?" Lyra asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nyra's eyes gleamed with excitement as she tightened her grip on her sword. "Oh, I heard it. It looks like the party's about to start, and we were the guests of honor."

From the shadows, shapes began to emerge: twisted, humanoid figures with elongated limbs and glowing red eyes.

Their movements were unnaturally smooth, almost serpentine, as they slithered closer. Each of them carried jagged, curved blades that shimmered faintly with an eerie, violet energy.

Void Assassins.