Intergalactic conquest with an AI

The battle erupted into chaos as the Void Assassins made their move. Their reputation as relentless killers was well-deserved; the way they darted in and out of stealth with seamless precision made them a nightmare to deal with.

Their attacks came in swift, coordinated waves; one assassin would retreat just as another leaped forward to strike, creating a relentless rhythm of attack and vanish.

"Sis! They're so annoying! I can't hit them properly! Do something!" Lyra yelled, her voice tinged with frustration as she narrowly dodged a blade aimed for her neck.

Her red tentacles lashed out in response, trying to grab the assassin, but the figure dissolved into stealth before she could land a blow.

"What do you want me to do?!" Nyra shouted back, her voice equally exasperated.

"It's even harder for me!" She spun around just in time to block a dagger aimed at her back, the blade bouncing off the honeycomb-shaped energy shield generated by her nanofiber clothing.

"Annoying mosquito!" Nyra growled, swinging her blood-red broadsword in a wide arc. The blade whooshed through the air, narrowly missing the assassin as it blurred back into stealth.

The Void Assassins weren't just quick; they were cunning. They moved like shadows, their jagged, curved blades gleaming faintly before vanishing again.

Their armor, optimized for stealth rather than defense, made them nearly invisible to conventional tracking methods. The twins' enhanced senses helped, but even they were struggling to keep up with the constant onslaught.

Lilla stood calmly within the protective sphere of energy created by her guards shields, observing the chaos around her as though it were a mere spectacle.

The two guards, clad in their techno armor, stood at her side, their shields shimmering like honeycomb-patterned barriers, unyielding to the assassins' attacks.

"Brother," Lilla said, her voice steady despite the frenzied battle. "Where are our men?"

Her brother, standing at attention with his spear still folded on his back, scanned the area quickly before responding. "There's no communications," he said grimly. "The explosions or the falling debris must've taken them out."

Lilla closed her eyes briefly, her composed demeanor unwavering. "Mmm, as expected," she said softly. "We're outnumbered."

She opened her eyes and turned to her brother. "Prepare to engage. Leave my protection to her," she said, gesturing toward the female knight beside her. "I'll focus my faith on uncovering their positions."

Her brother nodded, stepping forward. "Got it. Leave it to me."

He reached for the folded spear on his back, pulling it free with a swift motion. With practiced precision, he flicked his wrist, and the spear extended to its full length with a metallic snap. He slammed the butt of the spear against the ground, causing the tip to crackle with red electricity.

Taking his place at the front, he raised his shield and pointed the electrified spear forward, his stance unshakable. "I'm ready when you are," he said confidently.

Lilla knelt on the cracked ground of the destroyed building, interlacing her fingers as she closed her eyes. A faint silver glow began to radiate from her body, pulsing softly at first before growing stronger.

Then, without warning, the aura exploded outward in a wave of energy, scattering silver dust into the air.

This was one of Lilla's psychic powers, teleesthesia, a technique she had honed through years of practice under the guidance of Doctor Oscar. The ability allowed her to see distant or hidden targets using extrasensory perception, a skill that was invaluable in situations like this.

The silver dust lingered in the air, subtly clinging to the outlines of the hidden Void Assassins. To the untrained eye, they were still invisible, but to Lilla and her allies, the faint shimmer was enough to mark their positions.

"I see them," Lilla's brother said, his voice sharp with anticipation.

One of the shimmering figures stood with its back turned, preparing to lunge at Nyra while she was preoccupied with another attacker.

Without hesitation, Lilla's brother charged forward. His spear crackled with intensified red lightning as he closed the distance in a blur of speed, his techno armor amplifying his movements.

The Void Assassin barely had time to react before the electrified spear pierced through its torso like a hot knife through butter. The force of the attack lifted the assassin off its feet, impaling it and holding it aloft for all to see.

The Assassin let out a gurgling hiss, its jagged blade falling from its hand as its body convulsed violently from the electric current surging through it.

The other Void Assassins froze for a split second, their stealth faltering as they momentarily revealed themselves, startled by the sudden loss of one of their own.

"Gotcha," Nyra said with a wicked grin. She swung her broadsword with brutal force, its blade glowing crimson as her blood-infused energy enhanced its power. The blade sliced cleanly through the air, cutting down one of the revealed assassins before it could retreat into stealth.

Lyra wasted no time either. Her red tentacles shot forward, wrapping around another assassin and slamming it into the ground with enough force to crack the concrete. The assassin struggled, its blade flashing as it tried to cut itself free, but Lyra tightened her grip, squeezing the life out of it.

"They're faltering!" Lyra shouted, her crimson eyes blazing with determination.

Lilla's brother pulled his spear free from the impaled assassin, letting the lifeless body crumple to the ground. He turned to face the remaining Void Assassins, his shield raised as electricity danced along the edge of his spear. "They're fast," he said, his voice calm but focused. "But now we've got them."

From her position, Lilla remained kneeling, her psychic energy still radiating outward. Her voice was calm yet commanding as she spoke. "Don't let up. They rely on stealth and confusion. Now that we can see them, we have the advantage. Strike quickly, before they regroup."

Nyra and Lyra nodded in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized as they advanced on the remaining assassins. The Blood Clan assassins, emerging from the shadows like ghosts, joined the fray, their crimson blades flashing as they closed in on the disoriented Void Assassins.

"Tch! Everyone, retreat!" one of the Void Assassins shouted, his voice sharp and commanding as he darted back into the shadows, his movements fluid and impossibly fast.

"What!? Don't even think you can escape!" Nyra yelled, her crimson eyes flaring with anger. Without hesitation, she bolted after the assassin, her broadsword gleaming as her blood-red energy tentacles shot out to propel her forward like a crimson blur.

"Wait! Don't follow them! We don't know if—" Lilla tried to warn, her voice rising in alarm, but before she could finish, a deafening explosion erupted beneath Nyra's feet.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The blast sent Nyra flying, her body hurtling through the air before slamming into the ground with a sickening thud. She tumbled across the debris-littered street, the impact kicking up a cloud of dust before she finally came to a stop.

"Nyra!" Lyra screamed, her crimson eyes wide with panic as she immediately started toward her sister.

Nyra coughed violently, her body trembling as she forced herself to her knees. "Cough, cough, what was that!?" she muttered, spitting dirt from her mouth and clutching her stomach.

"There are hidden mines on the road!" Lilla called out, her usually calm tone laced with urgency. She stood nearby, her silver glow dimming as the toll of her psychic abilities began to show in her unsteady breathing.

"It's too dangerous to pursue them. We're falling into their trap. It's better if we pull back and regroup!"

Nyra gritted her teeth, glaring in the direction of the fleeing assassins. "Tsk! Fine!" she spat, though the frustration in her voice was clear. She turned and leaped back toward the collapsed building, where Lyra was already waiting.

"Sis! Are you okay?!" Lyra rushed to Nyra's side as soon as she landed, her hands moving quickly to inspect her sister for injuries.

"I'm fine," Nyra said gruffly, brushing off the dirt from her clothes as her tentacles retracted into her body. "It was just the impact. These bastards are playing dirty."

Lyra didn't look convinced but nodded reluctantly, her concern still evident.

"So, what now?" Nyra asked, her gaze shifting to Lilla, who had taken a seat on a piece of debris nearby.

Lilla sighed, her sharp eyes scanning the surrounding rubble one last time before pulling out a high-calorie protein bar from her pack. She unwrapped it with steady hands, her calm demeanor belying the strain she was under.

"Nothing," she said, taking a bite. "If they've retreated, it means they'll either change their operational zone or leave the underground city entirely. Either way, they'll be back, but with more troops next time."

Nyra's frustration boiled over, and she swung her sword angrily at a nearby chunk of debris, cleaving it in two. "Tch! So we're just letting them get away? That's it?"

Lilla nodded, her expression unchanging. "Chasing them now will only get more of us killed. And we'll lose the chance to regroup and prepare. Patience is a weapon, Nyra. You should learn to wield it."

Nyra muttered something under her breath, clearly dissatisfied, but before she could respond, her arm device began vibrating.

"Hmm?" Nyra raised her wrist, tapping the display to check the message. Her crimson eyes quickly scanned the screen, and her expression darkened.

"This is bad," she said, her voice tight with urgency.

"What is it?" Lyra asked, her concern returning instantly.

Nyra grabbed Lyra's hand, her grip firm. "No time to explain! We need to get back to the mansion, now!" Without waiting for a response, she activated her blood-enhanced speed, and in an instant, the two of them disappeared, leaving only a crimson blur behind.