Intergalactic conquest with an AI-Chapter 322 : Chaos. {4}

Meanwhile, a sleek, armored vehicle sped through the neon-lit streets of the Hive City, flanked by a convoy of Nexum military escorts.

Inside, the Supreme Commander sat with his arms crossed; his expression was a mix of irritation and cold calculation. Beside him, the little girl's mother, a woman whose beauty was matched only by her ruthlessness, glared at him, her face still red from the slap he'd delivered moments ago.

"You had one job," she hissed, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "One job! And you couldn't even do that. How could you let that bastard escape with her?!"

The Commander's eyes narrowed, his voice becoming low and dangerous. "Don't you dare blame me, you useless woman. You had months to poison her. Months! And yet, here we are, cleaning up your mess."

She recoiled slightly, her hand instinctively touching her cheek where he'd struck her. "But what about that man? What if he helps her? What if they come after us?"

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The Commander leaned back while a devilish smirk spread across his face. "That man? Whoever he is, he's nothing. Even if he's strong, he's just one person. And this world? It's mine. Every soldier, every weapon, every resource, it all answers to me. That brat can run all she wants, but she's alone. And alone, she's nothing."

The woman frowned; her curiosity piqued despite her anger. "What do you mean? Why are you so confident?"

The Commander let out a quiet, mocking laugh. "Let's just say... I have a contingency plan. One that even her father couldn't have stopped, had he been alive."

Hidden deep beneath the icy wasteland of the planet's north pole, a secret facility buzzed with activity.

Scientists in white coats moved through the dimly lit corridors with their faces illuminated by the cold glow of monitors and control panels. At the heart of the facility, encased in a massive cryo-chamber, was a creature of unimaginable power.

The lead scientist, a man with sharp features and a calculating gaze, studied the stats displayed on his screen. His eyes lingered on one line in particular: Tier 5 Peak. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Sir," one of his assistants called out, "the Commander has requested an update. He wants to know if the asset is ready."

The lead scientist didn't look up. "Tell him it's almost time. The beast is stable, and the awakening sequence is nearly complete. Soon, he'll have his ultimate weapon."

The assistant nodded and hurried off, leaving the scientist alone with the sleeping titan. He placed a hand on the cryo-chamber, his reflection distorted in the frosted glass. "Soon," he whispered. "Soon, the world will tremble."

Meanwhile In the heart of the Hive City, the Elder Council convened in their grand chamber, a room adorned with ancient tapestries and glowing holograms of the planet's history. The mood was tense, the air thick with frustration and fear.

"Have we found any trace of the girl?" one Elder demanded, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Or are we just sitting here, waiting for the Supreme Commander to tighten his grip on the city?"

Another Elder, a woman with sharp eyes and a sharper tongue, shook her head. "Our forces have found nothing. No sign of her, no leads. It's as if she vanished into thin air."

A third Elder, a burly man with a deep voice, slammed his fist on the table. "And what of the Commander? His forces are everywhere, using martial law as an excuse to seize control. If he finds her before we do—"

"Enough," a commanding voice cut through the chaos. All eyes turned to the Grand Elder, a figure of immense presence and authority. He stood at the head of the table with his hands clasped behind his back. "Bickering will get us nowhere. What we need is action."

The room fell silent as the Grand Elder continued. "Send our agents to search for the girl. Use our spies to feed the Commander's forces false leads. Keep him distracted while we find her. And when we do… we'll decide her fate."

The other Elders nodded; their expressions were grim but determined. "As you command, Grand Elder," one of them said, bowing slightly before hurrying out of the room to carry out his orders.

As the Supreme Commander plotted, the Elders schemed, and the scientists prepared to unleash their monstrous creation, Rex, Ys, and the little girl finalized their plans in the safety of their hidden base. The city outside was already covered in enough full to make it explode in total chaos, and the spark was about to be lit.

In one of the hidden rooms of Rex's hideout, a massive device hummed with energy, its surface covered in glowing runes and intricate circuitry.

The batteries powering it were powerful enough to fuel the Hive City for a century, but here they were only dedicated to a single, monumental task. Rex stood before it, arms crossed, his expression being a mix of anticipation and impatience.

"Mini Cleo, turn it on. I don't have the patience to figure out how this thing works," he said, his voice echoing in the dimly lit room.

{Activating the warp device now, boss!} Mini Cleo's cheerful voice chirped.

The device roared to life, its core glowing brighter and brighter until the air itself seemed to crackle with energy. A portal swirled into existence, and from it stepped Zynaria, her tall, imposing figure clad in sleek, battle-ready armor.

"Greetings, little emperor," she said while making a strange hand gesture that Rex assumed was some kind of formal greeting. He shrugged it off.

"Nice to see you too, sister-in-law. Is everything ready on the other side?" Rex asked while leading her out of the room and into the living area.

Zynaria nodded while her sharp eyes were scanning the hideout. "Affirmative. The 5th Sister is overseeing the fleet as we speak. It will take two more days to fully supply the ships and another day to reach this sector. We'll be ready."

Rex grinned. "Good. Make yourself comfortable here while we wait. I'll be checking the cloaking and shield devices. This city's about to become a war zone, and I don't want us caught in the crossfire."

As Rex moved to inspect the defenses, he waved at the little girl, who had been quietly watching TV. "Come on, kid. You're with me. Time to learn how to stay alive in a war zone."

The girl scrambled to her feet, her mismatched eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of fear. Meanwhile, Ys was sprawled on the floor, her upper body slumped off the sofa, her legs still dangling on the cushions. She snored softly, completely unfazed by the chaos brewing outside.

Hours later, the Supreme Commander's voice echoed across the planet, broadcast on every screen and speaker. His face was stern and unyielding, filling the airwaves as he delivered his message.

"Citizens of Runek, I come to you with grave news. The Elder Council, in their greed and corruption, have kidnapped the daughter of our beloved late leader. Her mother, in her desperation, has turned to me for help. I will not rest until the girl is found and the traitors are brought to justice!"

The declaration was a masterstroke of propaganda. Within minutes, Nexum forces began raiding the Elder-owned businesses, confiscating assets, and arresting anyone connected to the Council. The city that was already on edge, erupted into chaos.

But the Elders weren't about to take this lying down. Under the orders of the Grand Elder, their private armies that were hidden for years in secret bases across the planet finally mobilized. Counterattacks were launched against Nexum forces, and soon, the city was a battlefield.

Skirmishes broke out in every district. Explosions rocked the streets, and the sky was filled with the roar of fighter ships and the streaks of energy weapons. Civilians fled in panic, while soldiers and mercenaries clashed in brutal, unrelenting combat.

Back at the hideout, Rex watched the chaos unfold through a holographic display. "Well, that escalated quickly," he muttered, his tone being almost amused. "Looks like the Commander and the Elders are doing our job for us."

The little girl stood beside him, her cybernetic eye flickering as she processed the scenes of destruction. "This… this is my fault," she whispered while her voice trembled.

Rex glanced down at her, his expression softening. "No, kid. This was always going to happen. The Commander and the Elders were just waiting for an excuse to go at each other's throats. You're just the spark that lit the fuse."

Lira looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of guilt and determination. "But… what about the people? They're innocent. They don't deserve this."

Rex sighed while crouching down to her level. "You're right. They don't. But sometimes, to fix something, you have to break it first. We'll end this war, and when we do, we'll make sure the people are taken care of. That's a promise."

Before Lira could respond, the ground shook violently, and the sound of an explosion echoed in the distance. Rex straightened, his wings instinctively flaring out. "Looks like the party's getting closer. Time to move."

Rex, Ys, and Zynaria moved swiftly through the hideout, preparing for the inevitable. The little girl stayed close, her small frame dwarfed by the towering figures around her. Mini Cleo's voice buzzed in their ears, providing updates on the fighting.

{Enemy forces are converging on our location, boss. We've got Nexum troops to the east and Elder mercenaries to the west. They'll be here in minutes.}

Rex smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Perfect. Let's give them a warm welcome."