Intergalactic conquest with an AI-Chapter 323 : Hive city war.

"Mini Cleo! Activate the shields! And send some drones outside. I want to see what's going on. It's impossible for them to detect us unless they've got a Tier 6 powerhouse with them, and I highly doubt that."

Rex's voice was calm but laced with an edge of curiosity. He strode toward the living room, where a wall of glowing screens flickered to life, casting an eerie blue light across his face.

{You got it, boss! Releasing the stealth drones!} Mini Cleo chirped with her voice being a mix of sass and efficiency.

The drones slipped out of the hideout like shadows, their tiny forms blending seamlessly into the chaos outside. What they revealed was nothing short of a warzone. Just a few meters away, one of the largest skirmishes in recent memory was unfolding.

The forces of the Elders, with their overwhelming numbers, were pushing hard against the Supreme Commander's elite troops, who were better equipped but outmatched. The clash was brutal; it was a symphony of explosions, gunfire, and the occasional whoosh of energy blades slicing through the air.

But then, things escalated.

Tier 2 elites from both sides stormed into the fray, their powers lighting up the battlefield like a fireworks display gone wrong.

The sky wasn't spared either; hundreds of fighters darted through the air, locked in a deadly dance for supremacy. Rex's eyes narrowed as he noticed something chilling... neither side gave a damn about the civilians.

Fighters spiraled out of the sky, crashing into towering buildings and obliterating homes. Civilians caught in the crossfire were mowed down by stray bullets or vaporized in explosions. The streets ran red, and the air was thick with smoke and screams.

"Damn," Rex muttered while crossing his arms and shaking his head. "These guys are savages. Do they not realize there's no point in winning if there's no one left to rule? Or are they just that stupid?"

Ys voice was of cold pragmatism while she leaned against him, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Darling, this is how all conquest wars go. When you've got hundreds of thousands of expendable bodies, who cares if a few million more die? They'll just import more or buy slaves. It's how it works."

She smirked, hugging his arm like they were watching a bad reality show instead of a massacre.

Meanwhile, in another room, Zynaria was doing her best to keep her cool. The little girl she was tending to was oblivious, but Zynaria's mind was elsewhere.

Her blood boiled every time she thought about Ys. To her, the war between the Kaelzars and Khryssari wasn't ancient history; it was fresh, raw, and personal. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, until a notification from Cleo snapped her out of it.

"Young Emperor," Zynaria said while stepping into the living room with the poise of a warrior queen. "5th Sister just reported that the fleet has arrived. But there's a problem."

Rex turned, his gaze sharp. "What kind of problem?"

Zynaria swiped her hand, and a holo-screen materialized, showing a massive space battle raging just outside the planet's atmosphere.

Nexum ships clashed with their fleet in a dazzling display of laser fire and explosions. "The Nexum fleet is blocking us. 5th Sister is engaged in combat. It'll be a few minutes before she can deploy troops."

Rex's jaw tightened. "Of course. Just when things couldn't get more complicated." He glanced back at the screens showing the chaos outside.

"Mini Cleo, keep those drones active. I want eyes on everything. And Ys—" He shot her a look. "Try not to provoke Zynaria. We've got enough problems without you two starting another war in here."

Ys smirked while flipping her hair. "No promises, darling."

Zynaria's eyes narrowed, her hand twitching toward the hilt of her blade. "You're not even my opponent."

Rex sighed while running a hand through his hair. "Great. Just great. Alright, people, let's focus. We've got a planet to save, a fleet to coordinate, and a war to survive. And for the love of the stars, can someone get me a drink?"

Meanwhile, high above the planet, the fleet battle raged on like a dazzling spectacle of destruction and strategy.

The combined Kaelzar and human fleet was holding its own, thanks to the two newly constructed destroyers that now tipped the scales in their favor.

These behemoths of war were a testament to ingenuity and desperation, their sleek designs bristling with enough firepower to take on medium-sized fleets single-handedly.

The Kaelzar ships were a marvel of advanced technology; their shields were nearly impenetrable, their weapons precise and devastating.

They moved with a grace that belied their destructive potential, like predators stalking their prey. The human ships, on the other hand, were a different beast entirely. While their shields and weaponry were modest compared to their Kaelzar allies,

they made up for it with sheer durability. Their hulls, reinforced with a revolutionary alloy developed by the brilliant and slightly eccentric Professor Oscar, were a nightmare for enemy lasers.

This miracle material, a blend of rare minerals and sheer stubbornness, could withstand heat that would melt conventional hulls like butter.

The catch? It was astronomically expensive to produce, so it was only applied to the sides of the ships and the bridge. This led to the human fleet's signature tactic: the "turtle maneuver."

They'd turn their ships sideways, presenting their reinforced flanks to the enemy, and absorb punishment like a boxer with an iron jaw. Slow? Yes. But nearly indestructible? Absolutely.

"Lilla, we've arrived at the landing point. Start sending the troops." Cleo's voice crackled through the communicator, calm and authoritative.

"Understood. Deploying drop pods as planned," Lilla replied, her tone steady. She closed the channel and turned to one of her priestesses, a silent understanding passing between them. With a single nod, the priestess sprang into action, her fingers flying over her communicator.

"The Saints have spoken! Mobilize the believers! Our mission is to save the civilians; leave the enemy to our allies." Her voice echoed through the fleet, and within moments, hundreds of drop pods launched from both the Kaelzar and human ships.

They streaked through the atmosphere like fiery comets, a rain of hope descending upon the war-torn planet below.

On the ground, chaos reigned. The Supreme Commander was shouting orders; his voice was even hoarse from shouting, when one of his officers came sprinting toward him, nearly tripping over his own boots.

"Sir! We've got a new situation!" the officer gasped while dropping to one knee. "Something's coming down from the sky!"

At the same time, on the Elders' side, a mercenary burst into their command tent; his face was pale. "Elders! It's not good! There's something falling from the sky!, hundreds of somethings!"

"What did you say!?" both the Elders and the Supreme Commander roared in unison, their voices echoing across the battlefield.

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For a brief moment, the two sworn enemies shared a look of mutual dread. Whatever was coming wasn't part of their plans.

The drop pods hurtled toward the surface, their fiery trails lighting up the sky. Civilians looked up in awe and terror, while soldiers on both sides paused mid-fight, their weapons lowering as they stared at the heavens.

The pods slammed into the ground with thunderous impacts, kicking up clouds of dust and debris. Hatches hissed open, and from within emerged the combined forces of the Kaelzar and human armies, a tide of armored warriors and battle-hardened soldiers ready to turn the tide of the war.

Rex, watching from his hideout, couldn't help but smirk. "Well, it looks like the cavalry's here. About time."

Ys leaned against him, her smirk matching his. "Let's just hope they don't trip over their own boots on the way down."

The battlefield fell silent for a heartbeat, as if the planet itself was holding its breath. Then, with a roar that shook the ground, the new arrivals charged into the fray, their war cries echoing across the city.

Without wasting another second, the Aegis Legions surged into the fray. Their mission was clear: secure a safe zone for the civilians, a sanctuary amidst the chaos.

Moving with precision and discipline, they carved a path through the battlefield, their advanced armor gleaming under the smoke-filled sky.

Meanwhile, the human forces, Paladins, Crusaders, and Zealots, fanned out across the city, their orders ringing in their ears. Find the civilians. Protect them at all costs.

These two new forces quickly became the dominant players in the conflict. Not only were they formidable in combat, but they also had the advantage of constant reinforcements from orbit.

The Supreme Commander's forces, already stretched thin, now faced an enemy that seemed to grow stronger by the minute.

Up in orbit, the Nexum Fleet, which was loyal to the Supreme Commander, found themselves in a desperate situation.

Cleo had ordered one of her carriers to intercept any transport ships or drop pods attempting to reinforce the enemy. The carrier's AI, cold and efficient, launched swarms of fighters to hunt down and destroy their targets. The Nexum reinforcements never stood a chance.

On the ground, the Supreme Commander seethed with rage.

"Who the hell are they!?" he shouted whil;e slamming his fist on the command table.

"They're not part of the Elders' Council. That means they're outsiders... invaders!" His eyes narrowed as a sly grin spread across his face.

"If that's the case, I can use this to my advantage. I'll call for reinforcements from the nearby Nexum fleets. They'll have no choice but to respond. After all, we're being invaded by pirates!"

He turned to one of his officers, his voice sharp and commanding. "You! Send an aid request to all Nexum forces in the sector. Tell them we're under attack by a pirate fleet. Move!"

The officer nodded, his fingers flying over the console. But instead of the confirmation tone he expected, all he heard was static. He tried again, his brow furrowing in frustration. Still, nothing.

"Commander..." the officer said while his voice trembled. "The communication lines are down! We're cut off!"