"Kukuku! Co on, you weaklings! Entertain even more!" The Khryssari champion's laughter echoed across the battlefield, mocking them.
Rex and Carlos let out a raw, defiant warcry, charging toward the towering alien with every ounce of strength they had left. They'd done this a thousand tis before, facing enemies stronger than them and finding a way to win together.
Rex reached the champion first, swinging the heavy device he carried like a club. His bionic implants sparked and strained under the electromagnetic interference, each swing sending jolts of pain through his system.
But Cleo was keeping him patched together, barely. Rex knew the device was their only shot, even if it ant breaking it over the Khryssari's head until it stopped working.
Rex swung the device with brutal determination, treating the device like it was part of him. Though weakened, he moved with surprising fluidity, landing a few solid hits. But it wasn't enough. The Khryssari champion barely flinched, a mocking grin spreading across his face.
"Kukuku, that's a nice massage!" The champion sneered, then lashed out with a brutal kick, sending Rex tumbling down the dunes, leaving a streak of golden blood in the sand.
Carlos grated his teeth and took advantage of the mont. With a desperate swing, he smashed his hamr into the champion's ankle, causing him to stagger and fall face-first into the sand.
Rex saw his chance. Rising to his feet, he charged forward, mustering every ounce of strength, and drove the device deep into the Khryssari's back, forcing a painful roar of pain from the creature.
"NOW, CARLOS! DO IT!"
Carlos roared as he leaped into the air, bringing his hamr down on the top of the device with all his might. The impact drove it deeper, and for a split second, ti seed to stand still.
Then the device exploded, unleashing a massive electromagnetic shockwave that rippled outward, sending everyone within a five-kiloter radius flying through the air.
Rex hit the ground hard, golden blood splattering as he rolled to a stop. He lay there, coughing up sand and blood, gasping for air. "Cough… Carlos, are you still alive?"
From a few ters away, Carlos let out a weak groan. "Barely… After this, I want a long vacation in the underground city. I rember hearing they've got bars by the thermal rivers now... maybe half a year there, at least."
Rex laughed, his voice ragged. "That sounds damn good. Yeah. I'm with you. Though I was hoping to die as a sexy old man, not out here on so sandy hellhole."
Carlos chuckled, wincing. "Oh, quit whining. You're basically immortal, rember?"
Rex's eyes widened, then he laughed again, coughing through the pain. "Right! Guess that ans I will live long enough to beco a sexy old man!"
"You dumbass."
A familiar voice cut through their banter, calm and slightly amused. "Mmm… I was expecting you two to be in much worse shape. You're looking almost fresh."
Rex didn't even have to look to recognize the voice. "Well, well… look who decided to show up. And here I thought you didn't care about anymore. I thought you were just going to leave here to rot."
The figure stepped into view, smirking down at them with a glint in her eye. "Oh, please. Who else am I supposed to rescue if not my favorite reckless idiots～?"
"Well, you know, we could have used that help a little sooner. What kept you?" Rex muttered, glancing up at her with a smirk despite the pain.
Ys rolled her eyes playfully, crouching down beside him and patting his head like he was a stubborn child. "Oh, co now, darling～, don't be like that. There are rules, you know. I couldn't just jump in. That champion? He was a gift from my aunt; she hand-picked it for you.
I told you about this before, or did you forget?"
Rex frowned, the mory clicking back into place. "Ah, right... you did ntion sothing about that. So, who exactly was that bastard?"
Ys smiled, her tone almost cheerful. "He's the son of my aunt's daughter."
Rex blinked, his confusion deepening. "Wait… I thought hive queens only had one daughter. Isn't that the whole deal?"
"Correct!" she replied with a grin. "The queen has one daughter, and that daughter, the princess, can't have daughters herself. Only sons. And those sons? They beco champions of the hive."
Rex let out a long sigh, shaking his head. "Well, damn. At least that bastard's dead now."
Ys gave him a curious look, her expression almost pitying. "Oh, darling～, he's not dead. Just… severely injured. He's probably licking his wounds sowhere, waiting to co after you again."
Rex groaned, exasperated. "Are you kidding ? Is that guy immortal or what?"
She laughed softly. "No, no. Just… resilient. Khryssari champions have remarkable regenerative abilities. As long as they have enough materials to draw on, they can keep healing themselves."
That comnt made her glance down at her stomach, and she absentmindedly placed a hand over it. "Speaking of which... you did give quite a lot of nutrients a few hours ago."
"Oh, for heaven's sake, please don't start with that," Carlos growled, glaring at the two of them.
Rex laughed, despite the pain. "What's the matter, Carlos? Jealous, I've got a beautiful wife."
"Shut up, sissy."
Ignoring their banter, Rex looked back at Ys, relaxing slightly as she continued to run her fingers through his hair. "So… What were you up to while we were getting pounded by that oversized hornhead?"
She smiled, as if enjoying so private joke. "Helping the troops. Reinforcents should be on their way soon to get us out of here. We'll retreat to a safer zone."
A shadow passed over Rex's face. "How many?" he murmured, his voice trailing off.
She tilted her head, not understanding. "How many what, darling?"
"How many... did we lose in that ambush?" he asked quietly, the weight of the battle settling over him.
Ys hesitated, as if counting wasn't sothing she was used to. "Mmm, probably half of them. It was too chaotic to be certain. You know, I'm not exactly... accustod to tracking losses like that." Her tone was almost indifferent.
Coming from the Khryssari, she lacked the sa empathy for soldiers' deaths as other races did; to her, each soldier was simply part of the swarm.
Rex took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you, Ys. Really. For everything."
She smiled, a rare warmth lighting up her eyes as she rubbed her cheek against his hand. "Oh, darling, what do you an? I'm only doing what a good wife should～."
Despite the chaos, Rex found himself smiling back, feeling the rare calm between battles. And for that brief mont, as Ys held his hand in the ruins of the battlefield, everything felt right.
anwhile, on the bridge of the Allied Forces' flagship gunboat, General Leena Valrix stood near the wide observation window, watching the chaotic battle unfold across the skies and sand-blasted ground below. Her sharp gaze scanned the horizon until she finally spotted the signal she'd been waiting for.
"Hmph," she murmured, a hint of satisfaction in her tone. "Looks like that bastard finally accomplished his mission." She turned to one of her officers nearby. "You there, open communication with all air forces."
"Yes, General!" The officer sprang into action, tapping at his console until the line was live. "You're now connected, ma'am."
Leena's voice cut through the static, crisp and commanding. "Attention to all air units under my command. Start your engines and prepare for combat. Fighters and heavy fighters, launch first!"
As her orders echoed across the channels, the ground below beca a hive of activity. Fighters and heavy fighters of all shapes and sizes roared to life, kicking up plus of sand as they lifted off and surged toward the swarming Khryssari forces.
But the enemy was ready; in response, a massive cloud of Skydancers, glowing a sickly green, rose to et them, streaking through the air like an unholy swarm.
Leena counted down under her breath. "Three, two, one, engage."
In an instant, missiles and laser fire rained from the Allied fighters, cutting through the advancing Skydancers. But the enemy was relentless.
The Skydancers dove through the missile barrage, slicing into the fighters with razor-sharp appendages, tearing open cockpits like tin cans, and consuming the pilots within. The skies erupted in a vicious, close-quarters battle for air supremacy, each side fighting tooth and nail to dominate the battlefield above.
Leena's jaw tightened as she took in the brutal scene. "Gunboats! Take off now! Provide support fire to our ground units."
With a rumble, the Allied gunboats lifted off from their positions and unleashed a withering hail of fire upon the enemy forces below. Explosions lit up the desert, and with the added firepower of the gunboats, the tide of the battle began to turn in the Allies' favor.
Far above, on the flagship of the Allied fleet in orbit, Admiral Kael Voss watched the ground conflict from the observation deck, his expression grim. He turned to an officer who approached with a tablet displaying the latest report.
"Sir! Here's the current situation on the surface," the officer said, handing it over.
Voss took the tablet and skimd through the footage with practiced calm. The sandstorm had finally cleared, revealing the full extent of the battle below.
He watched as the Allied air forces fought desperately for control of the skies while the Khryssari unleashed wave after wave of their Skydancers, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
"Mmm, it's getting ugly down there," Voss murmured. He pressed a button on his console, his voice echoing through the bridge.
"Attention to all capital ships and admiralty staff. This is Supre Commander Kael Voss. The ti has co to be more aggressive. Permission granted for the use of main cannons. Let's show these bugs what real firepower looks like."
Across the fleet, enormous warships humd to life as their main cannons began charging, the colossal barrels aid at strategic targets. The power levels of each weapon ticked upward as energy flowed through the conduits, preparing for the devastating release.
Main cannon charging... 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 95%,
Voss's gaze was unyielding as he watched the energy levels climb. In his mind's eye, he could already see the devastation these weapons would unleash. There would be no escape for the Khryssari this ti.
"All ships," he ordered, his voice steady and cold. "Prepare to fire on my command."
The final monts of the charge felt like the calm before a storm, the eerie stillness broken only by the distant rumble of smaller skirmishes. Every officer and every crew mber held their breath, waiting for the signal that would change the course of the battle.
The cannons hit 100%, and Voss raised his hand, his eyes locked on the enemy below.
"Fire."
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