PART 1
“Miss Ashborne. It's time!”
The alarm blared, echoing through the air of the wall. The click of weapons resounded as the defenders prepared for the impending battle.
Ashlyn Ashborne, the fierce leader of the defense, stepped forward with determination etched on her face.
“Gather your courage. We must give hell to them.” She commanded, her hand pointing forward.
With a deafening roar, the colossal forms of their adversaries loomed on the horizon. The ground below the wall they were defending turned gray under the sheer weight of their numbers.
The ground quaked beneath their feet as the eight-legged invaders advanced, their chitinous exoskeletons gleaming in the pale light.
The rhythmic clicking of their fangs snapping set an eerie spectacle that sent shivers down even the bravest spine.
A defender’s nervous gulp broke the tense air, the sound grating on the nerves of those present.
Yet, no one blamed him; just a mere week ago, he had been a civilian. In fact, many of those now standing resolute had once lived ordinary lives, so they could understand him.
“Comrades! Ready your blasters, and hold your swords!” Ashlyn's voice echoed with authority as she issued her orders.
Her fiery determination was palpable in her stance and the intensity of her gaze reflected her unwavering commitment to their cause.
“If you spot one of those glowing creatures, immediately relay the information to our airforce for capture.”
She paused for a second, a stray strand of her light red hair brushed against her lips. Without missing a beat, she brushed it aside, her focus never wavering as she locked eyes with each defender.
“The fate of our city rests on our shoulders. We will not let them repeat what they just did to the city of Belov.”
Raising her arc high, her voice resonated with even greater authority. “Do you all understand?!”
“Yes!”
In a show of loyalty and unity, the men responded with a resounding thud of their weapons against their armor.
“For our lady, for our Home.” They bellowed in unison.
Ashlyn's gaze softened as she regarded her comrades.
Countless battles and shared sorrows had forged unbreakable bonds among them during the course of this long war.
The struggles they'd faced together had solidified a profound loyalty that now resonated within each individual.
The adversary's attempt to shatter their resolve by obliterating the second largest city in their world was not enough.
The enemy was sorely mistaken if they believed that they could overwhelm them with their new self-sacrifice tactic.
And they would soon regret it.
“Our reports state that each of those shiny insects is the equivalent of five of our soldiers.”
Ashlyn's statement made the atmosphere somber, yet she continued.
“But you know what? To hell with that equation. Today, I'm taking a hundred of these bastards down with me.”
“Give them hell!”
A chorus of fierce agreement erupted from some of the defenders.
Yet, not everyone joined in. Some cast their eyes downward, acknowledging the grim reality that their survival odds were dwindling to almost nothing.
It was then, while Ashlyn counted each of the shiny heads of the encroaching enemy, that it happened.
First, a screech akin to a crystal shattering on the ground pierced their eardrums.
Followed by an immense shadow akin to the night that covered both the city behind and the encroaching invaders ahead.
Ashlyn managed to crane her head upwards to see an immense metallic sky over them before it was abruptly eclipsed.
A blinding flash of searing orange light seared into her retinas, a searing pain erupting within her eyes.
Her scream, a guttural cry of agony, merged with those of her subordinates. But their combined voices were quickly swallowed by a thunderous roar, akin to lightning striking a tree, only multiplied by a thousand times.
She crumpled to the ground, her knees and palms absorbing the brunt of the impact.
A jarring sensation reverberated through her head, the toll of the attack still numbing her senses.
For what felt like an eternity, she kneeled there, her ears ringing like a malfunctioning radio. Her vision was veiled by a disorienting orange glow, shrouding the world around.
Until, it finally stopped.
Gradually, her sense of equilibrium returned, her ears could hear other sounds again and her sight slowly started to return.
And the scene she saw was pure chaos.
Her comrades were in varying states of disarray. Some lay unconscious, sprawled on the ground. Others stood dazed, their gazes fixed on the metallic expanse above them. A few who could still move lent support to their dazed allies.
“What in the name of the holy fire was that?!” She mustered, her voice both incredulous and furious.
Her first instinct was to look up like the others, but her experience refined by countless battles held her back.
Instead of gazing skyward like her comrades, she turned her attention outward to assess the state of their adversaries.
“Miss Ashborne. Let me check you!”
A concerned voice broke through the chaos. One of her loyal subordinates, a skilled medic, hurried to her side. Clutching a scanning tube, the medic knelt beside her, ready to assess her condition.
“No!” Ashlyn held her hand with a vice grip, getting the device away from her. “Whatever that was, it didn't strike us directly. And there's a chance it didn't hit the enemy either!” She said, her analysis spot on. “First, I must check their condition.”
“But leader!” The medic protested.
The medic's protest was met with a firm resolve in Ashlyn's eyes.
Incorporating back to her feet, she beheld the view below the wall where the enemy was supposed to be.
Yet, what met her eyes was a scene of surreal devastation.
Instead of the adversaries they had prepared to face, she found fifteen holes deep on the ground that created a macabre symmetry.
As to what happened to the enemy, she could only see half burnt carcasses and their hideous long legs jutting out from the edges of the deep holes.
A triumphant surge of emotion filled Ashlyn. Their relentless foes had finally taken a big loss.
“It must have been The God Ignitus!” A hushed whisper escaped someone's lips.
“That’s right! He’s finally back to aid us!”
“Thank the holy fire, He has not forsaken us!”
The place became abuzz, the defenders wishing that this turn of events signaled the resurgence of their God.
A God who had abandoned them in their darkest hours.
“Leader, do you think it's truly Him, our God?” The medic at Ashlyn's side couldn't contain her anticipation, her voice trembling with expectation.
Ashlyn returned her sight upwards, contemplating the unfamiliar metallic sky above.
Intermittent orange beams of light pierced the horizon, accompanied by faint tremors that rumbled through the ground.
It was a foreign view, something she was witnessing for the first time.
“No, something doesn’t add up.” Ashlyn replied thoughtfully. “If it were Ignitus, he would have demanded the offering of virgin women before embarking on any campaign. Moreover, those pillars of light look nothing like the holy fire of his.”
“I see…”
The medic bowed her head in disappointment, her mouth moved but she couldn’t find the right words to express herself.
Observing this, Ashlyn reached out, her intent to offer a reassuring touch when a faint buzzing sound reached her ears.
Lifting her gaze skyward, she beheld five distant metallic drones weaving through the air.
“What in the world is that?” A startled voice erupted from the crowd.
Descending in a synchronized motion, four of the drones gradually neared the ground. Soon after, they unleashed bursts of small, orange-hued elemental rays upon the defeated Gemcrabs.
The beams pulsed with an ethereal power, reducing the once formidable invaders to smoldering remains.
What added to their unease was the fifth drone that drew closer to their position above the wall.
“By the heavens, that's a hideous sight.” Ashlyn couldn't help but mutter as her eyes fixed on the approaching contraption.
The drone bore an uncanny resemblance to a colossal metallic fish, its features punctuated by oversized, round eyes and teeth bigger than an adult's head.
The people around her drew restless, some even instinctively reaching for their weapons in anticipation of an impending battle.
Despite their varied reactions, the airborne fish continued its advance, steadily closing the gap to a point where it was just out of firing range yet still near enough to be heard.
Ashlyn's fingers tightened on her weapon as the creature's eyes suddenly ignited with a faint blue luminance that projected forward.
Fortunately for them, the beam transformed into a blue glowing man.
The man, with an affable smile on his face, looked around at them. His face was not ugly but it looked foreign, his short hair contrasting with their species' usual long hair.
A sturdy armor covered his body, making him look imposing.
However, there was just something wrong about him.
“By the holy fire! His ears are mutilated!” The medic beside her gasped.
Ashlyn's brow furrowed at the observation.
Ears being severed to conform to a round shape was a practice undertaken by the zealots of Ignitus, particularly as a punishment for those who dared to oppose their God's doctrine.
Obviously, this man was not part of the holy order.
The man, not knowing their thoughts, started his first speech as the ruler of this destroyed world.
“Welcome to my new empire! My dear subdits.”
Ashylyn Ashborne [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/87614894/9c33573cd1224ada82c39db67867d6b9/eyJxIjoxMDAsIndlYnAiOjB9/1.jpg?token-time=1695859200&token-hash=ZbADvQ2ZxnNYla7uG75MD6xKc5O9r795PeuaU2gZbSs%3D]
PART 2
Alex advanced with firm steps through the long cockpit, the metallic floor beneath his feet emitting a muted hum as he moved.
The massive crystal that offered an unparalleled view of the world outside covered his entire sight.
Upon reaching his destination, his attention was drawn to a holographic panel beside the expansive window.
Responding to his presence, the holographic display made a drop sound as it activated a blue holographic interface.
It showed a representation of the world before them. Red dots indicated the concentrated positions of the invading forces, while the green dots pinpointed the remaining cities of the indigenous population.
Alex thrust his hand forward, muttering under his breath. “Here goes nothing.”
His outstretched hand made contact with the holographic interface, causing it to change. Bright green energy bars of the ship’s weapons appeared.
A voice, synthetic yet professional, addressed him through the ship's interface, seeking his confirmation.
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“Please confirm the activation of the primary weaponry against the invading species, codenamed Gemcrabs.”
There was a palpable pause as Alex hesitated for a heartbeat before his expression became serious and commanded.
“Yeah, let’s do it. Just avoid places that are too close to the locals.”
The holographic projection shifted once more, a selection of red dots vanishing from the projected targets.
“Change in directives approved. Initiating attack protocol.”
A humming soft sound was heard through the ship's interior as its weapons systems powered up.
It was followed by brilliant columns of intense orange light erupted from the ship's cannons.
Some of these beams fell directly on the world below them. Others, however, wove a complex trajectory around the world before striking in on their designated target.
Alex stood there, with unblinking wide eyes as craters visible from space started to appear across the surface of the world.
His hands couldn’t help but tremble in excitement as the sight registered in his head.
Yet, amid the mesmerizing chaos, a feeling of wrongness filled his mind.
“Wait a second.”
It was only when he noticed the world seen through the crystal did he notice something wrong.
“Astra, why are we getting closer to the world?” He asked with a puzzled furrow in his brow. “I mean, I was all geared up for my big speech through the holographic feed. You know, far from explosions”
Astra smiled serenely, her eyes gentle, but shimmering as she controlled the ship.
“Of course you will. We are getting close to the biggest city of this world as a little demonstration of our power.”
“A big kaboom, and they'll become loyal followers of yours!” Pyra added in, her hands dancing through the air in a comical explosion gesture.
Alex rubbed the back of his head with trembling eyes, his lips contorting into a somewhat strained smile.
“Yeah, sure...” He responded awkwardly.
“Hey, no need to stress. Just be yourself, and they'll love you immediately!” Aqua supported him.
With a renewed focus, Alex turned his sight back to the looming alien world that lay beneath them.
It might have been a beautiful water world in the past, there were traces of it. But now, the prolonged wars it had witnessed left its waters contaminated by a sickening green.
However, as their ship drew near, islands appeared amid the ocean.
In the middle of one of those islands, he managed to see a tiny city that slowly grew clearer in his view until eventually he could see the biggest buildings of it.
The most prominent structure was an enormous wall that surrounded the square-shaped city.
Within, structures were clustered together, like a domino maze. And standing at the heart of it all was a colossal five-pointed palace, its presence casting a shadow over the rest.
Factories chimed in as a backdrop, adding a gritty industrial touch to the otherwise awe-inspiring panorama.
It was a clear representation of this world, filled with the remnants of the past beauty marred by the war.
“That’s a large number of gemcrabs.”
Astra’s voice broke him out of his inner musing.
And it was true, a big crowd of the eight legged lizards was approaching one seccion of the city’s wall.
“If they are left alone, they'll lay waste to the city.” Alex worried, turning to look at Pyra.
Pyra had her eyes glow as she drew her telekinesis to control the ship.
“Don’t worry, little king, I’m already at it.”
Suddenly, another wide orange laser shot underneath the ship.
A big tremor sound followed soon after the impact.
“Perfect ten out of ten!” Pyra exclaimed, her hand mimicking a ten.
Unperturbed by Pyra's antics, Astra's countenance shifted to one of seriousness.
“The moment has come for your appearance, my king.” Her voice maintained its tranquil tone as her gaze settled on the holographic display, which transformed into a mirror recording his face. “We have defeated their enemy.”
“Yes.”
Alex cleaned his sweaty hands, and put on the gentlest expression he could manage.
“1, 2, 3, 4, GO!”
At the count of Pyra, the recording started.
Alex feigned to look around, creating the sensation he was watching the public on the other end.
“Welcome to my new empire! My dear subdits.”
His opening line made the Astraliths cringe, Pyra even facepalmed.
“As you can, my starship has cleaned your world of the plague infesting your world!”
Alex paused, a finger tapping his cheek in thought.
“Now, some of you might be scratching your heads, wondering why we're bothering. And let me tell you, it's pretty simple.”
His gentle facade briefly slipped into a slightly dopey expression.
“That’s quite simple. We desire you to become part of our empire, be citizens and all that jazz.”
His arms spread wide, enthusiasm radiating.
“We will provide decent food, jobs, and comfy roofs over your heads for you as our subdits.”
He did another dramatic pause, his right index finger held high. “All we ask in return is your loyalty. Fair deal, right?”
In the background, Astra had her eyebrows twitch like crazy while she pinched her nose in a vice grip.
“So, we'll send some ships over to gather your leaders for negotiations later today.”
He turned around dramatically only to stop midway.
“Oh, and just so we're clear. Refusing is not exactly on the menu!”
Finally, Alex made his way back to Astra, the recording coming to a close.
“So, what did you think?” He asked, glancing at the women surrounding him.
Astra offered an awkward response.
“Well, it was something.” She had her right eyebrow twitch as turned to the others for their opinions.
“Yeah, it was alright.” Colleen added.
The rest of the women nodded in agreement, their eyes briefly meeting with slight smiles.
Pyra, however, couldn't quite hide her reaction. She maintained a faked frown, but a barely suppressed grin danced in her eyes.
“It was barely passable.”
PART 3
“A step to rule the world!”
Alex exclaimed, his voice brimming with determination as he lifted his right foot in the middle of a big leap.
For a second, he soared through the air with a big goofy smile, only for his legs to hit each other midair, causing him to career out of control.
Gravity triumphed, and with an undignified thud, he collided with the metallic floor, his arms taking on the brunt of the impact.
Far from Alex's position, two of the flying piranhas snickered seeing his comical training.
They exchanged glances, their own version of laughter evident in the way their lights flickered.
“Ouch!” Alex groaned, his hands rubbing each other in confort.
Or maybe he was trying to rub his bruised ego.
“You should be more careful.” A mischievous yet electronic voice chimed in.
Amidst his grumbling and sore ego, Alex raised his head to meet the big grin adorning Pyra's face.
“Hey, I was just trying to add some flair!” Alex grumbled.
“What is the big occasion for your outfit? I’ve never seen you wearing… well, anything.” Alex raised his eyebrow, feeling confused. “Weren’t you in a meeting with the local rulers.”
“Tsk.”
Pyra clicked her tongue, the memory of the negotiations making her bitter.
“Oh, the negotiations.” She blew a strand of her red hair. “They were so long, Astra was asking too much of them, and I had to step out before I roasted one of the local rulers alive.… there was this guy with a mustache that deserves a taste of my fire.”
She paused for a second, mischief lighting up her eyes.
“But let's focus on the real matter here.”
She did a little spin, showcasing the full view of her attire, though Alex’s eyes were on the curves of her body.
“What do you think of my outfit? It's inspired by the local women's fashion. Does it suit me or what”
Seeing her spin, Alex became dazed.
It was the first time he saw one of the blue women dressed as they seemed to disdain wearing clothes, preferring to touch everything with their skin.
“You're rocking that look.” He remarked, his voice carrying an amused tone. “Though I can't help but wonder, is the combo of long sleeves and super short shorts something they truly wear?”
It was a weird combination, something he had only seen on certain corners of the internet, in certain adult sites.
Yet, here it was, materializing on Pyra.
The white of the shirt made her face stand out while the red shorts made her legs look amazing.
Her response was predictably Pyra-esque, delivered with a confident air.
“Of course I'm amazing. And as for this ensemble.” She began, crossing her arms with a smirk.
“It's actually tied to the local deity. Supposedly, he spread this style among her female followers. Beats me, but if it looks good, who am I to argue?"
The notion of a perverted God being influencing fashion choices in such a manner seemed a bit peculiar, if not outright absurd, to her.
On the other hand, Alex sat up, his legs crossed as he absently rubbed his shin.
“I see, he must be a man of culture then.” He declared with a mischievous grin, his right thumb raised. “I definitely approve!”
The response was swift, Pyra's fiery temper flaring up.
Without hesitation, she smacked her palm against his face, resulting in a satisfying thud that echoed in the air.
“Whaaa!”
Alex hit the ground and held his itching face.
In front of him, Pyra stood with narrowed shining eyes, her arms crossed as she looked down on Alex.
Bouncing back up to his feet in a heartbeat, Alex didn't let the attack go unanswered.
“Oi! You’re harming your precious king!” Alex's muffled protest came out.
He rubbed his face as he shot her a playful glare, to defend his honor.
However, much to his astonishment, something weird happened.
“Sorry. I got carried away, my king.”
Pyra's apology followed, though her expression seemed to suggest otherwise. Her cheeks puffed up indignantly, almost like a blowfish.
Exhaling a sigh that combined exasperation and amusement, Alex found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
He shook his head lightly, a small grin playing on his lips.
“Anyway.” He decided to forgive her, his fingers brushing over the armored surface of his armor. “I’m trying to get the hang of this armor, but it’s hard to manage.”
To show his point, he threw a punch forward, only for his arm to twist and hit the air at a weird angle.
“See, it’s weird!”
A frown marred his face, his fingers twitching in annoyance.
Observing his comical fumblings, Pyra's lips couldn't help but curve into an almost foolish smile.
Then, she stepped closer to Alex and held his face carefully.
“What are you doing?”
Caught off guard by her proximity and the gentle touch, Alex's initial reaction was to jerk his head backward, his cheeks flushing with a sudden embarrassment he couldn't quite explain.
Meanwhile, an unfamiliar warmth radiated from Pyra's touch, spreading through his cheeks.
It was a sensation he had never experienced before, leaving him startled.
For the first time in his life, someone held him tenderly without malicious intentions.
Oblivious to Alex’s inner predicament, Pyra continued examining his face. Her hands emitted a soothing, green light as she gently touched his skin.
“There, you should be better, baby king.” She remarked with a hint of mischievousness in her voice.
“Baby king?” That pair of words broke Alex out of his stupor, his nose twitching in indignation.
“Let's not forget, this guy here has to shave every third day.”
Alex defended, showing her tiny black dots on his shin, barely visible from the point of view of a synthetic woman like her.
Pyra rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, quit the theatrics. You're just barely eighteen. From our point of view, you’re a newborn.”
Alex folded his arms across his chest, shooting her a sidelong glance like a little kid.
“It’s not my fault you guys are ancient.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Pyra ignored him, instead she extended her arms and grabbed Alex's right arm. “Let’s work on your problem instead.”
With a determined air, she centered her focus on tackling his coordination issues.
That brought Alex out of his kid mode, allowing his arm to be dragged by Pyra.
“What’s the problem?” He inquired. “Don't tell me you've rigged it to explode if I move the wrong way?”
Pyra rolled her eyes again, but she continued examining his arm. She tapped his arm in a rapid, rhythmic sequence, her fingers producing a beat against his armored limb.
“It's just as I suspected.” She nodded. “Your muscles are getting overstretched by the armor. That's why you're struggling to bend your arm, and it's making your movements awkward.”
Alex's eyes widened, his imagination conjuring up a comical mental image of his arm stretching like a cartoon giraffe's neck.
“Wait, you mean it's going to snap my arm?”
Sweat dripped down his forehead as his legs started to tremble.
“No, no, nothing like that. It's not so dire. Aqua just seems to have given me the wrong baseline data for your muscles. Probably factored in your body's peak state.”
Pausing for a brief moment, she shifted her attention, her fingertip tapping a specific point on Alex's neck where the muscles were more prominent.
“However, your body is far from its peak.” She smiled deviously “It’s not too late, we still can modify your body and add a pair of laser cannons on the palms of your hands.”
Alex backpedaled, his back full of a chilling sensation that made him almost stumble.
“No thanks! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I'm quite content with my body just the way it is.”
“Tsk!”
Pyra clicked her tongue again. “You’re not fun. It’s a pity you were our best bet among the random humans we surveyed.”
Alex raised an eyebrow at that, Alex leaned in, his curiosity fully piqued.
“Wait a minute, you surveyed others too? What were my competition like?"
Indeed, it was a question that had been nagging his mind ever since he first heard how he was randomly selected from Astra’s lips.
As his curiosity prompted the question to escape his lips, Pyra's expression twisted into a playful grin.
“Well, let's see.” She began, her voice dripping with mischief. "There was this elderly lady who had a knack for managing business, a burly man who apparently juggled five affairs, a chronic lecher, a young and spirited prostitute...”
“Wait! wait!” Alex interjected hastily, his hands raised in surrender. “I get it, I was the most manageable among them. Man, I Shouldn't have asked.”
Pyra smirked, jabbing her finger at Alex’s chest.
This caused Alex’s armor to bend him forward, making him lose balance and crash onto the floor once again.
“Cheer up, would you?” Pyra teased, her tone a mixture of amusement and encouragement. “We've got bigger matters at hand.”
Unspoken between their banter was the fact that Alex's goofy smile had probably tipped the scales in his favor, appealing to their maternal instincts more than any other quality.
Of course, none of the Astraliths would admit it anytime soon.