Intergalactic conquest with an AI

All around him, the Khryssari champions kneeled without hesitation. Even Ys had dropped to one knee, bowing her head respectfully. Rex, however, remained standing, his gaze locked onto the Queen.

The Hive Queen's voice broke the silence, and it was nothing like what Rex expected. It was smooth, charming, and teasing, with a melodic tone that felt completely out of place given her appearance.

"So～," she said, her voice reverberating gently through the chamber, "you're the human I've heard so much about from my daughter." Discover exclusive tales on empire

Rex remained silent, unsure of how to respond. His body was still frozen in awe and tension, his mind racing as he tried to process everything around him.

The Queen tilted her head slightly, her glowing green eyes narrowing in amusement as she noticed his hesitation. "Mmmm, it seems that this form might be... a little intimidating for you."

Her tone was teasing, almost playful, though the raw power behind her words made it impossible to mistake her for anything less than a supreme being.

She extended one of her smaller, slender appendages toward Ys, brushing it gently against her daughter's face. A tiny droplet of Ys's blood glistened on the tip of the appendage as the Queen withdrew it, inspecting it with curiosity.

"Allow me to fix that," she said with a faint smile.

With that, the massive figure of the Hive Queen shifted, lowering herself into a resting position that resembled her usual sleep posture. From the crest of her head, a smaller, humanoid form began to emerge, encased in a translucent, shimmering membrane.

The process was surreal and unsettling, the humanoid figure slowly detaching from the Queen's larger form like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis.

Once fully separated, the membrane around the humanoid figure dissolved, transforming into an almost transparent dress that clung elegantly to her new body.

Standing before Rex now was a humanoid woman of striking beauty. Her skin had the same iridescent black shimmer as her larger form, and her eyes glowed faintly green, giving her an otherworldly appearance.

Her hair was long and silken, falling in dark waves that reflected a faint blue sheen. Despite the overwhelming aura of power she still carried, her new form was far less physically imposing, though no less intimidating.

She took a single step forward, her movements graceful and deliberate. Before Rex could react, she was suddenly standing directly in front of him, her glowing green eyes peering into his own through his helmet.

"Is this look more pleasing to you～?" the Queen asked softly, her voice still carrying that teasing, melodic tone.

Rex instinctively stepped back half a step while his body tense, though he quickly caught himself and forced his feet to stay planted. His mind raced as he tried to find the right words, but her sudden proximity and the sheer weight of her presence made it difficult to think clearly.

Rex swallowed hard, his voice finally finding its way out of his throat. "Well, you definitely know how to make an entrance," he said dryly, though his tone betrayed the nervous tension running through his body.

The Queen chuckled softly, her voice like silk. "And you," she said, "know how to amuse me. Perhaps this meeting will be more interesting than I expected～."

The Queen moved with a grace that belied her towering, monstrous power, returning to her massive sleeping form.

The enormous creature shifted slightly, extending one of its smaller tentacles to act as an elegant seat for the humanoid Queen, who crossed her legs and reclined upon it. She exuded a strange air of both majesty and teasing mischief, her glowing green eyes never leaving Rex.

"So," Rex spoke, his voice steady despite the lingering tension in the room, "can I know what the reason is that you called for me this time?"

It had taken every ounce of his self-control to stand his ground under her oppressive aura, but now that she had retracted it to a bearable level, he could finally speak without feeling like he was being crushed under a mountain.

The Queen's glowing eyes narrowed, and she let out a playful hum. "Mmm? Jumping straight to the main topic already? Oh, darling～, don't be such a bore～." Her teasing tone sent a shiver down Rex's spine, and before he could respond, her glowing eyes pulsed brighter.

"Everyone, leave us." The Queen commanded, her voice laced with an irresistible force.

The champions, and even Ys, all rose simultaneously, their movements mechanical and unnervingly synchronized. Their eyes had gone completely blank, like empty husks devoid of life. Without a word, they turned and began walking toward the exit.

Rex instinctively stepped forward, intending to stop Ys from leaving, but his body refused to move. It felt as though invisible chains held him in place, binding him where he stood.

"Don't worry, darling~," the Queen said, clearly amused by his reaction. "They'll be fine. I've merely… borrowed their consciousness for the moment. They'll wake up none the wiser when we're done. I just wanted a little privacy～ for our talk."

Her reassurance didn't completely settle Rex's nerves, but he knew he wasn't in a position to argue. Slowly, he relaxed, though his eyes lingered on the door Ys and the champions had exited through.

"If this was meant to be a private talk," Rex began carefully, "can I at least know your name?"

Xytrallia blinked, her glowing eyes widening slightly in what appeared to be genuine surprise. But then, after a moment, she threw her head back and let out a melodic, echoing laugh. "Hahaha!～ You're quite bold for someone so weak," she said, her smile sharp but amused.

Her laughter subsided, and she cocked her head slightly, her green, glowing eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Her voice dropped to a soft murmur, barely audible. "But then again... are you really weak?"

Rex couldn't hear her murmured words, but her gaze lingered on him in a way that made him feel as though she were dissecting him with her eyes alone.

Finally, she straightened her posture and gave him a sly smile. "Well then, since I'm feeling generous, I suppose I can indulge you. You may call me Xytrallia～." She reclined slightly, crossing her legs with the fluidity of a predator at rest.

Rex gave her a respectful bow, his voice steady. "It's an honor to meet you, Queen Xytrallia. My name is—"

She raised a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. "There's no need for introductions," she said, her voice playful but firm. "I already know who you are, Rex...or should I say, darling~."

Rex froze, his muscles tensing as Xytrallia's humanoid form suddenly disappeared in a flash of green light. Before he could react, her voice whispered right by his ear.

"Darling~," she purred, her breath warm against his helmet as her hand trailed lightly across his chest.

Rex turned sharply, but she was gone, her teasing laughter echoing faintly through the chamber. He whipped his head back toward her throne, only to find her seated casually once more, her green eyes glinting with amusement.

"Now then," Xytrallia said, as though nothing had happened, "since the introductions are over, let's get into the topic, yes~?" She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand.

Rex's guard remained up, but he nodded. "I hope you don't mind if I ask the first question. What kind of race do you come from?"

The moment she asked, Xytrallia's glowing eyes pulsed again, and Rex felt an unsettling sensation ripple through his body. It was as if she were peeling back every layer of him, examining him down to his very core.

He suddenly felt exposed, as though there was no point in lying, not that it would even work.

"Well," Rex began, forcing himself to remain composed, "since you already know my name, I'm assuming Ys told you plenty about me. So I'll just confirm it... I'm human... or, at least, I was. Right now, I'm half-human and half-Kaelzar."

Xytrallia tilted her head, her smile widening slightly. "Half-human, half-Kaelzar," she echoed, as if savoring the words. Her gaze briefly lingered on him, and Rex got the distinct feeling she wasn't just looking at him; she was analyzing him.

He shifted uncomfortably, trying to keep his focus away from her since her almost transparent dress, which clung to her figure in all the wrong (or perhaps all the right) ways, wasn't helping.

"Mmm, yes, I do recall the Kaelzars," Xytrallia said casually, her tone laced with a faint edge of boredom. "Boring creatures. Too rigid. Too proud. It's no wonder they went extinct."

"The Higher Queen at the time despised them, you know, for what they did. They thought themselves untouchable. Look where that got them."

Her expression shifted slightly, becoming more curious. She leaned forward, her glowing eyes narrowing. "But...are you sure you're human?"

Rex blinked, confused. "What do you mean? Of course I'm human... well, half-human now, like I said."

Xytrallia tapped her lips thoughtfully, her gaze never leaving him. "Mmm… I wonder."

Rex frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She chuckled softly, reclining once more. "Oh, nothing~," she said teasingly. "I just find it amusing. You seem so certain of what you are, and yet... there's something about you, something... different. Something even you don't seem to understand."

Rex blinked, his stance slightly stiff as he processed the Hive Queen's sudden shift in demeanor. She had moved closer to him, kneeling gracefully just a meter away, her glowing green eyes locked onto his with an intensity that made him feel like she was staring straight into his soul.

Her iridescent black skin shimmered faintly in the dim light, and her playful yet commanding aura made the hairs on the back of Rex's neck stand on end.