Intergalactic conquest with an AI

Now subdued and immobilized, it was prepared for transport. The crusaders worked swiftly, their movements precise and coordinated, as they secured the creature with heavy chains and loaded it into the cryotank.

The hum of the transport ship's engines grew louder as it descended, its metallic hull gleaming under the dim light of the battlefield.

Lilla stood watch, her sharp eyes never leaving the void creature. Her expression was a mix of determination and cold calculation. She knew the stakes were high; this creature, though it claimed to be a mere pawn, held secrets that could tell them more about the void.

The paladin at her side tightened her grip on her spear with her stance unwavering.

"Make sure the cryotank is sealed tightly," Lilla ordered, her voice cutting through the noise. "We can't afford any mistakes. This thing is more dangerous than it looks."

The crusaders nodded, double-checking the locks and seals on the tank. The void creature's form was barely visible through the frosted glass, its grotesque features now still and lifeless. But everyone present knew better than to underestimate it.

The void had a way of twisting reality, of defying expectations.

As the transport ship's ramp closed, Lilla turned to the paladin. "You'll accompany the cargo. I'll follow shortly. If it so much as twitches, you know what to do."

The paladin gave a curt nod. "Understood. It won't wake up."

With that, the ship lifted off, its engines roaring as it ascended into the sky. Lilla watched it go, her mind already racing ahead to the next steps. They needed to extract the information from the creature, and she knew just the person for the job.

As the ship disappeared into the clouds, Lilla allowed herself a moment of quiet satisfaction. They had captured one of the void's creatures, a rare and significant victory. But she also knew this was just the beginning. The void was vast, and its forces were relentless.

"Let's move," she said to the remaining crusaders. "We still have work to do."

As the Crusaders scrambled to mobilize the vehicles delivered by the transport ships, their engines roared to life in a symphony of urgency.

The forest ahead burned like a hellish inferno, its flames clawing at the sky, when Lilla's arm device buzzed sharply, cutting through the cacophony.

"Lilla, thank the heavens you answered," her brother's voice crackled through the device, calm yet edged with something darker.

"What's happening? Is the situation worsening?" Lilla asked while sliding into the armored vehicle with practiced ease. The door slammed shut behind her, sealing her in the metallic tank of war.

"Worsening? No... not for us," her brother replied, his tone almost casual. "The ambush went perfectly. My forces are mopping up the stragglers, those desperate enough to try escaping the trap. It'll take time, though. The enemy brought a huge army, after all." Behind his words, Lilla heard a sickening thud, followed by a guttural scream that made her blood run cold.

"What was that?" she asked sharply, her grip tightening on the device.

"Oh, that?" Her brother's voice was disturbingly light. "Nothing to concern yourself with, sister." Unseen by Lilla, he pressed a hand over the mouth of the enemy general, the man who had once boasted of defiling her, silencing his cries as he writhed in agony.

"Brother..." Lilla said, her voice low and warning, "you know the holy laws forbid torturing humans. Don't cross that line."

He chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth. "Of course, sister. I'm merely... disciplining a pig." With a brutal shove, he forced the general deeper onto the jagged tree trunk, impaling him, the man's muffled screams echoing through the burning forest.

"A pig?" Lilla repeated, her stomach churning. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the truth.

"Indeed," her brother replied, his tone almost jovial. "These fools brought livestock to feast on. Can you believe it? I'm almost envious. And since the forest is already ablaze, I thought, why not roast a pig? We shouldn't waste food after all, right?" His laughter was chilling, a stark contrast to the horrors unfolding around him.

Lilla exhaled deeply, her resolve wavering. "Fine. Just... don't go too far. I'll contact you when we're near the ambush point." She ended the call, her mind racing with dark thoughts. She knew it wasn't a pig, but she couldn't bear to dwell on the details. Some images were better left unimagined.

As the connection severed, her brother's smile vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating glare. He turned to the naked general, suspended between two Inquisitors clad in black and red armor. The man's body trembled as the crude log impaled him, his defiance crumbling with every agonizing inch.

"Something wrong?" Lilla's brother taunted, removing his hand from the general's mouth. "I recall you boasting about what you'd do to the Saintess. Why aren't you enjoying this?"

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" The general roared, his voice raw with pain and fury. "THE COUNCIL WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!"

Lilla's brother tilted his head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Perhaps. But until then..." He nodded to the Inquisitors, who lowered the general further onto the log, his screams piercing the night.

Minutes passed that felt like hours until Lilla's brother emerged from the wreckage of a destroyed tank, his hands stained with blood and soot. The Inquisitors followed, dragging the "pig" behind them... a grotesque spectacle of flesh and wood, drenched in crimson.

"Well," her brother said, his voice eerily calm, "I promised the Saintess a roasted pig. And I always keep my word." He gestured to a cluster of jagged rocks near the flames. "Put him there. Let the fire do the rest."

The scene was grim and unsettling, a stark contrast to the earlier tension of capturing the void creature. Lilla's brother was already known as a figure of ruthless efficiency and dark humor; he stood amidst the chaos of the burning forest, his actions a brutal reminder of the harsh realities of their war.

The general, now reduced to a broken and humiliated figure, was hoisted onto the rocks by the inquisitors, his fate sealed by his own arrogance and cruelty.

As the flames licked at the edges of the forest, the heat intensified, and the air was thick with the scent of burning wood and flesh. The inquisitors worked methodically, their faces obscured by their helmets, betraying no emotion as they carried out their grim task.

The general's screams had long since faded into whimpers, his body writhing in agony as the fire consumed him.

Lilla's brother watched with a detached expression, his earlier joviality replaced by a cold, calculating demeanor. He knew the stakes of their war, and he understood the necessity of their actions, no matter how brutal they might seem.

The general's threats against Lilla had crossed a line, and in this world, there was no room for mercy when it came to protecting those you loved.

"Make sure it's thorough," he said to the inquisitors, his voice devoid of any warmth. "We can't afford any loose ends."

The inquisitors nodded, their movements precise and deliberate. They adjusted the general's position on the rocks, ensuring that the flames would do their work efficiently. The fire crackled and roared, a fitting backdrop to the grim tableau.

As the general's body was consumed by the flames, Lilla's brother turned away, his mind already shifting to the next phase of their plan. He pulled out a small device from his pocket, a holographic map of the battlefield flickering to life.

The ambush had been a success, but there was still much to be done. The enemy's forces were relentless, and they would not rest until every last one of their enemies was eradicated.

"Prepare the troops," he said to the inquisitors. "We move out in ten minutes. The forest is lost, but we can still secure the perimeter and ensure no one escapes."

The inquisitors saluted and moved to carry out his orders, their black and red armor gleaming in the firelight. Lilla's brother took one last look at the burning forest, his expression unreadable.

The war was far from over, and he knew that the sacrifices they made today were just the beginning.

As he turned to leave, a faint smile played on his lips. "Roasted pig..." he muttered to himself, the dark humor returning for a brief moment.

Meanwhile, Seris gasped awake, her body trembling from the lingering pain of her transformation. Every breath felt foreign, every movement surreal... as if she had been reborn in a body not entirely her own.

Blinking away the haze, she lifted her gaze and found Lykos standing a few steps away, speaking with a group of crusaders.

Her voice came out hoarse, uncertain. "What… is happening here?"
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One of the crusaders turned sharply at the sound of her voice. His armor clinked as he stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Paladin! This boy here claims that you are his… and that he was protecting you while you rested." His words were careful and deliberate, as if unsure of the right way to phrase them.

Seris parted her lips to deny it, "I'm n—" but the moment her eyes met Lykos's, something caught in her throat. She hesitated while a long breath escaped her as she looked away.

"It's not that I'm his… We made a deal. He helped me recover." Her voice was quieter now, almost reluctant, as she pushed herself to her feet and slid her sword back into its scabbard.

The tension in the air was thick as she strode toward Lykos; her steps were slow and measured. She tried to meet his gaze, but something about it unsettled her and made her hesitate in a way she wasn't used to.

"Now then," she said at last, her voice low but firm. "Who are you… and why are you wandering in a human war zone?"