Intergalactic conquest with an AI-Chapter 342: Blood Clan world. {7}
The video finally concluded after showcasing an awe-inspiring yet terrifying sight... the skies of that distant world, entirely consumed by a massive swarm of colossal flying beasts.
These creatures dwarfed even the tallest buildings, their darkened forms blotting out the sun as they soared through the atmosphere with an eerie grace. The sheer magnitude of the scene left every viewer in stunned silence, their minds struggling to process the implications of such an overwhelming force.
After a long, tension-filled pause, the old matriarch exhaled deeply, her gaze lowering as she seemed to sink into her memories. Her voice, tinged with both weariness and the weight of her revelation, broke the silence.
"After witnessing those events, I dedicated myself to uncovering every piece of knowledge I could find on the Khryssari. I took on missions and tasks not for credits but for information, delving into records both ancient and forbidden."
"And it was during this relentless pursuit that I came to realize the terrible truth... The action I had planned to take that day would have been a grave mistake... one that could have very well led to the extinction of our entire race."
Her solemn words sent a chill through the chamber. A younger Elder, visibly shaken by the video, hesitantly raised his hand, his voice uncertain yet desperate for clarity.
"Matriarch... what exactly did you discover that led you to such a dire conclusion? What could possibly warrant such a catastrophic outcome?"
The old matriarch lifted her gaze, her aged eyes glinting with the weight of knowledge few dared to seek.
"The Khryssari are a unique race, one that defies the conventional structures of other species. Most of them are genderless or male; their society is built around a rigid hierarchy of soldiers, workers, and drones."
"However, there exists a rare exception; a mere one percent of their kind are born female. These are not just any ordinary Khryssari... they are the queens, the true rulers of the swarm. And these beings... are monsters in their own right, each one standing at the pinnacle of Tier 7 power."
A collective murmur spread through the room, the gravity of her words sinking in. The matriarch then manipulated the holoscreen, rewinding the footage to a seemingly inconspicuous moment, the image of the young Khryssari female, curled up and resting.
Her form was smaller and more delicate compared to the rest, yet there was an undeniable presence surrounding her. One of the younger Elders gasped as realization dawned on him. His voice trembled as he spoke. "D-do you mean to say that... that one right there... is a Queen?"
The old matriarch chuckled dryly while shaking her head. "No, child. That is not a Queen... not yet, at least. That young one is what we call a Princess, an immature Queen-in-the-making. And that is where the true danger lies."
"You see, if you were to engage a full-fledged Queen in battle, the consequences would be dire, but ultimately, it would be a battle between you and her. However... if you were to kill a Princess..."
She paused, letting the room hold its breath before delivering the final blow. "The entire swarm would descend upon your race, wiping out every last trace of your existence. There would be no escape, no mercy. It has only happened three times in recorded history, and each time, an entire civilization was erased as if it had never existed."
"This knowledge was incredibly difficult to obtain, buried within the remnants of forgotten worlds and whispered in the shadows of the black market."
"And now you understand... this is why this particular bid offer is of such immense importance. It has the power to change everything. It is the reason we are all gathered here today."
A heavy silence followed her declaration, the weight of the revelation pressing down on everyone present. Finally, another voice broke the quiet, though it was laced with uncertainty.
"So... that is why you asked whether it was male or female... It all makes sense now. But this bid... the 'Request to the Khryssari Queen Voucher'... is it truly as valuable as you claim? Or, more importantly... is it even real?"
A sharp laugh erupted from the old patriarch; his booming voice was filled with conviction. "Valuable? You underestimate its worth! With such a voucher, one could command an entire Khryssari swarm, bringing entire planets to their knees."
"Even the most powerful megacorporations would tremble before such power! With this in our hands, the possibilities are endless; we could conquer worlds, overthrow empires, and erase enemies with but a single command!"
His words sent a ripple of shock through the assembly. The mere notion of wielding a force strong enough to challenge even a megacorporation was beyond comprehension for many in the room.
Yet, doubt lingered. "And what of its authenticity?" another Elder questioned, his expression cautious. "If such an item truly exists, how can we be certain that it is not a mere fabrication? That it is not some elaborate deception?"
The old patriarch's expression hardened. "That, we do not know. The only way to determine its legitimacy is to confront the bidder directly and ascertain the truth for ourselves."
Minutes passed in quiet deliberation before the old patriarch made his final move. With a decisive motion, he turned back to the auction house, his voice carrying through the halls.
"The choice has been made. The bid I have selected has been finalized. This auction... is officially over."
"The winner of the auction will be notified through their datapad. That concludes this year's event! I hope we can all look forward to another successful auction next year!"
The old patriarch's voice echoed across the grand auction hall, signaling the end of the proceedings. The gathered elites, merchants, and warlords began murmuring amongst themselves, some pleased with their acquisitions, while others silently vowed to come better prepared for the next auction.
A soft chime from his datapad drew Rex's attention, and he quickly glanced down to see the notification: "Proceed to the upper floor to receive your slave and confirm payment details."
Letting out a quiet sigh of relief, he leaned back slightly in his chair. "Damn… for a second there, I thought I was going to lose the bid," he muttered under his breath before rising to his feet. His posture remained relaxed, but his mind was already shifting into high alert.
"Alright, let's get moving, Mini Cleo. And don't forget to keep scanning our surroundings... I don't want any more surprises like the one in the nightclub…"
{Don't worry, boss! Leave it to me! No one's getting past my radar! Not even that guy using stealth tech who's been tailing us this whole time!}
Mini Cleo's voice, cheerful yet sharp, rang in his mind as she pointed behind him.
For a moment, Rex was speechless. His eyes remained forward, but his senses flared, tension creeping up his spine.
{Mini Cleo… if you knew someone was following us, you should've told me sooner…}
He exhaled slowly while controlling his irritation....
{Haa… whatever. Let's just ignore him for now and head to the upper floors. I doubt he'll make a move while we're inside the auction house; there are at least a dozen Tier 6 energy signatures nearby. He'd be suicidal to try anything here.}
With that thought, he adjusted his cloak slightly and began walking.
Upon reaching the upper floor, Rex found the old patriarch waiting for him. Unlike before, there was no crowd, just the two of them and a single other figure standing nearby.
The figure was a woman with crimson-red hair, shackled in energy cuffs, her piercing eyes glaring at him with silent defiance.
The patriarch gestured toward the luxurious sofa across from him. "Welcome, young man. As promised, your acquisition is here." He lifted his wrinkled hand, revealing a small crystalline sigil.
"And this… is the slave mark that binds her. However…" His tone shifted, his gaze narrowing slightly as he attempted to peer through the shadows of Rex's cloak.
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Rex, unbothered, casually sat down, crossing one leg over the other. "Mmm. What seems to be the problem?"
The patriarch leaned forward, his voice dropping slightly. "While it's true that your bid was the most valuable to us… how do we verify that what you're offering is real?"
Rex exhaled softly, as if amused. "Ah, so that's all. Of course, you'd have doubts." His fingers tapped against his knee. "But I assure you, the offer is one hundred percent real."
He reached into his space storage and retrieved a small vial, holding it between his fingers. "And to prove it… allow me to introduce you to this little friend of mine."
Inside the vial, a small, luminescent creature fluttered, a Khryssari firefly. Its tiny body emitted a faint, eerie glow, and to the untrained eye, it looked like nothing more than a fragile insect.
However, the moment the old patriarch's gaze landed on it, his expression subtly changed. He wasn't just looking at the firefly; he was seeing something more.
A thin, nearly imperceptible green energy thread extended from the firefly, linking it to something far beyond the confines of the auction house. The line was invisible to most beings under Tier 7, but to him, its presence was unmistakable.
The old patriarch's eyes lingered on the connection for a few moments before he let out a low chuckle.
"Ah… well then. I can see now that your claim is indeed authentic." He leaned back while nodding in satisfaction. "As promised, the contract is yours. Simply place a drop of your blood onto this mark, and the binding will be completed."
He passed the crystalline sigil to Rex, who examined it briefly before tucking it away.
