Chapter 254 The enemy in the shadows. {5}

Words : 1140 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Carlos hesitated for a few seconds while thinking of several things and while he did that, the explosions outside were growing louder, and the urgency in the maid's voice was impossible to ignore. He glanced at Sharon, who had her hand still extended toward him; her expression was calm but expectant. Then he looked back at the maid, who stood silently, waiting for his decision. "Well..." Carlos began, his voice steadying as he made up his mind. "If your father thinks I need to prove myself, then I'm not going to run and hide. I'll join the defensive forces. I'm not just going to stand by while you're in danger." Sharon's lips curved into a small, approving smile. "I thought you'd say that," she said while lowering her hand. "Just promise me you'll be careful. My father's tests aren't exactly... forgiving." Carlos nodded, his jaw tightening with determination. "I'll be fine. I've been through worse." The maid stepped forward; her tone was now respectful but still firm. "Then follow me, sir. I'll take you to the command center. Lady Sharon, please come with me as well. We need to get you to safety." Sharon shook her head. "No, Anais. I'm not hiding while my home is under attack. Take Carlos to the defensive forces, and I'll head to the command center myself. My father will need all the help he can get." The maid hesitated, clearly torn between her orders and Sharon's resolve. But after a moment, she nodded. "As you wish, Lady Sharon. Please be careful." Carlos gave Sharon one last look, his expression a mix of concern and determination. "Stay safe," he said quietly. "You too," she replied, her voice soft but unwavering. "I'll see you when this is over." With that, the maid led Carlos out of the room, leaving Sharon alone for a moment. She took a deep breath, her composed demeanor faltering just slightly as the weight of the situation settled in. But she quickly straightened with her resolve hardened. She had a role to play, and she wasn't about to let her father or Carlos down. As Carlos followed the maid through the winding halls of the mansion, the sounds of battle grew louder. The walls trembled with each explosion, and the air was thick with tension. Carlos clenched his fists, his cybernetic implants humming with readiness. He didn't know what was waiting for him out there, but he was ready to face it. For Sharon. The maid stopped at a heavy set of doors, turning to Carlos. "This is as far as I go. The command center of the defensive forces is through here. Good luck, sir." Carlos nodded, his expression grim but determined. "Thanks." He pushed the doors open and stepped inside, the chaos of the command center immediately engulfing him. Officers shouted orders, holographic displays flickered with battle data, and the air was thick with the scent of sweat and metal. "So, the great man has finally decided to join us!" Carlos barely had a second to react before a heavy slap landed on his back, nearly knocking the air out of his lungs. The voice behind him was deep and amused, oozing confidence. He turned quickly with his instincts on high alert. Standing before him was a man a full head taller, grinning broadly with perfectly white teeth. His build was imposing, his presence commanding. But something about him felt... off. "Mmm? Do I know you?" Carlos asked, already inputting a series of commands into his arm device with practiced ease. He didn't need to look at his device since his fingers had memorized the motions long ago. "Oh, that's right," the man chuckled. "I haven't introduced myself yet." He took a step closer, throwing an arm around Carlos's shoulders as if they were old friends. "Name's Vire, steward of this mansion." Carlos was covered in scars, jagged, deep, and layered from countless battles. His cybernetics gleamed under the lights, a dark metallic gray, seamlessly integrated into his flesh. But what caught their attention the most were the six metallic ports embedded along his spine. And another just below his neck.... the room stayed quiet for a moment longer. Then Vire let out a low chuckle. "Well, now," he muttered, his mechanical fingers flexing. "Aren't you full of surprises?" Carlos simply smirked while cracking his neck as he stepped toward his towering armor. "You haven't seen anything yet." Carlos took a slow breath, steadying himself as he stepped toward his battle armor. The massive, three-meter-tall machine knelt before him, its gray steel plating gleaming under the overhead lights. It was an imposing figure, a war machine built for destruction but to Carlos, it was something else entirely. It was an extension of himself. As he approached, the back of the armor hissed open, revealing the neural interface chamber inside. Without hesitation, Carlos stepped in, feeling the cold steel against his skin. The moment he settled into place, the suit came alive. [Identity confirmed. Initializing neural link with battle armor: Argos.] The AI's voice was calm and precise as six black cables slithered from the interior, snapping into place along Carlos's spine. A sharp jolt ran through his body as the neural sync began, his nerves burning for a split second before the pain faded into a familiar hum. Then, the final connection... a seventh cable extended, plugging directly into the port beneath his neck. For a brief moment, Carlos felt nothing. Just silence. Then— [Connection successful. Status: all systems green. Battle armor Argos is fully operational. Welcome back, Carlos.] Carlos opened his eyes. Except they weren't his anymore. He was seeing through Argos now, his field of vision expanding as the battle armor's sensors became his own senses. He flexed his fingers, and the massive armored hands responded flawlessly. A single step forward, and the floor trembled beneath his weight. A smirk crossed his lips. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Alright," Carlos said with his voice now amplified through Argos's external speakers. "I'm ready. When are we moving out?" The squad around him nodded, their own armor sets now fully activated. No more small talk. It was time for war. Above them, the planet burned in hundreds of different colors. The orbital defenses had crumbled, leaving the surface exposed. From the sky, the Nexum fleet descended in full force, warships blotting out the stars as they deployed millions of troops. Drop pods rained like meteors, their fiery trails streaking across the sky as they slammed into the ground, unloading wave after wave of heavily armed soldiers and mechanized units. The defenders were ready.

Chapter 254 The enemy in the shadows. {5}

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