Family system

Kael and Lysara moved forward, cutting a path through the weakened constructs as they approached the barracks. The air inside was filled with the smell of burning mana and the grinding sound of metal on stone. The closer they got to the conduit room, the stronger the glow of the conduit's energy became, illuminating the corridors in an eerie blue light.

Behind them, the rebels fought with all their strength. The constructs were slower now and their movements jerky and uncoordinated as the conduit's power weakened. Amara's healing light and Lira's golden aura boosted them and kept them moving forward despite their injuries and exhaustion.

Kael slammed open a reinforced door with a heavy kick, revealing the conduit room at last. The sight before him was both awe-inspiring and grim: a massive, crystalline structure pulsed with raw energy, its glowing veins snaking across the walls and floor, feeding into various conduits that powered the constructs.

Kael stepped into the conduit room, his boots crunching on shards of crystal scattered across the floor. The air sounded with an electric charge, the raw energy of the conduit vibrating through his armor. Lysara entered behind him, her twin blades glowing in the eerie blue glow.

"This is it," Kael muttered, his eyes scanning the massive crystal structure that dominated the room. Veins of mana pulsed through the walls, feeding into the machines that supported the constructs outside. "We cut this off, and it's over."

"Not so fast," Lysara said, her voice full of tension. She pointed to a cluster of smaller constructs stationed around the conduit, their forms more delicate than those outside but no less dangerous. Their glowing eyes snapped toward Kael and Lysara the moment they entered, and a high-pitched sound filled the room as they activated.

"Defenders," Kael growled. "They're not going to let us touch the conduit."

The constructs sprang into motion, their forms darting across the room with incredible speed. Unlike their bulkier counterparts, these constructs were designed for agility, their limbs tipped with razor-sharp claws.

"Stay moving!" Lysara shouted, dodging the first swipe of a construct's claws. Her blades flashed, catching the construct's arm mid-swing and severing it cleanly. Sparks erupted from the wound, and the construct stumbled back before collapsing.

Kael blocked a strike aimed at his head, his blade locking with the construct's claws in a shower of sparks. With a grunt, he shoved it back and followed up with a powerful swing that cleaved through its chest. The construct fell in a heap, its core dimming as it shut down.

"Keep them off the conduit!" Kael yelled. "We can't let them stabilize the lines."

One of the constructs, smaller than the others but faster, moved toward the glowing veins that snaked into the walls. Lysara intercepted it, her blades slicing through its legs before it could reach its target. She turned, her movements fast and took down another that lunged at her from the side.

Kael moved to cover her, his blade slamming into a construct that had slipped past her defenses. The construct screeched as his strike cut through its core, its body collapsing into lifeless fragments.

More constructs poured into the room from hidden rooms in the walls, their glowing eyes lighting up as they activated. Kael and Lysara fell into a trap and their attacks coordinated as they fought to hold the line. The rebels outside had bought them precious time, but the sheer number of constructs threatened to overwhelm them.

"Lira, we need backup!" Kael yelled into his comm device as he ducked under a construct's swinging claw. "They're swarming us!"

Lira's voice crackled through the static. "Hold tight. I'm rerouting energy to boost the rebels outside. If you can buy me two minutes, I'll send reinforcements."
Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire

"Two minutes?" Lysara called out, slicing through another construct with a spin of her blades. "We'll be lucky if we get one!"

Kael deflected another strike and glanced toward the conduit. The energy veins were beginning to dim, flickering as the assault on the outer defenses took its toll. They were close, but the constructs were not giving up.

"Focus on the ones near the walls!" Kael shouted. "They're trying to stabilize the power flow."

Lysara nodded, breaking away to target a cluster of constructs that had begun repairing a damaged vein. Her blades moved severing limbs and cores as she dismantled them one by one.

Kael held the center, his blade a blur as he cut down anything that came near him. Sweat dripped down his face, and his muscles burned with exertion, but he refused to give ground. Every second he held out brought them closer to victory.

Finally, the room trembled as a massive explosion echoed from outside. The flickering veins surged brightly before dimming to a faint glow. The constructs hesitated, their movements faltering as the power feeding them weakend further.

"That's our opening!" Lysara called out for everyone to hear. "Go for the main lines, now!"

Kael charged toward the conduit, his blade raised. He slashed through a thick energy vein, sparks flying as the mana flow ruptured. The conduit pulsed erratically, its glow fading as more lines were severed.

Lysara joined him, her blades slicing through the remaining connections. The conduit let out a high-pitched whine, the sound growing louder and more unstable with each cut.

"Fall back!" Kael shouted, grabbing Lysara's arm and pulling her away from the conduit. They dove behind a cluster of debris as the structure exploded in a burst of light and energy. Shards of crystal and metal rained down around them, the force of the blast shaking the entire room.

When the dust settled, the conduit was a shattered ruin, its once-glowing veins now dark and lifeless. The remaining constructs collapsed where they stood, their cores dimming as the last traces of power left them.

Kael and Lysara rose from their cover, coughing from the dust. They exchanged a glance, and while both of them were exhausted they had smiles on their faces.

"It's done," Kael said, his voice hoarse.

Lysara nodded, wiping blood from a cut on her cheek. "Let's get out of here."

Kael and Lysara stepped out of the barracks as the faint glow of a rising sun was cutting through the smoke and dust that still hung in the air. Around them, rebels were gathering in groups, their weapons at their sides as the realization of victory began to sink in. A few rebels were still patrolling the area to make sure no constructs remained functional, but most of them were either helping the injured or collapsing to the ground in relief.

Cheers erupted as Kael and Lysara emerged from the barracks. Amara pushed her way through the crowd, her hands still glowing faintly from the healing spells she'd been casting.

"You're alive," she said, exhaling the tension that was inside her body as though she'd been holding her breath the entire time. "Not that I doubted you, but—"

"Save it," Kael interrupted with a faint smirk. "We had it under control."

Lysara snorted. "Sure we did."

Amara shook her head. "The conduit?"

"Gone," Kael said, gesturing back toward the ruined barracks. "No power left. The constructs collapsed on the spot."

Lira appeared beside them. She looked pale and unsteady but still held strong. "It's done, then. We've crippled their defenses."

Kael nodded. "For now. They'll regroup eventually, but this buys us time—and a chance to hit them where it hurts."

…

Inside the council chamber of the Arbiters, the air was thick with the smell of wine and stale feasts from the night before. The room was dim, the heavy curtains drawn to shield the room from the morning sun that none of the Arbiters cared to face.

The central Arbiter, a man whose robes strained against his bulk leaned back in his chair, a cup still clutched loosely in his hand. His triple chins quivered slightly as he snored, the remnants of last night's party evident in the wine stains on his tunic. Around the table, other Arbiters dozed or muttered to themselves, their heads heavy from their indulgence.

A knock on the door disrupted the drowsy quietness that was in the room. The Arbiters stirred slightly, some groaning in protest as the noise pierced their haze. The central Arbiter cracked open one bleary eye.

"Enter," he slurred, his voice filled with grogginess.

A young messenger stepped into the room, his boots clicking on the polished marble floor. His plain uniform contrasted starkly with the lavish surroundings, and his posture was stiff with nerves as he approached the table. His eyes darted over the scene before him, lingering briefly on the disheveled state of the Arbiters before he bowed deeply.

"My lords," the messenger began, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "I bring news from the barracks."

The central Arbiter waved a pudgy hand lazily. "Speak quickly, boy. My head is pounding."

The messenger straightened, clutching a rolled parchment tightly. "The rebels have destroyed the eastern conduit. The barracks defenses have been breached, and the constructs have collapsed. Reports indicate that the rebels are regrouping."

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the room, though none of the Arbiters rose from their seats. The central Arbiter's expression shifted from sleepy to annoyed, his brow furrowing as though the words themselves caused him pain.

"Destroyed?" he echoed, his tone incredulous. "How? The conduits are—were—protected by constructs. They can't possibly have breached our defenses."

The messenger hesitated. "The rebels… they seem to have found a way. The demolition teams used explosives to—"

"Enough!" the central Arbiter barked, his voice rising enough to make the other Arbiters wince. He rubbed his temples, clearly regretting the outburst. "I don't need the details. Just tell me what you're proposing."

The messenger blinked, caught off guard. "My lords, I… I came to inform you. I assumed you would—"

"Assume nothing," interrupted the skeletal Arbiter seated to the central Arbiter's right. His voice filled with irritation. "Your job is to deliver messages, not offer solutions. The constructs will be repaired, and the rebels will be crushed. It's only a matter of time."

The central Arbiter nodded sluggishly, clearly eager to dismiss the matter. "Yes, yes, precisely. Let them have their little victory. They'll overreach soon enough, and then we'll put them in their place."

"But, my lords—" the messenger began, only to be cut off by the round-faced Arbiter, his face flushed with lingering intoxication.

"Enough, boy!" he snapped. "You've done your duty. Return to your post and let us handle this."

The messenger's shoulders stiffened, his mouth opening as though to protest. But the sharp glare from the central Arbiter silenced him. Bowing stiffly, he backed away.

"Yes, my lords," he said, his voice clipped. "As you command."

The door closed behind him with a soft thud, leaving the Arbiters to their slouched positions and muttered complaints.

"We'll deal with this later," the central Arbiter said with a dismissive wave. "For now, let's not ruin the day with trifles. Someone fetch more wine. My throat's dry."