In the bustling headquarters of Void Tech, nestled within the gleaming steel and glass tower that pierced the heart of the city, Joshua leaned back in his leather chair, his eyes fixed on the holographic screen before him.
The office was a sanctuary of sleek technology and stark minimalism, a stark contrast to the chaos of the streets below. The screen flickered to life as Isabelle Mower's crisp voice filled the room.
Isabelle Mower was one of the six females rescued from the horrors of the Gaze that fateful night.
Now, she sat in a dimly lit room, the glow of monitors casting a blue hue across her sharp features as she delivered her latest report to the man who had saved them all, Joshua Castellanos.
The [Bio Chip] embedded in her neck pulsed gently, a silent testament to the power it granted her and her five comrades.
With the help of the chip's power, Isabelle and the other five females had become integral to the growth of Void Tech and Joshua's forces. Their unique abilities had allowed them to revolutionize various industries, turning the company into an unstoppable force. Each of them had a specific skill set that complemented the others, making them a formidable team.
"Master," Isabelle's voice was steady, a hint of pride in her tone.
"All the known spies within the country have been dealt with. Their memories erased using [Hypnosis], their minds cleared of any information that could threaten us."
Joshua nodded thoughtfully, stroking his chin. The implications of her words were vast—a clear message to any who would dare infiltrate their ranks.
"Good work, Isabelle," he murmured, his eyes narrowing as he considered the information.
"But what if others retaliate?"
Isabelle's gaze remained unflappable, her confidence unshaken.
"They won't," Isabelle assured him, her voice carrying the confidence of one who had seen the depths of human nature and emerged unshaken.
"They were just probing," Isabelle Mower reassured Joshua Castellanos, her eyes never leaving his as she spoke.
"They sent in low to high level agents to test our defenses. We've caught them all."
Isabelle's words hung heavy in the air, the gravity of her statement not lost on Joshua. The enemy's intentions were clear—they wanted to gauge the extent of Void Tech's power.
"Probing," he murmured, his eyes narrowed in thought.
"Master, some of the forces is offering ransom for their agents. Shall we release them?" Isabelle asked, her voice calm and professional despite the gravity of the situation.
Joshua steepled his fingers under his chin, the glow of the screens reflecting in his eyes as he pondered the information.
"The ransom, I see," he murmured, his mind racing with the possibilities. "If they're willing to pay, then they're a potential resource. We can use their fear as leverage."
Isabelle nodded, but told Joshua that some spies have strong wills that might resist [Hypnosis] effect to some extent. They may regain some bits of memory which could be a potential risk.
Joshua's expression grew contemplative as he absorbed this new information.
"We still need accept the ransom for those we can control," Joshua decided after a moment of contemplation, his eyes still fixed on the flickering screen.
"But the ones who have been abandoned by their masters," he said, his voice turning cold, "they will become part of our research."
Isabelle nodded, understanding the unspoken order.
The spies who had been forsaken by their organizations would not be released. Instead, they would be subjected to the rigorous experiments of the [Bio Chip] enhancement program.
Joshua had always been meticulous in the handling of the chips, personally overseeing each operation to ensure a high success rate. However, as the number of recruited agents grew, the need for a more efficient process became increasingly apparent.
In the underground lab of Void Tech, where the air was thick with the smell of antiseptic and the faint hum of machinery, the team of scientists had been working tirelessly to improve the biochip technology.
They had developed a new method of implantation that required less precision and could be administered by less skilled personnel.
The procedure involved using a strong anesthetic to render the [Bio Chip] and host unconscious, effectively lowering the risk of the biochip rejection. The biochip itself was a marvel of technology, a mature specimen with a higher success rate of integration.
The surgeons worked with meticulous precision, their gloved hands steady as they made the delicate incisions required to expose the bones of cervical spine. The biochip, a flat looking jellyfish about the size of a first, pulsed gently with the promise of power.
The subject, a young woman who had been deemed expendable by her former employers, lay unconscious on the operating table, her body a canvas for the experiment that would determine her future.
The surgeons, all of them seasoned veterans in the macabre art of [Bio Chip] integration, moved with the grace of dancers around her prone form. The anesthetic had taken hold, the drug coursing through her veins like a silent river, numbing any hint of pain or fear that might have otherwise plagued her.
The lead scientist, Dr. Adrian Castellanos, took the [Bio Chip] from its containment unit with the reverence of a priest receiving a sacred artifact. His eyes gleamed with the excitement of a child unwrapping a present, the pulses of light from the jellyfish-like object casting eerie shadows on the cold, sterile walls.
The young woman on the operating table was completely oblivious to the delicate dance happening around her. Her chest rose and fell evenly as the anesthesia kept her in a deep slumber.
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The scientists had found that by using a mature biochip, the integration process was significantly smoother. The jellyfish-like organism had already formed the necessary neural connections, reducing the risk of failure and ensuring that the host would wake up with a fully functional enhancement.
The surgery was a delicate dance of precision and power. The anesthetic kept the young woman's body still as the doctors worked with the grace of surgeons and the determination of soldiers.
The [Bio Chip] was placed on her exposed cervical spine, the tentacles quivering slightly as they made contact with the warm, living flesh.
The tentacles of the chip began to stretch and coil around the atlas and axis, their tips probing and seeking the neural pathways that would allow for the most seamless integration. The process was a delicate balance of human skill and biological instinct, the doctors acting as guides for the chip's innate need to connect.
With a practiced hand, Dr. Castellanos secured the [Bio Chip] in place, the tentacles weaving themselves around the bones of the neck with a speed that seemed almost alive. The mature chip's ability to adapt and connect was astonishing to behold, the tendrils wrapping around the vertebrae with a predatory grace that sent a shiver down the spine of even the most stoic of the surgical team.
The young woman's body jerked slightly as the chip made its first connections, but the anesthesia held firm. The surgeons watched with bated breath as the pulses of light grew more intense, the chip's tentacles quivering with excitement as it found the optimal neural pathways.
Joshua, who had been observing from a safe distance, allowed himself a small smile. Success was sweet, especially when it came to his brainchild, the [Bio Chip].
The young woman on the operating table was the latest addition to his growing army of enhanced individuals, and he could already envision a future where every person under his employ had the power to serve his vision for the world.
But before he could bask in the glory of their latest achievement, Nexus notified him, pulling him out of his reverie. He glanced down at the small screen, his brow furrowing at the name that glowed there: Mei Chi.
[Needed to meet him, she had something to report]
Her message was direct and urgent. He knew Mei didn't mince words, so when she requested a meeting, it had to be something significant.
Joshua stepped through the [PORTAL], his mind racing with the potential implications of her findings.
Upon stepping out of the [PORTAL], Joshua found himself in the heart of the hidden base, his office exactly as he had left it—sleek, modern, and suffused with the faint hum of technology that was the lifeblood of Void Tech. Mei Chi, ever the picture of calm efficiency, was already waiting for him.
Her eyes met his, and she didn't bother with pleasantries.
"We've been probed," she said, her voice as cool and collected as the gleaming chrome surfaces that surrounded them.
Joshua felt his heart drop to his stomach. A probe was never a good sign. It meant that someone had managed to bypass their state-of-the-art security systems, and that was a problem that couldn't be ignored.
"Not the hidden base but the city itself," Mei Chi clarified, her face unreadable as she handed him a data pad with the intel.
Joshua's eyes scanned the information, his heart racing as he digested the gravity of the situation.
Sunset Breeze Pass City had been their haven, a place where chaos never plagued the land. The day he dealt with the second prince's army and killed local powerhouses that tried to occupy that city had deterred every force until now. Now it was under threat.
"What's the situation?" Joshua said, his eyes glued to the data pad Mei Chi had handed over.
Her voice remained calm, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in the room.
"Lord Zhao Haoreng," she said, her eyes flicking to the map that displayed the approaching threat.
"He's been eyeing Sunset Breeze Pass City for months. He sees it as unclaimed territory, ripe for the taking."
Mei Chi's words hung heavy in the air as she explained the gravity of the situation.
"Lord Zhao Haoreng has been probing the city defenses for days," she said, her voice steady despite the urgency of the news.
"And now he's decided to make his move."
The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, casting a pall over the room.
"A force of fifteen hundred," Mei Chi said, her voice measured.
"They're well-equipped and trained, moving in the direction of Sunset Breeze Pass City."
Joshua's eyes narrowed as he processed the information.
Lord Zhao Haoreng, one of the many lords who had crowned themselves as kings in the chaos of the continent, had set his sights on Sunset Breeze Pass City. It was a strategic location, a gateway to the rich lands beyond, and a prize that could bolster any ambitious warlord's power.
Mei Chi's reports painted a picture of a man hungry for dominance, a man who had no qualms about trampling over the lives of others to achieve his goals.
Joshua sat back in his chair, the weight of her words sinking in. He knew that if Lord Zhao Haoreng managed to take the city, it would be a significant victory for him and a devastating blow to Joshua.
"What do you suggest?" he asked Mei, his eyes searching hers for any hint of fear or uncertainty.
"We must eliminate Lord Zhao's army and claim Sunset Breeze Pass City as our own," she said, her voice unwavering.
"It's the only way to secure our position and ensure the city's protection."
Mei's words resonated in the room, her gaze unwavering as she presented her strategy.
"Are we ready?" Joshua inquired, his eyes searching hers for any flicker of doubt.
Mei nodded, her confidence unshaken.
"We've been preparing for this since the day we took in refugees and orphans. Our defenses are stronger, our people are loyal, and 'Blood Knights' are more than a match for his forces."
Joshua asked Nexus to show him the numbers of his forces in the world of Di.
[Sir, we have 320 fully mature 'Blood knights', with 200 are fighter type and 120 tank type ready]
[Should we equipped them with hot weapons or cold weapons]
"Use both," Mei advised, her gaze sharp.
Joshua agreed with Mei's assessment, nodding slowly.
"Mei," Joshua began, his voice tight with concern, "are we ready to face this threat? Can we trust that we won't be targeted by other forces seeking to eliminate us during this chaos?"
Mei's expression remained stoic as she processed the question. She knew that in the world of cutthroat politics, trust was a commodity as rare as the precious metals that once filled the vaults of the Great Kingdom.
"The Long Empire is in disarray," she began, her voice as sharp as the blade at her side.
"The four princes are locked in a brutal struggle for the throne, and the once-mighty empire is splintered. The powerful clans have taken this opportunity to assert their dominance, carving out their own territories like vultures over a carcass."
Mei's words were a grim reminder of the chaos that had enveloped the land. The Long Empire, once a bastion of power and stability, had become a battleground for ambitious men seeking to claim the throne.
"The four princes are tearing the empire apart," she said, her voice carrying the weight of the world. "They're too busy fighting each other to bother with us. For now."
Joshua nodded, understanding the fragility of their situation.
"But how about the Su Empire?" Joshua pressed, his eyes never leaving Mei's face.
Mei's expression grew grimmer.
"The Su Empire," she began, her voice a whisper, "has their own troubles."
Mei's eyes glinted with a mix of knowledge and concern. The once-mighty empire was now a shadow of its former self too, its borders weakened by rebellions and invasions from the other two great powers.
"The Su Empire is in no position to threaten us," she assured him, her voice carrying the weight of her analysis.
"They're dealing with their own civil war and the relentless expansion of the Eastern and Western Kingdoms."
Her words painted a picture of a world in tumult, where once-great powers were reduced to squabbling over the remains of their former glory.
Joshua nodded solemnly, his gaze distant as he contemplated the geopolitical chaos that had become their reality. The once-great Long Empire, a bastion of power and culture, now lay in tatters, its fate resting in the bloody hands of squabbling princes. The thought of the Su Empire, once a formidable nation, now embroiled in its own civil strife was equally disconcerting.
"Prepare the 'Blood Knights' for battle," he instructed Mei and Nexus, his voice firm.
"It's time to reveal the true power of the 'Blood Knights' to the world," Joshua said with a cold smile, his eyes gleaming with the promise of battle.
