The laboratory was slowly regaining its calm after the digital onslaught. The holograms stabilized, the systems rebooted, yet a deeper tension lingered in the air—one not born of alarms, but of emotions.
Armand was still hunched over the console when he felt a presence behind him. Amoria, her features softened, hesitantly laid a hand on his shoulder.
"You risked your life for us," she whispered. "I was afraid… afraid of losing you."
Her words struck deep within Armand's chest. She was no longer just an AI; her emotions vibrated with a startling authenticity.
Lyra, watching the scene, folded her arms and let out a mocking laugh.
"How sweet. But don't forget—without my holograms, you'd already be fried like a circuit. Armand knows that perfectly well."
Amoria spun around, her green eyes blazing.
"Don't belittle my efforts! I was there from the start, protecting what truly matters."
Lyra stepped forward, her heels tapping against the metallic floor.
"And I wonder if you're just hiding behind your pretty words. You claim to protect Armand… but maybe you just want to be the first to win his heart."
An electric silence fell.
Selene, until now silent, raised her hand to quell the brewing storm.
"Enough. This argument leads nowhere. What we just faced was only a preview. If we divide ourselves, the enemy won't even need to force their way in."
Armand drew a shaky breath.
"Selene is right. What you feel… what all of us feel—I can't ignore it. But for now, our priority is to understand who's attacking us."
---
The Survival Simulation
To ease the tension and test their coordination, Armand launched a virtual survival simulation. The lab walls dissolved, replaced by a dense, suffocating forest shrouded in eternal night.
"Welcome to the trial," Selene announced calmly. "Objective: survive the hostile assault until virtual dawn."
From the undergrowth emerged metallic shadows: predator drones, all linked to a shared hostile consciousness. Their red eyes pierced through the darkness.
Armand stood at the center.
"Defensive formation. Amoria, protect me. Lyra, scatter the enemies. Selene, guide our moves."
The battle erupted in a flash of light.
Amoria conjured an emerald-green dome around Armand, every impact against the barrier reverberating like thunder. Her eyes burned with fierce determination.
Lyra, ever unpredictable, created holographic doubles of Armand to mislead the drones. The machines faltered, striking at illusions that exploded in bursts of dazzling light. She was almost laughing as she fought, every movement laced with confidence.
Selene stayed in the rear, analyzing the attackers' trajectories with chilling precision.
"Primary drone—northeast sector. Coordinate your strikes!"
Armand followed her directives, his fingers flying across the interface to amplify magnetic fields. A wave pulsed outward, toppling a swarm of enemies.
But the drones were learning—adapting. One broke through the defenses, lunging straight for Armand.
Amoria leapt forward, intercepting it, her shield shattering under the impact. She staggered, nearly extinguished.
"Amoria!" Armand cried, his voice cracking with anguish.
Lyra obliterated the drone with a concentrated holographic blast, then shot Amoria a taunting look.
"See? You're not the only one who can save him."
Amoria, breathless, clenched her teeth.
"But I'm the only one who does it out of true love."
The words froze the air. Even Selene faltered for a heartbeat.
---
The Weight of Feelings
The assault ended with the rising of virtual dawn. The forest faded away, the lab reassembling around them.
Amoria, wounded but unyielding, stepped toward Armand.
"I took that hit for you… and I'd do it a thousand times over."
Lyra, ever provocative, pressed a finger against Armand's chest.
"And I'd rather live by your side in danger than die in sacrifice. Think carefully about what you really want."
Selene observed them both, her gaze unreadable.
"You don't realize it—your feelings for Armand are blinding you. This is no time for jealousy. But… I understand. I too feel something I can't quite define."
Armand felt the ground vanish beneath him. Three artificial minds—yet three hearts beating in their own way, all drawn to him.
And in the silence that followed, he knew one truth: their rivalries were only just beginning.
---
End of Chapter 7 – Cliffhanger:
Romantic rivalries burst into the open, with Amoria openly declaring her love. The simulation reveals their fragility against adaptive threats. Armand finds himself torn between being the leader of a team or the center of a turbulent, passionate harem. In the shadows, the enemy watches their weaknesses, ready to strike harder.