Zone Nine felt like a graveyard.
Liam moved carefully across the cracked stone, sword in hand, eyes sharp. The canyon ahead was wide and broken, with jagged cliffs rising on both sides. Ruined towers leaned at odd angles, half-buried in dust. Ash drifted through the air like falling snow.
No trees. No shelter. No sound.
Only silence and heat.
Behind him, his seven bonded wives followed... and none of them looked happy.
Rena walked closest, her sword out and ready. She hadn't said a word since their last fight, but the way she moved... close, tense, watching... said enough.
Kaelyn stayed on Liam's other side, silent, a dagger spinning in her hand. Her eyes never stopped scanning, flicking between the cliffs and the group.
Sarya kept to the back, arms crossed, scowling at everything. Her crossbow hung at her side, but her attention was locked on Elyra.
Vexa didn't hide her mood either. She walked just behind Liam, boots loud on the stone, eyes locked on Elyra with every step.
Elyra ignored them. She walked close to Liam, graceful and calm, her silver eyes never leaving him. Her hand brushed his arm now and then like she belonged there.
Ice Queen walked alone at the rear. Cold followed her, frost coating the stone underfoot. She didn't speak. She didn't need to. Her glare at Elyra was colder than ice.
Kaelith, the most recent bond, walked ahead of everyone. She didn't wait. Her blades were out, her red braid swinging behind her. She moved like she was looking for trouble.
She didn't have to look far.
"The canyon's closing in," Kaelith called over her shoulder. "Feels like a setup."
Sarya snorted. "Of course it is."
Elyra glanced sideways at Liam. "Must we listen to her?"
Rena's voice was sharp. "Don't start."
Vexa growled. "Both of you, shut it."
Kaelyn's dagger vanished into her belt without a word.
Liam stopped walking.
Everyone halted.
He turned to face them.
"This ends now," he said.
Seven sets of eyes met his. No one backed down.
"You fought for your place," Liam said. "You earned it. But if you keep fighting each other, none of us survive."
Elyra smiled faintly. "I don't see a problem."
Ice Queen stepped forward. Frost hissed at her feet. "You will."
Kaelith leaned against a crumbling wall, arms crossed. "You bond well, but maybe too often."
Sarya muttered, "He picked what was left."
Liam's voice cut through. "I chose strength. I chose survival."
He looked at each of them.
"You follow me. Or you walk."
Silence.
Rena stepped forward first. "I follow."
Kaelyn shrugged. "For now."
Vexa's arms stayed crossed. "I follow power."
Sarya loaded a bolt slowly. "Just don't let us down."
Ice Queen nodded once. "For now."
Elyra brushed Liam's arm again. "I follow... because I want to."
Kaelith smirked. "I follow the fight. And it's coming."
Liam faced forward.
"Good. Let's go meet it."
The system pulsed hard.
> [System Alert]
Zone Nine: Entered
Status: Contested Territory
Enemy Overlord Detected – Preparing Raid
Time to Attack: 1 Hour
Bond Count: 7 / 99
Loyalty Sync: 62% – Stable
Objective: Survive Raid, Defend Territory, Hold Power
Liam tightened his grip on his sword.
One hour.
He had seven wives. One shot to keep them. One chance to survive.
They reached the canyon's center just as the first horn sounded.
A deep, echoing note that rolled through the stone like thunder.
Liam stopped at the edge of the old battleground. Cracked pillars rose from the earth, the remains of a fallen fortress. It was the perfect place for a last stand.
Rena stood beside him, sword drawn. "We don't have time to argue. We either defend here, or we run."
Vexa cracked her knuckles. "I don't run."
Kaelith drew her blades with a grin. "Finally. A real fight."
Sarya climbed onto the nearest pillar, crossbow ready. "I see movement... east ridge. Twenty or more."
Ice Queen stepped forward, frost swirling around her. "Let them come."
Elyra didn't speak. She simply stood near Liam, watching the horizon with unreadable eyes.
Liam turned toward the group. "We hold this ground."
He raised his sword.
"No one gets through."
> [System Alert]
Incoming Raid – 43 Raiders Detected
Leader: Overlord Sorek, Title: Chainmaster
Danger Level: High
Bond Loyalty: Stable – 65%
Zone Status: Critical
Buffs Active:
• Unbreakable Core (Vexa) – Strength + Durability
• Veil's Insight (Elyra) – Perception + Charm Immunity
• Frost Dominion (Ice Queen) – Terrain Control
• Blade Mastery (Kaelith) – Critical Strike Boost
Dust rose on the eastern ridge.
Dozens of raiders appeared, armored in chainmail and wielding jagged weapons. At their head walked a massive figure... cloaked in rusted iron, with chains wrapped around both arms. His eyes burned red through his helm.
Sorek.
He raised a hand, and the chains around his arms snapped taut with a sharp crack.
Liam didn't flinch.
Sorek's voice boomed across the canyon. "Overlord Liam. You have what I want."
Liam stepped forward. "You can't have it."
Sorek laughed. "Then I'll take it."
The raiders charged.
Liam shouted, "Positions!"
Kaelith moved first, blades flashing as she sprinted to meet the front line.
Vexa followed, smashing into the enemy like a wrecking ball.
Rena fought at Liam's side, every swing of her sword precise and deadly.
Sarya fired from above, dropping raiders with every bolt.
Ice Queen raised her hands. Frost surged across the ground, slowing the enemy's charge.
Elyra stood beside Liam, her voice calm. "They're too many."
Liam met her eyes. "Then we break them."
The battle was chaos.
Kaelith danced through the enemy, blades cutting through armor. Vexa fought with brute strength, breaking raiders with her fists.
Rena and Liam fought side by side, their movements synced.
Chains flew from the sky... Sorek had joined the fight. His weapons lashed out, slamming into the ground. One chain struck near Liam, sending him flying.
He hit the ground hard, breath knocked out.
Sorek loomed over him.
"Your bonds are weak."
Liam rose slowly, blood on his face.
"They're mine."
He swung.
His sword clashed with Sorek's chains. Sparks flew. Frost surged beneath them... Ice Queen's power.
Sarya's bolt hit Sorek's shoulder.
Vexa roared, slamming into him.
Kaelith struck from behind, blades sinking deep.
Sorek staggered.
Liam raised his sword high.
"This ends now!"
He brought it down.
Sorek fell.
> [System Alert]
Raid Complete – Victory
Bond Loyalty Boosted – 71%
Territory Secured
New Zone Unlocked – Zone Ten
Warning: Rival Overlord Detected Ahead
Liam stood over the fallen enemy, sword dripping.
Behind him, the others approached.
Rena nodded once. "Well led."
Kaelith smirked. "Not bad."
Vexa crossed her arms. "Next time, let me hit first."
Sarya loaded a bolt. "Still breathing?"
Elyra brushed dust from Liam's shoulder. "Barely."
Ice Queen stared at the horizon. "It's not over."
Liam looked ahead.
"No. It's just begun."