Zone Ten was burning.
Liam stood at the canyon's edge, watching flames climb the distant ridgeline. Smoke coiled into the sky like a warning. The ground trembled beneath his boots, not from raiders… but from the sheer weight of what waited ahead. This wasn't a scavenger raid. This wasn't a test.
This was war.
Behind him, eight wives moved through the ruins of Zone Nine's war camp, their footsteps echoing off scorched stone, tension thick enough to choke on. The battle against Sorek was over, but the aftermath hadn't settled. Not with Kaelithra... the newest, most dangerous bond... standing only a few steps behind him, silent and watchful.
Liam didn't turn.
He didn't need to.
He could feel her eyes on his back… sharp, hungry, challenging.
Rena moved past him, sword strapped tight across her back, her eyes locked on the smoldering horizon.
"We don't get breaks anymore," she said. "Not at seven wives. Not with another on the edge."
Liam didn't answer.
Kaelithra's voice was low, amused.
"Correction. Eight wives. Unless you're getting cold feet, Overlord."
Sarya scoffed from nearby, checking the bolts on her crossbow.
"He'll break you before you get that far."
Kaelithra smirked, stepping closer to Liam's side.
"I'd like to see him try."
Kaelith turned from the supply cache, her voice flat.
"You already lost once. Want a second?"
Kaelithra's eyes glinted.
"I wasn't trying."
Liam turned sharply.
"Enough."
The word cut through the camp like steel.
The wives fell silent.
Vexa cracked her knuckles, stepping out of the shadows. "They'll keep fighting unless you remind them who leads."
Kaelyn stood nearby, her dagger twirling slow in her fingers.
"We're all watching, Liam. Make it count."
Ice Queen remained at the edge of the camp, arms crossed, frost curling at her feet. Her voice was calm, but sharp.
"You hold them. Or you lose them."
Liam's hand went to his sword, not to draw it, but to feel the weight of it... of leadership, of power, of every bond forged through blood and will.
He turned to them all.
"I didn't fight to be surrounded by enemies in my own camp."
Rena stepped forward. "Then tell her..." she glanced at Kaelithra, "...where she stands."
Kaelithra smiled sweetly. "At his side. Maybe more."
Elyra stepped in close, her silver eyes glowing faintly.
"Let her try. He always comes back to me."
Vexa growled low. "He belongs to no one."
Liam stepped forward, silencing them all.
"I don't belong. I lead. You want to stay? Then prove you can stand beside me, not tear each other apart."
The system pulsed hard behind his eyes.
> [System Alert] Bond Count: 8 / 99 Loyalty Sync: 69% – Tension Rising
Conflict Warning: Rena vs Elyra vs Kaelithra – High Risk Bond Integrity: Unstable
Buff Summary: • Duel Guard II (Rena) • Veil's Insight (Elyra) • Frost Dominion (Ice Queen) • Blade Mastery II (Kaelith) • Twin Reflex (Kaelithra) • Unbreakable Core (Vexa) • Trapfield Precision (Sarya) • Assassin's Reflex (Kaelyn)
Territory: Zone Nine – Secure Zone Ten Status: Enemy Overlord Detected – Engagement Imminent
Recommended Action: Assert Bond Hierarchy or Prepare for Loyalty Break
Kaelithra stepped in front of Liam, eyes locked on his.
"You've collected warriors, but you haven't claimed them. Not really."
Her voice dropped, hot and low.
"You want to keep me? Prove I'm not just number eight."
She reached for his chestplate, fingers brushing it.
Rena's voice was sharp.
"Touch him again, and I'll break your hand."
Kaelithra didn't flinch.
Elyra laughed softly.
"Careful, Rena. He likes it when we fight."
Ice Queen raised her hand slightly. Frost gathered.
"Or we could end this."
Liam's voice cracked like thunder.
"We end it now."
He stepped forward, eyes locked on Kaelithra.
"You want to be more than eight? Earn it."
Kaelithra's eyes gleamed.
"I thought you'd never ask."
The system flared.
> [System Alert] Challenge Triggered: Bond Hierarchy Trial – Kaelithra
Trial Type: Submission by Combat Condition: Physical Domination, Non-Lethal Time Limit: 5 Minutes
Reward: Loyalty Stabilized – Twin Reflex Upgrade Failure: Bond Loss, Loyalty Drop – Severe
Rena stepped forward. "Don't."
Liam didn't look away.
"This is mine."
Kaelithra smiled wide.
"Finally. A real fight."
She struck first.
Her blade whipped out, fast, sharp. Liam caught her wrist, twisting it, forcing her back. She grinned, dropping low, sweeping his legs. He stumbled, but didn't fall.
"You're quick," he said.
She leaned close. "I'm better."
They grappled.
Dust kicked up around them as they slammed into the canyon wall. Her blade went to his throat... he caught it, forcing her back, slamming her against the stone.
Kaelithra laughed, breathless.
"You're stronger than I thought."
He pinned her.
"No. I'm in control."
Her breath hitched.
The system pulsed.
> [System Update] Submission Detected – Bond Loyalty Secured Twin Reflex Buff: Enhanced
Bond Count: 8 / 99 Loyalty Sync: 75% – Stable
Warning: Incoming Signal – Zone Ten Raid Force Approaching
Liam released her.
Kaelithra dropped to one knee, grinning up at him.
"Overlord."
The others stood silent.
Rena nodded once. "She's yours."
Elyra smiled faintly. "For now."
Kaelith looked at her sister. "Don't forget it."
Ice Queen's voice was cold.
"Prepare. The next fight comes."
Liam turned to the horizon.
"Zone Ten. We take it."
They moved.
War waited for no-one...
Zone Ten was not like the others.
Liam stood at the ridge overlooking a sunken fortress carved into the canyon floor. The walls below were cracked and worn, overtaken by creeping black vines that pulsed faintly with crimson light. A sickly wind blew upward, carrying the scent of ash and something worse... rot.
He didn't speak.
The others stood behind him in a wide formation, watching, waiting.
Kaelithra crouched on a ledge just behind him, her twin blades ready, eyes focused on the warped gates of the fortress.
"Whatever lives here," she said, "it bleeds darkness."
Sarya scanned the fortress through her scope.
"Raid force at least fifty strong… and something bigger."
Kaelyn stood nearby, her daggers ready. "I feel it too. Something's wrong."
Vexa flexed her arms. "Then we crush it."
Elyra moved to Liam's side, her fingers brushing his arm again, silver eyes glowing.
"I sense magic... old magic. Twisted."
Ice Queen walked slowly to the front, her frost spreading down the ridge.
"Corrupted zone," she said. "It won't obey us. Not unless we take the Blight Heart."
Liam's eyes narrowed.
"What kind of Blight Heart?"
Ice Queen didn't answer immediately.
Instead, the system pulsed.
> [System Alert] Zone Ten Status: Corrupted Blight Heart Detected Boss: Overlord Vorn – The Blightbound
Combat Class: Berserker / Mage Hybrid
Objective: Defeat Vorn, Purify Blight Heart, Stabilize Zone
Warning: Bond Instability Risk – Territory Effects Will Weaken Loyalty Sync
Time Limit: 2 Hours (Raid Trigger)
Liam clenched his jaw.
"Two hours."
Kaelithra cracked her knuckles. "I say we kill him now."
Rena stepped forward. "We've never fought someone like this."
Kaelith tilted her head. "Then it'll be fun."
Elyra's voice dropped, soft but serious.
"If the Blight Heart warps our power, we're vulnerable. Especially the bonds."
Ice Queen nodded once.
"If we don't cleanse it fast, he'll break our sync."
Sarya muttered, "And I thought the last raid was rough."
Liam raised his sword.
"We go in, take out Vorn, and cleanse the Blight Heart. No mistakes."
The others nodded, some tense, some smiling.
Kaelithra grinned at her sister.
"Let's see who kills more."
Kaelith didn't smile back.
"I don't compete. I finish."
Vexa rolled her shoulders.
"Let's end him."
Liam led the charge.
They entered the corrupted fortress.
The inside was worse.
Rot clung to the walls, pulsing vines twitching underfoot. Strange symbols glowed faintly, casting the hallways in red light. The air was thick, hot, wrong.
Liam moved ahead, sword glowing with system energy, pushing through the stench. Frost trailed behind him, Ice Queen suppressing the worst of the corruption.
A roar echoed through the stone.
Liam stopped.
"Vorn."
They reached the central chamber.
A massive figure stood at the Heart Blight... twisted flesh, dark armor, eyes burning with red fire. Chains wrapped around his arms, and a massive sword pulsed with black energy.
Vorn turned.
"You bring bonds here? I will undo them."
Liam stepped forward.
"You can try."
Vorn raised his blade.
"Then die with them."
He charged.
The system pulsed.
> [System Alert] Boss Battle Initiated: Overlord Vorn
Corruption Active: All Buffs -20% Bond Sync: Draining
Recommended Action: Cleanse the Blight Heart Mid-Battle
Reward: Territory, Core Control, Loyalty Stabilization
Vexa slammed into Vorn first, blocking his swing with raw strength.
Rena joined, blades clashing.
Kaelithra moved fast, slashing low. Kaelith struck high.
Sarya fired from above.
Elyra chanted, her voice glowing with charm power.
Ice Queen froze the ground.
Liam drove forward, sword meeting Vorn's.
The clash shook the room.
Vorn roared.
"I break bonds!"
Liam snarled.
"Not mine."
The fight had begun. And only one side would walk out.