Zone Eleven wasn't land. It was water.
Liam stood at the edge of the cliff, staring down at the flooded valley below. A sprawling lake stretched in every direction, its surface broken by the ruins of ancient towers rising from the depths like drowned bones. Mist clung to the water, thick and cold, curling in strange patterns that didn't move with the wind.
There was no wind.
Only stillness.
And something waiting beneath the surface.
Behind him, eight bonded wives stood in tense formation, each armed, each watching the water like it might reach up and drag them in.
Kaelithra crouched near the cliff's edge, eyes scanning the mist. "Nothing about this feels right."
Kaelyn stood beside her, silent, daggers ready. Her gaze stayed on the largest tower in the center of the lake... a massive, half-collapsed structure with what looked like chains wrapped around its base.
Rena stepped up beside Liam. "We don't have boats."
Liam didn't answer.
Elyra did.
Her voice was soft, almost distant. "This is my zone."
Everyone turned.
Liam looked at her, eyes narrowing. "What?"
Elyra stepped forward, her silver eyes glowing faintly in the mist. "The Siren's Court. I was born here."
Vexa folded her arms, muscles tense. "You never said anything about a court."
Elyra ignored her.
"This was my domain, before the collapse. Before I was bonded."
Kaelithra smirked. "So what, you're royalty now?"
Ice Queen's voice was low. "She's not lying."
The frost at her feet hissed against the damp stone.
"I sense it too. Her power… it resonates with this place."
Sarya loaded a bolt slowly. "You planned this?"
Elyra turned to Liam, her voice barely above a whisper.
"There's something you need to see. Something I never told you."
Liam's grip tightened on his sword.
"What?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she stepped off the cliff.
The others shouted, but before anyone could stop her, Elyra vanished into the mist below.
Silence.
Kaelith swore under her breath. "She's insane."
Liam stepped forward, eyes locked on the lake.
Then the system pulsed.
> [System Alert] Zone Eleven – Siren's Court
Status: Claimed Territory – Elyra Origin Confirmed
Bond Type: Legacy Bond – Unlock Pending
Trial Objective: Enter the Court, Uncover Elyra's Past
Warning: Submerged Threat Detected
Loyalty Risk – Moderate
Rena's hand went to her sword. "We follow?"
Liam didn't hesitate.
"We follow."
He leapt from the cliff, diving into the mist.
The cold hit like knives.
Water closed over him, dragging him under. He fought upward, breaking the surface seconds later. All around him, mist curled thick, blinding. He couldn't see the cliff. Couldn't see the others.
Just ruins.
And a song.
Soft. Faint. Coming from below.
"Liam…"
Elyra's voice, echoing through the water.
He swam forward.
Behind him, splashes... his wives following.
Rena surfaced first, breathing hard.
Kaelithra cursed loudly. "I swear, if she lured us here just for attention..."
The water rippled.
Something moved beneath.
Ice Queen appeared next, frost already forming across the water's surface.
"I sense her… there."
She pointed toward the largest tower, half-sunken in the center of the lake.
Liam didn't wait.
They swam, fast, toward the tower.
The song grew louder.
Hypnotic.
Sarya's voice was tight. "I can't… think straight…"
Kaelyn caught her arm. "It's her. Elyra's power."
Liam reached the base of the tower and climbed the crumbling stone.
He pulled himself onto the slick platform and froze.
Elyra stood in the center of the ruined court.
Her dress was gone.
She wore armor now... ornate, silver, glowing faintly. Her eyes shone bright, not soft, not gentle… but sharp, regal.
She turned to him.
"You wanted to know who I was."
Liam nodded.
"Then remember me," she said.
The system pulsed hard.
> [System Alert] Bond Evolution Triggered – Elyra
Type: Siren Queen Legacy
Trial: Loyalty or Loss
Warning: Failure Will Break Bond Permanently
Liam stepped forward.
Elyra raised her hand.
"You command us all. But can you command me?"
He didn't flinch.
"I already do."
She smiled.
"Then prove it."
Elyra's eyes glowed silver in the mist.
She stood tall at the center of the flooded court, her armored form gleaming faintly in the dim light. The lake shimmered around her like it obeyed her... like it waited.
Liam stepped forward across the slick stone.
Behind him, his other wives climbed onto the platform one by one. Rena was first, sword already drawn. Kaelithra followed, dripping wet and scowling. Ice Queen emerged in silence, frost curling beneath her feet even on stone. Kaelyn, Vexa, Sarya… all ready, all tense.
All watching Elyra.
None of them moved closer.
The air between them and Elyra was thick… not just with mist, but with power.
Liam spoke first.
"Start talking."
Elyra didn't hesitate.
"This was my court. Before the collapse. Before I was bound to the system."
Rena stepped forward, voice sharp. "You served the system?"
Elyra's smile was bitter. "No. I ruled outside of it. I was free. Until the collapse… until the system forced me into this world."
Kaelith spun one of her daggers. "And now you're what… reclaiming your throne?"
Elyra looked at Liam.
"No. I'm offering it to him."
The mist thickened.
The song started again... soft, seductive, pulling at the edges of thought.
Sarya clenched her fists. "She's doing it again… the charm."
Ice Queen raised her hand. Frost spiraled outward.
"She's testing him."
Liam's sword was already drawn.
"You said you followed me."
Elyra's gaze never wavered.
"I do. But if you want all of me… if you want my true bond… you take it here. In my court."
Kaelithra growled. "She's baiting you."
Vexa stepped forward. "Then take her down."
Elyra lifted her arms, and water surged upward around her, a swirling spiral of power.
"Show them, Liam. Show them you lead. Or I return to the court alone."
The system pulsed... hard.
> [System Alert] Siren Queen Bond Trial Initiated
Objective: Prove Control – Subdue Elyra's Legacy Power
Warning: Charm Effect Active – Resistance Required
Reward: Queen's Bond – Zone Control, Charm Immunity, Loyalty Boost
Liam didn't wait.
He moved.
Water lashed at him, but he broke through, sword slicing the waves apart. Elyra stood in the center of it all, unmoving.
"You want to test me?" he said. "I pass."
She raised her hand... energy surged.
He caught her wrist mid-spell, twisting.
Elyra gasped, eyes wide.
"You've never had a bond like me," she whispered.
He pulled her close, breath hot against her ear.
"And you've never been mine."
With one swift motion, he pinned her, forcing her to one knee.
The water stilled.
Silence.
Then Elyra bowed her head.
"Overlord," she whispered.
The system pulsed.
> [System Update] Bond Evolution Complete – Elyra, Siren Queen
Buff Unlocked: Siren's Command – Control Zone Loyalty, Immune to Charm-Based Attacks
Bond Loyalty: Max
Bond Count: 9 / 99
Loyalty Sync: 78% – Stable
Zone Eleven: Claimed
Court Restored
The mist broke.
Behind them, the wives watched in silence.
Kaelithra smirked. "Guess she's tamed."
Rena sheathed her sword. "For now."
Ice Queen turned toward the horizon.
"Another zone rises. Another war begins."
Liam helped Elyra to her feet, her eyes still glowing... but softer now.
"You lead," she whispered. "I follow."
Sarya muttered, "Finally."
Kaelyn glanced toward the horizon.
"So who's next?"
The system pulsed again.
> [System Alert] Zone Twelve Detected – Sky Fortress
Overlord Approaching – Class Unknown
Bond Trial – Pending
Liam turned.
"One down. Eighty-nine to go."
They moved.
The war was far from over.