Chapter 17: The Abyssal Throne
The surface world was a graveyard of rusting steel, but the world beneath was a canvas of untapped potential. With Mirella, the Siren Queen, now bonded to his lineage, Han Chen no longer looked at the ocean as an obstacle—he looked at it as his true empire.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[AQUATIC DOMINION: ACTIVE]
[NEW PROJECT: THE CORAL CITADEL (UNDERWATER CITY)]
[OBJECTIVE: Establish a permanent deep-sea base to secure resources and house the expanding Dynasty.]
"The humans above fear the water," Mirella whispered, her silver hair drifting like silk in the dry air of the penthouse. She was draped in a wet, translucent silk wrap that shimmered over her sapphire scales. "But my people knew how to make the stone grow. We can build a city that breathes, Han."
The Foundations of the Deep
Han took his four wives down to the submerged 50th floor of the Jade Emperor Tower, which sat just below the current water line.
"Mirella, call them," Han commanded.
The Siren stepped to the edge of the flooded balcony and let out a long, haunting thrum from her throat—a frequency that bypassed ears and vibrated directly into the nervous systems of every creature in the district.
From the dark depths, hundreds of Colossal Builder-Crabs and Stone-Eater Eels emerged. They didn't attack. They bowed.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: HYDRO_KINESIS + LIFE_OVERDRIVE]
Han grabbed Su Lan's hand, channeling her plant-growth mutation through his own water-bending. Together, they projected a massive wave of energy into the seabed.
The coral didn't just grow; it evolved. Massive, spiraling towers of calcium and mana rose from the sand, fusing with the foundations of the sunken skyscrapers. Xara Vance stood on the balcony, her violet eyes glowing as she fed structural data directly into Han's mind.
"Strengthen the eastern pylon, Han," Xara's voice echoed in his head via the Hive_Mind. "The current pressure is 4,000 PSI. Inject the mana-silk here."
By sunset, a magnificent, glowing city of coral and reinforced glass had bridged the gap between the Jade Emperor Tower and the Sears Tower... but it was all beneath the waves.
The Coronation in the Deep
To solidify the new city, Han needed to plant his "Sovereign Seed" in the heart of the Citadel. He led Mirella into the central chamber—a massive dome of air kept dry by a persistent Hydro-Kinetic barrier.
The room was beautiful, lit by glowing bioluminescent anemones. Mirella turned to him, her sapphire tail shimmering with a frantic, rhythmic pulse. The construction of the city had spiked her "Queen" instincts. She was desperate to be marked in her new territory.
"The city is ready, my King," she breathed, her webbed fingers pulling Han toward the bed of soft, mana-infused sea-moss. "But it has no soul yet. It needs your warmth."
Han didn't hesitate. He pulled the Siren Queen toward him, his hands sliding over the cool, slippery scales of her hips. Her body was a marvel of evolution—firm, wet, and incredibly responsive. When he entered her, the entire Coral Citadel hummed.
[DING! INTIMACY DURING PREGNANCY: AQUATIC SYNC]
[SYSTEM REWARD: ABYSSAL_ENERGY_CORE UNLOCKED.]
[LOYALTY: MIRELLA — 85% (DEVOTED QUEEN)]
Han was relentless. He explored the depths of Mirella's unique anatomy, his movements slow and powerful, synchronized with the heavy pulse of the ocean outside the glass. Mirella's songs turned into naughty, jagged gasps of pleasure that sent ripples through the water surrounding the dome.
As they peaked, a surge of golden light erupted from the chamber, flowing into the coral walls. The city literally "woke up," its lights turning from a dull blue to a vibrant, living gold.
The New Order
Hours later, Han stood at the throne of the Coral Citadel. His three other wives joined them, their rounded bellies glowing in the soft light.
Lin Mei stood to his left, her golden shield now protecting the entire chamber.
Su Lan stood to his right, her life-aura keeping the air fresh and sweet.
Xara sat at the console, her mind linked to the city's sensors.
And Mirella lay at his feet, her head resting on his knee, the master of the beasts that guarded their gates.
[NOTIFICATION: WORLD REPUTATION INCREASED.]
[A NEW FACTION HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED: THE DYNASTY OF THE DEEP.]
"We have a city," Han said, his voice echoing through the water-tight halls. "Now, we wait for the heirs. And if any of the 'Mountain Lords' try to stop us, they'll find that the ocean doesn't just drown men... it eats them."
Progress Report
* Gestation: 10 Days remaining.
* City Status: Coral Citadel (Operational / Hidden).
* New Resource: Endless seafood, mana-crystals, and sea-beast army.