The storm broke at dawn.
Sheets of rain rolled across Camp Drakon, soaking the banners, dousing the fires, turning the dirt to black sludge. Yet no one hid from it. They trained through the downpour—silent, relentless, waiting.
They could feel it in the air.
The calm before something massive.
Ares stood beneath the half-built watchtower, water dripping from his hair.
Kael climbed the ladder beside him, scanning the valley.
"Movement to the east," Kael said. "At least forty. Maybe more."
Ares nodded once. He didn't ask who. He already knew.
Lexa had answered.
SYSTEM ALERT:
Event Triggered – The Commander's Retribution
Incoming Force: 46 Grounder soldiers under banner of Trikru
Field Commander: Anya kom Trikru
Objective: Retake captured sectors and kill "Drakon kom Skai"
Estimated Arrival: 40 minutes
Ares didn't flinch.
He'd expected this the moment he let Anya walk free.
He descended to the training field, where Clarke and Raven were arguing near the barricades.
"We can't hold against forty!" Clarke snapped. "We need to fall back to the ridge and regroup!"
Raven pointed at the repaired turrets. "We've got defensive firepower now—barely. Give me ten minutes and I can wire the perimeter with shock traps."
Clarke frowned. "And when that fails?"
"Then he finishes it," Raven said simply, glancing toward Ares.
Ares stepped between them. "No one's falling back. This is our ground."
Clarke shook her head. "You can't fight Lexa's army."
"I don't plan to."
She frowned. "Then what—"
He looked past her, to the treeline. "I'm fighting her."
By the time the first Grounder horns sounded, the rain had thinned to a mist.
Ares walked alone beyond the walls, leaving his people behind the barricades. Kael moved to follow, but Ares lifted a hand.
"Stay. You'll know when."
Kael hesitated, then stepped back.
The army emerged from the fog—forty-six soldiers in dark armor, war paint streaked across their faces, banners slick with rain. They moved in perfect formation until they stopped thirty feet away.
And then, through the mist, Anya appeared.
She looked different now—less wild, more deliberate. Her armor was ceremonial, her face calm. The kind of calm that came before blood.
They stared at each other for a long time.
"You could have run," she said. "You didn't."
"You could have left Lexa," Ares replied. "You didn't."
A faint smile crossed her lips. "Maybe I needed proof that your strength wasn't a trick."
"Then look closely."
SYSTEM ENGAGEMENT INITIATED
Enemy Commander Identified: Anya kom Trikru (Elite)
Duel Challenge: Active
Optional Objective: Convert or Kill
Reward Tier: Legendary
The two warriors circled, weapons drawn.
No crowd. No system interference. Just instinct.
Anya struck first, blade slicing through the air. Ares deflected, stepped in, caught her wrist, and twisted. She rolled with it, striking his ribs with her elbow, breaking free.
He countered—a backhand that sent her stumbling.
She recovered instantly, eyes burning. "You hold back."
"Maybe I respect you."
"Then stop."
She lunged again—this time faster. Ares caught the blade between both hands, blood running down his palms. He kicked her legs out and pinned her to the ground.
Rain fell in silence between them.
"End it," she said.
"No."
Her jaw clenched. "Then what do you want?"
"To see if you're strong enough to kneel."
She froze. For a heartbeat, the entire world went quiet.
Then she laughed—a low, disbelieving sound that turned into a growl.
"You think I'd kneel to a sky boy?"
Ares leaned closer. "No. You'll kneel to a king."
The system pulsed.
SYSTEM PROMPT: Blood of the Gods – Eligible Target Detected
Compatibility: 96%
Trigger Condition: Mutual Recognition of Power
Proceed with Bond Initiation? [YES]
Ares didn't hesitate.
When his hand touched her chest, the symbol flared—gold light threading through her veins like molten fire. Anya gasped, eyes widening as the bond sealed itself.
BOND COMPLETE – Subject: Anya kom Trikru
Status: Loyal (Devoted)
Trait Unlocked: "Valkyrie of War" – +20% combat coordination, +15% ally morale when fighting under Ares' command.
Passive: "Unbroken Oath" – Cannot betray or disobey bonded host.
Her body trembled once, then stilled. The rain hissed around them.
Slowly, Anya rose to her knees—unforced, uncoerced.
She bowed her head.
"You've proven it," she said softly. "You're not a sky boy."
Ares nodded once. "You're mine now."
When they returned to the camp, the Trikru soldiers didn't attack.
They dropped their weapons. One by one, they knelt before the fire.
Clarke stared from the wall, disbelief written across her face.
Raven exhaled a quiet laugh. "Well, that's one way to stop an army."
SYSTEM UPDATE:
Major Event Complete – The Commander's Retribution (Deflected)
XP Gained: +5000
Level Up: 8 → 9
Territory Morale Boost: +25%
Domain Expansion Unlocked – You may now appoint bonded commanders to govern captured sectors.
That night, Anya stood beside Ares overlooking the camp.
The flames cast shadows across her face, but her eyes were clear.
"She won't forgive this," Anya said. "Lexa."
"She'll come herself next time."
Anya nodded. "Then we prepare."
Ares looked toward the horizon. "No. We advance."
She turned to him. "You mean—"
He smiled. "We take her city."
SYSTEM CAMPAIGN ACTIVATED
Operation Iron Crown – Phase I: March on Polis
Objective: Weaken Lexa's regional supply lines and forge new alliances.
Bonus: Success unlocks Hidden Trait Evolution – "God-King Path."
Clarke watched from the shadows, eyes unreadable.
She saw what they'd all become—and what Ares was turning into.
Not a leader.
Not a savior.
A conqueror.
And as the firelight danced across his face, even she couldn't tell if she feared him…
or already belonged to him.