The dawn rose blood-red over the Loyalty Fortress, casting its eerie light across Lin Tian's growing empire. The fortress was alive with movement—soldiers sharpening their blades, followers preparing provisions, and scouts returning with intelligence.
Lin Tian stood at the ramparts, his golden eyes sweeping across the horizon. Beside him, Li Xue stood like a statue, her sword gleaming in the early light. Zhang Wei, fully armored now, lingered a step behind, his Loyalty Mark burning like a brand on his chest.
"Master," Zhang Wei said, his voice steady but strained, "the Riverwind Stronghold is heavily fortified. According to our scouts, they have a defensive formation fueled by a corrupted spirit core. If we charge blindly, we risk heavy casualties."
Lin Tian's eyes glinted with cold amusement. "A corrupted spirit core, you say? Interesting."
──────────────────────────────
[Divine Fortune System Interface]
— Mission: Subjugate the Riverwind Stronghold
— Objective: Destroy the corrupted spirit core.
— Reward: Loyalty Expansion Slot x2, Divine Credits x500, Artifact Fragment x1.
— Failure: Loyalty -10% for all followers.
──────────────────────────────
Li Xue frowned. "A corrupted core is dangerous, Master. It can twist the minds of defenders, making them fight beyond their limits."
Lin Tian's smile was cold. "Then we will shatter their will before we shatter their walls."
He turned to Zhang Wei. "You will lead a small team to infiltrate the fortress and locate the core. Li Xue and I will coordinate the main assault."
Zhang Wei hesitated, his Loyalty Mark pulsing as he weighed his fear against his bond. "I will not fail you, Master."
Lin Tian's hand hovered near Zhang Wei's chest, golden energy flaring. "Failure is not an option," he said softly. "Your loyalty is not just an obligation—it is the foundation of your existence."
Zhang Wei's eyes filled with tears, but he nodded resolutely. "I understand."
Subplot: The Wounded Past
As Zhang Wei departed, a shadowed figure emerged from the ranks—a young woman named Mei Ling, an herbalist who had once served under Zhang Wei at the Iron Crescent Sect. Her eyes widened with recognition as she watched him leave.
"Zhang Wei…" she whispered, clutching a vial of healing tonic. Memories of a shared childhood—sneaking dumplings, laughing in the moonlight—flashed through her mind.
She turned to Li Xue, her voice trembling. "Lady Li… please, I must speak with Zhang Wei. He… he was once like a brother to me."
Li Xue's eyes were cold, but a flicker of interest sparked in her gaze. "You know him well?"
Mei Ling nodded. "Yes… but he has changed. That mark—"
Li Xue's lips curved into a thin smile. "Yes, the Loyalty Mark. Once branded, there is no turning back." She glanced at Mei Ling's trembling hands. "If you care for him, you might be able to help him survive."
Mei Ling's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Li Xue leaned closer, her voice a venomous whisper. "Help him succeed, or you may be forced to watch him fail."
Main Plot: The Infiltration
Night fell swiftly as Zhang Wei and his small team—three handpicked fighters—approached the Riverwind Stronghold. Its walls loomed like a jagged crown against the moonlit sky. Torches flickered along the battlements, casting long shadows.
Zhang Wei's heart pounded. The Loyalty Mark on his chest burned like a brand of iron. He had killed for Lin Tian before—this was no different. And yet, doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind.
If I fail…
His thoughts faltered as the System panel glowed.
──────────────────────────────
[Mission Sub-Objective Unlocked]
— Objective: Subdue corrupted spirit beasts guarding the core.
— Reward: Loyalty +5%, Minor Spirit Stone x3.
──────────────────────────────
A rustling echoed from the darkness as monstrous shapes slithered into view—twisted wolves with cracked horns and oozing eyes, their bodies dripping with foul miasma.
One of Zhang Wei's men—Wu Liang, a scarred veteran—swallowed hard. "Captain… are we ready for this?"
Zhang Wei's eyes hardened, the memory of Lin Tian's words ringing in his mind: Obedience is not optional. You are my blade.
He drew his sword, its edge gleaming. "We fight," he said. "For Master Lin Tian."
The corrupted beasts lunged. Zhang Wei moved like a shadow, his blade carving arcs of silver in the night air. Blood sprayed. Wu Liang fell with a cry, torn apart by a beast's fangs. Another fighter screamed as his chest was pierced by a horn.
Zhang Wei's heart raced as he fought—every swing fueled by desperation, every breath drawn in agony. He could feel Lin Tian's presence—an iron grip on his soul.
I will not fail. I cannot fail.
With a final, brutal slash, he severed the last beast's head. The corrupted spirit core shimmered at the heart of the fortress—a pulsating black gem, oozing corruption.
Zhang Wei staggered toward it, his arms trembling. "For Master Lin Tian…" he whispered, raising his blade.
With a single, powerful strike, he shattered the core. A shockwave rippled outward, dispelling the miasma and shaking the fortress walls.
──────────────────────────────
[Objective Complete]
— Loyalty +10%
— Divine Credits x500
— Artifact Fragment x1
Current Loyalty: 40%
──────────────────────────────
Subplot: The Price of Loyalty
Back at the fortress, Mei Ling watched the Loyalty Mark on her chest glow faintly—she'd accepted the mark to join Lin Tian's forces, but the weight of her decision crushed her.
Zhang Wei… what have we become?
Li Xue, sensing her turmoil, approached. "You made your choice," she said coldly. "Now you belong to him, just as Zhang Wei does."
Mei Ling's tears fell, but she clenched her fists. "Then I will not let him fall alone," she vowed.
Main Plot: The Aftermath
As Zhang Wei's team returned to the fortress, Lin Tian awaited them. His eyes glowed like twin suns, and the air was heavy with power.
"You have done well, Zhang Wei," he said, his voice a low rumble of approval. "Your loyalty is growing—and soon, no force will be able to tear you from my side."
Zhang Wei fell to one knee, his eyes shining with devotion—and the shadow of a broken past.
"Master," he whispered, "I live only to serve."
Lin Tian's laughter echoed through the night—a sound cold and absolute, the laughter of a man whose chains forged entire empires.
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End of Chapter 7