The battlefield trembled under the weight of clashing steel and fierce cries as the warriors of the Iron Talon Sect stormed the northern boundary of the White Crane Sect. In the midst of the chaos, Li Shen fought with every ounce of strength he could summon, but even as his sword cut through the invaders, his mind was elsewhere. He could feel the pull of the Vassal Bond System, humming within him, urging him to go further, to embrace the full power it offered.
Mother and daughter moved in perfect unison, their blades dancing under the setting sun as they repelled the Iron Talon assault. Though her arms ached from parrying endless strikes, Mei Ling held firm in her protective position. Her gaze tracked her daughter's fluid movements through the mayhem, each precise motion bringing swift death to their enemies. But even their combat mastery proved insufficient against the relentless surge of attackers, and exhaustion crept through their bodies. Sweat stung Mei Ling's vision, temporarily obscuring her view until she quickly wiped it away and continued her frantic struggle for survival.
Li Shen observed his companions' transformation under the system influence. Once independent fighters, they now moved synchronized according to his will with unnatural intensity. It was as if they understood him even without a word uttered.
The Iron Talon Sect's army charged forward, their boots thudding against the ground as they advanced. At the forefront was their leader, Mo Gan, a towering figure clad in dark armor and wielding a massive spear.
Li Shen's heart raced seeing Mo Gan brutally slashed his way through the White Crane followers mercilessly. Unless they halted his advance quickly, their order would face catastrophic casualties.
Clutching his blade's hilt, Li Shen caught Mei Ling's gaze and called out, "We need to bring him down together! No one else stands a chance against his power!"
Mei Ling, breathing heavily from the fight, gave a solemn nod. "You're right. Though we're in for a brutal fight."
Li Shen tightened his grip on his sword, his mind racing. He had no choice but to rely on the system now. The power it had granted him through his bonds with Mei Ling and Mei Lan was his only hope of standing against Mo Gan.
The system's voice grew insistent, demanding he tap into his Vassal Bonds. It craved their submission, not just power. As they fought toward Mo Gan, Li Shen felt the bond's strength surge through him.
Yet while cutting through enemies, he noticed his Vassals faltering. Mei Ling and Mei Lan moved slower, their breathing ragged.
With trembling arms, Mei Ling intercepted a blow aiming to Li Shen, though the effort left her trembling, fresh blood seeping from a vicious wound in her waist tainted her torn hanfu. Even Mei Lan, typically speedy, showed signs of exhaustion. A savage assault from one of the Iron Talon fighters knocked her off her feet, leaving her sprawled with red droplets trailing down her limb. They were nearing their limit.
"Stay strong!" Li Shen shouted to his wounded companions, his heart pounding as he rushed to their aid. Fear seized his mind like a crushing fist. He refused to witness their defeat, not with triumph lingering so damn close.
System Notification: Vassal Mei Ling—critical condition. Arousal and submission levels heightened due to physical vulnerability.
System Notification: Vassal Mei Lan—critical condition. Submission levels rising as emotional reliance increases.
The system's words haunted him as he sensed its influence threading through their bond. Their submission stemmed from both injuries and emotional reliance - the more vulnerable they became, the more they depended on his protection, feeding the system.
As they weakened, their desire for him grew. The system had manipulated their emotions, amplifying both arousal and devotion until their bond brought submission.
His chest tightened. Victory required their strength, but demanded their complete surrender - physical and spiritual.
There was no time for hesitation. Mo Gan's towering figure loomed ahead, his halberd raised high as he prepared to strike down another White Crane disciple. If Li Shen didn't act now, it would be too late.
"Stay with me," Li Shen said, his voice rough as he knelt in front of Mei Ling and Mei Lan. "I'll protect you."
Their eyes met his, revealing the system's full influence. Mei Ling's piercing gaze had softened, her features relaxed as she drew near him. Mei Lan laid weak in his arms, her bright eyes clouded with pain and longing. She trembled from exhaustion and desire. The system had heightened their instincts, making their bodies respond to each other instantly.
"You can't fight him alone," Mei Ling whispered, her voice shaky. "Let us help."
Li Shen nodded, his resolve hardening. "I'll end this. Stay back."
Power from their Vassal Bonds surged through Li Shen - Mei Ling's Falling Petals and Mei Lan's Crane Agility. The system was amplified by their submission, making their shared abilities stronger than ever. His senses heightened and movements quickened through their connection.
But that wasn't all the system had to offer.
System Notification: Combined Vassal Bond techniques unlocked. New skill—Hollow Crane Slash available.
The moment the technique manifested, tingling surge of qi coursed through his limbs. The Crane Hollow Slash had been the defining attack of Mei Ling's late husband. A skill she had struggled to master, lacking the power to bring out its complete form. Now Li Shen suddenly found himself infused with the complete sequence, ready to deliver devastating blows with the fluid grace of a crane and the destructive force of a tempest. His blade responded to his thoughts, slicing the atmosphere with razor-sharp accuracy.
Mei Ling inhaled deeply, questioning her own senses. The White Crane Sect's lethal technique unfolded in front of her eyes with such flawless mastery. She had witnessed it performed only twice before - from the legendary Crane Sage Tian Hong and her deceased spouse Meng Rou. She stared at the spectacle, spellbound by the surprising revelation of her budding romance.
Li Shen charged toward Mo Gan, his body a blur as he drew on all three abilities: Mei Lan's Agility, Mei Ling's Falling Petals, and the newly unlocked Crane Hollow Slash. The combined power surged through his muscles, each technique amplifying the others in perfect harmony.
Li Shen's fingers danced in tune, his weapon carving elegant arcs of slashing mirage. The air itself seemed to ripple and distort with each movement. Mo Gan, commander of the Iron Talon forces, barely managed to respond as phantom swords from the Falling Petals spiraled around his form, leaving him dazed and bewildered. The ethereal blades multiplied with each passing second, creating a deadly cage of steel and shadow. Taking advantage of the opening, Li Shen landed his true strike, the edge of his blade finding its mark between armor plates and drawing splatter of crimson blood burst out from the cracked scales of Mo Gan's Armor. Metal clashing against metal as the two warriors struggled for supremacy in their deadly dance, their weapons clashing in a violent symphony.
"You think this is enough to stop me?" Mo Gan snarled, his voice filled with rage as he swung his halberd in a desperate attempt to fend off the attacks. The heavy weapon whistled through the air, its steel edge gleaming with deadly intent.
Li Shen took a stance, his muscles flexed and after a deep breath, he sprang forward, driven by the might of his bound Vassals. His movements swift, evading Mo Gan's strikes effortlessly with the spiked dexterity granted by Mei Lan's skill. Power coursed through his veins from the system, compelling him to exceed his normal boundaries. Each dodge was perfectly timed, each step calculated with inhuman precision.
At the climactic instant, Li Shen executed the Hollow Crane Slash. His blade carved the air with the grace of a soaring white crane, striking with lethal accuracy. The ethereal energy coalesced around his weapon, forming the spectral shape of a crane's wing. Mo Gan couldn't mount a defense as the shadow of the crane passing through his throat in lightning speed, cleaving his head from his shoulders in a single fluid strike. Ghostly afterimage of falling feathers of the crane lingered in the air, a testament to the technique's deadly perfection.
The captain's lifeless form crumpled to the ground. His severed head rolling across the dirt, quietly forming a pool of blood.
System Notification: Vassal Bonds with Mei Ling and Mei Lan solidified. Full submission achieved.
From his imposing position, Li Shen looked upon the pair of females kneeling at his feet tired yet blank stare. Their upturned faces shone with devotion and submission as they regarded their lord. The system's magic had taken hold, connecting them to him in spirit and flesh. Their absolute fidelity coursed through him like a living current.
Yet even as authority surged within him, Li Shen felt an uncomfortable stirring in his chest. Had he chosen correctly in seeking such total dominion over these women? He took a deep breath. Li Shen decided to push aside his doubts, if only for a brief moment. After such a hard-won victory, he rightfully reveled in his newfound dominance.