The grove was serene, but Selene’s instincts told her the calm wouldn’t last. She stood atop the castle’s central spire, the shimmering starlit enhancements from the Fae Lord of Eternity casting a faint glow over her lands. The Fae Queen’s Wall had been reinforced with layers of magic, and her forces had grown stronger since the trial, but the Boundless Continent was a place of constant danger.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden system prompt.

  《System Alert: Hostile Forces Detected》

  《A nearby native lord is attacking your eastern border. Engage and eliminate the threat.》

  Selene’s eyes narrowed as she summoned the map interface. A cluster of red markers lit up near the newly expanded eastern territory, where the quarry had recently been fortified. She clicked on the markers, and a description appeared.

  《Attacking Forces: Aboleth Spawn, Deep Ones, Tidal Aberrations》

  《Native Lord: Aboleth Sovereign of the Sunken Depths》

  《Objective: Defend your territory and neutralize the hostile native lord.》

  Selene frowned. Aboleths were a race of ancient, aquatic overlords known for their intelligence and cruel dominion over lesser beings. This was no ordinary foe.

  She summoned her Fae Lords to the castle’s war room, where a map of the grove and its surrounding territories was displayed.

  “The eastern quarry is under attack,” Selene said, pointing to the flashing markers. “The enemy is led by an Aboleth Sovereign—a native lord. This isn’t another human transmigrant like us. They’ve likely lived in this region for centuries.”

  The Fae Lord of Eternity stepped forward, his presence commanding. “The Aboleths are ancient and cunning. They’ll rely on mental manipulation and overwhelming their enemies with sheer numbers. We must be prepared for both.”

  Selene nodded. “Mists, your foglings will conceal our movements and disrupt their lines. Snow, your frost wolves will hold the front. Eternity, you’ll oversee the central strike. We need precise coordination.”

  The Fae Lord of Cataclysms grinned, his molten form crackling with energy. “And I assume you’ll want me to turn their forces into ash?”

  Selene smirked. “You’ll get your chance.”

  Selene dispatched scouts to gather intelligence on the enemy forces. They returned hours later, their reports grim. The Aboleths had constructed a sprawling base in a sunken swamp near the grove’s eastern border. Massive tidal aberrations patrolled the waters, while Deep Ones—a humanoid amphibian species—manned crude fortifications. At the center of their encampment was the Aboleth Sovereign itself, a massive, serpentine creature wreathed in dark energy.

  “It’s worse than I thought,” Selene muttered. “They’re well-organized. This isn’t just a raid—they’re testing us, looking for weaknesses.”

  Eternity’s voice was calm but firm. “Then we must ensure they find none. Strike decisively and leave no survivors.”

  That evening, Selene prepared her forces. The teleportation network allowed her to mobilize troops quickly, and within hours, her army was assembled at the eastern border. Frost wolves prowled alongside fire foxes, their icy breath mingling with flickers of flame. Steel golems from Iron stood like unyielding sentinels, while Verdure’s grove guardians and healing sprites provided support.

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  Selene herself led the charge, her Fae Lords flanking her. The Fae Lord of Mists enveloped the battlefield in a dense fog, obscuring their movements and disorienting the enemy. The first wave of Deep Ones, armed with crude tridents and spears, stumbled blindly into the mist, only to be torn apart by frost wolves and shadowlings.

  Cataclysms unleashed his volcanic beasts, their molten bodies cutting through the swampy terrain with ease. Tidal aberrations rushed forward to meet them, but the heat of Cataclysms’ infernal elementals evaporated the water, leaving the creatures vulnerable. Snow reinforced the line, freezing any who tried to break through.

  Selene directed the battle from atop a rise, her voice carrying over the din of combat. “Eternity, now!”

  The Fae Lord of Eternity stepped forward, his time elementals warping the battlefield. The movements of the Aboleth spawn slowed to a crawl, their strikes falling short as Eternity bent time to his will. Astral beasts surged forward, their luminous forms tearing through the enemy ranks with precision.

  As the tide of battle turned, the Aboleth Sovereign itself emerged from the depths of the swamp. Its massive, serpentine body glistened with slime, and its three glowing eyes locked onto Selene. A wave of psychic energy rippled through the battlefield, sending some of her forces reeling.

  Selene staggered as the Sovereign’s voice echoed in her mind. “You dare claim what is mine, surface-dweller? You will serve me, or you will drown.”

  She gritted her teeth, resisting the mental assault. “I serve no one.”

  She called to Dreams, who had been waiting for the right moment. “Counter it. Now.”

  The Fae Lady of Dreams stepped forward, her illusion beasts weaving through the battlefield. Dream wraiths flitted around the Sovereign, their ethereal forms twisting its perception. The Aboleth lashed out, striking at illusions instead of real threats.

  Selene seized the opportunity. “Cataclysms, finish it!”

  The Fae Lord of Cataclysms unleashed a torrent of molten energy, his infernal elementals surging forward in a wave of destruction. The Sovereign roared in pain as the magma engulfed it, its slime hissing and boiling away. Snow’s frost wolves leapt in, tearing at its exposed flesh, while Eternity’s astral beasts attacked from above.

  Finally, with a deafening roar, the Aboleth Sovereign collapsed into the swamp, its massive body sinking beneath the surface. The battlefield fell silent, the remaining Deep Ones scattering into the shadows.

  《System Alert: Enemy Defeated!》

  《The Aboleth Sovereign of the Sunken Depths has been slain.》

  《Territory Claimed: Sunken Swamp》

  《Rewards: 1 Rare Relic, 100 Energy Stones, 20 Energy Cores》

  Selene exhaled, the tension leaving her body. The grove had survived, and the threat of the Aboleth Sovereign was no more.

  She turned to her Fae Lords, their expressions a mix of pride and exhaustion. “Well done. We’ve not only defended our territory—we’ve expanded it. This swamp will be ours to control and shape.”

  The Fae Lord of Verdure stepped forward, already weaving magic to transform the swamp into fertile land. “This place will serve us well, my Queen.”

  Back at the castle, Selene inspected the Rare Relic they had claimed from the Aboleth Sovereign. It was a shimmering orb filled with swirling water and light, its surface etched with intricate runes.

  《System Alert: Relic Identified – Orb of Tides》

  《Effect: Grants the ability to summon water elementals and control aquatic environments.》

  Selene smiled. The relic would make the newly claimed swamp even more valuable. With it, her control over the eastern border would be absolute.

  As the moon rose over the grove, Selene stood on the castle’s balcony, her gaze fixed on the horizon. The battle with the Aboleth Sovereign was a reminder of the dangers lurking in the Boundless Continent, but it was also a testament to her growing power.

  The Queen of Balance was no longer just defending her territory—she was shaping it, one victory at a time.