Mysterious Fog World: Eldritch Nexus

In a large warehouse, a sizable number of fox-women were gathered. Some looked scared, others apprehensive, a few indifferent, and some were surprisingly calm. They sat in small groups, talking in hushed voices, casting furtive glances around the space.

A short distance away, a group of human women sat together, their expressions calm and indifferent. They seemed to know what was going to happen, sitting in silent anticipation. Few of the fox-women peeked at them with apprehension, but no one dared to interact. Each group minded their own business.

The fox-women were those subjugated from various tribes and the ones the twins had saved from the beast tribes. The human women had been saved earlier from the goblin tribe raid and were those who decided not to leave. Over the past few days, they had received basic stealth and dagger training from Ayame. Under her guidance, they had all achieved beginner-stage stealth and dagger masteries.

The atmosphere in the warehouse was tense. The murmur of conversations was punctuated by the occasional sound of shifting feet or a nervous cough. The air was thick with uncertainty and the lingering scent of fear.

All conversation ceased as everyone turned to watch the gate that was about to open. As it swung open, the twins entered with Maria and her tribe following close behind.

The human women looked towards the twins with anticipation, knowing that the moment they had been waiting for had finally arrived.

The fox-women observed the newcomers with mixed emotions. Some recognized them as those who had taken them from their tribes, while others saw their rescuers from the various beast tribes. A particular group of fox women looked terrified as they spotted Dawn walking with the group.

Among them, the fox-woman with her eyes closed had a small smile on her face, as if she had an inkling of what was about to happen.

Maria surveyed the fox-women in front of her. They were to become the residents of her lord’s territory, but they still needed to prove their worth. Not everyone was worthy of becoming a resident.

Thanks to Rachel and Barbara, who had calmed their respective tribe members, everyone had at least 70 points of loyalty. Additionally, the members of the third tribe had reached the same level of loyalty, driven by their fear of Dawn. The fox-women rescued by the twins all had at least 80 points of loyalty.

All of them knew that someone named Drake was responsible for their current situation, and their loyalty was directed towards him, even though none of them had ever seen him.

Maria stood before the gathered fox women. “I know all of you have many questions. I will answer them all. You are here because my lord, with his merciful heart, has decided to give us fox-women a new chance. Now it is up to you to seize this opportunity. You need to prove yourselves worthy to receive his gifts,” Maria declared, fanaticism clear in her voice.

Most of the fox-women looked nervous and apprehensive as they listened. Even Rachel, Barbara, and Samantha frowned. Only the fox-woman with her eyes closed maintained her serene smile.

Just as a few fox-women were about to speak, Maria interrupted them with a smile. “Save your questions for after the test. The only hint I can give you is to protect your mind. Otherwise, you will not be able to take this opportunity,” Maria said, her smile growing slightly crazed as she delivered the hint.

Before they could ask what she meant, all of them vanished before her eyes.

“After all, what is the need for broken husks in our territory?” Maria murmured with a wild smile as she sent them all to the Training Room.

She had transported them to the Training Room for 48 hours, which was equivalent to eight days inside the room. That was two days more than they had endured. Maria did this to ensure that only those who were truly worthy would become residents of her lord’s territory.

Ayame stepped in front of the human women, who looked at her with anticipation.

“It’s time to prove that you are all worthy to become the lord’s shadow,” Ayame said with a serious tone.

The women nodded with solemn expressions. Without saying anything else, Ayame sent them to another Training Room for 48 hours, just like the fox-women.

Afterward, the remaining group left the warehouse that Yumi had purchased on the outskirts of Falmise City. They set off in a truck, searching for a suitable location for their territory.

As they traveled, they occasionally battled any monsters that crossed their path but didn’t go out of their way to seek fights. They were in a hurry to find a good location for the territory.

After hours of searching, they finally reached a place that seemed ideal for establishing their new territory. The group surveyed the land, feeling a sense of accomplishment, especially Maria and the other fox women. They had found a place where they could build a new future under their lord’s guidance.

They killed all the monsters that were present on the land. No Extraordinary monsters were present, but there were still hundreds of Mortal monsters.

At Maria’s request, the twins did not fight. She wanted all the fox women to clear the monsters from the land, stepping in only if anyone was in life-threatening danger.

The fox-women fought the monsters bravely. After enduring the Training Room for six days straight, fighting these monsters felt almost refreshing to them.

Aria and Chloe seemed to be competing to see who could defeat more monsters. Any creature that crossed their path was either sliced by Aria’s sword or punctured by Chloe’s spear.

Ruby and Dawn were not far behind, fighting together with their daggers. Dawn focused seriously on killing the monsters, understanding that establishing the territory was more important than her usual sadistic tendencies. Ruby smiled slightly, relieved to see Dawn prioritizing their mission.

The rest of the fox-women also performed admirably. Though not as skilled as the top four, they proved themselves valuable members of the group, each pulling their weight.

Maria and Darla mainly supervised the younger fox-women. Being the strongest among them, they only intervened when someone was in danger or if a monster foolishly targeted them.

Without any surprises, the group defeated all the monsters on the land in a short while. The forest was littered with monster corpses, and the air was filled with the scent of victory.

As the last monster fell, the fox women gathered, breathing heavily but smiling. They had proven themselves capable and ready to build their new home.

After checking once more for any remaining hostile creatures, the group gathered in a clearing by a flowing river. Maria took out a cube, the Fog Foundation Stone bestowed upon her by her lord, Drake.

As she held the cube, knowledge of how to use it was transmitted to her. With determination, she willed for the creation of the territory.

The cube floated out of her grip and hovered in front of her. Strange runes appeared on its surface, glowing in the dark atmosphere. Then, it shot into the ground and disappeared.

As soon as the cube entered the earth, the surrounding area shook as if an earthquake had struck. The dense fog that enveloped the land began to dissipate, allowing the sun's rays to pierce through. The corruption that had tainted the land, forest, and river was purified, transforming the area into a livable environment for normal creatures.

The transformation was dramatic. Starting from the point where the cube entered the ground, a square with a one-square-kilometer area was revitalized. The previously dark and twisted landscape became vibrant and lush, filled with the sounds of nature.

The fox-women and the rest of the group watched in awe as the land around them changed. The air grew fresh, and the water in the river sparkled under the sunlight. Flowers bloomed, and the once-barren trees were now full of life.

As the transformation was completed, the group stood in silence, taking in the breathtaking sight. They had found their new home, a place where they could build a future under their lord's protection.

Whenever a new territory is formed, a square of one square kilometer is carved out from the fog zone where the territory was created. This area becomes a Mortal territory. The remaining fog zone and its land can be incorporated into the Mortal territory as long as all hostile forces are defeated, but doing so increases the difficulty of leveling up the territory. The larger the area, the harder the challenge.

For now, the one-square-kilometer area was sufficient for the fox-women. It provided ample space for them to settle and was manageable with their current numbers. They knew that if they needed more space in the future, they could level up the territory, which would also increase its size.

The group understood that expanding their territory would come with its own set of challenges. Each expansion required them to defeat more powerful enemies and protect a larger area. However, for now, they were content with the land they had secured.

The fox-women looked around their new home with a sense of accomplishment and determination. They knew that this territory was not just a safe haven but a foundation for their future. They would protect it fiercely and build a thriving community under their lord’s guidance.

After the transformation was completed, a question emerged in Maria's mind from the Fog Foundation Stone: it was time to decide the name of the territory. Naming the territory would conclude the process.

Maria communicated with Drake to share the news of their success.

{Maria: My lord, we have successfully established the territory.}

{Drake: Good job. I knew you were perfect for the job.}

{Maria: Thank you, my lord, for your praise. I would like to ask my lord to please provide a name for the territory.}

{Drake: I have made you the leader of the territory. This is your territory; you decide the name.}

{Maria: Thank you, my lord, for your trust. I will not let you down.}

{Drake: I know.}

Did Drake refuse to name the territory because he was bad at naming? Of course not.

After conversing with Drake, Maria pondered a fitting name for the territory. She thought about their journey, the challenges they had overcome, and the sanctuary they had created.

“This territory is a safe haven provided by our lord to us who were played by fate. I name it the Myst Haven,” Maria proclaimed.

The process of territory transformation was complete. The Myst Haven Territory was thereby established.

Maria addressed the group, “This territory is our new beginning. We will defend it with all our strength and grow stronger together. When the time comes, we will expand and face the challenges head-on. But for now, let’s make this place our home.”

The fox-women nodded in agreement, their resolve strengthened by Maria’s words. The name "Myst Haven" resonated with them, symbolizing hope and refuge. They were ready to embrace the challenges ahead and build a future in their new territory.