The night had fully descended, and with it came a bone-chilling cold that carried strange sounds through the fog.
From the edge of his newly built sanctuary, Clark heard the first echoing howls.
Wailing. Snarling. Inhuman screeches from creatures lurking just beyond the safety of his domain.
The Fog Monsters were growing restless.
The barrier shimmered faintly at the boundary of his territory — a transparent dome-like layer that offered protection for a limited time.
[Novice Protection Barrier: 7 Days Remaining]
Warning: Leaving the barrier will expose you to open world threats.
Clark opened the global chat instinctively. The activity was frantic.
[GLOBAL CHAT]
[IronBlood]: "The howling's getting louder! What are these things?!"
[ShadowLancer]: "I saw one earlier—six limbs and glowing eyes. Barely made it back to the barrier."
[MoonlightSaint]: "How are we supposed to fight when most of us only have wooden shacks and weak followers?"
[FireGod]: "If anyone has a strategy, share it! I can't sleep with these damn noises outside!"
[SkyLord]: "I wish I had divinity to upgrade. I'm stuck with just my tiny hall and ten followers crammed in one room!"
[BeastTamer]: "Seven days isn't enough. These fog creatures get bolder every night."
Clark frowned as he read.
Most gods had barely managed to build their Tier 0 Palaces — simple one-room halls, most without bedrooms or defenses. Their followers were exposed, huddled together without proper shelter, while he already possessed a small fortified town, thanks to his fortunate resources and divine talents.
But this safety wouldn't last forever.
He closed the chat window and turned to Seraphiel.
"Seraphiel."
She appeared beside him immediately, kneeling.
"My Lord."
"Gather the crusaders. We're not waiting for the fog to grow bolder."
"We will strike from the barrier?"
"Exactly. Use the protection to our advantage. The barrier prevents monsters from entering but allows us to attack from inside. It's time to thin their numbers."
Moments later, Seraphiel and the fifteen Banished(10 D-rank and 5- C rank) Crusaders stood beside him at the edge of the shimmering dome. Their weapons gleamed under the moonlight. The fog outside writhed as shadows moved within it.
Clark's voice was calm but firm.
"Stay close to the edge. Let them approach and strike them down as they get too close. Do not overextend."
As they arrived at the edge of the territory, the shimmering translucent barrier flickered gently under the moonlight, separating them from the encroaching fog beyond. The chilling howls of the beasts echoed through the night air, growing louder by the minute.
Clark activated his Divine Eye, and his vision pierced through the dense mist. Silhouettes of creatures flickered into focus.
[Species Identified: Mist Wolf]Classification: Normal Fog MonsterEstimated Level: 3-5
They prowled in small coordinated packs, sleek forms moving with unnatural grace through the fog. Though not particularly powerful individually, in numbers, they could overwhelm unprepared ascendants.
Clark turned to Seraphiel and the fifteen Banished Crusaders behind her.
"The command is yours."
Without hesitation, Seraphiel's wings extended briefly before folding behind her back. She raised her sword, voice calm and sharp.
"Formation C. Hold the line. Prioritize defense — let them come to us."
The Crusaders tightened formation, shields forward, spears steady.
A moment later, the first wave of Mist Wolves darted from the mist — dozens of glowing eyes reflecting off the divine barrier.
The barrier held, but as each wolf lunged too close, the soldiers struck. Spears impaled, swords slashed, and shields bashed the creatures back.
Clark watched silently, his hands clasped behind his back. Unlike his followers, he didn't require combat experience; his strength was tied to his territory's expansion, faith, and divinity. But watching the fight unfold was no less thrilling.
The battle raged on for more than an hour.
Dozens of Mist Wolves charged out of the swirling fog in relentless waves, their glowing eyes slicing through the night. Their snarls filled the air, teeth snapping at the barrier as they lunged forward with savage hunger.
Behind the protective barrier, Seraphiel commanded the battle like a seasoned general.
"Hold the shield wall! Rotate the front line! Strike when they leap!"
The Banished Crusaders followed every order without hesitation. Their spears pierced into the wolves with brutal precision, while others slammed swords into any that tried to slip past the line.
Clark stood at a distance, eyes sharp as his Divine Eye tracked every movement beyond the barrier. He watched his people work as one cohesive unit — efficient, unyielding.
More wolves fell. And more kept coming.
Over 200 Mist Wolves had already been slain.
The Crusaders had grown stronger through the prolonged combat, steadily absorbing the dense energy left behind by the slain monsters.
Level Progression:
Banished Crusaders: Level 1 → 5
Seraphiel: Level 1 → 3
As the latest wave of monsters fell, a sudden hush spread through the fog.
Clark narrowed his gaze.
"Something's coming."
A massive silhouette emerged from the mist — larger, bulkier, and radiating a thick oppressive aura. Its fur was nearly silver-white, and glowing crimson eyes locked onto the barrier with feral intelligence.
[Mist Wolf Leader — Level 10]
Variant Fog Monster
Warning: Territory boss-class entity detected.
The Mist Wolf Leader let out a deafening howl, shaking the trees as nearby wolves scattered or whimpered at its feet.
Seraphiel stepped forward, her sword glowing faintly with divine energy. Her silver armor gleamed under the moonlight, undaunted by the beast's terrifying presence.
"My Lord, allow me to strike first."
Clark nodded, his voice calm but resolute.
"The kill is yours. End it."
With a burst of speed, Seraphiel shot forward, crossing the barrier line and engaging the beast directly. The two clashed — divine steel against monstrous claws. Sparks and flashes erupted with every collision.
The Mist Wolf Leader swiped at her with surprising speed for its size, but Seraphiel's swordsmanship was precise, using her superior agility to evade each brutal strike.
The Banished Crusaders stood ready behind the barrier, dispatching any lesser wolves still circling the area.
For minutes, the two battled, exchanging blow after blow until finally—
Seraphiel's blade pierced through its chest, driving deep into the monster's core. With a final pained growl, the Mist Wolf Leader collapsed into the dirt, its body dissolving into faint streams of light.
Mist Wolf Leader defeated.
Special loot acquired.( Recruitment Pool refresh Token)
Loot Summary:
▸ Wolf Meat x230
▸ Beast Cores x230
▸ Special Item: Pool Refresh Card x1
▸ Superior Beast Core (Leader) x1
Clark approached calmly as Seraphiel stood above the remains, her armor slightly scorched but intact.
"Well done," he praised, studying the glowing orb left behind by the beast's death.
The Superior Beast Core pulsed faintly — clearly far more potent than the regular ones. It could likely be refined into far greater amounts of divine crystals.
But Clark's attention was drawn most to the Pool Refresh Card that shimmered in his hand.
[Pool Refresh Card: Allows one-time reset of Recruitment Pool.]
He exhaled slowly, realizing the strategic value of this item.
"This will give us options."
As the battlefield was cleared and the spoils gathered, Clark observed his followers with a sense of satisfaction. His forces were growing stronger with every encounter. Unlike many new gods who still hid inside crude wooden halls, his people were training, fighting, and gaining real strength.
The night had just began, but their first true hunt was a success.