In the mist, Gadelia leaned against an ancient tree, trying to call upon the Ancient Monster:
“Senior, what do I have to do for you to let me go? You’ve already taken my Magic Core.”
The Ancient Monster quickly responded:
“Who wants that useless core of yours? You still owe me 36 points of Energy. When you finish paying me back, you can leave.”
Useless core… How infuriating. That’s the most important thing to me after my own life.
But it actually said it didn’t take my core. Does that mean the Magic Core is still inside me, and I’ve only lost my magic power?
That’s good news! Gadelia figured she was just too weak for the other party to even care about her core…
No, that’s not right! I’m Intermediate Rank! My combat power surpasses eighty percent of all humans— I’m not weak! It’s just that the other party is too strong!
But what exactly is this 36 points of Energy?
“Senior, how can I quickly pay back all the Energy?”
After a brief silence, Truth placed a coordinate before Gadelia’s eyes and gave her instructions:
“This is a Crossroads that Adventurers often pass by. Go there and lure them all into the Bramble Flower Demon Territory.”
Currently, the Mist can’t get much Energy from Gadelia, so it’s better to let her think of a way to lure Adventurers to fight Monsters.
Releasing Energy while working— this way is more efficient. Once the Mist’s Energy reaches 100 points, Truth will let her go.
But before that, Truth created two more Fake Bosses, causing the Mist’s Energy to drop to 19 points. Alright, now Gadelia can get to work.
“Lure Adventurers to fight a BOSS? How do I do that?”
Gadelia had never done something like this before. Usually, whenever someone discovered a BOSS’s territory, they’d keep quiet and become information brokers.
Like, “Want the exact location of the BOSS? One gold coin,” and so on.
“If you want them to go, then seduce them yourself!”
Honestly, as an Intermediate Rank, you can’t even handle this little thing?
“Sorry…”
Gadelia sensed that the Monster was getting a bit angry, so she immediately sprang into action.
For some reason, an inexplicable sense of grievance welled up inside her— she had never been treated like this since she was a child…
Before long, a mysterious woman dressed oddly, her coat completely mismatched with her own aura, appeared at the Crossroads not far from the Mist Exit.
With the hood of the coat pulled up, none of the Adventurers could see her face, but judging from her tall figure, she was certainly a stunning beauty.
Whenever someone passed by her, she would say:
“I heard there’s a powerful BOSS deep within the Mist. Just follow the bramble flowers and you’ll find it…”
Perfect, there’s now an NPC in the Mist. Truth nodded in satisfaction and continued to set up territories for two more Fake Bosses.
But just then, a cerulean light flashed within her Divine Domain.
Someone’s sending me another annoying message?
Inside the Divine Domain, Truth tapped on the cerulean light. As it slowly unfolded, a dim underground chamber appeared before her eyes.
Inside the basement, a voluptuous woman with flowing golden hair knelt devoutly before an ancient Stone Tablet, muttering something under her breath.
It’s Tia! Truth looked more closely at, uh… the Stone Tablet.
On the Stone Tablet were ancient markings from five hundred years ago belonging to the Mist.
Then Tia bit her finger and evenly smeared her blood onto the markings:
“Please respond to me, Mist Lord…”
Smearing blood? Which ritual is this part of? Truth had always found this Tia rather interesting. I want to see if the “Mist Lord” she speaks of is really me.
With a thought, Truth pulled Tia’s consciousness into her own Divine Domain.
“Please respond to me, Mist Lord…”
Tia kept smearing her blood, her eyes growing ever more fervent.
Gradually, she sensed a faint Mist swirling around her, thickening until it enveloped the entire basement.
“What is this?!”
Tia hurriedly stood up to look around, only to find that the basement’s exit and walls had all disappeared. She was now in a boundless sea of Mist.
“Heh heh…”
A deep, raspy chuckle tinged with amusement echoed beside Tia’s ear.
At the same time, the Mist before her began to coalesce into a gigantic Monster, looking both like a fox and a cat.
Faced with the Monster’s towering gaze, Tia felt an immense pressure.
Yet she showed no fear, instead folding her hands together with some difficulty:
“Please… may I ask, are you the Mist Lord?”
She responded— her call had actually been answered! This had never happened before. The Mist Lord really has awakened!
“Already asking questions before even introducing yourself? How rude.”
“Eh?! No, I-I-I-I…”
Tia stammered nervously, realizing she’d been so excited she forgot her manners.
But why did the “Mist Lord” before her seem even gentler than she’d imagined?
Was this really the Mist Lord she had thought about day and night?
According to her family’s records, the Mist’s temperament was nothing like its peaceful, tranquil appearance— it was supposed to be extremely irritable!
So from the start, Tia had expected to serve a tyrant…
No, even if the Mist Lord is gentle, proper respect must not be lacking!
Thus, the most respected Mid-tier Priest in Deya City knelt obediently before Truth:
“My name is Tia, and I… I am a descendant of the Taliya Family, who have watched over the Mist!”
The Taliya Family who watched over the Mist… What’s that supposed to be?
Truth honestly couldn’t remember a family like that ever guarding her.
After a few more questions, Truth finally recalled that there used to be a cunning, golden-haired Taskmaster Receptionist at the Mist Entrance Tree Hollow named Taliya.
And her favorability towards me was maxed out. After all, I used to accept Mist tasks from her every day to search for God’s authority.
“I never expected you would remember my ancestor, my lord!”
Five centuries have passed, and the Mist Lord still remembers her ancestor’s name. Tears welled up in Tia’s eyes. Her family’s history really was true, and the Mist Lord knew they had served her!
Truth, too, found it a bit unbelievable. You’re really the descendant of that Taskmaster Receptionist?
According to Tia, ever since the Mist fell into slumber, the Taskmaster Receptionist Taliya no longer received any guidance. Yet she never left, silently standing guard here.
But the Mist’s slumber lasted too long. The Taliya Family rose and fell, witnessing the rise of god after god, but never saw the Mist awaken.
Eventually, the gods, seeking to strengthen their rule, began rewriting history and spreading Divinity Creationism.
Those who knew the History of the Gods and worshipped Disaster— like the Taliya Family— were destroyed overnight, with only a few surviving.
After the passage of time, only Tia remained. By reading the letters her parents left before their death and the family’s scattered ancient books, she learned of her family’s history and the Mist Lord’s existence:
“My ancestors’ and parents’ hopes have finally been fulfilled. I have finally witnessed the revival of the Mist Lord!”
Tia choked with sobs, leaving Truth sweating in embarrassment. What is this, the old Taskmaster Receptionist entrusting her last hope to me?
“So, do you want to inherit your family’s wishes, continue as my follower, and receive my Divine Protection?”
Truth asked casually, and then Tia burst into tears again… What’s going on now?
Divine Protection? She thought just becoming a follower would be wonderful, but she never imagined the Mist Lord would also be willing to protect her!
Tia was overwhelmed. The neighboring Goddess of Life never cared about her followers’ lives, only encouraging them to plot against each other.
Only the most cunning and devious followers ever received Her Divine Blessing and protection.
The other gods were all the same.
Yet the Mist Lord was willing to actively protect her followers. This was all beyond Tia’s wildest hopes. The Mist Lord…
Is truly too kind!