"The Eastern thickets are pacified..." Brida echoed. "We butchered every mutated boar that dared to charge our iron. There were Zero casualties and zero broken lines."

Silas looked at the two mortal women.

They had marched into a freezing monsoon, stared death in the face without flinching, and emerged victorious through uncompromising discipline and grit.

"You are incredible commanders," Silas praised fiercely with his blue eyes locking onto theirs. "You led these women into the mud, you held the line when the basin pushed back, and you brought every single one of them home alive. You have secured the foundation of this empire... Stand proud."

Brida’s chest puffed out as her veteran eyes shone with pride.

Tamsin’s cheeks flushed deeply, the Huntress lowering her gaze slightly as her heart hammered against her ribs, completely disarmed by his genuine validation.

"But the war for today is not over," Silas announced as he turned his attention to the logistical nightmare facing the territory.

He pointed directly across the courtyard at the Tier 2 Armored Barracks.

The wooden structure, while functional for a survival squad, looked quite average in the pouring rain.

The roof was holding, but the heavy foot traffic of thirty-one girls had turned the ground around it into a different thing and the interior was severely cramped, smelling of unwashed bodies.

’These girls really need a bath... me too.’

"The housing crisis ends right now," Silas declared.

He looked at the infantry division. "Everyone, step out of the Barracks and clear the immediate perimeter."

The Vanguard immediately scrambled, moving away from the building and gathering near the pristine dark-stone walls of the Culinary Haven, shielding themselves from the rain.

Silas walked alone across the wet tiles, stopping directly in front of the basic wooden structure.

He raised his right hand, swiping his fingers through the damp air to open his architectural interface.

He navigated directly to the structural enhancement tab, his blue eyes locking onto the glowing holographic text.

[Armored Barracks]

[Tier: 2 Construct (Uncommon)]

[Durability: 800 / 800]

[Upgrade System: Would you like to upgrade Tier 2 Armored Barracks to Tier 3 Warlord’s Garrison?]

[Cost: 200 UP]

"Confirm upgrade..." Silas stated and the response was catastrophic to the surrounding environment.

A blinding, roaring pillar of dense brilliant golden light erupted directly from the foundation of the barracks.

The golden evolution magic overpowered the gray gloom of the monsoon, pushing the heavy rain clouds upward and away from the quadrant in a shockwave of raw power.

The mortal women of the Blessed Man shielded their eyes, gasping in awe as the wooden structure aggressively began to transmute.

The building expanded, pushing outward across the stone tiles with a deafening, heavy grinding noise that shook the courtyard.

The basic Ironwood timber rapidly darkened with the organic cellular structure compressing and hardening until the regular stone was completely replaced by massive, highly polished blocks of heavy dark-stone masonry.

The building didn’t just grow wider... it shot upward.

A massive second story forged itself into existence, complete with thick, reinforced iron-framed windows that seamlessly integrated into the thick stone walls.

Heavy stone buttresses slammed down into the bedrock, anchoring the massive facility against any potential siege.

The golden light finally receded, leaving the rain to gently tap against the newly formed impenetrable slate roof.

The Tier 2 building was gone... In its place stood a massive and intimidating military stronghold.

Silas lowered his hand with his blue eyes sweeping over the massive stone facade.

"Brida. Tamsin," Silas called out, gesturing toward the heavy, iron-banded double doors of the new facility. "Bring them in."

The two commanders did not need to be told twice.

They led the women forward, their heavy iron boots clanking eagerly against the stone tiles.

Silas grabbed the thick iron handles and pushed the massive doors open, stepping aside to let his army enter.

The women rushed inside, and the entire formation collectively stopped breathing.

The interior reveal was staggering.

The contrast between the freezing miserable monsoon outside and the luxurious pristine sanctuary inside was profound.

The massive ground floor was a sprawling, organized communal armory and staging area.

Built directly into the dark-stone masonry on both ends of the massive room were colossal stone fireplaces.

The enchanted hearths were already crackling with bright, comforting flames, chasing away the biting chill of the Unknown Zone but it was the intricate details that caused the Shieldmaidens to gasp.

The stone floors beneath their muddy boots were not freezing as glowing blue mana runes were expertly carved into the foundational masonry, actively radiating a deeply soothing heat throughout the entire facility.

"Look at the bunks!" Gunnhild practically screamed, rushing up the wide stone staircase to the second floor.

The upper level was a sprawling, impeccably designed sleeping quarters.

The room was perfectly spaced, housing over a hundred heavy reinforced dark-wood bunk beds.

But these were not the crude, flea-ridden cots of a standard survival camp... Each bed was outfitted with incredibly thick insulated mattresses, pristine linen sheets, and heavy wool blankets woven to retain body heat perfectly.

"By the gods," Brida whispered, walking over and running her calloused hand over the thick wool blanket of the nearest bunk.

The woman looked incredibly moved as her eyes shone. "It’s warm. It’s actually warm."

She turned around, looking down at the glowing heating runes etched into the floor.

A mischievous, entirely unexpected smirk suddenly spread across the heavy infantry captain’s scarred face.

"I think I need to properly test the thermal insulation... or whatever Rowena calls it." Brida announced loudly.

Before anyone could stop her, the massive muscled warrior grabbed the buckles of her heavy iron breastplate and began unbuckling her armor.

She tossed the muddy iron plates carelessly onto the floor, quickly followed by her soaked canvas tunic and her heavy, mud-caked boots.

"Captain?!" Gunnhild gasped, covering her eyes.

Brida didn’t care.

She was stripping down to her undergarments right in the middle of the barracks, fully intent on testing the pristine new beds in complete comfort.

Silas stood near the top of the stairs, staring at his heavy infantry commander in disbelief.

He sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

’What the hell is she thinking... Stripping in front of me?’ Silas thought as he reached into his Lord inventory, pulled out a thick dry wool blanket, and chucked it across the room.

The heavy blanket flew through the air like a missile, slamming directly into the back of Brida’s head with a muffled thud.

"Gah!" Brida yelped, losing her balance.

The massive Shieldmaiden fell forward, completely ungraceful, crashing onto the warm stone floor with her ass facing straight up into the air, the blanket draped haphazardly over her head and shoulders.

"You can test the insulation once I leave the room, Brida..." Silas scolded, shaking his head at the chaos of his women.

Brida didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. She pushed the blanket off her face, looking back over her bare shoulder.

She shook her massive completely exposed ass directly at him with a grin on her beautiful face. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"I wouldn’t mind if you took me right here and there, my Lord!" Brida announced shamelessly, winking at him. "The bed is big enough for two!"

The newbies were astonished with their jaws hitting the warm floor.

They stared at their terrifying Commander Brida... the unyielding fortress who had held off a charging horde of mutated boars without flinching, actually making such a shameless suggestive face!

Tamsin paused mid-step near the stairs with a furious blush exploding across her face as she stared at the Shieldmaiden’s exposed ass.

The other veteran girls mirrored the Huntress’s reaction, their eyes wide with competitive shock.

Why was Brida trying to get ahead of them?

Standing right beside Silas at the top of the stairs, Eluned’s emerald eyes narrowed into dangerous glowing slits.

The Goddess of Nature gritted her teeth with her possessive nature snapping at the blatant provocation.

Sure she said she would give him Infinite stamina but... did Brida have to be so shameless to try and seduce her Lord in front of her?

She raised her pale hand. A thick razor-sharp whip of solid green wood materialized in her grip.

Eluned didn’t hesitate as she stepped forward, rearing her arm back, and swung.

CRACK!

The wooden whip snapped loudly through the warm air of the barracks, striking directly against Brida’s exposed, shaking ass with terrifying, divine accuracy.

"AHHHH!" Brida shrieked, scrambling forward across the floor and desperately grabbing the blanket to cover herself as the Goddess glared at her.

Brida tilted her head up to look at the towering Goddess of Nature as a slow incredibly shameless grin spread across her face.

"You’ve got a good swing, Goddess," Brida rasped teasingly in a way that made the rookies in the corner hold their breath.

She purposefully hiked her hips up just a fraction, waving her blanket-covered backside in a blatant provocation.

"But I have to admit, I’d have preferred if Lord Silas delivered the punishment. At least he knows how to handle a woman."

The air in the room stopped moving as the silence that followed was suffocating.

The rookies, still clutching their muddy iron swords, stared with wide terrified eyes.

Eluned’s emerald eyes flared.

The soft ethereal glow of her irises sharpened into dangerous slits.

’I know this is bait but why am I so mad?’

The ambient mana in the barracks spiked as the pressure dropping the temperature in the room by ten degrees.

The thick, flexible vine in her grip hissed with the razor-sharp thorns extending as crackling green wood-magic surged through the weapon.

She raised her pale arm, fully intending to deliver a second, much harsher lesson in divine hierarchy.

Before the whip could begin its downward arc, a shadow fell over them.

Silas didn’t shout.

He simply stepped into the space between the mortal and the Goddess, his dark boots silent against the stone.

He reached out with his right hand, his calloused fingers wrapping firmly around Eluned’s slender wrist.

The contact was immediate as the roaring wood-magic crackling along the whip sputtered.

Silas didn’t even flare his Gold Core... his mere presence as the Sovereign of the territory was enough.

The emerald light died out, receding back into the Goddess’s skin, leaving the whip looking like nothing more than a dead branch.

Silas released her wrist and looked down at the floor. He didn’t coddle Brida, nor did he offer her a hand up.

He just stared at the heavy infantry captain and sighed.

"The barracks are for resting, Brida," Silas said "Not brawling. Keep your armor on, keep your taunts to yourself, and let the girls recover."

Brida’s shameless grin softened into a genuine respectful smirk.

She stopped waving her backside and pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders, offering him a seated salute. "Understood, my Lord. I was just testing the boundaries of the new neighbors."

Silas sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He glanced at Eluned, who was still glaring daggers at the Shieldmaiden, her chest heaving slightly.

"And you," Silas murmured with his voice softening just a fraction for the Goddess. "Don’t let her bait you. You are above getting into a brawl over a bed... Especially when we sleep in the same bed."

Eluned sniffed, turning her head away, though the faint pink dusting her pale cheeks betrayed her.

She let the wooden whip dissolve into green mist, folding her arms beneath her chest.

In the corner of the room, the rookies exchanged bewildered glances.

They were standing in a pristine magically heated fortress, watching their terrifying, battle-hardened commander and a stronger woman... A woman who was as beautiful as a goddess bicker over the attention of their Lord like jealous tavern girls.

The reality of their new life in the Blessed Land was proving to be far more complicated than basic survival!

"Get your gear sorted," Silas ordered the room, breaking the tension. "Once you are settled, we tour the rest of the facility. I want everyone familiar with the layout before nightfall."

While the rest of the women began claiming their bunks and testing the incredible comfort of the insulated wool mattresses, Tamsin could not sit still.

The Wilderness Huntress was practically vibrating.

The adrenaline from the multi-front war, combined with the lingering divine stamina of the Genesis Rune made her blood run hot.

She needed to move... She needed to feel the limits of the new Warlord’s Garrison...

"Gunnhild," Tamsin called out, waving to the tall woman.

She gestured to three of the nearby rookies who were still too wired to sleep. "With me. Let’s see what the lower levels hold."