Silver Extreme had been sending orders relentlessly.
Allocating resources, relocating allies.
It had been three nights since the first tide of beasts had descended upon Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement.
He constantly cycled the Cultivators and the mortal army to maintain their condition.
Despite ample rest, fatigue persisted both mentally and physically.
It was relentless. Constantly fighting wolves, bears, hawks, owls, foxes, and all sorts of beasts.
Silver Extreme only had a few hundred warriors and only sixteen Cultivators.
Compared to the several hundred beasts in each group, they were a minuscule force.
What put them at an even greater disadvantage was the restriction they put on themselves.
Or rather, the restriction he abided by.
It was Immortal Union's wish to preserve the beast groups as best as they could.
This would help recover from the damage the two Demons caused.
The group was forced to hold back, sparing as many beasts as they could.
Naturally, casualties could not be avoided, so some beasts inevitably died.
Humans also suffered, too. Most were light injuries, some were heavy injuries.
The party that suffered the most was Dawn's 'ambush party', consisting of her and the other two Third Foundation Cultivators.
Their responsibility was eliminating the Beast Kings and Mystical Beast Kings of the tides.
They fulfilled their job over the four nights, without rest.
Dawn and the other two were active during each Early Hour and Late Hour.
Now, with the end of the First Tide soon around the corner, they would be able to afford their well-earned respite.
Eliminating these Beast Kings made the relocation of the beasts much easier.
Without a leader, the beasts were uncontrolled, discordant and frenzied.
They fled from Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement.
The Mortal Settlement Lord had arranged a few sites where the beast groups could exist without conflict.
Existing half a dozen kilometres to the northeast and northwest of Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement, were the Preservation Sites where the beasts were held.
There were plans to push them further north due to the second tide of beasts.
Silver Extreme was sending the last orders of the night.
It was currently Late Hour of their fourth night, so the tides were supposed to end soon.
Before he stood up, he could feel a heavy shift in the distance.
A little surprised, he remained and thought about this sudden change in the situation.
Sitting back down, he relayed one final order.
...
Dawn was lying on the ground.
Spread out tiredly, absentmindedly gazing towards the sky.
There was a ringing sound in her ear, a weight in her mind, fatigue in her muscles.
Not once could she rest.
The first tide was relentless, and waves of beasts appeared one after another.
Hundreds, if not thousands.
Sometimes one group, other times they were mixed.
The most troublesome were the ones who could fly.
The iron pillars that made up Iron Mountain were an alluring place for birds or other flying beasts.
Yet they could never coexist with the humans of the Settlement at the base of Iron Mountain.
The group spent great efforts to attack birds and the like.
If one were to see such a site, it could resemble fireworks.
Dawn received an order from Silver Extreme, this was likely the last group of beasts of the first tide.
She was glad, reluctant to get up, but did so anyway.
Resting within a trench, she circulated the Qi within her cores.
Her stomach, heart, and brain were beginning to feel re-energised, albeit slightly.
Immersing herself in the world, she could detect the approaching sensations from afar.
This group was considerably smaller, and the area they covered wasn't as great as the prior groups.
Heavy steps stampede on the ground. Bodies of bulging muscles and thick skin.
Worriedly, activated her Dao Art medium — Elusive Monkey's Deception.
Raising herself out of the trench, she saw the approaching group of massive beasts.
She analysed visually and through immersion.
The smallest figures were four meters tall.
Their fists could even wrap around trees, and their teeth could tear through trunks.
Beast Kings seemed to have wider builders, slightly taller than the rest.
Emanating from the centre was a powerful presence.
'Heavy... too heavy.'
'This Gorilla King... even among previous Mystical Beast Kings, it is too domineering...'
'Its strength is unbelievable!'
This was a group of Iron Weight Gorillas.
Easily twice as tall as the other ordinary Gorilla Kings, its mere visage struck fear.
Large, grey teeth with a dull lustre.
Its hair was thick like bundles of wire.
Its dark skin veiled the large muscles underneath.
Deeper within, hidden within its chest, lies a large conglomeration of Qi.
'A Qi Core...!?'
At that thought, Dawn felt something prick into her tired mind.
"I have confirmed that this is the final group."
"It would be too difficult to receive these gorillas, so we leave this to you alone."
"Kill them all. We will await your return."
With that, Dawn sighed, but she was relieved.
Such large beasts would cause too much ruin to their Artificial Obstruction Line and be too difficult to relocate to their Preservation Sites.
She would also receive aid, which was nice.
All this fighting left her tired. Mentally spent, physically exhausted.
The only thing keeping her going was her Primary Dao Art; without it, she would've collapsed long.
The Mystical Beast King in front of her was the only one.
She estimated its strength to be Pseudo-Third Foundation level, which was equal to her fatigued state at the moment.
'I'll make this quick, then...'
Inhaling deeply, she activated her greatest Supplementary Dao Art.
Dao Art — True Human Physique.
Everything that overwhelmed her felt diminished, like a faint annoyance.
Strength surged through her body.
Pale, golden light emanated from within.
Qi flowed intensely, the Dao Art mediums were disturbed.
The Elusive Monkey's Deception was interrupted.
Dawn's presence was revealed abruptly.
Startled, the gorilla group in front of her was brought to a clumsy halt.
Only the Mystical Beast King was standing firmly, staring intensely.
Dawn did not back down from the gaze.
Meeting the massive Gorilla's eyes, her expression was plain.
Raising her spear, it similarly glowed with a golden light.
Roaring madly, the Mystical Beast King charged forward.
Its fists balled and raised, slamming the ground, and leaving a crater at the site of impact.
Dawn merely jumped to the side and avoided it.
Holding her spear behind her, she swung forward.
Tearing the air and drawing a brilliant arc of golden light.
...