"Just be safe out there, okay?"
"If you run into any trouble, don't be afraid to call out to us!"
Selene and Edifice waved as Dawn left.
She had also wished them a safe journey, knowing that this Second Heir may very well still be around.
Although Edifice assured Dawn that he should not be around.
Considering the order for Edifice and Selene to return to Great River Bank Settlement, and the Second Heir's sudden leave, he, too, was likely returning to the Settlement.
Even with that in mind, Dawn still rushed to Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement.
'The second tide should still be persisting.'
'At this pace, I should return to the Settlement by the fifth hour of Late Hour, just an hour before tonight's end.'
'Then, the second tide should persist for the two nights thereafter...'
With all the abrupt changes in her situation, Dawn focused on preparing herself for her role in the tides.
'When I return, I shall seek medical treatment to restore my left eye and heal my wounds.'
'I believe Iron Mountain Quarry's Settlement Lord should have taken the position of Silver Extreme, so I will find the former and seek my position in the tides.'
Thinking about the tides, a thought had slowly risen into her mind.
'This tide should contain insane beasts, and be the largest of the three tides.'
'And yet... I have not seen a single beast group since that wolf group attacked us.'
'Has something happened with the tide?'
Dawn's expression exposed some of her concern, but she witheld her thoughts as she assured herself.
'With a First State Cultivator and three Third Foundation Cultivators, the tide should not pose too much of a problem.'
For a moment, she silenced her mind and decided to quicken her pace.
...
Breaching the dense foliage of the forest, Dawn arrives at a sudden drop-off, a cliff that leads into a slope.
She had arrived at the Iron Mountain's divot's edge, the massive depression in the ground which Iron Mountain.
The forest's vitality stopped at the divot's edge.
Deep layers of rock and sediment were partially exposed, but uplifted soil blanketed the majority of the land.
It was a peculiar sight. Standing at the centre of the divot was Iron Mountain.
Hundreds of thick columns of iron, weathered and shining with a dull lustre, protrude out of the ground to create the rough shape of a folded mountain.
From another perspective, it could resemble hundreds of iron spears stuck into the ground.
Looking outwards, Dawn's expression was a mixture of confusion and unease.
While Dawn was at the Northernmost edge of the divot, and the tide would arrive from the Southernmost edge, she would still be able to see signs of the tide's presence.
'It is too quiet... Too peaceful...'
There were no sounds of battle echoing through the divot.
No dirt cloud rising to the low skies.
Not a single hint of battle.
Stepping off the divot's edge, Dawn slides down as worries plague her mind.
'Did something happen? Did a change in the tide suddenly appear?'
'Was the tide stronger than expected? What if the tide didn't appear at all?'
'Silver Extreme, you couldn't have fallen, right?'
Her slow descent turned into a few rushed steps.
Her rushed steps turned into large steps.
Eventually...
Pushing the slope, Dawn burst forth and started running across the land. She kept her Iron Lotus in hand behind her, readying herself for any sudden confrontations.
Closing her eyes, Dawn decides to use Immersion to send her senses forward.
Pushed to the limit of three kilometres, her Immersion's range was not long enough to reach the Settlement, yet.
Crossing great distances in moments, each hundred meters crossed in mere seconds.
What was this desperate rush in her mind?
As her Immersion inched closer to the Iron Mountain, it was suddenly 'repelled' by something.
'This is-!'
Dawn's brows tightened as she withdrew her senses.
'A defensive Dao Art against Immersion?'
'So something did happen! Were they attacked by an enemy, who would dare attack this Settlement?'
Circling around the Mountain, Dawn arrived at the Westernmost border of Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement.
"Stop!"
"Who goes there!"
"Cease your movements!"
Quickly bringing herself to a stop, Dawn had alerted a few guards who were surveilling the border.
They pointed their weapons at Dawn, but they were only mortals. Even without Immersion, Dawn could sense their fear.
"Friends! I am a Cultivator of Silver Extreme's retaliatory group, Dawn!"
"If you do not trust me, please bring Silver Extreme here!"
"I must know of the Settlement's current situation!"
The guards remained suspicious; Dawn's wounded appearance left an unappealing impression on them.
"Dawn of Union Settlement?"
A voice called from behind the guards, and a peculiar-looking man revealed himself.
"Lord?"
"The Settlement Lord!"
Quickly bowing, the guards gave way to the Settlement Lord.
"Dawn, you have returned..."
"Yes, Lord. What has happened? I see no signs of the tides, and a defensive Dao Art has been activated."
Narrowing his gaze for a moment, he assured himself and sighed.
The Settlement Lord gestured for Dawn to follow, allowing her to enter the Settlement.
"The situation has indeed changed..."
"A Demonic Cultivator has attempted an attack on our Settlement."
"...!"
Dawn could not hide her shock.
"Someone would be so low!"
Nor could she hide her fury.
"Be at ease. It can not be said that we were not expecting such demonic behaviour."
"..."
Dawn paused and calmed herself with a sigh.
"So... during the second tide, a Demonic Cultivator exploited the Settlement's vulnerability and launched an attack?"
"Indeed."
"What happened to the rest of the tide? It couldn't have ended so early..."
"The entire tide was concentrated into a single, massive wave of beasts."
"...!...?"
Dawn looked around with shock, which bled into disbelief.
"You... the Settlement seems too calm to have suffered such a terrifying attack..."
"If this defensive Dao Art wasn't active, I'd suggest you use Immersion to look towards the South and at the battlefield."
"The battlefield?"
"If you saw it now, it would resemble no more than charred soil and remains. Not a single beast had survived."
"Everything...?"