An ashen fog shrouded the surroundings.
Occasionally, foxes would jump out of the fog, baring their teeth.
Sun was not yet overwhelmed by the situation.
Although he was frightened at first, Warrior of Spring's voice fell upon them all, quelling their shock.
The ashen fog reduced his vision to a five-meter radius.
A terrible scent of smoke mixed with blood pervaded the area.
This blood was from the countless wolf corpses littering the area, felled by Sun's hand.
Although it empowered him, it felt all the more nauseating now.
As another fox jumped into view, Sun received it with his halberd.
Swinging diagonally, he stabbed deep and threw its limp body to the side.
Another two would take its place, giving Sun no chance for respite.
While fighting off these crazed foxes, he spared some attention to the sky above.
Sun could not see above him, but he could very well hear the battle ensuing.
The low, guttural screams. The ferocious roaring. The constant sounds of collision.
It was worrying.
Warrior of Spring was battling these two unknown opponents.
'A Bone Devouring Dragon... So they want the skeletal remains of Corpse Mountain Settlement?'
'How can they do this? Shouldn't Lord Immortal Union step in to prevent this?'
'Where is he now?!'
His questions never left his mind. Sun knew that calling out now would do little for him.
With the countless insane beasts encroaching on them, he knew that he couldn't relent, lest he wanted to let the third line suffer.
Of course, he was also worried about his seniors in the first line, Golden Eagle and the other Third Foundation Cultivator.
Even if there were hundreds, if not thousands, of beasts, the amount getting past them seems too significant.
Although Sun wanted to push forward, he could not give up his position.
He was also without a means to contact them.
Thinking to himself, he tried calling out in his mind.
'Senior Spring! Warrior of Spring!'
'...'
'...'
He did not answer.
Sparing a glance upwards, the battle was still resounding, so Warrior of Spring was still alive, at least.
Slamming downwards, he parted the head of a fox.
Pale golden light flowed and cut into another group of foxes.
'What is... Ack!'
Sun's chest spasmed, ruining his focus for a moment.
A fox leapt and bit down on his wrist, its teeth digging into the gauntlet.
With a quick, powerful swing, Sun sent the fox flying into a tree.
He was forced to retreat a few steps; the tightness never leaving his chest.
'My lungs! My breathing, this must be the fog!'
Worry turned into panic.
He was too focused on the insane beasts and their situation.
Sun did not spare much thought for the ashen fog itself, beyond a mere obscuration.
Swinging his halberd, another two foxes were met with his retaliation.
Even with this searing pain in his chest, he did not back down.
Suddenly, a huge gust of wind fell from above.
It was heavy, forcing Sun to kneel on the crimson soil.
Fortunately, the foxes were pressed down violently, too.
Looking up, the starlit sky was revealed.
The ashen fog was being torn apart by the winds, and a verdant scent pervaded in place of the ashy, bloody scent.
"Senior!"
Looking up, the sky was now clear, and the battle above could also be seen.
A long, pale dragon cut through the air, streaks of ash spilling from its mouth.
Warrior of Spring was above, like a dot of green and brown compared to the white behemoth.
Sun struggled to stand.
Unexpectedly, the pressure suddenly lifted from him, causing him to jump forward and land on his face.
'What the...'
"This is an order to all four of the retaliatory lines, retreat to the Settlement, and prepare to defend Corpse Mountain!"
This voice was not heard in their minds, but called out from the sky above.
It boomed like thunder, shaking Sun to his core.
"What is going on...!"
Stunned and immobile, Sun only came to his senses when he heard the sound of bursting in front of him.
The countless foxes were still pressed into the ground, foaming from their mouths with mania.
Their flesh and fur coats burst open.
A stem sprouted from their remains, blooming into a red flower.
Its beauty was wicked, a haunting crimson.
Sun recognised it as a chrysanthemum flower, and many more began to sprout from the other corpses.
As his reason came back to him, Sun did not hesitate to stand and run.
'An order to retreat! Has the situation gotten that bad?'
'What about the second tide?'
'Who is this person that is attacking us!?'
Questions flooded his mind as Sun retreated.
He quickly met up with another Cultivator from the second line, who was retreating like him.
Although his arm was torn and bleeding profusely.
"What happened!? That doesn't look like a wound that a fox could inflict!"
"It wasn't a fox... There was a tiger group approaching."
"Tigers... Then what about...!"
Just further ahead, Sun and this other Cultivator reached the third retaliatory line.
It was only the mortal warriors, the injured man called out.
"Where are the Cultivators of this line?"
"They already left! We still have the injured to carry. I can't believe they just left us behind!"
"Be at ease, bring us your injured."
The mortal warrior calmed as he brought them to another part of the group.
The injured people were carried on the backs of others; they did have carriages, but it would take too long to retreat with them.
"Five injured... Oh, thank you."
Another mortal warrior brought the injured Cultivator a kit.
Sun fell into contemplation.
'I could heal these warriors and this Cultivator, too. It won't be much, but should help at least.'
'But this sudden development in the tides... I haven't seen our Seniors, are they facing the brunt of the second tide alone?'
Sun shook his head; he decided to act now rather than think.
"You all should retreat forth from here, I entrust them to you, friend."
"What? What are you doing?"
"I need to ensure that our seniors are fine!"
"They'll retreat soon! It's foolish to run back there to check on them!"
"Then what do you want me to-"
Sun was suddenly slammed into the ground.
A woman stood behind him, kneeling to pick up Sun's limp body, much to the surprise of everyone there.
"Well? Let's go."
...