Pale golden light flashed through the dirt cloud.
Next came a low groan. Tufts of fur flew in the air, clumped together with the splattering of blood.
A deep cut tore the Grand Bear King's chest.
Its massive body staggered as it tried to retain its balance.
The abrupt change caused a few of the surrounding bears to halt and turn, watching as one of their leaders fell wounded.
Dawn readied another swing before a formless force washed over her.
A heavy weight pushed down on her, and she stumbled for a moment as the sudden pressure assaulted her.
The Grand Bear King thrashed around, swinging its massive paws as it growled.
It couldn't see Dawn, but her existence was already revealed.
Unfortunately, its desperate attempt would lead to nothing, but Dawn remained vigilant regardless.
'This pressure must be this Mystical Beast's innate Dao Art. I wanted to stay back for a while and observe, but...'
As she thought that, the Elusive Monkey's Deception began to waver.
The veil that concealed her presence faded, disrupted by the formless pressure, and Dawn's figure was revealed as a sheer visage of herself.
Immediately, the Grand Bear King's attention was on her.
With a deep, loud growl, it charged forward, like a surging tide of muscle and fur. Consequently, some of the surrounding bears followed suit.
Standing straight against the pressure that pushed down on her, Dawn began to activate her Dao Arts.
The first Dao Art — True Human Physique — allowed her to overcome the heavy weight on her and strengthen herself further.
The second Dao Art — Martial Strength — was channelled into her Mystical Weapon—Iron Lotus, Night Breaching Spear.
The spear's lethalality seemed to have surged.
Finally, she simply instilled Qi into the blade, causing it to shine a pale golden light and gradually heat up.
Dawn jumped to the side, dodging the Grand Bear King's charge.
As her foot touched the ground, three bears were already upon her.
Twisting her body, she drew a long, horizontal arc with her spear. A pale gold crescent shot outwards.
It caused the air to sizzle as it cut forward, cutting the three bears through their face, chests, and rear.
Immediately, they collapsed with a thud, spilling blood and loose fur.
Turning around again, Dawn dodged another two bears who approached her.
Leaping into the air, she watched as the Grand Bear King was readying to charge toward her again.
Landing on the ground, she channelled Qi and strength into her right leg, kicking up dirt as she shot forward.
In a single breath, she closed the distance between her and the Grand Bear King, stopping just in front of its chest.
Strength surged through Dawn's body.
She watched as a massive paw filled her vision and then split open with a flawless cut.
Stepping out of the way, the Grand Bear King's paw fell apart, the momentum sending the cut half to the ground.
It roared in pain as blood flowed; the surrounding bears seemed to be affected by its dire state.
This was part of the plan Silver Extreme came up with.
Destroy the enemy's will by destroying their leader's will, for the leader reflects on their army.
The desperation of the Grand Bear King and the great wounds it has suffered have worked to ruin the morale of the other beasts.
The surrounding bears fell stagnant as they watched their leader struggle.
Dawn took a step forward and launched a crescent blade.
One of its legs was cut apart, causing it to fall disgracefully.
Despite its massive size, it was no match for Dawn.
The majority of Mystical Beasts were only rivals for Second Foundation Cultivators, but Dawn was already a notch above the Second Foundation.
She was a genuine Third Foundation Cultivator; handling such a beast was not difficult for her.
Add the amplification of her Dao Arts, and her strength is even more impressive.
However, simply killing the Grand Bear King was not her goal.
It is cruel, but she eventually will. Silver Extreme planned to destroy the will of the beast tides to impose his will on them.
This gruesome sight would cripple the momentum of the tides.
The Grand Bear King stumbled before hitting the ground, and the formless pressure on Dawn had waned.
She looked at the beast solemnly, raising her weapon and slamming it down on the Grand Bear King's neck.
The blade severed its neck with a clean cut, the spilt blood boiled as her Qi rampaged from the wound.
Faint traces of blood crackled on her blade, dissipating as the heat of her blade shone hotly.
Down came the first of the leaders of this tide, a Mystical Beast King.
As life faded from its eyes, the air of authority it commanded vanished as well.
The surrounding bears retreated in a fear-struck frenzy.
Some of the bears still tried to approach her, so Dawn made an example out of them.
While she wasn't here to cause needless slaughter, 'sending a message' was also important.
Since fear could be understood between all species, why wouldn't it be used in their tactics?
The scent of blood wafted in the air, mixing with the dry smell of the dirt clouds.
Due to the tide's momentum being hindered, the thick clouds turned sheer.
She could see how the bears struggled to manoeuvre around the mounds and trenches.
The overall momentum was greatly reduced.
However, she still had a role to play out here.
Clutching onto the ornament on her body, the Dao Art medium of Elusive Monkey's Deception, she reactivated it and cloaked her presence.
Leaping forward, she could now see the full size of the tide.
Hundreds of bears to her left and right, and hundreds more in front of her.
Among the bears, there were no cubs or aged bears, likely lost to the domino effect caused by the mist.
She immersed herself in the world and leapt between the gaps in the relentless tide of beasts.
There, one bear was significantly larger than the rest, not as large as the Grand Bear King, nor did it have such a great presence.
It was just an ordinary Beast King.
Still, she had to take it down.
All significant beasts of this tide will be taken down.
Then, it would be up to the defensive line to fulfil their role.