Tides of Chaos

Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement.

Upon receiving the small flood of information, the Settlement Lord's small hope was crushed by shock and gradually turned to dread.

"This... This can't be...!"

Letting his thoughts slip under his breath, the Settlement Lord's quiet murmur was heard by Dawn and Silver Extreme.

"Lord?"

"What is the matter, Lord?"

"..."

Pausing, he could not stop the dread from spreading across his now pale face. 

"It is... A message from a different Immortal... Immortal Adamant."

"Adamant? From Great River Bank Settlement? What does Lord Immortal Adamant want with us?"

"..."

"Lord?"

"..."

"Lord."

Taking the Jade Slip from the Settlement Lord's quivering hands, Dawn instils her Qi to receive the information within.

The unsettling foreboding birth into shock, the same kind that the Settlement Lord bore, causing Dawn to furrow her brows intensely.

"Union Settlement has fallen...!"

"What...?"

"The Settlement... was set aflame and torn apart..."

"What...!"

Silver Extreme roused his strained throat to release an outburst of shock and disbelief.

"An unknown party attacked Union Settlement. Settlement Lord, Lord Immortal Union, is missing.. likely dead."

"An unknown party...? Are Demonic Cultivators behind this? No. Could it have been those Demons!?"

"It is unknown... but the Jade Slip implies that it wasn't the Demons, meaning that a Demonic Faction is likely behind the Settlement's ruination."

"It can't be..."

"Senior?"

"How could the Settlement fall? Lord Immortal Union... My Brother Disciples! How could they fall?! This must be some sort of sick joke!"

Gritting his teeth to the point they felt like they'd shatter, Silver Extreme bore his hatred, his killing intent, regardless of his injuries.

"Senior, please, calm down before you cough up blood!"

"..."

As his jaw eased, Silver Extreme felt his skin pricking violently with heat as he tried to stifle his fury.

"The people of the Western region are already in dire straits, and yet...!" His efforts in calming himself seemed wholly useless, as his killing intent blazed like a searing aura. "I can't say that I wasn't expecting Demonic Cultivators attacking Mortal Settlements, but attacking an Immortal Settlement, my home Settlement, my people! Such a thing... Such a thing!"

In the next moment, a hot pain seemed to run through his body, as he felt blood creeping up his throat and his stomach burning with pain.

Stifling the blood in his throat, Silver Extreme's face contorts with two types of pain.

Physical pain, from his dire wounds on his stomach, and mental pain, as his emotions swirled like a violent whirlpool.

This violent rage knocked even the Settlement Lord out of his own misery.

"F...Friend Silver!"

"..."

With heaving breaths, Silver Extreme seemed to calm himself. The air surrounding him felt like static.

"..."

Like a storm, his emotions waned as quickly as they surged.

"...Ah."

With a sigh, he quickly collected himself and rested his back on the bed.

"Forgive me... I..."

"I understand, Senior."

Turning his gaze to Dawn, who wore a solemn face of understanding, Silver Extreme sighed again as he pardoned himself.

"I will discuss this with you, Lord, another time."

"We will not trouble your recovery anymore, Friend."

Dawn and the Settlement Lord left the room with awkward silence.

Left alone to his own devices, Silver Extreme splayed himself on the white bedding, sinking his head into his pillow.

"How could you let the Settlement fall...?"

"Brothers. What there nothing that could be done?"

"..."

Speaking to the empty air, Silver Extreme wanted to believe that this was not true at all.

That Union Settlement and Immortal Union stood tall and strong, and this Jade Slip was a joke.

He was a Disciple of Union Settlement, a Cultivator who received the backing of the Settlement.

He looked up to Immortal Union, as a figure bathed in brilliant light, one who was benevolent, one who guided Silver Extreme despite not being an Immortal Seed.

He did not want to accept this truth, but how could he lie to himself?

The Jade Slip was all the proof he needed.

With that proof, he could not deny the truth.

...

"Hah..."

Breathing out turbid air, the Settlement Lord came to the entrance of his complex to see Dawn off.

"I did not expect such terrible news to arrive. This... This certainly complicates our situation direly."

"Without the backing of an Immortal Settlement, most Mortal Settlements can hardly maintain themselves."

"Although the second tide has ended prematurely, the third tide still draws near; there is also the presence of Demonic Cultivators who wish to annihilate our Settlement... Our backs are completely pushed against a wall; there is little hope for us to survive..."

The Settlement Lord mourned over the drastic change in their situation.

First, the appearance of the tides, then the abrupt interference of Demonic Cultivators, and now the ruination of Union Settlement and the alleged fall of Immortal Union.

Dawn idled nearby as she listened to the Settlement Lord's lamentations.

"I can only sympathise with you, Lord. However, we can drag our feet on the ground because of this misfortune. If we let the situation overwhelm us, not only will our morale fall, but also our strength. During a time of need, such as now, we must continue to move forward and resist the 'tides'."

"I understand the sentiment..." With a sigh, he waved off Dawn. "I will let you rest, Dawn. It must have been a long night for you. I will attend to these matters... and figure out our next steps from here."

...

Returning to her accommodation, Dawn set her Iron Lotus aside. All of her rusted armour was burned off, leaving her in the fabrics and leathers of her clothing underneath.

Collapsing under her faint fatigue, she there herself on the white bedding and lost herself in her thoughts.

'Union Settlement...'

'Another Immortal Settlement has fallen.'

'The Western region is undoubtedly in chaos.'

'When... if more Settlements fall, the situation will only grow worse.

'Demons. Demonic Cultivators. What sets them aside?'

Despite there being no confirmation about the fiend responsible for Union Settlement's ruination and Immortal Union's alleged demise, why was there a need to put a name to them?

'Together, they are both cruel. They are completely alike.'

'Should I lay my hands on them, I will strangle the life out of them...!'

'Those... Demons...!'

'...'

There was a hint of fear in those thoughts, which subtly twisted Dawn's expression.

Pausing for a moment, she calmed her thoughts.

'When the world churns with chaos, even the Immortals will fall.'

'But, I refuse to be drowned in the tide...'

'Even if the waves toss me around, I will not let myself be drowned!'

'Should I lay my hands on those Demons, I will drown them in the chaos!'

'Father...'

'Watch me.'

...