As the first light of dawn crept over the Flaming Sun Sect's Inner Court, the sect elders sprang into action. With a sense of urgency, they mobilized a massive Spirit ship, its hull adorned with intricate runes and pulsing with a fiery energy.
The ship, named "Inferno's Fury," was a marvel of the sect's engineering prowess, capable of transporting hundreds of cultivators and their allies across vast distances.
With a deafening roar, the ship's engines ignited, casting a warm glow over the gathered factions. Vin, leading the Exodus Imperium, stood in a corner at the forefront, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
Although not all, there were alot of factions participating in this current beast tide mission, but because it wasn't confirmed to lead into a beast tide the top ten factions didn't border participating in their full numbers, only sending a few deciples.
As the last of the factions boarded, the sect elders performed a final ritual, sealing the ship's defenses and amplifying its propulsion. With a burst of speed, the Inferno's Fury shot into the sky, leaving the Inner Court behind.
The journey to Neon was a blur, the ship slicing through the clouds like a hot knife through butter. Vin stood at the prow, his gaze fixed on the horizon, his mind focused on the battles to come.
Finally, the town of Neon came into view, its ruins a grim reminder of the task ahead. The Inferno's Fury descended, its engines dying down as it landed with a gentle thud on the outskirts of the town.
With a deep breath, the factions disembarked, ready to face the demonic beasts and uncover the source of the disturbance in the Darkwind Forest's core layer. The fate of Neon, and the region, hung in the balance.
***
Neon, the town of radiant splendor, lay nestled between the luminous mountains and the shimmering Starlight River. Its buildings, adorned with glittering silver filigree, seemed to absorb and reflect the light around them, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the streets. The air was alive with the hum of mystical energy, as if the very essence of the town pulsed with an otherworldly power.
As night descended, Neon transformed into a dazzling spectacle, its structures aglow with soft, ethereal luminescence. The streets bustled with beings from far and wide, drawn by the town's reputation as a hub of ancient wisdom, forgotten lore, and whispered secrets.
In the heart of Neon, the fabled Oracle's Spire pierced the sky, its peak shrouded in an aura of mystery and anticipation. It was said that within its walls, the enigmatic Oracle wielded the power to unravel the very fabric of destiny.
Neon, a place where wonder and danger entwined like the threads of a rich tapestry, beckoned to those brave enough to unravel its secrets.
But the recent beast attacks had left the town of Neon in a state of ravaged disarray. Once-vibrant streets now lay scarred and silent, littered with the remnants of shattered buildings and the eerie, glowing husks of fallen creatures. The silver filigree that adorned the town's architecture was tarnished and twisted, as if the very essence of Neon's radiance had been sullied by the darkness.
The Oracle's Spire, once a beacon of hope and wisdom, stood marred by jagged claw marks and deep, blackened scorch marks. Its peak, where the Oracle's ethereal voice once whispered secrets to the wind, was now shrouded in an ominous, pulsating haze.
The townspeople, once a tapestry of diverse cultures and vibrant lives, were now a mere shadow of their former selves. Fear and uncertainty hung in the air like a palpable mist, as if the very fabric of reality had been torn asunder.
In the midst of this devastation, an unsettling stillness reigned, punctuated only by the distant, mournful howls of the beasts that lurked in the surrounding darkness, waiting for their next victim. Neon, once a shining gem of wonder, had become a haunting testament to the horrors that lurked in the shadows.
As Vin and the Exodus Imperium emerged from the dusty horizon, the ravaged landscape of Neon unfolded before them like a grim tapestry. The once-vibrant town now lay in ruins, its buildings reduced to smoldering rubble and its streets choked with the twisted, glowing husks of fallen beasts.
The air was heavy with the stench of death and smoke, and the very ground seemed to tremble with the distant rumble of growls and screams. Vin's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the devastation, his grip on the hilt of his sword tightening in anticipation.
To his left, quite a few of the disciples of the Flaming Sun Sect's Inner Court stood aghast, their faces pale and their eyes wide with horror. They had come seeking excitement and adventure, but instead found only destruction and despair.
The other factions, too, seemed shaken by the scene before them. The normally stoic warriors exchanged uneasy glances, while they whispered among themselves, their eyes scanning the horizon for signs of further danger.
The gathered factions exchanged wary glances, sensing that the very fabric of their world was about to be torn asunder. Vin's eyes locked onto the town, his mind racing with the implications of this devastation. What dark force had unleashed this destruction? And what lay in store for those who dared to remain?
The town, once a beacon of hope and wisdom, lay in ruins. The streets were littered with debris, and the buildings stood as mere skeletons, a testament to the ferocity of the beast attacks.
Their mission, to provide aid to the beleaguered town, now seemed more crucial than ever. Vin's eyes scanned the horizon, his mind racing with the logistics of their task. They would need to establish a perimeter, tend to the wounded, and restore order to the town.
The Oracle's enigmatic voice whispered on the wind, "Your aid comes too late... yet, it may still be enough to tip the balance."
With a nod, Vin began to issue orders, his voice carrying across the ruins. "Exodus Imperium, establish a defensive perimeter!, tend to the wounded!, assess the damage and determine the extent of the destruction!"
The rest of the Faction leaders also have orders to their members to help the injured town.
As the factions sprang into action, Vin and a few other factions leaders approached the Oracle, their eyes locked onto his sorry figure. "What happened here? What darkness has befallen Neon?"
The Oracle's staff crackled with energy, and its voice whispered secrets on the wind. "We have no idea, the wild beasts suddenly descended on us without any warning. The town's defenses were breached, and... the consequences are clear."
Vin's grip on his sword tightened, his mind burning with determination. "We will not let this stand. We will drive back the darkness and restore Neon to its former glory."
And no sooner had he said this when the ground beneath them began shaking vigorously.
And they could hear the sound of various rampaging beasts dashing madly towards the town, almost like they were running from something.
All the deciples rushed out of the town, only to be met with hundreds of demonic beasts running towards them in frenzy.
When Vin saw them, his heart shook a little at their numbers, as he had never fought this many beasts before.
It was only of recent when he entered the Inner Court that he truly understood the true division of the blackwind forest.
The forest wasn't divided into three parts, but actually four, and even he wasn't sure if that was actually correct.
The first layer which he had initially thought was the outer layer was in fact just the periphery, and the true outer layer was where he had originally thought was the Inner layer. This place was also where the base of the Exodus Order was established.
After that then came the true inner layer, and then the Core layer.
The beasts were also graded using the the the cultivation levels of the humans.
The periphery was only occupied by normal wild beasts, the outer layer was dominated by the Spirit Sea Realm beasts, the Inner layer was occupied by the Sea Expansion beasts, while the core layer was mostly dominated by the Core Formation beasts.
But it was said that the true rulers of the core layer was ruled by those beasts in the Nasant Soul Realm, rumor even had it that there was a beast king above that level but it wasn't confirmed yet.
Vin stared at the horde of wild beasts that were charging towards them, who's numbers had now reached the thousands.
His Void calamity sword was ringing excitedly in his had, as streams of violet colored sword qi was blazing around it.
Vin stood tall, his eyes burning with determination as he surveyed the gathered disciples. "Friends, allies, and brothers-in-arms," he began, his voice carrying across the ruins of Neon. "We might all be from different factions but today, we stand together against an enemy that seeks to consume us all. The beast horde may be vast, but we are not afraid. We are not intimidated."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "We are the defenders of this land, the guardians of our people. We have trained, we have prepared, and we have come together as one."
Vin's voice rose, his passion infectious. "We will not falter, we will not fail. We will stand strong, united, and unwavering. For every beast that falls, we will rise stronger. For every challenge we overcome, our bond will grow unbreakable."
He drew his sword, its blade shining with a fierce light. "Let the beast horde come, let the darkness descend. We will meet it head-on, with courage in our hearts and the fire of our convictions guiding us."
The disciples erupted into a fierce cheer, their morale boosted by Vin's words. Together, they charged into the fray, ready to face the incoming beast horde and emerge victorious.
*********