Another month of hard work passed, and Thorne's lake had visibly shrunk—outsiders might mistake it for a normal dry season in winter.
When Tylen returned with the imposing Sinking Sand Army, even Thorne was struck with awe.
This was over three thousand magic beasts, not humans, trained to such a level—beyond reproach. Compared to the beast tide's rabble, Tylen and the Huang Tribe's skill shone. Thorne resolved to invest more in them.
"Treat me as the enemy and demonstrate your battle formation," Thorne said, eager to test its might personally.
He conjured hundreds of ice arrows, each with Mortal Tier Level 5 power, and launched them at the beast army.
Under a flurry of commands, Ironclad Rhinos charged to the front, while Wood Spirit Deer cast healing spells, enduring the assault.
The ice arrows struck the rhinos' steel-like hides, clanging and snapping apart.
Even stray shots hitting unprotected spots were swiftly healed by the deer.
Thorne nodded, satisfied, but wanted to push harder to gauge the formation's true strength.
He summoned thousands more ice arrows and countless water ropes from the lake, surging toward the Sinking Sand Army.
Tylen, calm and composed, directed the Ironclad Rhinos to hold the front. Flame Leopards spewed fire, and Red Flame Windchasers darted through the ranks, countering the water ropes.
This barrage, too, was effortlessly blocked, proving the three-thousand-strong Sinking Sand Army could withstand thousands of Mortal Tier Level 5 attacks.
This was a simple test—real combat was far more chaotic. Their true strength awaited battlefield proof, and Thorne had an opponent in mind.
From prior surveys within ten thousand miles, a treacherous canyon west of the lake housed a two-thousand-strong double-headed snake clan. Their strength matched the Sinking Sand Army's, though their Level 9 snake king posed a challenge.
"To the west lies a canyon held by double-headed snakes. Tylen, take the army and seize it. It'll be your base," Thorne ordered.
Tylen promptly led the Sinking Sand Army toward the canyon. Concerned for mishaps, Thorne sent the Magic Dragon Gecko along—its aid could tip the scales if needed.
The gecko, long idle, leapt eagerly at the task. Now larger, it resembled a true magic dragon, though its childlike demeanor lagged far behind the Ghost Thorn Tree's maturity.
The tree, now matching Thorne's Mortal Tier Level 10, boasted near-adult intellect but lately focused on upgrading its thorns, rarely surfacing.
Tylen's three-thousand-strong army marched on their first campaign. A kilometer from the canyon, he paused, sending three Shadow Leopards to scout.
The Huang Tribe's knack for simple beast communication shone, using them as scouts.
The leopards reported the snakes resting in the canyon. Tylen ordered a full advance.
Double-headed snakes, though not hibernating in winter like mundane snakes, grew sluggish, basking on canyon rocks in fleeting sunlight.
The snake king suddenly sensed danger, rearing with a hiss.
Its kin stirred, slithering into the canyon's shadowy edges.
As Tylen's force reached the entrance, most snakes hid, save a few with the king, glaring at the intruders.
Tylen wasted no words, ordering an attack. The Sinking Sand Army formed a serpentine formation, charging in.
Ambushing snakes lunged or spat venom from the cliffs, but Ironclad Rhinos blocked them, and Flame Leopard fire burned the poison away.
They soon faced the snake king. It lunged furiously at Tylen, who avoided a direct clash. The formation shifted to a circle.
The king's bites and venom battered the perimeter, joined by snakes from the cliffs, but the circular formation held firm.
In the center, Tylen nocked his bow, awaiting a fatal shot.
The chance came swiftly. Enraged at being stymied, the king opened its maw to swallow an Ironclad Rhino.
The rhino's bulk slowed it, clogging the snake's agility.
Tylen seized the moment, firing arrows into the king's eyes—its weakest point.
Blinded and thrashing in pain, the king crushed its own kin.
Tylen reshaped the formation into squads, hunting the snakes.
The maddened, blind king fell to a single arrow through its vital spot, collapsing on a boulder.
The Magic Dragon Gecko, eager to fight the fierce king, watched Tylen toy with it, its initial disdain turning to respect.
Half an hour later, silence fell. Tylen left part of the Sinking Sand Army to guard the canyon, sending the rest back with over two thousand snake corpses.
Within a day, Tylen returned to the lake, dumping the corpses into it before heading back to fortify the canyon as their new base.
Only four or five Huang Tribe members and a few Red Flame Windchasers remained at the lake for relaying Thorne's orders. The rest now manned the canyon—their home for the foreseeable future.
The gecko returned sulky, having missed its chance to fight. Since the Ghost Thorn Tree's upgrade, it no longer played with it, leaving the gecko friendless.
Seeing its nature, Thorne permitted it to roam freely within ten thousand meters—Sinking Sand Army training grounds, well-scouted and safe.
Though absent, Thorne was pleased with the army's easy victory over the snakes, proving their worth. Next: expansion and elite training.