CHAPTER 214: CHAPTER 214: STINGY SYSTEM

Liora blinked. For a second, she didn’t understand what she just heard. But the next moment, more information unfolded across her vision. A glowing interface opened up before her, invinsible to others but bright and detailed before her eyes alone.

[Main Mission Triggered]

Title: Protect Dawn Base from the Mutated Beast Tide

Time Remaining: Estimated 7 Days

Mission Level: S

Objective: Prevent the destruction of the Dawn Base and ensure the survival of at least 60% of total population.

Mission Rewards:

High-tier defense blueprint x1

Resource Cache (food + medical supplies) x1

Random Construction Token x1

Unique Guardian-type Weapon x1

Before she could process it fully, another soft chime followed. A new window layered itself over the first.

[Hidden Mission Activated]

Condition: Triggered by major forces appearance

Progress: Locked until main mission completion

Hint: You have stepped into a hidden tide. Survive it.

Reward: ??? (Unknown)

Liora stared at the panel, her fingers slowly lowering her spoon back to the tray. Her mind raced.

A beast tide?

That couldn’t be right.

This region didn’t even have major beast migrations. Ever since she had cleaned the area, the outskirts of this zone had become unnaturally quiet. Unlike the densely populated central cities that were overrun with undead and twisted beasts, the lands around Dawn Base had remained relatively peaceful.

There were no human settlements nearby, no noise or movement to provoke chaos. Even zombies had nearly vanished in this area, long eliminated before the second rain’s mutations spread.

So how—how could a beast tide appear here, so suddenly?

She stood up abruptly, her tray clattering slightly as it hit the metal return rack. A few heads turned toward her, but she didn’t stop to explain. Her expression had changed completely now—gone was the soft calmness from a few minutes ago. She was already contacting her system mentally, thoughts firm and direct.

"System, explain. What triggered the beast tide?"

The reply came immediately, but it was not what she expected.

[Unable to process request. Data classified. Access restricted.]

Her footsteps faltered, eyes narrowing.

"Restricted? Why? Are you only capable of issuing missions ad not explaining causes?" she asked in a irritated tone. why does she felt like this system is back to his old antiques.

[This information is locked by system-level protocol. Detailed cause will be revealed upon successful mission completion.]

She clenched her jaw. Her mind was flooded with thoughts. Was this natural? Was this something someone caused?

But no matter how she framed the question, the answer was always the same.

[Restricted Data]

And so, she had no choice but to stop asking. The system would not budge.

She exhaled slowly, trying to gather her thoughts as she stepped into the open square outside the canteen. The afternoon sun was still shining. Children still played near the fence line. A group of ladies were casually chatting at the edge of the convenience store.

They didn’t know yet.

They had no idea that in just seven days, their base would face its first major crisis since its founding.

Liora walked in silence toward the far edge of the base, where the sturdy outer walls met the untouched wilderness. This part of the settlement was always quiet—too far from the bustling canteen, too exposed for comfort. There were no guards stationed here yet, no curious children running around, no sounds of chatter or footsteps. Just the wind brushing against steel and the faint hum of the solar panels overhead.

She came to a stop a few paces from the towering wall, her boots crunching softly against the dry gravel beneath her. The air was still. Heavy. As if the land itself was waiting.

Liora stood still at a distance form the wall, her sharp gaze sweeping across the horizon.

With a quiet exhale, she raised her hand and whispered the command mentally. Instantly, shadows curled at her feet—twisting, swirling, responding to her call. In the blink of an eye, they detached from her and darted out like silent phantoms, each one streaking away across the barren plains, into the trees, and beyond.

She waited for their answers.

Minutes passed. Then, one by one, the shadows returned. Their memories and visuals flooded into her mind, showing quiet forests, calm rivers, and abandoned zones untouched by chaos. Not a single trace of beast gathering. No tremors. No signs of migration. Nothing that could logically explain a beast tide. It was as if the storm was coming without clouds.

Her brows furrowed deeper. "How? There’s nothing..."

But before her thoughts could spiral further, another crisp chime echoed in her mind. A fresh line of text appeared in glowing gold, layered over the previous mission panel.

[Reminder: Host should begin preparation for the upcoming Beast Tide.]

[The Beast Tide is a natural trial event to strengthen your base. Host is advised not to interfere or attempt to prevent it.]

[Warning: Any forceful prevention may result in major backlash against Dawn Base.]

Liora’s eyes widened. Rage flickered in her chest.

So that’s why.

Now she understood why the system kept dodging her questions, why everything was "restricted." It didn’t want her to stop the tide. It wanted her to face it head-on. Her lips curled in disbelief.

"...You could’ve just said that from the beginning," she muttered, a bitter laugh escaping her. "Instead of acting like some mysterious god handing out riddles."

The system, of course, remained silent.

She snorted coldly. Fine. If that’s how it was, then so be it.

In some twisted way, the system wasn’t wrong. People grew complacent in peace. Ever since Dawn Base had stabilized, she’d started noticing it too—residents relaxing, routines softening, fewer training sessions, more idle chatter. Safety breeds softness.

She had no intention of letting this place become a sanctuary of laziness. And she definitely wasn’t going to be their hero forever. If they wanted to survive this world, they had to learn to stand up, not just look up to her.

Liora’s eyes turned sharp again.

"Alright, beast tide," she said under her breath. "Come, then. Let’s see who really survives this."