They seized the brief time when dawn still illuminated the earth, sneaking across the shallow ford of the Holy Furnace River like shadows, persistently heading northward. This place was no longer under human control, as the Beastmen clung to it like bloodsucking leeches. Fortunately, by following the great river, they would not encounter much trouble, nor worry about pollution left by the Beastmen. As long as the river's water continued its unstoppable surge, the Beastmen couldn't contaminate it and thus would not approach.