The Serel Wilderness is located on the border of the Atlan continent, bordered by the [Permafrost Tundra] to the north and the [Losern Federation] to the south, while being surrounded by the [Rust Mountains] and the [Boiling Sea] to the east and west respectively.
Dense forests, towering mountains, and crystal-clear lakes.
All of these can be seen in the Serel Wilderness.
However.
In the Serel Wilderness, where temperatures remain scorching year-round, the most common sights are various sulfur canyons, hills, and abandoned mines. The underground holds rich veins of magical metal Ores, which once drove various nations to fight fiercely over the division of mineral resources here.
Roughly eight hundred years ago.
The Southern Kingdoms fought incessantly over the Serel Wilderness, leading to widespread suffering and frequent natural disasters. Many intelligent races struggled to survive, and cries of grief echoed throughout the land.
Until a human king appeared who was simultaneously proficient in strategy, magic, and governance.
He led his legions to sweep through the Southern Kingdoms, forcing them to sign a peace treaty. With his own kingdom, [Losern], at the head, he formed a [Federation]. Although the Losern Federation was not as powerful as an Empire, it was far stronger than an average kingdom.
It was only then that the struggle for the Serel Wilderness finally ceased.
Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Losern, the Southern Kingdoms divided the Serel Wilderness through negotiation and communication. After several hundred years of extraction and excavation, the mineral resources of the Serel Wilderness are no longer as abundant as before. Many veins have been emptied, and its importance in the eyes of the nations has greatly diminished.
However.
Even now, there are still some unexhausted mineral veins in the Serel Wilderness. These places often have outposts and bases belonging to various nations, complete with stationed armies.
"I can't go near the Losern Federation's outposts."
"If I go there, I'll just be delivering myself as magic Materials. I'd be dismantled and fashioned into various magic items, or enslaved and imprisoned, living an inhumane life."
Amidst the drifting winds and floating clouds above the wilderness, Garros looked up and gazed toward the west—in that direction lay a Losern Federation outpost, occupying a large [Fire Core Stone Mine].
For a long time, the Iron Dragon Mother had been coveting the Fire Core Stone Mine, constantly thinking about it.
Iron Dragons are not pure fire-type dragons, but their attributes are related to fire. If there were a large amount of Fire Core Stones for an Iron Dragon to consume, it could greatly increase their growth speed.
But even for an adult dragon like the Iron Dragon Mother.
She could only watch longingly, not daring to act rashly.
There are many Legendary powerhouses within the Losern Federation. Any one of them could easily skin the Iron Dragon Mother alive.
Legendary—this is a level of life above Rank 20, a leap and sublimation. Rank 20 is the watershed between mortals and Legends.
If Dragonkin do not die young, they are destined to become Legends; it is only a matter of sooner or later.
As for humans, Legendary powerhouses are one in ten thousand. Only exceptionally gifted humans can become Legends. However, because of the massive human population, the number of Legends is not small.
On the planet of Bernardo, the race with the highest number of Legends is humans.
The number of Legends among Dragons, Giants, and Elves is fewer than that of humans. However, at the same Rank, if a human Legend were to fight one-on-one against a Legend of those races, it would be no different from suicide.
"Fire Core Stone Mines... there are still many such veins in the Serel Wilderness."
Garros thought to himself.
The Ore in the Iron Dragon Mother's Sinkhole Territory was scattered and far from being considered a vein; moreover, it contained many Impurities and was not pure.
But even so.
When Garros consumed various types of Ore, he could still clearly feel that they contained rich energy, which had a great promotional effect on the growth and development of his scales, claws, and bones.
"Unfortunately, all known veins, regardless of size, already have owners."
"Even the Iron Dragon Mother couldn't occupy a vein. For now, I can only think about it. I should focus on the present and practice my actual combat skills first."
With the Sinkhole Territory as the center, Garros circled the surrounding sky, searching for a target.
Time passed slowly. The sun tilted slightly to the west, but it was still bright and dazzling, pouring down scorching heat that swept across the entire Serel Wilderness.
Everywhere were deep pits and subsidences—the site of abandoned mines.
Three Gray Hyenas paced slowly along the edge, their limbs moving in a staggered gait, ears pricked high, and eyes scanning the surroundings warily.
After finding no other creatures nearby, the Gray Hyenas lowered their heads to lick the salt crystals seeping from the rock crevices.
These beasts, covered in heat-resistant spines, were taking in the salt necessary for their bodies.
But what they didn't know.
Was that a cruel and cunning predator had its eyes on them.
The Rock-Crushing Worm—a type of creature that likes to inhabit abandoned mines and usually feeds on slag and metal.
It resembled a worm covered in a layer of black chitinous shell, nearly twenty meters long and as thick as a barrel. The rows of spiral sharp teeth inside its mouth could easily crush Ore into powder like a stone crusher, and tearing through flesh was even easier.
The patterns on its shell Fusion perfectly with the surrounding rock fissures.
The Rock-Crushing Worm's shell rubbed against the rock walls, sending vibrations through the rock layers. Sensing movement within a one-kilometer radius, it discovered the presence of the Gray Hyenas.
It traveled underground, slowly approaching its target.
Dirt and rock were torn apart before it like tofu, and the ground above bulged slightly, forming a long trail.
A minute later.
The Gray Hyenas had finished licking and were preparing to leave.
The strongest Gray Hyena suddenly turned its head, noticing the bulging trail of earth rapidly approaching, instinctively sensing danger.
Awooo!
It let out a howl to warn its companions and leaped to the side.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
The Rock-Crushing Worm's tail suddenly exerted force, and the rock layers and surface shattered like crackers.
The massive insect body burst from the earth, its shadow blanketing the surface rocks as it lunged and bit like a flash of lightning.
Vroom!
The crusher-like mouth clamped onto two Gray Hyenas. The spiral sharp teeth inside began to spin, almost instantly grinding the hyenas' fur and bones to pulp, swallowing them into its belly along with a mist of blood.
The other strongest Gray Hyena whimpered and fled without a moment's hesitation.
The Rock-Crushing Worm reared up half its body, and an acid net sprayed from its mouth in an umbrella shape, landing on the fleeing Gray Hyena. In an instant, it dissolved through its fur and flesh with a sizzling sound.
Crawling unhurriedly to the Gray Hyena, the Rock-Crushing Worm swallowed it into its abyss-like mouth.
Having eaten three Gray Hyenas in a row.
The Rock-Crushing Worm did not burrow back underground. Instead, it wriggled onto a flat rock and lazily basked in the sun.
These creatures primarily live underground.
But they occasionally need to come to the surface to let the sunlight stimulate their shells, shedding damaged parts and growing new, harder chitin.
Under the sunlight, the Rock-Crushing Worm lazily rolled over.
Unfortunately, what it didn't know.
Was that an even more cruel and cunning predator had its eyes on it.