The monster's crimson slit pupils contracted rapidly several times, adapting to the glaring sunlight overhead in mere moments.
Bang! Sand and gravel scattered as its pitch-black body burrowed out of the earth, dirt and stones cascading off it.
Its smooth, streamlined torso was over three meters long, and it stood over a meter tall even on all fours. It had the familiar exoskeleton and reverse joints, with wrinkled, pitch-black skin covering its entire body.
Aside from being several times larger and having an extra pair of translucent, cicada-like wings on its back, it bore some resemblance to the Twin Stars' bioweapon, the "Hound."
It slowly stretched its body, shaking off the dirt and stones.
Moments later, however, it seemed to sense something. It abruptly stopped moving and turned toward an open patch of ground to one side.
Boom! The next instant, a ferocious beast over five meters tall burst out of the ground, throwing up clouds of dust. It resembled a pangolin, with three long, sharp horns on its head and black scales covering its body.
It was none other than the Earthdrake, the apex predator of Ryan Star's wilderness!
The Earthdrake, out hunting for food, had clearly set its sights on this prey that was much shorter than itself. The moment it emerged, it lunged straight at its target!
Rumble! The earth trembled under the immense weight of the Earthdrake, which weighed well over ten tons.
The crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
Its "prey" remained motionless, as though the Earthdrake had frightened it senseless.
Just as the Earthdrake closed to within five meters, about to impale its prey on the three long horns atop its head, it suddenly saw a long, dark blur lash out from its opponent's tail. Cold steel flashed.
Shhk! The blade pierced flesh and withdrew in