The lingering western sun had not yet faded when stars already hung from the gray-blue eastern sky.
In the gap where light and darkness tore at each other, Garos soared through the sky with crimson flames covering his wings. After circling briefly, he dove toward the foot of a barren mountain.
The ground was riddled with pits of varying depths.
The mountainside was covered in collapsed and shattered marks.
Cracks like spiderwebs and lightning densely crisscrossed one another, leaving almost no spot untouched.
This was Garos's newly chosen Training Ground for this period.
Its location was relatively remote, and the surrounding area was nothing but barren mountains and wasteland, lacking all manner of resources. Thus, no powerful creatures roamed here.
As for the place he had often visited before, where he had encountered the Copper Dragon, Garos had abandoned it just in case—for example, if the aggrieved Copper Dragon returned with her parents to seek revenge.
He folded his wings, and the flames dispersed as the runes on his Wing Ring dimmed.
Having guzzled Black Oil, Garos shook his head, feeling as though he had inexhaustible strength coursing through his body. He took a deep breath, exhaled frigid air through the Silver Frost Ring to freeze and harden the mountain, then slammed into it with his body as usual.
It had been more than a week since the Earth Spiders first brought back Oil Soil.
During that time, since tunnels had already been dug underground, the Earth Spiders traveled back and forth faster than before. From time to time, they returned with Oil Soil, which Samantha refined through Alchemy into Black Oil that made Garos feel exhilarated and invigorated when he drank it. Though the quantity was scarce and limited, it still greatly improved Garos's training efficiency.
This one week was comparable to the previous month.
Combined with his earlier accumulation, his efforts had been rewarded.
He felt that he was about to evolve. Aside from the tingling sensation inside and outside his body, it was as if a ball of flame burned within him. The most obvious change was that the edges of his originally gray-black Buffer Scales had begun to show a gradient-like branding-iron red. They were not sharp, but they carried intense heat and had become very easy to shatter.
It seems the energy of the Black Oil stimulated these Buffer Scales to evolve in some unknown direction.
They can still cushion recoil, but they have become more brittle and easier to burst apart.
I wonder whether this next evolution will be good or bad.
Garos silently mused.
He had no way to precisely control the direction of his evolution. However, he had not experienced any negative evolution so far. Feeling his gradually weakening Buffer Scales, Garos was not too worried. Once the evolution was complete after some time, he would know their exact effects.
The Red Iron Dragonet slammed into the ice-covered mountainside, producing a dull boom like thunder.
Some of the outermost Buffer Scales on his body burst and shattered, their spinning fragments scraping across the solid ice and leaving deep gouges.
The icy air radiating from the frozen mountain fell upon Garos and was swiftly evaporated by his high-temperature scales.
Amid hissing sounds like fire and water clashing, cold and heat crushing against each other, a cloud-like mist formed around him, enveloping the Red Iron Dragonet until only glimpses of scales and claws could be seen through it.
Whenever he had collided with the frozen mountainside before, Garos would always feel severe discomfort whenever ice chips or cold air touched his body—a freezing, needle-like pain.
But with his training over this period.
The freezing pain still remained, yet its effect had weakened somewhat.
He estimated that his resistance to ice had improved to some extent.
As the last traces of sunset gradually fell away, the sky was completely covered by night. While the Black Oil's energy had not yet run out, Garos continued training with his head down. Dull collisions rose and fell without end, echoing through the darkness.
Meanwhile.
In the Wilderness roughly ten kilometers from the Iron Fir Hills, five adventurers advanced deeper into the wasteland over the cracked ground of several nameless low hills.
Beneath the bright glow of the twin moons, time slowly passed.
Not long afterward, when the adventuring party crossed the final rocky ridge, they all noticed a relatively tall hill covered in dense Iron Firs.
"The water in our storage rings is almost gone."
"Vegetation can grow so lushly on the hill ahead. There should be a water source there."
The Blonde Warrior licked his somewhat dry lips and spoke.
Exploring the Wilderness was no easy task. Over this period, the group had encountered no fewer than ten battles, large and small. Fortunately, they had not encountered overly powerful beasts or monsters. Aside from a few scratches, claw marks, and the dust of travel, they had suffered no life-threatening injuries.
"Wait."
The Spellcaster suddenly spoke, then pulled a white crystal from his robes. It was growing hot and glowing red.
In an uncertain tone tinged with fear and greed, he said, "There seems... there seems to be a Dragonkin aura in the hills ahead."
At those words.
The other members of the adventuring party all narrowed their eyes.
"Havyn, are you sure?"
The Blonde Warrior lowered his voice and asked.
"This crystal of mine has magic that senses Dragonkin auras. It is a magical item. When it approaches a place with lingering Dragonkin aura, it emits a corresponding warning light."
The Spellcaster, Havyn, said, "Red light means it is a fire dragon."
Thinking of the Dragonkin's power and reputation, the white-robed priest said softly, "Then let's go around these hills. It would be terrible if we ran into a powerful dragon."
The Spellcaster pondered for a moment. "Judging from the intensity of the crystal's flashes, the Dragonkin living here should not be too powerful."
He did not conceal his desire and greed. "If it is a Hatchling Dragon or a weaker Adolescent Dragon, we have a chance to kill it—or even capture it alive."
"Should we go around, or go investigate? What do you think?"
The Rogue played with her dagger and said:
"You should all have heard that an Iron Dragonet was presented to the little princess of the Lothern Federation not long ago. The reward was enough for an ordinary person to spend over ten lifetimes."
This matter had spread widely throughout the outside world.
The Necromancer gave a low laugh. "That Iron Dragonet was captured from the Ser Wilderness. There are many Evil Dragons living in this Wilderness, which means there are quite a few Hatchling Dragons surviving on their own. I really want to capture one and turn it into a flesh-and-blood puppet. I would hold it every day when I slept and arm and strengthen it with the finest materials."
Every dragon represented an immense fortune.
After some discussion, the group could not resist the temptation of "wealth." They decided to approach cautiously and investigate the Iron Fir Hills. If they confirmed that the target was not too powerful, they would attempt a surprise attack and capture it.
If the target was absent, that would be even better. They could set some traps in advance.
Under the cover of night, they slowly approached the Iron Fir Hills.
Once they reached a certain distance, they stopped. The Rogue took out an Alchemy item resembling a telescope and used it to gaze toward the Iron Fir Hills, observing them carefully.
More than ten minutes later.
The Rogue suddenly shuddered, and her breathing became much heavier.
In her field of view, the figure of a red Hatchling Dragon was reflected clearly. It had its rear in the air, scratching at the ground with its claws for some unknown reason. Its scales were as vivid as flames in the darkness, like glittering gemstones.
"Misair, what did you see?"
Noticing her strange reaction, the Blonde Warrior urged her to answer.
The Rogue strapped the Alchemy item to her waist and could not help but smile, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "I saw a fortune beyond measure."
The Alchemy relic from the rumored abandoned mine?
As long as they caught this Red Dragonet, they could forget about that. This trip into the Wilderness would still make them rich beyond their wildest dreams.
Before you continue