Wilds Valley.
Though called a valley, it was not actually a mountain valley, but a vast, boundless expanse resembling a desert or the Gobi.
Dust swirled here year-round, filling the air with haze. The terrain consisted mainly of immense stretches of Gobi wasteland, with loose, soft soil...
The Earth Element spiritual energy in this region was far denser than any other kind, making it a paradise for earth-type demon beasts to live and cultivate.
In one canyon, the dust and haze were thinner, and pits and hollows dotted the ground.
A creature larger than a water buffalo was gnawing on an enormous thigh belonging to some unknown demon beast or wild animal. Thick, grayish-yellow scales covered its entire body like heavy armor, even encasing its head, which bore several horny spikes. It looked like a giant lizard clad in armor...
Suddenly.
Roar!
The demon beast's eyes abruptly shifted. With a roar, it leaped up, about to burrow into the earth...
Just then.
Hum!
A mass of azure runes twisted through the ground in an instant, rushing toward the demon beast from every direction...
Vines as thick as an arm burst from the earth, forming arching bridges that surrounded the demon beast on all sides. Like a cage, like a giant hand, they closed down over it.
The demon beast roared, tucked in its limbs, and curled up. Its heavy armor automatically contracted, and the spikes on its body instantly turned to stone.
Then it began spinning violently, its curled body resembling a rolling boulder covered in spikes as it slammed into the encroaching vines.
Clang!!! Clang!!
The demon beast's round, spike-covered body crashed against the vines with ear-splitting bangs, sending stone chips flying...
The vines were astonishingly tough. Instead of breaking through, the demon beast's spikes struck them only to