The Sel Wilderness is located on the border of the Atlantia Continent, north of the Eternal Frost Tundra, and south adjacent to the Lothern Federation, with the Rusted Iron Mountain Range and the Boiling Sea enveloping its east and west sides, respectively.
Dense forests, towering mountains, and crystal-clear lakes.
These can all be found in the Sel Wilderness.
However.
On the perpetually hot and high-temperature Sel Wilderness, the most numerous are various sulfuric rifts, hills, and abandoned mines. Beneath this land lies a rich source of Magic Metal Ore Veins, which once provoked countries into fierce battles for control of its mineral resources.
About eight hundred years ago.
The Southern Countries waged endless wars around the Sel Wilderness, causing devastation, frequent natural disasters, and hardships for many intelligent species, with cries of distress echoing everywhere.
Until a human king appeared, proficient in strategy, magic, and state governance.
He led his legions to sweep through the Southern Countries, forcing them to sign a peace agreement, and established the Federation with his kingdom, Lothern, at its helm. Although the Lothern Federation was not as mighty as an empire, it was far superior to a typical kingdom.
Thus, the battle for the Sel Wilderness finally ceased.
Under the leadership of the Lotheren Kingdom, the Southern Countries divided and partitioned the Sel Wilderness through negotiations, and after hundreds of years of mining and excavation, the mineral resources of the Sel Wilderness have now greatly diminished compared to before, with many veins being hollowed out, lowering its significance in the eyes of various nations.
However.
Even now, there remain some unexplored ore veins in the Sel Wilderness, often with outposts and bases from various nations stationed there, along with garrisoned troops.
"Don't get close to the Lothern Federation's base."
"If I go, I'll become magic materials for them; soon after, I'll be disassembled into various magic items or enslaved and imprisoned, living a life of brutal hardship."
Among the drifting winds and floating clouds above the wilderness, Galos raised his head to look westward—this direction holds a Lothern Federation outpost occupying a large Fire Marrow Stone Ore.
The Iron Dragon Lady always coveted the Fire Marrow Stone Ore, longing for it constantly.
Although the Iron Dragons aren't purely Fire Dragons, their attributes are somewhat related to fire, and having a large amount of Fire Marrow Stone to consume would greatly accelerate their growth.
But even as an adult Giant Dragon like the Iron Dragon Lady.
She can only covet and dare not act rashly.
The Lothern Federation has many Legendary Powerhouses, any one of whom could strip the Iron Dragon Lady of her scales.
Legendary—this is a life tier above level 20, a leap and exaltation; level 20 is the watershed between mortal and legendary.
If Dragons do not perish prematurely, they are destined to become legendary, the issue being merely sooner or later.
As for humans, legendary powerhouses are one in ten thousand, only uniquely gifted humans can become legendary, yet due to humans being so numerous, there are quite a few legendaries.
On the planet of Bernardo, the race with the most legendary figures is humans.
Dragons, Giants, Elves, these races have fewer legendaries than humans, but in the same rank, a human legendary fighting one of these races' legendaries solo is akin to suicide.
"Fire Marrow Stone Ore........ there are still many such veins in the Sel Wilderness."
Galos thought.
The iron ore in the Iron Dragon Lady's Celestial Pit Territory is scattered, far from the scale of an ore vein, and with many impurities, the ore is impure.
But even so.
When Galos feeds on various minerals, he can still distinctly feel the abundant energy they contain, promoting growth and development of scales, claws, and bones.
"Unfortunately, all known ore veins have owners, regardless of their size."
"Even the Iron Dragon Lady didn't manage to occupy an ore vein; now, I can only daydream, better focus on what's at hand, first practice my combat skills."
Centered around the Celestial Pit Territory, Galos hovered in the surrounding skies, searching for a target.
Time slowly passed, the sun slightly tilted westward but remained bright and dazzling, casting scorching high temperatures over the entire Sel Wilderness.
Everywhere are deep pits and collapses, at the sites of already abandoned mines.
Three Gray Hyenas tread cautiously at the edges, crossing their limbs forward, ears perked high, watching the surroundings warily.
Upon finding no other creatures nearby, the Gray Hyenas lowered their heads to lick the salt crystals that seeped from rock crevices.
These beasts, covered with heat-resistant thorns, are consuming essential salt.
But unbeknownst to them.
A brutal and cunning predator had set its eyes on them.
Rock-Breaking Worm—a type of creature fond of residing in abandoned mines, typically feeding on dregs and metals.
It resembles a worm, covered in dark chitinous armor, about twenty meters long and the thickness of a barrel, with rows of spiral sharp teeth in its mouth can crush rocks into powder like a rock crusher, tearing flesh is even easier.
The patterns on its armor blend seamlessly with surrounding rock fissures.
The Rock-Breaking Worm's shell scrapes the rock wall, transmitting vibrations through the layers of rock, sensing any movement within a one kilometer radius, locating the Gray Hyenas.
It traveled underground, slowly approaching its target.
Soil and rocks tore like tofu in front of it, the ground above slightly rising, forming a long scar.
A minute later.
The Gray Hyenas had almost finished licking, preparing to leave.
The strongest of the Gray Hyenas suddenly turned its head, noticing the rapidly approaching, rising soil scar, instinctively sensing danger.
Awroo!
It let out a warning call to its companions and jumped to the side.
But alas, it was too late.
The Rock-Breaking Worm suddenly powered its tail, causing layers of rock and surface to shatter like a fragile biscuit.
The massive worm body burst through the soil, shadows covering the rock surface, lunging and biting like a lightning strike.
Buzz!
The rock-crusher-like mouth bit the two Gray Hyenas, spiral sharp teeth within spun, almost instantly shredding their fur and bones into pieces, sucked into the stomach with the spreading blood mist.
The other strongest Gray Hyena whimpered, escaping without hesitating.
The Rock-Breaking Worm raised half its body, spewing its acidic web from its mouth in an umbrella shape, landing on the fleeing Gray Hyena, corroding its fur and flesh with a sizzling sound.
Worming leisurely to the Gray Hyena, the Rock-Breaking Worm consumed it with its abyss-like mouth.
Devouring three Gray Hyenas in succession.
The Rock-Breaking Worm did not burrow underground again; instead, it crawled onto a smooth rock, lazily sunbathing.
This creature primarily lives underground.
But occasionally, it needs to surface, allowing sunlight to stimulate its shell, shedding damaged parts, and growing a new, harder shell.
Under the sunlight, the Rock-Breaking Worm lazily turned over.
Unfortunately, it was unaware.
A more brutal and cunning predator had set its sights on it.