Translator: AnubisTL
The western sun had yet to fully set, while in the east, the twilight sky was already studded with stars.
In this liminal space between light and darkness, Garos soared through the air, his wings ablaze with crimson flames. After circling once, he dove toward the foot of a desolate mountain.
The ground was pockmarked with craters of varying depths.
The mountain's surface was crisscrossed with fissures and fractures, resembling a spiderweb or jagged lightning bolts, leaving virtually no intact surface.
This desolate place had become Garos's new training ground.
Its remote location, surrounded by barren mountains and wastelands devoid of resources, meant it was rarely frequented by powerful creatures.
As for his previous training spot—the place where he had encountered the Red Copper Dragon—Garos had abandoned it as a precaution. He didn't want to risk the possibility of the Red Copper Dragon returning with its parents to seek revenge.
Garos retracted his wings, and the flames dissipated as the runes on his wing rings dimmed.
Drenched in black oil and shaking his head, Garos felt an inexhaustible surge of energy coursing through him. He took a deep breath, activated the Silverfrost Ring to freeze and harden the mountain's surface, and then, as usual, charged headfirst into the icy barrier.
More than a week had passed since the earth spiders first brought back oil-rich soil.
During this time, the earth spiders, having already excavated underground tunnels, were able to travel back and forth much faster than before. They frequently returned with oil-rich soil, which Samantha refined through alchemy into black oil—a potent, exhilarating brew that Garos drank to enhance his training efficiency. Though the supply remained scarce and limited, it significantly accelerated his progress.
This single week proved as productive as the entire previous month.
Combined with his previous accumulation, his efforts were finally bearing fruit.
He felt on the verge of evolution. Beyond the tingling numbness coursing through his body, a fiery sensation burned within him. The most noticeable change was the gradual shift in color along the edges of his originally gray-black cushion scales, now fading into a molten iron-red hue. Though not sharpened, these edges radiated intense heat and had become brittle, prone to shattering.
"It seems the black oil energy is stimulating my cushion scales to evolve in some unknown direction."
"While they still cushion against recoil, they've become more fragile and prone to exploding."
"I wonder if this next stage of evolution will be a blessing or a curse."
I can't precisely control the direction of my evolution, Garos thought to himself. But so far, there haven't been any negative evolutions. Feeling his cushion scales gradually weakening, he wasn't overly concerned. Once the evolution was complete, he would understand its specific effects.
The red iron young dragon collided with the ice-covered mountain, producing a thunderous, muffled roar.
Some of the outermost cushion scales on his body exploded and shattered, the spinning fragments carving deep grooves into the ice.
The frigid air radiating from the ice fell upon Garos, instantly vaporized by his high-temperature scale armor.
With a hissing sound like water meeting fire, cold and heat clashing, a cloud of steam-like vapor enveloped the red iron young dragon, obscuring all but glimpses of scales and claws.
Previously, whenever Garos collided with the ice mountain and his body came into contact with ice shards or cold air, he would experience severe discomfort—a piercing, needle-like cold that felt like being stabbed.
But through repeated training over time, the piercing cold remained, though its impact had diminished somewhat.
He estimated that his ice-type resistance had likely increased to some extent.
As the last rays of sunset faded, the night sky completely enveloped the world. Garos, taking advantage of the remaining black oil energy, continued his rigorous training, the dull thuds of impact echoing rhythmically through the darkness.
Meanwhile, in the Sierre Wilderness, about ten kilometers from the Hemlock Hills, five adventurers trudged across the parched, cracked earth toward the heart of the wilderness.
Under the radiant glow of the twin moons, time passed slowly.
Soon, as the adventurer party crested the final rocky ridge, they noticed the towering hills ahead, densely covered with iron fir trees.
"We're running out of water in our storage rings," the blonde warrior said, licking his dry lips.
"The lush vegetation on those hills suggests there must be a water source nearby," another adventurer replied.
Exploring the wilderness was no easy task. The group had already faced over ten minor skirmishes, but fortunately, they hadn't encountered any particularly formidable ferocious or demonic beasts. Apart from a few scratches, claw marks, and the grime of travel, they had suffered no life-threatening injuries.
"Wait," the spellcaster suddenly said, pulling a white crystal from his robe. The crystal glowed red and radiated heat.
He spoke with a hesitant, fearful yet greedy tone, "There seems to be... there seems to be dragonkind aura in the hills ahead."
At this, the other members of the adventurer party tensed.
"Havin, are you sure?" the blonde warrior asked in a low voice.
"This crystal is enchanted to detect dragonkind aura," Havin explained. "It's an alchemy item that emits a warning glow when we approach areas with lingering dragonkind presence. The red light indicates a fire dragon."
Remembering the dragons' legendary power and reputation, the white-robed priest whispered, "Then let's bypass these hills. If we encounter a powerful dragon, we'll be in serious trouble."
The spellcaster pondered. "Based on the crystal's glow intensity, the dragon residing here shouldn't be too strong."
He made no attempt to conceal his desire and greed, stating, "If it's a young dragon or a weaker juvenile, we have a chance to hunt it down, or even capture it alive."
"Should we detour around or scout ahead? What are your thoughts?"
The rogue twirled her dagger, saying, "You've all heard about the young iron dragon recently gifted to the Lothurn Federation's princess. The reward for that capture would be enough to last an ordinary person ten lifetimes."
The news had spread far and wide.
The necromancer chuckled softly. "That young iron dragon was captured in the Sierre Wilderness. This wilderness is home to many evil dragons, which means there are plenty of young dragons fending for themselves. I'd love to capture one and turn it into a flesh puppet. I'd sleep with it every night and reinforce it with the finest materials."
Each dragon represented a vast fortune.
After some deliberation, the group couldn't resist the allure of wealth. They decided to cautiously approach the Hemlock Hills to scout the area. If they confirmed the target wasn't too powerful, they would attempt a surprise capture.
If their target wasn't present, all the better—they could set up traps in advance.
Under the cloak of night, the group slowly approached Hemlock Hills.
When they reached a certain distance, they halted. The rogue retrieved an alchemy item resembling a telescope and peered through it at Hemlock Hills, scrutinizing the terrain.
After more than ten minutes, the rogue suddenly stiffened, her breathing growing heavy.
In her field of vision, the silhouette of a red young dragon was clearly reflected. It was bent over, scratching at the ground with its claws, its dragon scales glowing like flames in the darkness, resembling shimmering jewels.
"Misel, what do you see?" the blonde warrior urged, noticing her unusual behavior.
Securing the alchemy item to her waist, the rogue couldn't help but grin, her white teeth flashing in the night. "I see a fortune beyond measure."
The alchemical relic from the rumored abandoned mine?
Even if they failed to capture the red young dragon, this expedition into the Sierre Wilderness would still be immensely profitable.
(End of the Chapter)