Caravans passing through the Serel Wilderness primarily collect resources such as wilderness minerals, body Materials from Vicious Beasts and monsters, and medicinal Spiritual Plants, transporting them to the southern Losern Federation to sell for profit.
The scale of these caravans varies greatly.
Some are exceptionally large, so much so that even an adult Dragon wouldn't dare target them.
But there are also teams that take risks, driven by luck and a desire for sudden wealth, venturing here to trade despite having insufficient escort forces.
Small-scale caravans with inadequate protection...
Once discovered by the evil creatures rooted in the wilderness, they are like delicious dishes delivered to the door; it would be a waste not to eat them.
Every year, the number of small caravans that vanish in the Serel Wilderness is countless.
However, as long as there is sufficient profit, merchants will flock to it like a swarm; no amount of risk can stop their footsteps or curb their greed.
Thinking carefully about it...
This seems no different from the inherent flaws rooted in the Dragonkin Legacy.
"The Thousand Snake Scars lead in all directions, forming a massive road network. There is a branch line here; if I encounter a suitable small caravan, I'll have a chance to plunder it."
"If I'm going to rob a caravan, I'd better not show my face personally. Otherwise, if my whereabouts are leaked, it will attract adventurers for a crusade or even a military encirclement."
"The number of Dire Bears under my command is too small, and their intelligence is limited, making it difficult for them to execute complex orders."
"I need some truly intelligent creature subordinates."
Until one has the power as a single Dragon to topple the entire world, subordinates are still necessary.
Or rather, all Evil Dragons need subordinates.
Evil Dragons are not Metallic Dragons; when facing threats and challenges, Metallic Dragons can call upon friends and summon Dragonkin allies for aid. Evil Dragons often act alone, and without a legion of subordinates, they are easily hunted down and killed.
"I am not an Evil Dragon, yet prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain. They always treat me as an Evil Dragon the moment we meet, shouting for my death. Since that's the case, I also need to make some preparations and increase my foundation."
Garros calculated in his heart.
After observing the Grey-mane Werewolf territory for a while longer...
He did not strike rashly, but instead prepared to leave.
There were other places waiting for him to investigate, especially the branch roads of the Thousand Snake Scars; he was very interested in the passing caravans.
But at that moment...
Garros keenly noticed an older werewolf with fur that had already turned grayish-white walking out of a tent-like building located in the center of the territory.
It wore a necklace made of unknown animal bones around its neck and leaned on a polished, aged oak staff.
It was the shaman of the werewolf tribe.
After coming out, it immediately called over a dozen strong adult werewolves, who shouldered several fresh, live prey the size of cattle and horses with their limbs tied, and walked toward the dark mountain wall that faced away from the moon.
Seeing this...
Garros was in no hurry to leave, remaining hidden high in the sky, intending to see what the werewolf shaman was doing.
The shaman led the adult werewolves and quickly arrived beneath the mountain wall.
Thump! The adult werewolves were somewhat nervous and placed the prey on the ground, accidentally making a dull sound that drew a displeased look from the shaman.
But the shaman also understood the fear of the adult werewolves.
It waved its claws, dismissing the adult werewolves, then took a deep breath to face the terrifying neighbor living on the side of the valley wall alone.
Taking out a bone whistle...
The shaman blew it with full breath, letting out a distant and loud sound.
Crack, crack, crack. A slight tremor came from the mountain wall, and gravel fell like fine rain.
Immediately following that...
A massive, serpentine monster over ten meters long crawled out from a dark cave away from the light.
This was a massive giant snake, its body covered in a layer of green scales, its eyes blood-red, its tail split into three prongs, and it had a pair of sharp claws on the front of its body.
It meandered down the steep cliff face.
Its only pair of claws dug into the rock, and the hard stone broke like tofu.
In the blink of an eye, it arrived before the old werewolf shaman, opened its bloody maw, bit into one of the fresh live animals the adult werewolves had just brought, and began to feed.
It did not rush to kill the prey directly; instead, a look of pleasure appeared in its eyes as it enjoyed the prey's wails and struggles, tearing away the skin, flesh, and bones bit by bit, shredding and eating it piece by piece.
The entire process was bloody and cruel.
Even the naturally bloodthirsty werewolves couldn't help but tremble, not daring to look toward it; the young wolf cubs buried their heads directly in their parents' fur, shivering like quails.
The entire Grey-mane Werewolf tribe seemed to dread this Vicious Beast.
After finishing its meal in a manner that was almost like torture and abuse...
The Vicious Beast ignored the old werewolf in front of it and turned to return.
It did not crawl along the mountain wall; its wingless body directly meandered through the air, flying back to the mountain wall cave.
"Cliff Snake Dragon?!"
Looking at this Vicious Beast, Garros's heart skipped a beat.
Almost the moment he saw it, a large amount of warning information surged from his Legacy.
This Vicious Beast was called a Cliff Snake Dragon.
Cliff Snake Dragon, Sky Pool Snake Dragon, Barrow Snake Dragon, Rock Mountain Snake Dragon, Cold Forest Snake Dragon—Snake Dragons, Lesser Dragons.
Although wingless and having only one pair of sharp claws, there was no doubt that this Cliff Snake Dragon was also a Dragonkin.
And among Dragonkin...
In terms of evil and brutality, even the notorious Chromatic Dragons had to look up to the Snake Dragon species.
Snake Dragons were a primitive and savage type of Dragonkin. Though intelligent, their way of thinking was closer to beasts than even White Dragons, and they were extremely cruel. They would use any means necessary to make their enemies suffer more pain and torture rather than simply killing them. They equally hated and loathed all life, including their own kin.
Furthermore, they would eat Dragons.
Dragonkin were also on the Snake Dragon's menu.
One could even say they were passionate about eating Dragons, preferred Dragonkin flesh, and loved to torture and slaughter their own kind; they were the ultimate Evil Dragons through and through.
It was precisely because of this...
That although Snake Dragons possessed the Bloodline and power of a Dragon, they were widely unrecognized by other Dragonkin.
More troublesome was that this thing's claws and fangs were highly poisonous, and its Soul carried a curse.
For instance, a fire-attributed Cliff Snake Dragon, if killed, would use its life to cast a curse. If one's curse resistance was insufficient to save against it, they would suffer an infinitely lasting fire resistance debuff.
"Its body length is about ten meters; it should be a juvenile or young adult Snake Dragon."
"Cliff Snake Dragons aren't high in the Snake Dragon hierarchy. Its life rank is likely similar to mine, but the Snake Dragon's curse is too troublesome. If I face it, the effort wouldn't be worth the reward."
Garros hovered high in the sky, trying his best not to attract the Cliff Snake Dragon's attention.
The Cliff Snake Dragon leisurely flew to the cave entrance, and starting from its head, its body gradually crawled inside.
But just as its tail was about to enter the cave, it suddenly stopped.
Its forked tail flicked a few times, and the Cliff Snake Dragon crawled back out of the cave, its nose constantly sniffing the air.
Because they treated Dragonkin as food, Snake Dragons were extremely sensitive to the scent of other Dragons. The Cliff Snake Dragon vaguely caught the scent of another Dragon, which made it feel hungry, its appetite surging and its spirit becoming excited.