Land ?of Oblivion, City C Ruin

  "Whoosh—"

  The gale, laden with grit, lashed against the remnants of the city with unrelenting fury, as if venting an endless rage.

  The long-neglected buildings, eroded by wind and sand, had nearly merged with the desert.

  Only the steadfast steel and concrete skeletons remained, silently recounting the city's former glory.

  ...

  Thirst, really thirsty!

  His mouth and throat felt as if scorched by flames, devoid of any moisture. Each breath was like needles twisting in his throat, each swallow akin to gulping down splintered wood. The barbed pain tore at his throat, drawing blood, filling his mouth with the metallic tang of rust.

  Yet, the boy remained motionless, hidden in the shadows, perfectly blending into his surroundings.

  Like a stone sculpture, akin to Michelangelo's "David," his silence harbored a latent power ready to erupt.

  Dodolon, a junior mage.

  The wind and sand mercilessly battered his face, but he didn't even blink, his gaze locked onto the massive figure a dozen meters away.

  "Grgrgr..."

  A grating sound echoed from ahead, like stone grinding against steel, chaotic and unsettling.

  That was his target—a Tuskrat, a mid-level magical beast.

  The Tuskrat was nearly 5 meters long, its yellowish-brown fur blending seamlessly with the surrounding sand. Its massive body quivered slightly, its fur glistening with an oily sheen under the sunlight.

  At that moment, it was gnawing on steel and concrete with its sharp teeth, sparks occasionally flying from its mouth—a chilling sight.

  In truth, Tuskrats were not typically dangerous creatures.

  Though they possessed powerful hind legs and razor-sharp teeth, they mostly lurked in the desert, emerging only at night to forage.

  However, this Tuskrat was an exception—its belly hung low, pulsating, clearly in the late stages of pregnancy.

  Only during this phase would Tuskrats venture out during the day to feed on steel, as the sun-baked metal significantly enhanced the absorption of metallic elements, strengthening their offspring.

  This Tuskrat was also exceptionally ferocious. In the two hours Dodolon had been lying in wait, two junior mages had already fallen to its sharp teeth, leaving behind only shreds of clothing as evidence of their existence.

  Any creature that approached it would provoke its violent attack desire.

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  Dodolon had witnessed the entire ordeal of the two mages, even hearing the grinding of bones and their agonized screams. Yet, he remained still, his gaze cold and resolute.

  In this land, the law of the jungle was the only rule. Any warmth or kindness was seen as weakness, and every living being struggled for survival and strength.

  "Grgrgr..."

  Finally, the Tuskrat finished gnawing on the last piece of steel, let out a satisfied belch, and slumped to the ground.

  Its round, bloated body and pulsating belly resembled a giant caterpillar.

  Normally, it would hide beneath the desert sands, but for the sake of feeding, it had to expose itself above ground.

  In the shadows, Dodolon slowed his breathing, merging with the darkness.

  He watched his prey intently, waiting for the perfect moment. A well-fed Tuskrat would return to its nest along the same path, and that would be his opportunity.

  For this moment, he had waited an entire day. In his hand, he gripped a sharpened iron rod, taut like a drawn bowstring, ready to strike.

  "Grgrgr..."

  The Tuskrat finally began to move, sluggishly crawling back toward its nest, its belly undulating with each motion like a maggot.

  Dodolon's breathing quickened slightly, his right hand tightening around the iron rod, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

  3 meters...

  2 meters...

  1 meter...

  Now!

  When the distance was less than half a meter, Dodolon burst forward, the power he had stored all day exploding in an instant.

  His body moved like a cheetah, or a supersonic missile, with unparalleled speed and force, straight toward his target.

  "Thud!"

  The iron rod pierced precisely into the Tuskrat's hind leg, the sound of flesh tearing mingling with the grinding of bone.

  "Screech—!"

  The Tuskrat let out a piercing shriek, the intense pain driving it to instinctively flee.

  However, its movement only caused the iron rod to twist inside its body, further tearing the flesh and breaking the thigh bone.

  The Tuskrat was completely immobilized, bleeding profusely.

  "Junior Fireball!"

  After landing his strike, Dodolon quickly retreated, then turned and launched a fireball to finish the job.

  "Boom!"

  A fireball the size of a soccer ball struck the Tuskrat's wound, the explosion of flames instantly charring the once-red flesh, filling the air with the scent of burning.

  Though the Tuskrat's fur had strong fire resistance, its flesh could not withstand the high temperatures.

  The 300-degree flames seared the wound, and the Tuskrat let out a heart-wrenching howl, thrashing in agony.

  "Squeak squeak~"

  With a few final weak whimpers, the poor Tuskrat, after enduring a series of combos, gradually lost its breath and finally fell still.

  Mid-level magical beast—Tuskrat, slain!

  Though the battle was over, the prolonged stealth and intense combat had pushed Dodolon's body to its limits.

  Gasping for breath, he barely managed to stay upright, quickly pulling out a small knife to begin dissecting the Tuskrat.

  Dodolon's movements were swift and precise, the blade cleanly slicing through the fur, layer by layer.

  Soon, he found his primary target—the core. The core emitted a faint glow, brimming with powerful energy, the ultimate goal of his mission.

  In addition, he extracted the element-rich skull and the milky-white brain tumor from the Tuskrat's head.

  This was a special tissue unique to pregnant Tuskrats, containing rich essence, an extremely valuable resource.

  "Thud," the knife plunged into the brain tumor, instantly releasing a thick, white fluid. Dodolon didn't hesitate, diving in to gulp it down.

  The milky brain fluid was like an oasis in the desert, quickly replenishing his parched body with much-needed energy.

  "Thud," another stab, and more white fluid gushed out. Dodolon paid no mind, eagerly swallowing it. The milky brain fluid was like a life-giving spring in the barren desert.

  "Whew—" After collecting his spoils, Dodolon let out a long breath and quickly left the scene.

  In this barren land, every resource was worth risking one's life for.

  Dodolon knew all too well that a moment's carelessness could turn the hunter into the hunted.

  ...

  Mosa City.