The territory Austin chose was somewhat remote, with scarce magic resources, but beyond a distance of ten miles, the environment slowly began to change, the terrain varied, and the activity tracks of various magic beasts and giant beasts started to increase frequently.
With the Dragon Nest Tribe at its center, a vast plain lay to the east, rich in water resources. Most of the beastman tribes broken through by the Dragon Nest Legion during this time were gathered there. As for what lay further east, Austin was unsure.
To the south were endless hills, but it's said that the farther south one goes, closer to the continent and ocean's junction, the harsher the weather becomes.
The terrain to the west was rugged, with mountains and forests interspersed with basins and peaks, creating treacherous grounds. Whether crossing those mountain ranges would lead to plains, Austin did not know, as he hadn't ventured far, it being safer to stay at the old nest before growing up.
Yet, with the beast migration, sensing the unknown threat from the west, Austin dispatched elite beastmen to explore and gather information, hoping the exploration team would soon return with clear intel on the terrain farther west and perhaps bring back news of the mutation's source.
As for the north, it was said that moving continuously northward, the climate gradually became temperate, closer to the temperate climate familiar to Austin from his previous life, eventually reaching the Bloody Border, the battleground of beastmen and humans on the thousand-year battlefront line.
In this ever-changing environment, the farther out, as the region expands, dangerous zones with varying environments naturally appear.
"Danger zones, huh? This might be an opportunity!"
Danger signifies opportunity as well.
Previously, the Spider Cave that Rodney discovered was also such a dangerous area, and after Austin led a team to clear out the spiders within, he obtained an entire vein of magic stones.
Now the essence of the magic stone vein, the most valuable magic crystals, had been extracted and consumed by Austin for his growth, leaving only ordinary magic stones, which could be used for extraordinary transformations for the beastmen, but for Austin, who was now at the quasi-gold level, they were useless.
Quasi-gold wasn't truly gold; it's more than a typical silver peak, yet still below gold.
To break through the bottleneck before reaching the gold level, one could either devour higher-level magic resources or rely on decades for a natural breakthrough with a giant dragon's innate growth power.
The latter, taking decades to improve, was clearly unacceptable to Austin, who sought rapid advancement by relying on a dragon's superior digestion capacity, massively consuming abundant magic resources.
"Dangerous places also represent tremendous benefits. If I could find several veins like the Spider Cave vein, I'd be confident to become a gold-level dragon by next year."
Once reaching the gold level, Austin's prowess would be considered a high-level force globally, greatly enhancing his security.
"Vini, mark out the locations of those danger zones, prepare accordingly. I'll act together with you and see if we can clear out one of these dangerous areas."
The thought was promptly followed by action, with an indescribable unease lingering in his mind as the exploration team didn't return, so Austin prepared to face a formidable enemy regardless.
If they cleared those danger zones and devoured the magic resources inside to become a gold-level giant dragon, it would be ideal.
Fortunately, as time passed, two months had gone by since the cold winter season. The Dragon Nest Tribe's affairs had nearly been settled, the beastmen captives mostly trained, the previous spoils fully absorbed by the Dragon Nest Tribe, the Beastman Legion fully armored, and morale high, excited to embark on a campaign with the great Austin, with each soldier feeling a fervent worship.
Two years ago, Austin began by gathering a ragtag team of wandering kobolds, settling here and gradually developing from a dilapidated small tribe and a young dragon weaker than a wolf—no one could have imagined this combination evolving into its present form.
For all this creation and the safekeeping, the shelter from hunger and cold, safe warm homes, and the happy life of having enough food each day, all were given by the great Austin.
To go on a campaign with the great Highness Austin, and to contribute their power for their revered leader was considered a very noble honor by all beastman soldiers.
Yet as Austin was about to gather his army to sweep through those nearby danger zones, several members of the beastman exploration team returned, bringing Austin chilling news.
Over two hundred miles away in the mountains, a giant shadow landed on the mountaintop in the midst of welcoming beastman troops, glaring at the dreadful world beneath the mountains, its pupils contracting sharply.
"Hiss, is this an Otherworld version of a biological crisis?!"
Previously, due to unfamiliar routes and avoiding various dangers, the Dragon Nest Beastman reconnaissance team took nearly half a month to arrive at the mountains and discovered a terrifying and eerie world beyond them.
Austin, having quickly grown with fast flight speed, wasted no time upon learning this news, locating Rodney and the Dragon Nest Beastman exploration team in over half a day.
Upon discovering the mutation of the world across, the exploration team dispatched several powerful extraordinary beastmen as an elite squad to report back, while most stayed at the cliff, gathering data and organizing to prevent the monster corpses crossing the mountains to invade the eastern plains.
After locating Rodney and others, Austin also witnessed the land being consumed by death and the terrifying scene of a corpse tide like the sea.
"What is happening? Has a zombie virus invaded?" Follow current novels on ɴovᴇl(F)ɪre.ɴet
Frowning at the land being tainted by that strange green force, anxiety lingered.
No wonder an unease always resided within, catching sight of such a menace that manipulates not only beastman corpses but even animals turning them into puppets; how many creatures have been infected in the vast western plains? Austin didn't know, but understood it must be astronomical.
"Have you collected any information on those things during this time?"
Austin asked Rodney and others while their solemn report obliterated the last bit of hope within Austin....