Part I

Crystalline Lizard

"In old legends, Crystalline Lizards were thought to be soldiers of Mine Mama."

Crystalline Lizard is a cold-blooded reptile found in the underground mines. As it matures into adulthood, their leathery scales will produce Krystalloid, which will vary in color depending on the region, temperature, and health of the lizard. Experts have pointed out that Crystalline Lizards expel Geomarrow and other minerals from their salt glands through the osmotic pressure in the body. The Krystalloid is a byproduct of regulating the osmotic balance of body fluids.

The randomness of the Krystalloid color has sparked a wave of collectors, who are willing to pay exorbitant prices for wild Crystalline Lizards with a rare color. This has caused an ecological imbalance in the mines. In the past, many pest outbreaks have been tied to the decline in the Crystalline Lizard population. In response, Belobog has prohibited the hunting of wild Crystalline Lizards.

The alkaloids in the body fluid of the Crystalline Lizard are often used in pharmaceutics. This body fluid is dissolved in water and made into a spray. When the spray is applied to a patient, the droplets reach the pulmonary alveoli via the upper respiratory tract and are shown to drive out mineral dust in the lung via the bronchi, preventing the dust from entering the interstitial lung and lymph nodes. Researchers, however, do not understand fully how this process works. Thus, it is common for Underworld doctors to breed Crystalline Lizards in captivity, but they don't have any value to the collectors.

Geomarrow Olm

"This amphibian survive solely on pure energy!"

Geomarrow Olm is an amphibian that burrows near underground water sources. With white and pink feathery scales, its highly-developed hearing and smell make up for its degraded vision. It's able to survive both on land and in the water. According to the Geomarrow Development Group, populations of Geomarrow Olm were always found near large mines, for reasons unknown. People assumed that these olms fed on Geomarrow, hence the name.

Biologists have pointed out that the Geomarrow Olms live in an environment lacking in food. This severe environment has caused them to evolve into organisms with superior metabolism and antioxidant capacity. They are capable of surviving without food for up to 10 years, due to their slow metabolism and limited movement. However, it is scientifically reasonable to assume that they could survive more than 15 years without feeding. So, experts believe that it is more likely that their feeding behaviors are hard to observe, rather than draw the conclusion that they feed on Geomarrow.

The Geomarrow Olms by nature are afraid of and reside away from the humans in darker and more moist areas. The Geomarrow Olms do not pose a threat to humans.

Funeral Worm

"When it's time to bury a corpse, these worms never pass up the opportunity for a feast."

Funeral Worms are a subspecies of coleoptera commonly found in underground caves. They range in lengths of up to 3.5 centimeters, with an average length of 1.2 centimeters. They are usually black and orange in appearance. Their flat soft bodies allow them to crawl under animal carcasses. After discovering a potential animal carcass, they gather in swarms around the body. They spend a great deal of time confirming that the animal is dead before they dig the ground beneath it to decompose it.

Funeral worms observing a dead animal is similar to attending a funeral, hence the name. Some biologists have suggested their unique habits may be related to creatures who barely move, like the Geomarrow Olm. If they misjudge prey, they might become prey themselves. Funeral worms are one of the most important parts of underground ecology, breaking down carcasses and feces of a wide range of animals. They are also commonly found in cemeteries and bat caves.