"Croak!"
After Roland and Rowena left, Russell remained at Cigar Courtyard, diligently training and mainly working on his coordination with Harpy Dragon Harpe.
Ever since Harpe had opened her heart, the speed of their mental cultivation had soared.
Especially since Harpe's intelligence was no inferior to a human's, communication and coordination between them had proceeded with an effortless, exhilarating smoothness.
However.
Through their mental link, Russell could still sense a feeling of urgency within Harpe, especially whenever Unicorn Polly appeared nearby. That urgency became even more apparent.
It was not that Harpe envied Polly's current pseudo-dragon status. Rather, she yearned for it—she desperately wanted to become a pseudo-dragon.
"Don't rush, Harpe. Haste makes waste." After finishing his cultivation, Russell habitually had a heart-to-heart talk with Harpe. "Becoming a pseudo-dragon requires an opportunity. To seize that opportunity, you need to keep a calm mind. The more impatient you are, the less likely it is to come."
"I know, Russell," Harpe replied mentally. "But my strength seems far too insignificant within your Second Turn Essence Breath. I long to grow stronger!"
Russell's Second Turn Essence Breath had nearly become Polly's pseudo-dragon essence breath. Compared with a pseudo-dragon's power, Harpe's strength truly seemed insignificant. In every battle, whether Harpe's power was present or not made little difference.
"This is only temporary, Harpe." Russell comforted her. "Believe me, Polly, Rosai, and I still aren't strong enough—far from strong enough—to face the Snow Giants... Beyond the Shadowflame Grand Duchy, there may be another Snow Giant besides Snow Giant Da."
He said earnestly, "Facing two Snow Giants, I'm under tremendous pressure. So, Harpe, I need your strength. You are absolutely not insignificant."
"I understand, Russell."
"In short, we must calm ourselves and first cultivate our mental synchronization to perfection, then seek out that opportunity. Only then