Inside Shadowflame Volcano.
As the passage doors slowly closed, Russell stood alone on the platform, the double-bent lightning mark and tornado mark on his forehead gleaming brilliantly.
"Russell, you finally came!"
A gurgling draconic utterance of magic rang out. The Shadowflame Dragon's head rose level with the platform, its eyes on both sides looking ahead at once.
It stared at Russell, examining him closely. "The power of a phantom dragon is truly interesting. Such a tiny Phantom Beast can wield such immense Power of Lightning. Why doesn't this little one called Polly come out and take a few steps?"
Russell smiled faintly. "All right!"
The next moment, the double-bent lightning mark on his forehead transformed into Sacred Unicorn Polly. Polly nodded to the Shadowflame Dragon in greeting.
"So this is the phantom dragon—the Sacred Unicorn. What a beautiful little horse." The Shadowflame Dragon said, "Thanks to your advancement, Shadowflame has completely recovered. Shadowflame is now as powerful as it was decades ago."
"It is our honor to be of help to His Highness Shadowflame," Russell said.
Polly did not like facing the Shadowflame Dragon. The oppressive sensation made her uncomfortable, so she quickly transformed back into the God of Thunder Mark—the single-bent lightning mark was the Lord of Thunder Mark, but after advancing into double-bent lightning, Russell had renamed it the God of Thunder Mark.
Dragons were gods.
Polly had likewise mastered a dragon's authority, so she could naturally be called a god as well.
"Shadowflame wishes to reward you, Russell!" The Shadowflame Dragon stared fixedly at Russell, its pupils filled with his figure.
Russell gladly accepted. "Thank you, Your Highness!"
"What reward do you desire? Phantom Beasts, elves, Wyverns, or perhaps a title, land, population? Or do you wish to cooperate further with Shadowflame?" The Shadowflame Dragon's tone seemed