Russell flew to Red Castle with a whoosh.
The new year had just begun, and Russell immediately resumed his relentless training, practicing together with Dream Eater Tapir.
But as they trained, Russell discovered that although Tapir was highly intelligent, he was far lazier than expected.
With Russell urging him on, Tapir cooperated quite enthusiastically. But without Russell's supervision, Tapir had no initiative whatsoever when it came to training. If he could lie down, he would never stand; if he could stay in the shade, he would never bask in the sun. He lived a remarkably comfortable life.
"Serves you right!" Russell silently shook his head.
Ever since Sacred Unicorn Polly, every Phantom Beast he had encountered—whether Harpy Harpie, Ouroboros Snake Ouroboros, or Simulated Nightmare Beast Dragon Sembra—had been a model of striving to grow stronger. It had led him to believe that all Phantom Beasts were like that.
Only now did he understand that Polly, Harpie, Ouroboros, and Sembra were the exceptions. Phantom Beasts like Tapir were the majority.
"Well, at least Tapir is willing to train when I push him." Left with no other choice, Russell could only devote more effort to working in sync with Tapir.
Meanwhile.
On the snowfields between Volcanic Oasis and Yunmeng Marsh Oasis, Ouroboros and Sembra were fighting in tandem. Since the arrival of the Ice Age, the number of Snow Demons here had abruptly increased, allowing them to battle to their hearts' content.
They could not speak, nor could they communicate through a mental link.
But over more than a year of fighting together, Ouroboros and Sembra had already developed perfect coordination.
A glance or a movement from one was enough for the other to understand, then respond with flawless cooperation.
On the battlefield of the snowfields, only the Snow Demons roared wildly.