Chapter Summaries

Russell inspected Blackfire Land and planned the layout of a future castle, then set out with Polly and Harpe to check the snowy border for Snow Ghosts. The castle remained a future project, while Russell continued exploring and developing his territory.

• Russell trained with the knights at Cigar Courtyard, then ordered Butler Morris to establish a dedicated training ground across from Charcoal Ash Avenue.
• Russell left on Polly with Harpe to inspect Blackfire Land while Rosai stayed behind at the Hot Spring Area.
• Russell reviewed plans for a fifty-mu castle above the hot springs, with forests, livestock grounds, and magic potion fields arranged around it.
• Russell decided to begin castle construction in the warm season using the stockpiled Slag Bricks.
• Russell rode with Polly and Harpe toward the territory's snowy edge to look for Snow Ghosts.

Russell trained with Polly and Harpy in the snowfields, testing their new techniques and growing confident in his strength. When a gigantic pale hand erupted from beneath the Ice Cap and seized him, Polly's Dream Escape Technique was delayed, leaving Russell gravely struck and Harpy unconscious.

• Russell and Polly practiced the Sword Control Technique, while Russell also trained with Harpy in Battle Qi Armor Transformation.
• Russell and Harpy used Hurricane Technique to destroy Snow Ghosts, and Russell killed a Great Snow Ghost with sword lights.
• Russell realized he could feel the cold and leaped into the air as the shattered Ice Cap exploded beneath him.
• A gigantic pale hand seized Russell, and his attempt to escape with the Green Ceramic Sword failed.
• Polly activated Dream Escape Technique, but the hand's power slowed it and struck Russell as Harpy's armor collapsed and she fell unconscious.

Shadowflame Dragon erupted from its magma prison while Russell lay near death after Snow Giant Da’s ambush. In the Dark Dreamscape, Polly chose to face whatever came next with Russell, who discovered his marks and bonded creatures were still acting to sustain him.

• Shadowflame Dragon escaped the magma, unleashed dragonfire to the south, then sank back into the volcano as knights and Elder Council members hurried to investigate its roar.
• Polly used Dream Escape Technique to bring herself and Russell into the Dark Dreamscape, where their shattered bodies and strength stabilized but remained gravely damaged.
• Russell recalled Snow Giant Da’s ambush and prepared to sever his contracts to protect Polly, Rossay, and Hape from his injuries.
• Polly refused to abandon Russell and said they would face life or death together as Contract Partners.
• Russell noticed he could feel his left hand and sensed Sword Butterfly guiding his Battle Aura, Thorn holding his body together, and Tick sucking his blood.

Russell survived Snow Giant Da’s ambush with Polly, Snowflake, the Amber Bugs, Little Dream Dragon, and Harpe’s help, then fused with Polly and advanced to Dragon Domain Lord. He drove Snow Giant Da off and learned that Polly had become a true unicorn as Rossi arrived.

• The Tick Amber Bug restored Russell’s lost power while the Gecko Amber Bug repaired his body, and Russell discovered that Snowflake had stopped time in the Dark Dreamscape to save him and Polly.
• Polly fused completely with Russell, and the four Amber Bugs used a mysterious reserve of energy to restore his energy body until the Dark Dreamscape resumed flowing.
• Russell and Polly broke through to Dragon Domain Lord, and Russell escaped Snow Giant Da’s grasp as the Dark Dreamscape collapsed.
• The Shadowflame Dragon burned Snow Giant Da, and Russell pierced his head with a lightning-charged greatsword, but concluded that Snow Giant Da had escaped.
• Russell found unconscious Harpe, thanked her for shielding him, and promised to help her advance; Polly realized she had once been a Pseudo-Unicorn Dragon and was now a true unicorn.
• Russell watched his lightning power melt the ice and snow across the land, and Rossi’s roar announced his arrival.

Russell survived Snow Giant Da’s assassination attempt and advanced with Polly to become a Dragon Domain Lord, leaving him as the strongest expert in the Shadowflame Grand Duchy. After Polly revealed her new lightning-wielding unicorn form, Russell discovered that his clothes had burned away during the battle.

• Black Oil Dragon Rosai rushed to the battlefield after sensing Russell was in danger, but arrived after Snow Giant Da had fled.
• Russell showed Rosai his Dragon Domain Lord combat form and declared himself the strongest beneath a Dragon Knight.
• Russell and Polly ended their merged combat form, revealing Polly’s larger unicorn body, golden lightning-patterned horn, and enormous wings.
• Russell examined how Polly’s new pseudo-dragon essence breath had changed his power and celebrated their shared mastery of lightning.
• Polly teased Russell about feeling chilly, and Russell realized he was completely naked because his clothes had burned away in the battle.

Russell survived an ambush with Harpe and explored the newly formed Warm Enclave created by Polly, naming it Thunder Marsh. He wondered whether it could eventually resonate with nearby Warm Enclaves and form a larger territory.

• Polly transformed into silver armor and a lightning mark for Russell, while Harpe woke and recovered from the ambush.
• Russell rode Rosai through Thunder Marsh and cleared Snow Ghosts from its expanding waters, collecting their Hail Beads.
• Russell noticed that Thunder Marsh's water seemed unable to drain and considered digging a lake and canals to prevent it becoming a swamp.
• Russell named the Warm Enclave Thunder Marsh and wondered whether it could resonate with the nearby Blackfire Land and Guangguang River Valley to form a larger domain.

Russell returned to Cigar Courtyard as a Dragon Domain Lord, with Polly newly evolved into a pseudo-dragon, and announced that a new Warm Enclave was opening east of Blackfire Land. He revealed that Snow Giant Da had ambushed him inside the duchy but had been driven off, though it could return.

• Russell returned to Cigar Courtyard, changed clothes, and let Polly transform into her new winged pseudo-dragon form.
• Russell announced his advancement to Dragon Domain Lord and the opening of a new Warm Enclave east of Blackfire Land to his gathered followers.
• Charles explained the legends of Dragon Domain Lords and pseudo-dragons, and Russell said he and Polly had faced a life-and-death crisis against Snow Giant Da.
• Russell told his followers that he and the Shadowflame Dragon had driven Snow Giant Da back after Russell stabbed it in the forehead.
• Russell recounted how Snow Giant Da had ambushed him in the duchy and how Harpe, Polly, Little Dream Dragon, and the Amber Bugs helped him survive and advance.

After advancing to Dragon Domain Lord, Russell planned to report Snow Giant Da’s ambush and question the Shadowflame Dragon about his condition. That night, Gelontan, Eric, Grove, and Katie each reflected on Russell’s achievement, while Katie resolved to train harder so she could protect him.

• Russell explained that Snow Giant Da’s ambush had been stopped by the Shadowflame Dragon and ordered Charles to hold a celebration while keeping the territory’s forces on guard.
• Gelontan remembered how Russell had become his ideal knight and vowed to follow him and witness him ride a dragon someday.
• Eric asked Kevin whether they could ever become Dragon Domain Lords, while Grove gave up on the idea after seeing Bill asleep.
• Katie realized Russell must have faced grave danger alone, then took up her sword and began training through the night so she could protect him.

Russell returned to Fluorite Castle and revealed that Polly had become a pseudo-dragon, making him a Dragon Domain Lord. After telling Baron Roman about Snow Giant Da’s ambush, Russell set out for Red Castle to report it and speak with the Shadowflame Dragon.

• Russell stopped at Fluorite Castle, where he told Old Butler Carter that Polly had evolved into a pseudo-dragon.
• Russell showed Polly’s transformation to Baron Roman, who realized Russell had become a Dragon Domain Lord.
• Russell recounted how Snow Giant Da had ambushed him and how he and Polly had advanced together.
• Russell told Baron Roman he planned to report Da’s border crossing at Red Castle and ask the Shadowflame Dragon about it.
• Baron Roman declined to advise Russell, and Russell flew north toward Red Castle on Rosai.

While flying north, Russell tested his and Polly’s speed, then used the memory of his strike against Snow Giant Da to break through to the ultimate of swordsmanship, which he named Ultimate: Sword of Thunder. His Sword Butterfly Amber Bug evolved into a Sword Butterfly Amber Elf and became the Meteor Butterfly Sword, leaving Russell confident in his new power.

• Russell tested his speed with Polly and found that her lightning-fast flight surpassed the speed of sound, while his own Wind Walk only matched Rosai’s pace.
• As Rosai carried him through Volcanic Oasis, Russell replayed his strike against Snow Giant Da and gained a flash of insight into swordsmanship.
• Russell used Polly’s manifested golden greatsword to unleash a horizontal slash that tore apart the air and wielded the Lightning Element through his swordsmanship.
• Russell named his new swordsmanship Ultimate: Sword of Thunder and realized that his strike could threaten Snow Giant Da when powered by greater strength.
• The Sword Butterfly Amber Bug evolved into a Sword Butterfly Amber Elf and transformed into the silver-white Meteor Butterfly Sword, which could wield Russell’s swordsmanship through their mental link.

Russell visited the Elder Council Hall and Shadowflame Volcano after advancing to Dragon Domain Lord, reporting Snow Giant Da’s ambush and seeking Shadowflame Dragon’s protection. Shadowflame Dragon promised to keep Russell and Snowy safe, even at the cost of sacrificing a Warm Enclave if Da attacked again.

• Russell arrived at the Red Keep on Rosai and told Count Merlin that he had become a Dragon Domain Lord and that Snow Giant Da had ambushed him across the border.
• Count Merlin gave Russell a pass to Shadowflame Volcano and asked him to visit afterward for a private talk.
• Shadowflame Dragon awoke to greet Russell, who learned from their conversation that a knight could contract only one dragon.
• Russell asked whether Snow Giant Da would attack again, and Shadowflame Dragon promised to protect Russell and Snowy and sacrifice a Warm Enclave if Da crossed the border again.
• Russell joked about which of his territories Shadowflame Dragon should sacrifice and left reassured by the dragon’s promise.

Russell questioned the Shadowflame Dragon about the Snow Giants, then returned to Count Merlin with the dragon’s view of their invasion. As the Elder Council faced the choice of continuing hunts beyond the border, Russell resolved to keep hunting on the snowfields.

• Russell asked the Shadowflame Dragon what the Snow Giants wanted, but the dragon said it did not know and described its mission as making warm land for humans to build civilization and save the world.
• The Shadowflame Dragon wondered why Snowcake had chosen the ordinary, mediocre Russell as an innate Dragon Knight, while Russell left the volcano feeling inspired.
• Lord Welch sensed a sharp, lightning-like pressure from Russell and wondered about the symbol on his forehead as Russell returned to Red Fort.
• Russell told Count Merlin that the Shadowflame Dragon considered Snow Giant Da’s attack a provocation and threatened to sacrifice a Warm Enclave if the Snow Giant invaded again.
• Count Merlin said hunting beyond the border and sealing the borders both carried dangers, then asked Russell what he would do; Russell said he would keep hunting and that Snow Giant Da would never get another chance to kill him.

Davis Golden Mushroom hunted Snow Demons beyond the Shadowflame Grand Duchy, but the wounded Snow Giant Da killed him and drove off his Peat Dragon. A mysterious blue monster identified Russell and two dragons as threats, then vanished as Davis’s corpse rose again as a Great Snow Ghost.

• Davis complained to his Peat Dragon about the Elder Council, Oskro’s pressure to name an heir, and the Water Willow Family’s interest in Dyson, then decided to keep his options open.
• Davis and the Peat Dragon defeated a Snow Demon, and Davis harvested its Ice Soul Bead.
• The Snow Giant Da burst from beneath the ice, crushed Davis, and struck the Peat Dragon, which escaped while bleeding.
• The Snow Giant Da recognized Russell and the dragons of Shadowflame Volcano and Fire Ant Swamp, while a blue monster appeared, inspected a map of the duchy, and roared, "Fast!"
• The Snow Giant Da melted into the snow, and Davis’s corpse reanimated as a Great Snow Ghost that joined a wandering group.

A wounded Peat Dragon reached Kingtop Castle and collapsed, leaving Baroness Roby Fluorite Mushroom fearing for Baron Davis. At Red Castle, Count Merlin discussed the Grand Duchy’s future and asked Russell what reward he wanted for becoming a Dragon Domain Lord and opening a Warm Enclave.

• The Peat Dragon fled to the Golden Plains, and one of its tears revived a freeman’s Battle Qi Seed while filling him with sorrow.
• The Peat Dragon crashed near Kingtop Castle, where the knights recognized Lord Howard and rushed to fetch Magic Potions.
• Baroness Roby arrived to treat the Peat Dragon and panicked when the knights could not tell her where Baron Davis was.
• At dinner, Count Merlin said he intended to lead the Elder Council for at least another ten years, while Mel complained about his life at Red Castle and his wyvern waiting in the snowfields.
• In Count Merlin’s study, he told Russell that the Elder Council would reward his advancement and asked what reward he wanted.

Russell asked Count Merlin for people as his reward, then helped persuade him to continue the Demon Extermination Order. Their resolve was shaken when they learned Snow Giant Da had ambushed and killed Baron Davis in the snowfields.

• Russell asked Count Merlin to reward him with enough people to develop his lands and support his future plans.
• Mel and Russell urged Count Merlin to keep the Demon Extermination Order in effect and send Wyvern Knights in groups to hunt Snow Demons.
• Count Merlin agreed to continue the order and began proposing an expedition into the snowfields.
• The castle steward reported that Snow Giant Da had ambushed and killed Baron Davis in the snowfields.
• The messenger explained that Davis had gone to prepare for a Snow Demon hunt, and only his badly wounded Peat Dragon had escaped.
• Count Merlin realized Snow Giant Da had ambushed Russell and Davis on consecutive days and was still hunting Wyvern Knights openly.

At an Elder Council meeting, Count Merlin confirmed that Russell had advanced to Dragon Domain Lord and revealed that Snow Giant Da had killed Baron Davis. The council halted Wyvern Knights’ demon-cleansing missions and arranged an investigation, while Russell prepared to notify his family and travel to Kingtop Castle.

• Count Merlin summoned the Elder Council and announced that Russell had become a Dragon Domain Lord.
• Russell and Lord Kunbei compared Dragon Breath, and Russell’s overwhelming power confirmed his advancement.
• Russell explained that Snow Giant Da had ambushed him and that His Highness Shadowflame had helped him survive and break through.
• Count Merlin revealed that Snow Giant Da had killed Baron Davis, and the council ordered Wyvern Knights to suspend their demon-cleansing missions.
• Count Merlin assigned the council members to arrange Davis’s funeral, contact the Scorching Torrent Kingdom, and investigate the attacks.
• Count Merlin told Russell to notify Fluorite Castle that night and travel to Kingtop Castle with his parents.

Russell used his lightning power to develop Thunder Boost, allowing Rosai to fly at nearly the speed of sound, then rushed to Fluorite Castle with news that Baron Davis had been killed by Snow Giant Da. His family prepared to travel to Kingtop Castle and console Roby.

• Russell combined his Dragon Breath with Polly’s lightning to create Thunder Boost and rapidly flew Rosai to Guangguang River Valley.
• Russell arrived at Fluorite Castle after midnight and told Old Butler Carter that Baron Davis had died in the snowfields.
• Russell explained to Baron Roman and Roland that Snow Giant Da had ambushed and killed Davis, while Peat Dragon returned badly wounded.
• Baron Roman ordered Roland to bring their grandmother from Great Wind Manor and planned to leave for the Golden Plains with his family.
• Madam Meryl grieved for Roby and asked Russell about his injuries; Russell assured her he was well.

Russell traveled with his family after Davis’s death, while they discussed backing Roby in the Golden Plains succession. After Roland recounted Russell’s recent breakthrough and battle with Snow Giant Da, Russell reflected on his growing strength and his hopes for Harpe’s advancement.

• Old Madam Ingrid wept over Roby and Diana’s uncertain future as the family rode through the night.
• Baron Roman, Roland, Russell, and Rosen discussed supporting Roby as heir to the Golden Plains and guarding against interference from the Water Willow Family.
• Roland told Rosen that Russell had advanced to Dragon Domain Lord and driven Snow Giant Da back with the Shadowflame Dragon.
• Rosen marveled at Russell’s rise and speculated that Russell might someday contract the Shadowflame Dragon.
• Russell reassured Polly and Harpe, hoped to help Harpe advance into a pseudo-dragon, and declared that he was on the right path to life’s pinnacle.

Count Oscro arrived at Kingtop Castle intending to install Dyson as Davis’s heir, while Madam Roby mourned with Russell at her side. Oscro pressed the succession issue before Davis’s funeral had ended, and Russell stepped forward as his aunt’s anger mounted.

• Count Oscro traveled toward Kingtop Castle with Kunli and Dai Wen, planning to put Dyson in power and dismissing Russell as a minor threat.
• Dyson met Oscro at the Golden Plains border and reported that the family had not yet discussed an heir, then told him Russell had arrived.
• At Davis’s grave, Oscro and Kunli offered condolences to Madam Roby, while Russell comforted her and Diana mourned her father.
• Back at Kingtop Castle, Oscro insisted that Dyson should be named heir and preside over the funeral rites, despite Roby’s objection that Davis had a daughter.
• As Oscro pressured Roby to accept Dyson, Russell’s gaze turned cold and he stepped forward.

Russell defended Madam Roby and Diana from Count Oscro’s interference in the Kingtop Mushroom Family’s succession dispute. After defeating the Water Willow Family’s three wyverns with one sword strike, he knocked Oscro down and asked whether his sword was sharp.

• Russell challenged Count Oscro for interfering in the Kingtop Mushroom Family’s internal affairs and threatening his aunt and cousin.
• Russell followed Oscro outside Kingtop Castle despite Madam Roby’s concern, where the Water Willow Family’s three wyverns prepared to attack him.
• Russell transformed with the Power of Lightning and struck the three wyverns with his Ultimate: Sword of Thunder, grievously injuring them and grounding them.
• Russell walked up to Count Oscro, slapped him to the ground, stepped on his face, and asked whether his sword was sharp.