The moment the surge stabilized, the air itself seemed to bow.

Frost crystallized in complex patterns across the ground, spreading outward from Shadow's feet like a living sigil. The pressure of his mana no longer felt violent—it was controlled, precise, as if the ice answered him by instinct.

Mike observed the phenomenon carefully, eyes narrowing for a brief moment before he nodded.

"It's working perfectly," he said.

Shadow exhaled slowly. The overwhelming tide of power settled into a steady flow, no longer leaking into the surroundings. Every thread of ice and water mana moved exactly as he willed it to—no resistance, no delay.

Perfect control.

Mike reached into his inventory and took out the Eternal Winter Katana.

The moment it appeared, the temperature dropped even further.

Runes along the blade awakened, glowing with a deep, glacial blue. The air around the sword shimmered as if reality itself was freezing in layers.

Mike stepped forward and handed it to Shadow.

"Now that you have perfect Water and Ice affinity," Mike said calmly, "this sword will show its true power in your hands."

Shadow wrapped his fingers around the hilt.

The reaction was immediate.

A surge of frigid authority rushed through the blade, far denser than before. Ice crawled along the katana's edge, not forming randomly, but sharpening itself into impossibly fine layers—each one reinforced by Shadow's mana.

The katana hummed—

as if in delight at finding its true partner.

"Now I can fight properly," Shadow said, a faint smile forming, "like a True knight—rather than sitting back like a summoner and waiting for my summons to finish everything."

Mike felt the same.

After all, Shadow was nothing but another him.

"And I can enjoy it through you," Mike said, nodding. Their minds were one; whatever Shadow experienced, Mike would experience as well.

Shadow clenched his fist. "Alright then. Let's go and get our rank-up quest done."

He raised his hand and activated Shadow Dragon Summoning.

A massive icy blue and black magic formation spread across the terrain in front of them. The air trembled as an overwhelming presence began to merge within the circle.

"Ho!" Jace exclaimed, his flaming eyes glowing faintly. "This pressure… it's Mythical rank—just like me!"

The summoning circle surged.

One head emerged.

Then a second.

Then a third.

Mike quietly raised an eyebrow, surprised at what Shadow had managed to summon.

[ Three-Headed Shadow Dragon of Devastation ]

Rank: Mythical

Elements: Shadow, Darkness, Void ]

"Kekekekeke!" Jace's eerie laughter echoed. "You've really summoned a True Dragon!"

Shadow stared up at the three massive draconic heads looming above him. Each pair of eyes glowed with ancient, abyssal intelligence as they locked onto him.

"…You are worthy,"

the three voices overlapped, reverberating through the frozen land.

A pulse of shadow and void surged outward.

Silently, inevitably, a contract formed between Shadow and the Three-Headed Shadow Dragon of Devastation.

The bond sealed.

Shadow grinned wildly.

"Hahaha… really an unfuckingbelievable dragon," he said laughing out loud.

The colossal beast loomed over them, at least thirty times larger than their own bodies. Its sheer scale crushed the air itself, forcing the frozen ground to groan beneath its presence.

Its entire body was a fusion of black and silver, scales layered like living obsidian edged with moonlit steel. Veins of shadow pulsed faintly beneath its hide, as if darkness itself flowed through its blood.

Its eyes—

there were no pupils.

Only pure, radiant violet light, cold and absolute, burning within each of its three gazes.

The dragon lowered its massive heads slightly, wings unfurling just enough to cast an endless shadow across the ice. Void and darkness bled together around it, forming a distorted halo that swallowed sound and light alike.

Jace stood motionless, his usual manic aura gone.

"…A true calamity-class dragon," the Lich murmured. "Even among Mythical beings… this one stands at the apex."

Mike also looked at the Dragon excitedly.

"Perfect," he said simply.

Jace couldn't help himself."…Does your Authority also increase your luck?" the Lich asked.

Mike shrugged, glancing up at the massive dragon towering above them.

Now I just hope Lily levels up faster and gets me more Drops of the Limitless Fountain of Mana, he thought. I also need a dragon that cool.

Then he paused.

Wait… I'm already getting one from Jace, once he gets the Nether Soul Dragon from Netherworld.

Mike's lips curved faintly as the image formed in his mind. He was honestly looking forward to the Nether Soul Dragon—especially since the gains from it would likely be far greater than what Shadow was getting now.

After all, Shadow's enhancement conditions were relatively straightforward:

a 1000% increase to mana and health, and only in icy or water terrain did it receive an additional 100% amplification.

Only then did the total boost reach an absurd 100,000% increase in mana and health.

But if Mike bound the Nether Soul Dragon as his own mount, the gains would be far greater—and, unlike Shadow's, they wouldn't be conditional at all.

Hmm… it says "in icy and water-type terrain," Mike thought. So what if Shadow acquires a Domain skill of that element?

If that happened, Shadow could control the condition itself—triggering his boost anytime he wished.

Mike's lips curved into a satisfied smile as the idea took shape.

I can keep Shadow in the front, completely overpowered, he mused, while I sit back, stay safe, and still enjoy the thrill of battle.

A perfect setup.

Efficient.Overwhelming.And very much his style.

"Mike, let's go and get the quest done," Shadow said, glancing at him, already aware of Mike's thoughts.

Mike nodded. "Yeah. Let's get it done."

The two of them climbed onto the dragon's back.

"By the way, what's his name?" Mike asked as the massive creature spread its wings.

Shadow replied, "He said his name is Mydra del Daigon."

"Huh," Mike muttered. "Sounds like a royalty-type name."

Jace nodded in agreement. "He is a True Dragon, after all. All True Dragons are royalty."

Mike nodded, lightly gripping the scales beneath him as Mydra del Daigon lifted off.

Still… it feels kind of unreal, Mike thought, running a hand over the dragon's back. Never would I have thought I will ride a Dragon this early in this new life of mine.

The dragon's black-and-silver scales were firm and cold beneath his palm, yet carried a strange, living warmth. With a single powerful beat of its wings, the frozen ground fell away beneath them.

They soared forward, cutting through the icy skies—heading straight toward the boss zone.

*****

A/N : Check the comments for Shadow and Mydra Image

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