"You know," Yuurei said, watching the volcanic landscape blur beneath them, "most people would be a bit more concerned about flying straight into an active volcano."

Teo didn't even open his eyes, still lounging comfortably on Somniroth's back. "Most people aren't me."

"Most people aren't insufferable show-offs either," Somniroth grumbled, though there was no real bite to his words. "You don't even ask how long I can fly before getting tired."

"That's because I know you won't let me fall," Teo said with absolute certainty. "Because I would work you to death then, besides Yuurei would catch me."

"Bold of you to assume I would," Yuurei retorted, but her amused tone betrayed her.

Their banter was cut short as Somniroth suddenly tensed beneath them. His casual flight pattern shifted, becoming more alert. "Something's coming," he growled, his earlier laziness vanishing instantly.

Through the volcanic haze, a massive shape began to materialize. The air itself seemed to distort with heat as the creature emerged, its wingspan casting enormous shadows through the smoke.

"Well," Teo said, finally opening his eyes as he sat up. "Looks like Sorazaki might get his dragon after all."

But when they saw the creature after it left the volcanic haze, Teo just sighed and went back to lazing on Somniroth's back. "It's just an overgrown wyvern. You two can finish this one off," he said dismissively.

"Somni, you wanna do this one?" asked Yuurei as she went to sit down beside Teo again.

"Haaah, fine, but the next one is your job, Yuurei." He answered slightly annoyed that he was left to deal with this pest. "But what kind of wyvern is this big?" he wondered.

"It's a mutated species," Teo remarked, eyes still closed. "I’m guessing Selene tossed it in the dungeon to punish me for how I was acting."

"Ohh, that makes a lot of sense," said Somniroth, nodding as if enlightened. "I'll just finish this quickly. It shouldn't be a challenge—I'm a true dragon, not a wannabe overgrown reptile."

"Hold on tight," Somniroth growled, his lazy demeanor vanishing, replaced by a predatory focus. Without warning, he surged forward, closing the distance to the wyvern in a heartbeat. The mutated creature froze, its body trembling with fear.

As Somniroth flew right at it, he mumbled. "Shadow claws," and his long claws elongated, stretching to nearly five meters in length, jet black and razor sharp. With one swift slash, he tore through the wyvern’s body effortlessly.

The lifeless creature plummeted to the ground. Somniroth didn't even grant it a second look as he continued flying towards the huge volcano.

"Why didn’t it dodge?" Teo asked, curiosity flickering in his voice as he opened one eye. "Even if Somniroth is a true dragon, a mutated wyvern should have better instincts than that."

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Somniroth rumbled with pride. "I trapped its mind in a nightmare. Don’t forget—my attributes are shadow and dream. Lower beings can’t handle the magic power of true dragons when we get serious."

"Oh, that makes sense." Teo replied as he closed his eye again. "Next is your turn, Yuurei. Don't disappoint me."

"I won't master." Yuurei said with a determined look on her face.

Somnirotth landed gracefully at the edge of the volcano, the heat radiating in waves even from this distance. "This place reeks of trouble," he muttered, folding his wings.

"Luckily for you, you can go back to the subspace." Teo said as he jumped off its back. Somniroth couldn't help but show a toothy grin as he entered the subspace again, lying down on his previous spot and falling asleep almost immediately.

Teo looked dumbfounded at the lazy dragon, shrugged, and turned towards the other familiars. "Ember Tyrant and Yōulíng É, come out; you two are next."

As Ember Tyrant and Yōulíng É jumped out of the subspace, the first thing they felt was the intense heat coming from the volcano.

"Awesome, this is great. I'm very glad you picked me, master," said Ember Tyrant.

"Ew, I hate heat. Master, do I have to help now?" Yōulíng É exclaimed, looking pitifully at Teo.

Teo just shrugged. "Stop acting like a drama queen. Without you, how else will I just walk through the walls?"

Yōulíng just sighed and turned everyone into mist so they could start exploring the volcano. Teo just started poking himself and feeling his hands go through his body. It was a new experience.

"This feels weird. Well, no matter, let's enter and clear this volcano." Teo said, walking straight through the volcano wall.

As Teo stepped through the wall, the immediate onslaught of heat hit him like a wave, the air thick with the scent of sulfur and the unmistakable burn of molten rock. The ground beneath his feet was uneven, veins of bright orange magma coursing through the volcano.

"Well, this place definitely doesn't seem welcoming," Teo mused, adjusting his shirt and glancing around for any abnormalities.

Ember Tyrant stretched his flame-covered limbs, his fiery form glowing even brighter in the oppressive heat. "I don't know, master, I think it's perfect! I feel right at home." His voice was a mix of excitement and pride, clearly unbothered by the temperature.

Yōulíng É, on the other hand, looked less than thrilled. Her once ethereal form was now shifting in discomfort, her mist-like body wisping uneasily in the air. "This place... is an inferno. What kind of dungeon is this? Are we supposed to roast alive before we even find anything worth fighting"?

Teo gave him a half-smirk, eyes gleaming with an amused yet indifferent light. "You've been complaining a whole lot, Yōulíng. Just think of it as a training opportunity. You'll get used to the heat."

"Training? In this furnace?" Yōulíng whined, her mist swirling more tightly around her form as if trying to cool herself. "I'll melt before I can help you, master!"

Teo laughed, the sound light and easy. "You'll be fine. You might not like it, but it's important to overcome your own weaknesses. And I don't need useless familiars."

Yōulíng looked shocked. Would she be cast aside for complaining a little bit? Seeing Yōulíng's expression change so drastically, Yuurei stepped in. "Don't worry too much about it. Yōulíng master might sound harsh, but that's his way of encouraging us."

Ember Tyrant nodded, clearly enjoying himself. "I agree with the master on this. Being weak as a familiar is a sin. So get your act together, Yōulíng, because it seems we have company."

"So you noticed as well, Tyrant. Good, ok, Tyrant will take the middle Yōulíng, the left, and you Yuurei the right. I will just spectate because these guys are small fries." Ordered Teo, sitting down on a big rock.

Ember Tyrant cracked his knuckles, flames flickering along his body in anticipation, while Yōulíng took a deep breath, her mist swirling anxiously around her. Yuurei, always calm in the face of a challenge, adjusted her stance and gave a small nod.