470 The Operation: Infiltration

Under the commanding gaze of the dragon, the three potent energies danced and spiraled around him. Nestled within a grand subterranean chamber, he shimmered as the light danced and warped, contorting around his silhouette.

"To truly ascend to unparalleled might," he mused, "I must master and wield this triad of energies."

The allure of demonstrating his newfound prowess was tempting. Vesuvius felt the urge to emerge and rain his formidable fury upon foes. Yet time was slipping through his talons, urging immediate action.

'The fortress will be first. Then I will finish all my long-term projects and dig in.'

As the earth responded to the dragon's unwavering focus, it quaked and murmured. At a mere thought from Vesuvius, stone and ice stirred into motion, reshaping and evolving.

Expansive corridors carved themselves out, extending to the frozen stone around him; their walls collected rock, forming a defense of compressed stone that surpassed even the sturdiest concrete.