The air shook for a second around Astaroth, as a sizeable chunk of his mana disappeared.
Then, with a swirl of wind and bright motes of Aether, a large black dragon appeared in the sky above the open ceilinged room. As it roared mightily, making its presence known to the world, Astaroth grinned.
It might have been smaller than the actual one, but it stayed a dragon. He could feel the dragon's aura spreading across the room, some Elves shuddering to a stop.
But he wasn't interested in this battlefield. Astaroth's eyes drifted toward the iced-up portal.
"Violette! Unseal the portal. I'm going back in!"
Violette, who had been looking up at the dragon in fear of a potential new enemy, jumped in surprise at Astaroth's voice.
"On it!" she shouted back, seeing he was already walking towards it.
She snapped her head toward the foot-thick sheet of ice she had conjured and willed it to melt. She could see some Imps clawing at the barrier, but if Astaroth said unseal it, then she would.
