Moordryd and Cain kidnap Lance to lure the Dragon Booster into an ancient cave known as the "Shadow Track"; all four of them become trapped inside, and subjected to their own fears.
Moordryd has set a trap in an upcoming rookie race, and the only way to avoid it is for Artha to attempt a legendary shortcut, and somehow convince other racers to do the same.
Artha Penn (a.k.a.: The Dragon Booster), and his dragon, Beaucephalus, are lured into a trap - turning them into the evil Wraith Booster! They travel across Dragon City, turning the citizens to stone - on a mission to ignite the "human-dragon war"... Their only hope lies with their arch-rival, Moordryd Paynn, to save the day...
Artha gains media recognition and begins work as an actor for television commercials and even an upcoming film, but there is more going on behind the scenes than it appears.
The orange dragon Propheci appears in Dragon City to ask the Dragon Booster for help in stopping a civil war amongst his clan, but it is really a plot to draw the Dragon Booster away from the city so his clan can attack.
Mortis detects a powerful energy surge beneath Dragon City, and Artha insists on investigating it despite being warned that it is too powerful even for the hero of legend.
Mortis intervenes to save Artha from an elite warrior named Drakkus, but is injured during the fight; Mortis reveals himself as Artha's father (contradicting earlier official information that the two were separate characters), and Artha must find a way to release not only Beau's power, but his own as well.
