The Pegasus knights split into two squads, acting like a pair of open pincers, applying heavy pressure from both flanks of the beast horde. The Storm Griffin let out a high-pitched shriek and suddenly accelerated, turning into a grey streak of lightning as it dove toward the densest cluster of Blackwind Direwolves. Its talons, like forged steel, glinted with a lethal light under the sun.
"Awoo!"
An exceptionally sturdy Blackwind Direwolf, clearly the pack leader, sensed the threat from above. It skidded to a halt, baring its teeth and letting out a threatening snarl at the sky. But its defiance was pale and weak against absolute power. The massive shadow of the Storm Griffin instantly enveloped it; Leylo could even see the flash of terror in the wolf's eyes.
In the next second, the Griffin's massive claws slammed into the wolf's spine!
Crunch!
The bone-chilling sound of snapping skeletal structures rang out. The Direwolf leader didn't even have the chance to whimper before its body was torn apart by the immense force, scattering viscera and blood across the ground.
This bloody and shocking display immediately cowed the entire pack. The Direwolves let out a chorus of terrified whimpers, and their running formation fell into chaos. Leylo seized the opportunity, guiding the Storm Griffin to skim low over the wolves. The gale kicked up by the Griffin's wings lashed at the Direwolves like whips, exerting the overwhelming pressure of a Tier 3 magical beast.
He steered the Griffin not to kill indiscriminately, but to incite panic, break their rhythm, and force the horde to change direction. Meanwhile, the Pegasus knights on both flanks went into action. Utilizing their speed and agility, they constantly harassed the sides of the horde. Some knights ignited sulfur torches and hurled them ahead or to the sides of the beasts. The pungent smell and dancing flames were a massive deterrent to creatures with sensitive noses and a primal fear of fire. Any beast that tried to stray from the group was met with a volley of arrows, turned into pincers by the focused fire of the knights.
The herding process was fraught with danger. The magical beasts were not docile sheep; they were full of feral instinct and repeatedly tried to counterattack. Several Direwolves tried to leap up and bite the low-flying Pegasi, only to be precisely repelled by the knights' spears. An enraged Spine-Back Barren Bull suddenly turned and charged a knight on the flank, making the ground tremble. Without panic, the knight yanked the Pegasus upward, narrowly avoiding the horns that could shatter stone, and threw a short javelin deep into the bull's back. The bull roared in fury but could only watch helplessly as its aerial foe pulled away.
Under the constant harassment, pressure, and terror from the air, the beast horde began to veer away from Blackstone Town. They were gradually guided toward the northwest, toward the jagged terrain of the Rocky Slope.
Time passed as the sun rose higher. Clouds of dust billowed from the horde below, accompanied by a cacophony of roars and bellows. Finally, a completely different landscape appeared. The relatively flat plains vanished, replaced by a slope composed of countless jagged, misshapen rocks. The terrain was steep and crisscrossed with ravines—the Rocky Slope!
"Everyone, pay attention! Increase the pressure! Drive them... all of them in!"
The Storm Griffin exerted its power once more, diving to tear apart two Hyenas that had fallen behind. The Pegasus knights increased the frequency of their arrows and torches. Some even lowered their altitude to strike the beasts' rumps with the butts of their spears.
Completely enraged and terrified, the beast horde became like a flood breaking a dam. They lost their final shred of reason and simply surged frantically into the narrow entrance of the Rocky Slope!
Watching the black mass of beasts pour into the trap below, Leylo and the knights breathed a sigh of relief. The first step of the plan was a success!
"Ed! It's up to you now!" Leylo pulled up the Storm Griffin, circling above the entrance, his gaze fixed on the silent, jagged rocks that now hid a deadly ambush.
The beast horde plunged headlong into the rugged entrance. The fastest Blackwind Direwolves and the panicked Hyenas entered first, desperate to escape the terror from the sky, failing to notice the danger beneath their feet.
Just as nearly half the horde surged into a relatively open area in the center of the slope, the ground suddenly gave way! Several large pits, carefully excavated and camouflaged with dry branches and leaves, opened their dark maws. A dozen leading Direwolves and Hyenas couldn't stop in time and fell into the deep trenches with pathetic yelps.
At the bottom of the pits were countless sharpened wooden stakes. The beasts were instantly skewered, blood spraying as their agonizing howls filled the air. Immediately after, a dozen thick trip-cables—woven from tough vines and animal sinew—were snapped taut across the path from behind stone walls. The cables swept across the ground, precisely catching the legs of the sprinting beasts. Scores of Hyenas and wolves were tripped, rolling into a tangled mess, while the beasts behind them collided into the pile, creating total chaos.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The militia hidden in the crevices of the high ground, under the command of the knights, drew their heavy bows. While their arrows posed little threat to the thick-skinned Spine-Back Barren Bulls, they were more than enough for the Hyenas and Direwolves. A dense rain of arrows covered the area; screams echoed as many beasts were turned into pincushions, twitching on the ground.
This sudden chain of strikes caused massive casualties. At least a quarter of the horde was incapacitated by traps and arrows within a few breaths.
"Roar!"
The surviving beasts, especially the thick-skinned Spine-Back Barren Bulls, were completely enraged by the triggered traps. They let out deafening roars, their crimson eyes locking onto the small human figures on the high ground, and began a frantic charge!
"Everyone! Prepare! Hold the line!" Ed drew his knight's longsword, the blade glinting coldly. He stood at the very front of the line.
A dozen Blackstone knights had already formed a formation. Taking advantage of the terrain, they created a tight shield wall aimed at the charging beasts below. Behind the knights stood a line of over a hundred well-trained knight apprentices and squires. Further back were the militia and hunters perched on the rocks, firing arrows continuously.
"For Blackstone!" Ed roared, skewering a leading Blackwind Direwolf with a thrust.
"For Blackstone!" The knights and militia shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the Rocky Slope, dispelling fear and forging courage. The battle instantly reached a fever pitch!