The date for the lords' gathering in Megalith City was fast approaching; there was no more time to dally.
"Ed!" Leylo called out.
Ed, the captain of the guard, pushed open the door and entered, his posture straight and tall. "My Lord."
"Have the first Pegasus squad prepare their gear and mounts. We depart after lunch for Megalith City." Leylo was crisp and decisive. "Also, summon Knight Bolin, Mayor Buck, and Karl to the study immediately."
Before long, the three were gathered in the study. Leylo looked first at Bolin.
"Bolin, while I am away from the territory, you will be responsible for the overall defense and border security of the Blackstone Territory. Pay special attention to the region bordering the Ironthorn Territory; double the sentries and patrol day and night. Baron Monde has been making subtle moves—keep a close eye on him."
"Please rest assured, My Lord!" Bolin saluted and accepted the command.
Next, Leylo turned to old Mayor Buck and the internal affairs official, Karl, his expression growing more solemn.
"Mayor Buck, Karl, a plague has broken out in several nearby villages. You two must organize personnel to strictly inspect the safety of the water and food supplies within the territory and strengthen sanitation management in all towns and villages. If any suspicious symptoms or signs of an epidemic are discovered, they must be quarantined immediately and reported with the utmost speed, while doing everything possible to control the spread."
"By your command, My Lord!" Old Buck and Karl, knowing the gravity of the matter, answered solemnly.
After lunch, the sky was clear for thousands of miles. On the central training grounds of the Blackstone Territory, ten Pegasus knights had finished lining up. Leylo flipped himself onto the broad back of the Storm Griffin. Moonlight hopped up, sitting in the small seat specially reserved for it in front of the saddle.
The Storm Griffin's saddle was a custom double-seater Leylo had commissioned from the territory's tanners. The smaller front section was Moonlight's exclusive seat.
"Move out!" Leylo swept his gaze over the formation and gave the low command.
"Skree!" Storm gave a high-pitched, resonant eagle shriek, and with a powerful flap of its wings, it kicked up a gale and was the first to soar into the sky. The Pegasus knights followed closely behind, taking flight swiftly and disappearing into the horizon, racing toward Megalith City.
The group flew rapidly, and two days later, they entered the Withered Ridge region of the Blackstone Mountains. True to its name, this mountain range was filled with jagged rocks of a scorched grey-black hue. Vegetation was extremely sparse, with only a few stubborn shrubs struggling for life in the crevices of the stones, giving the entire area an air of desolation and death.
"My Lord, there is something unusual in the airspace ahead!" At the front of the formation, a sharp-eyed Pegasus knight raised a high-pitched warning, pointing into the distance.
Everyone focused their gaze and saw over thirty black dots flapping their wings in the gloomy sky ahead, approaching them at high speed. Piercing, shrill cries faintly drifted over.
"Harpies! Approximately thirty of them. Everyone, to battle stations!" Ed, with his vast experience, made a swift judgment.
The Pegasus knights showed no panic. They adjusted their formation in the air with practiced ease, pulling bows and arrows from their saddles and aiming their cold-glinting arrowheads at the encroaching enemies.
The Harpies had also spotted Leylo's party. They possessed filthy human heads and gaunt upper bodies, but their lower bodies were massive vulture-like claws, and their wings were covered in grey feathers. They emitted greedy, ear-piercing shrieks, their eyes flashing with bloodlust. Clearly, they viewed this well-equipped squad as a rare and succulent prey, diving toward them without hesitation.
"Maintain distance! Three volleys! Fire!" Ed barked.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Arrows pierced the air with shrill whistles, accurately blanketing the Harpies' diving path. Several Harpies in the lead couldn't dodge in time; blood burst from their bodies as they let out wretched screams. Their wings were pierced, and they tumbled from the sky like kites with broken strings.
Harpies were Tier 1 monsters, excelling in agility and flight but possessing very poor defense. A single volley had brought down several enemies, sending the morale of the Pegasus knights soaring as they quickly notched a second arrow.
However, Harpies were fierce by nature. The death of their companions did not scare them off; instead, it incited their ferocity. The remaining creatures let out even sharper screeches and accelerated their plunge recklessly, their sharp claws tracing dangerous glints in the air.
Leylo's eyes turned cold. He didn't personally strike, but simply patted the neck of the Storm Griffin beneath him. Storm had long been unable to restrain itself. At its master's signal, it suddenly reared its head, its wings kicking up a gale as its chest heaved. Then, it opened its massive beak and let out a soul-shaking roar!
"SKREE!!!"
The loud, majestic roar acted like a physical soundwave, mixed with the powerful pressure unique to a Tier 3 magical beast. It swept outward like an invisible hurricane!
The Harpies that were fiercely pouncing forward felt as though an invisible hand had gripped their throats, and their diving motions came to a sudden halt. Their ugly faces were instantly filled with extreme terror and panic, as if they had encountered a natural predator feared in the depths of their bloodline.
They shrieked chaotically, no longer caring about attacking. In a panic, they flapped their wings, turned around clumsily, and fled desperately toward the distance, vanishing beyond the grey horizon in the blink of an eye. A fierce battle that could have occurred was cut short by a single roar from Storm.
Moonlight, hanging in front of Leylo's chest, had only lazily lifted an eyelid throughout the ordeal. Seeing the Harpies flee in such a pathetic state, a hint of disdain flashed in its pale gold eyes, and it let out a soft "pfft" from its throat, as if mocking the incompetence of these lower-tier monsters.
After dispersing the blind group of Harpies, the rest of the journey proceeded without hindrance. Two days later, the majestic outline of a massive city finally appeared on the distant horizon.
Megalith City, the core city that had stood on the northern frontier for hundreds of years and the host of this lords' gathering, had finally arrived.
The city walls were built entirely of massive bluish-black stone blocks, standing dozens of meters high and stretching endlessly, like an ancient beast crouching upon the earth, exuding an aura of weight, solemnity, and majesty. Arrow towers stood thick within the city, and banners fluttered in the wind. Even looking down from a high altitude, one could clearly feel the bustling prosperity and clamor—a scene of a completely different world compared to the poverty and desolation of the Blackstone Territory.
The group slowly descended outside the city gates. The Pegasi folded their wings, letting out tired low brays. The Storm Griffin, however, remained full of spirit, its four claws firmly gripping the ground as it landed, looking around with undiminished kingly presence.
"Is the newcomer Lord Leylo, Baron of the Blackstone Territory?" A knight wearing the Megalith family crest trotted forward on horseback. His voice was loud, and his gaze lingered on Leylo, the Storm Griffin, and the Pegasi for a moment, carrying a hint of unnoticeable surprise and envy. His own warhorse was sturdy enough, but compared to the Storm Griffin, it was like a common dog meeting a tiger.
"Indeed," Ed nodded and handed over the invitation. "My Lord has received the invitation from the Count of Megalith to attend the gathering."
The knight captain carefully verified the crest, his expression becoming even more respectful. "The Baron has had a long journey. Please follow me; the Lord of the city has already arranged accommodations for everyone."
He waved his hand, and two rows of knights immediately split off behind him to clear the way, leading Leylo and his party through the massive city gates.