Stepping out of the castle, Leylo saw the Storm Griffin King, Tempest, resting by the Dragon-Thorn Fruit tree—its now-exclusive lounging spot. With a quick whistle from Leylo, Tempest snapped its eyes open and unfurled its massive wings, covered in yellowish-brown iron feathers, sweeping over with a gust of wind and a low cry.
Without bringing anyone else, Leylo vaulted onto the Griffin King's broad back. "Let's go!"
With a powerful beat of its wings, Tempest kicked up a cloud of dust and shot into the sky like an arrow, quickly ascending beneath the cloud layer. The streamlined body cut through the intense airflow as Tempest turned into a cyan blur, streaking toward the northeast of the territory.
Leylo did not fly directly to the Stone Forest. His first stop was the newly built defense camp at the border of Blackstone Territory and the Emerald Swamp. Given the recent frequent disturbances in the swamp, Leylo had ordered the establishment of this outpost to monitor movements and serve as the first line of defense.
Within half an hour, the lush wetlands appeared on the horizon. On a patch of relatively dry high ground, a small camp of wood and stone had taken shape, complete with watchtowers, chevaux-de-frise, and trenches. Knights patrolled in an orderly fashion. As Tempest lowered its altitude, the soldiers' initial tension turned into looks of reverence upon recognizing their Lord's mount.
"My Lord!" Alex stepped forward, his hand on his sword hilt, calm and composed. As the territory's third Earth Knight, he had been entrusted with this critical base. Alex, formerly of the Thunder Dragon Knights, had clearly lived up to expectations; the camp layout and knight rotations were handled with professional precision.
Leylo leaped down. Behind him, a hundred knights quickly assembled—disciplined, spirited, and well-trained. Most were Blackstone veterans, while some were recruits from the Ironthorn Territory and the Blood Wolf Mercenaries.
"Any movement from the Emerald Swamp lately?" Leylo asked.
"Reporting to the Lord," Alex began, "per your orders, we haven't ventured deep. Our Pegasus Knights have been conducting perimeter reconnaissance. Currently, there's an unstable mana fluctuation deep within the swamp—it waxes and wanes, but the specifics are unclear. Our scouts tried to get closer but were blocked by flying magical beasts."
"Unstable mana fluctuations?" Leylo's brow furrowed slightly.
"Yes. The scouts believe it's not a natural occurrence. It feels more like a powerful entity is present or a ritual is being conducted."
Leylo nodded, satisfied. He had specifically assigned his ten most experienced Pegasus Knights here for their mobility and scouting prowess. "Excellent. Keep the knights alert but do not risk going deep. Continue strengthening the defenses, especially against swamp-specific threats like toxic gas and stealth creatures."
"Understood!"
After finishing his inspection, Leylo mounted Tempest once more, with Moonlight hopping nimbly onto his shoulder. With a resonant cry, Tempest took flight again, heading northwest.
The Wyvern's Shadow
The distance from the swamp border to the northern Stone Forest was significant. As they soared, Leylo looked down and saw various unknown magical beasts fleeing the Emerald Swamp toward the Blackstone Mountains—many were species unique to the swamp, suggesting a forced migration.
Suddenly, a swift black shadow appeared. In the shade of a steep peak, a massive Wyvern lunged out without warning. Its wings, covered in boney scales, stirred a foul-smelling wind. It dove with iron-hook claws toward a panicked Silver-Moon Deer—a creature known for its speed and its soft, glowing silver horn. The deer shrieked as it was snatched up into the air. The Wyvern didn't linger; it let out a piercing roar toward Leylo as if in a show of dominance before vanishing into the horizon with its prey.
"A Wyvern," Leylo narrowed his eyes. It wasn't his first time seeing this specific beast. They weren't common on the outskirts of the mountains, usually lurking in much deeper, more dangerous zones.
After another hour of flight, the wind elements in the air grew active. On the horizon, a strange sight emerged: a vast forest of stone pillars, some forty to fifty meters high, standing like lances piercing the heavens or crouching beasts. The wind howled through the gaps. At the tops of these pillars, yellowish-brown silhouettes were visible—the newly migrated Storm Griffins.
"We're here," Leylo whispered.
Tempest let out a low growl, seemingly impatient, but followed Leylo's signal to land on a peak at the outskirts of the Stone Forest. Its Tier 4 aura was quietly suppressed. Leylo looked out; he could see thirteen Storm Griffins rising and falling within the pillars.
Thirteen of them, Leylo calculated. Storm Griffins were social beasts with incredible coordination. While Tempest was a Tier 4 King and far stronger than these Tier 3 counterparts, taking on thirteen at once could lead to heavy injuries.
His original plan was to use Tempest's high-level pressure to drive them away. But looking at the soaring eagles, his plan changed. The Pegasus Knights were great, but the pegasi were only Tier 1 beasts—great for support, but weak in a direct brawl. If he could subjugate this pride, his aerial power would see a massive leap.
"Instead of a forced expulsion, it's better to... slowly consume them."
Leylo patted Tempest's neck. His plan was to wait for individual griffins to leave for hunting, then have Tempest use its Tier 4 status and bloodline suppression to force them into submission one by one. It would be slow, but safe, and it would preserve their strength.
Tempest opened its eyes, feeling Leylo's pat. However, it seemed to have misinterpreted his intent. Tempest suddenly threw its head back and let out a high-pitched, piercing shriek!
The sound was filled with provocation and battle intent, exploding like thunder and echoing deep into the Stone Forest. Leylo was startled—what was Tempest doing? Before he could think, Tempest beat its wings, turning into a streak of cyan lightning as it charged straight into the heart of the Stone Forest!