The Storm Griffins circling at low altitudes saw their leader's tactical success and began to follow suit.
While the other griffins weren't strong enough to hoist "heavyweight" Tier 3 beasts like the Giant Swamp Crocodiles or Rot-Hide Monitor Lizards, the Bony Swamp Frogs were a different story. These Tier 2 monsters were only about the size of a calf; the griffins could easily snatch them up with a single talon.
Thus, the frogs became the primary targets. One by one, griffins dove and rose, carrying shrieking swamp frogs dozens of meters into the air before dropping them. The monsters hit the ground with wet thuds, turning into puddles of green mush.
The battle at the swamp's edge raged on with absolute aerial dominance. The griffins avoided attacks with ease and struck with surgical precision. Even the heavily armored Rot-Hide Monitors eventually fell; once flipped over by coordinated strikes to expose their soft bellies, they were torn to shreds by the descending swarm.
Tempest was peerless. Like a true king of the battlefield, every dive he made claimed a life or left several monsters mangled. Only when the majority of the swamp beasts were eradicated—and the survivors had fled back into the depths—did Leylo signal the griffins to cease.
It was a total victory for Blackstone Territory. Aside from a few young griffins sustaining minor scratches, the pride was unscathed.
Interestingly, while the swamp beasts were nearly wiped out, the Snake-man casualties were relatively low—most fled. The only notable exception was a Tier 3 Snake-man Priest whose magical threat was deemed too high; Tempest had personally singled him out, using iron talons and beak to rip out the priest's vitals.
Rewards and Ambition
The griffins landed in the open clearing near the camp. The knights of the defensive line, having witnessed the entire spectacle, couldn't tear their eyes away. Even the usually proud Pegasus Knights watched with burning envy.
Ed and Alex came out to meet Leylo, both visibly moved.
"The Storm Griffins have cleared the toughest threats," Leylo announced. "Alex, take half the men to finish off any remaining Snake-man stragglers, then organize teams to haul the carcasses back!"
As Alex left to fulfill his orders, Ed stood by, his eyes drifting toward the resting griffins.
"Ed, see one you like?" Leylo teased.
"I wouldn't dare!" Ed replied, uncharacteristically flustered.
"Go pick one," Leylo said. To his longest-serving and most loyal guard captain, Leylo had no reason to be stingy.
Ed's face lit up with disbelief. He gave a solemn knight's salute: "Thank you, my Lord!"
Perhaps it was Ed's high emotional intelligence, or perhaps it was because the former leader—the Gold-Feathered Griffin—had kicked him when he lingered too close. In the end, Ed chose the next most robust griffin, a powerful beast with iron-grey feathers. Under Tempest's kingly suppression, Ed successfully established a contract. Even the usually stoic captain couldn't stop grinning.
By sunset, dozens of creaking wagons arrived back at the camp, piled high with monster carcasses.
"The perimeter is cleared," Alex reported. "Our side suffered only minor injuries."
"Good. Process them immediately and move them to the ice cellars," Leylo ordered. "Moonlight and our new friends will be relying on this haul for their meals."
The knights got to work. The Rot-Hide Monitor skins were excellent for armor, while their meat was rich in energy. The Bony Swamp Frogs, despite their smaller size, provided hundreds of pounds of meat, and their toxic glands and gallbladders were prized alchemical ingredients.
The Path to Greatness
Watching Ed practice basic flight maneuvers with his new partner—spinning and diving awkwardly while the ground troops cheered—Alex felt a sharp pang of envy.
Ed was the first to follow the Lord; it's only right he received such a reward, Alex thought, tightening his fists. I am the Lord's right hand as well, but to earn a Storm Griffin, I need a greater contribution.
His eyes grew determined. The battle for the Emerald Swamp was won, but Blackstone's enemies were many. His opportunity would come.
Thor, the burly barbarian, wandered over with stars in his eyes. "Captain Ed looks so grand! That big bird is much faster than my Armored Rhino, and it flies!"
Alex patted his shoulder. "Work hard, Thor. Maybe one day you'll get a big fellow as a mount, too."
A Morning Interruption
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the castle windows. Leylo woke and habitually looked toward the bedside. Usually, Moonlight would be curled up on her massive custom cushion, sleeping in a tangled mess of limbs.
Today was different.
"Chirp! Squeak-chirp!"
In the center of the rug, Moonlight was hunched over, her front paws nimbley batting around a plump, brownish-grey creature. It was an exceptionally fat Sand Rat King, nearly double the size of a normal rat.
Moonlight wasn't in a hurry to kill it. She would give it a gentle poke, sending the rat rolling across the floor. Just as it tried to scramble away, she would leap gracefully and pin it down again, purring with satisfaction.
Leylo shook his head, laughing. She had truly mastered the feline habit of playing with her food. He wondered which dark corner of the castle she had managed to dig this unlucky "King" out of.
"Alright, Moonlight, stop playing. It's too early for this," Leylo called out.
Moonlight paused, looking slightly annoyed at the interruption of her "morning entertainment." She let out a soft "mew" at the terrified rat—as if expressing regret—and gave it a dismissive swat. The Sand Rat King, sensing a divine reprieve, scrambled into a hole in the wall and vanished instantly.