Tempest let out several low, rhythmic growls. Unlike his sharp battle cries, these sounds were a proclamation—a communication heavy with the weight of authority.
In the nest, the two adult Shadow Griffins were already on high alert. They crouched low, their dark gray feathers standing on end like the quills of a porcupine. Their wings half-spread, shielding the two chicks behind them. Faced with Tempest's intrusion, they showed no weakness, responding with sharp, rapid hisses.
The air above the stone forest was filled with a cacophony of shrieks. Tempest's roars were thick and powerful, exerting his dominance, while the Shadow Griffins' cries were thin and frantic, fueled by the desperate resolve to protect their young.
To Leylo, it sounded like a heated three-way argument where no one was willing to budge.
Tempest was clearly losing patience. He circled faster, raising the volume of his cries to drown out the opposition with pure sonic pressure. However, though the Shadow Griffins were smaller, their spirit didn't waver. They held their ground with stubborn defiance.
Leylo frowned, suspecting that the difficulty stemmed from the two species being different sub-species. Just as he was considering taking more forceful measures, Moonlight—still perched on Tempest's head—seemed to reach her limit.
Her fluffy tail flicked irritably. Her pale gold eyes snapped open, a strange light flashing within them.
In the next instant, silver fur blurred. Moonlight's soft body launched from Tempest's head like a cannonball, moving so fast she left an afterimage. Her target: the two defiant adults below.
Whoosh!
Almost before Leylo could react, Moonlight landed precisely on the head of one of the Shadow Griffins. Then, she raised a paw and delivered a blow to the griffin's skull—a head several times larger than her entire body.
"BONG!"
A dull, heavy thud echoed. The Shadow Griffin's shrieking stopped instantly. Its massive head wobbled, and its eyes glazed over with a look of utter confusion, as if its brain had just rebooted.
Before it could recover, Moonlight blurred again, leaping onto the head of the second griffin.
"BONG!"
Another identical "Kitty Punch." The second Shadow Griffin went silent immediately, sporting the same dazed expression as its mate.
The sky above the stone forest went quiet, save for the whistling of the wind against the rocks. Leylo's lip twitched as he suppressed a smile. Moonlight's signature "Physical Taming" skill was crude, violent, and yet consistently effective. Even the rare Shadow Griffins couldn't escape the "Iron Paw of Justice."
After a moment of stupor, the two griffins seemed to wake up from the shock. Their flared feathers smoothed down, and the ferocity in their eyes was replaced by a mix of bewilderment and—was that awe?
They shook their heads cautiously, checking if they were hallucinating. When they looked up and saw Moonlight hovering above them, leisurely licking her paw, they instinctively shrank back. To them, this "harmless cat" now radiated the terrifying pressure of a Dragon.
Tempest seized the moment, emitting a low, guiding call—this time softer, more like an invitation. The two Shadow Griffins shared a look, glanced at their dependent chicks, and finally offered a few low chirps of submission.
Moonlight, seeing the matter settled, gave a small yawn and leaped back into Leylo's waiting arms. She rubbed her head against his chest, her throat vibrating with a satisfied purr.
The Science of the "Bong"
Leylo had his theories about Moonlight's method. Through her transformation magic, she hid her Silver Dragon identity as a cat, suppressing her draconic aura. However, by making physical contact with her "punch," she could transmit that overwhelming prehistoric pressure directly into the target's mind.
It was similar to the Black Dragon in the eastern mountains; it ruled other monsters because its very existence demanded submission. This "Physical Taming" also scaled with Moonlight's growth. In her infancy, she could only tame low-tier Pegasus; now that she was in her growth phase, even Tier 3 beasts like Tempest and these Shadow Griffins stood no chance.
Good News and Homecoming
The next morning, Leylo received a critical update from his intelligence network:
[Info: 10]: Luke, Vice Commander of the Thunder Dragon Knights, has arrived at White Poplar Territory. Having confirmed Augustus's unauthorized judgment of a Duke's vassal, but acknowledging the Viscount's true heresy, the Grand Duke has decided to simply deport Augustus to avoid worsening ties with the Church. Vice Commander Luke will arrive at Blackstone Territory this afternoon.
With the "disaster star" Augustus about to be handled by the authorities, Leylo didn't linger. He led his expanded flock—now including the Shadow Griffin family—back toward Blackstone.
Since being "physically enlightened" by Moonlight, the adult Shadow Griffins were perfectly obedient. Leylo even had Tempest carry the entire nest on his back. Two fluffy chicks poked their heads out, chirping at the passing clouds. Tempest looked rather disgruntled, occasionally grumbling as if complaining that the mighty Storm Griffin King had been reduced to a mobile nursery manager.
They didn't fly directly to the castle. Leylo first dropped the Shadow Griffins off at a secluded, steep stone pillar in the forest to establish their new home. Once they were settled, Leylo patted Tempest's neck. "Full speed ahead."
Like an arrow released from a bow, they shot toward Blackstone Castle to meet the coming storm.