At dinner time, the castle's dining hall was brightly lit, and the rich, enticing aroma of meat already drifted from the long oak table.
Servants brought out platter after platter of tonight's main course: charcoal-grilled Tier 4 Croc-Dragon meat. There were over a hundred pounds of it, sliced into medium-sized chunks, grilled until the outside was golden and crispy while the inside remained tender and succulent. The fat sizzled under the high heat, releasing a fragrance powerful enough to lift the roof.
This was stock left over from the previous hunt of the Swamp Croc-Dragon. To ensure the rapid growth of Moonlight—a true dragon—most of the several thousand pounds of meat had ended up in her belly, with Leylo himself only taking an occasional taste. Even Tempest, the most decorated hero of Blackstone Territory who always led the charge, had only received a few scraps at the start to satisfy his curiosity; since then, he could only sniff the aroma from afar.
Just as Leylo picked up his knife and fork to begin, a white silhouette appeared leisurely at the dining hall entrance. Moonlight flicked her fluffy tail and, with a graceful leap, hopped onto the table. Her pale-gold eyes swept over the mountain of roasted meat before she squinted in satisfaction, letting out a nearly inaudible purr from her throat.
After the meal.
Moonlight licked her paws and cleaned the grease from around her mouth, looking thoroughly content. Seeing her in this lazy "cat mode," Leylo cleared his throat and carefully chose his words to begin his great "lobbying" plan.
"Moonlight," he started, making his voice sound as amiable as possible. "A new batch of Pegasuses arrived at the castle recently, right? Do you think... you could do me a small favor?"
He spoke cautiously, his eyes fixed on Moonlight. He was mentally prepared for the little ancestor to make an outrageous demand—perhaps asking for a mountain of roasted geese as payment. After all, every time he had asked for help in the past, he'd been fleeced.
To Leylo's surprise, Moonlight merely lifted a lazy eyelid to glance at him, let out a low purr from her throat, and actually agreed.
Leylo froze for a second, almost thinking he had misheard. She just... agreed? He wondered what had caused this change in temperament. Being this easy to talk to was simply not her usual style.
With a mix of curiosity and anticipation, Leylo led Moonlight to the temporary paddocks behind the castle. A large clearing had been enclosed with sturdy log fences, where the fifty-plus newly captured Pegasuses were crowded together. They were magnificent creatures with full wings, but they remained agitated. Unused to captivity, they let out sharp neighs, their hooves pawing the dirt while their snowy wings flapped nervously, kicking up clouds of dust.
Moonlight maintained her lazy, big-cat demeanor. She leaped lightly from Leylo's shoulder and landed silently on the high roof of the nearby stables. Under the night sky, she looked down upon the restless herd. Her pale-gold eyes suddenly flared in the darkness, glowing with a soul-piercing light like two flickering golden flames.
"Grrr!"
A low growl—not particularly loud, yet carrying a strange, penetrating power and supreme majesty—vibrated from Moonlight's throat.
In an instant, an invisible yet mountain-heavy pressure erupted from her like a bursting tide, instantly enveloping the entire paddock. This was fear originating from the deepest part of the bloodline; it was the absolute suppression of life tiers.
Dragon Fear!
The herd, which had been bucking and trying to ram the fences, was suddenly seized as if by an invisible hand. Every single Pegasus froze in place. Their high-held heads dropped instantly, their eyes filled with extreme terror and awe.
Wailing cries broke out as they began to shiver, their powerful limbs trembling uncontrollably. A dozen or so Pegasuses with weaker bloodlines or smaller courage felt their knees buckle; they collapsed with a "thud," bowing low. Their massive wings drooped helplessly as they buried their heads deep into the forage, their entire bodies shaking in a display of absolute submission.
The entire process—from Moonlight's growl to the complete subjugation of the herd—lasted only a few breaths.
Leylo stood to the side, watching the scene with bated breath. His shock was beyond words. That's... it? So easily? He had expected Moonlight to use her "physical taming method" one by one like before. He hadn't expected a single low growl and a release of pure Dragon Fear to turn these proud creatures into sheep.
"Moonlight, you..." Leylo opened his mouth, but found himself speechless. He could clearly feel that the pressure she emitted now was stronger and more condensed than ever before. Her growth rate was terrifying.
Sensing Leylo's inner turmoil, Moonlight retracted her aura. The golden flames in her eyes faded back to their usual laziness. She leaped back onto his shoulder and rubbed her furry head against his cheek, purring triumphantly as if to say: "See? Simple."
Leylo felt a tickle where she rubbed, but his mind was clear. He realized why she had been so "generous" today. To her, taming these low-tier Pegasuses was an effortless task—not even a warm-up.
He couldn't help but chuckle, scratching her under the chin. "You little rascal. You're hiding your light more and more."
The next morning.
Blackstone Castle Knight Training Ground.
As the first light of dawn broke and the air was crisp, Leylo stood with his hands behind his back. Ed and Alex stood by his side. Before them, twenty knights stood in a neat line. Their armor bore the scars of battle, and their faces were filled with solemn excitement. These men were warriors who had bled and earned merit on the Emerald Marsh defense line.
Leylo's gaze swept over them. "Knights, I have seen your bravery and loyalty. Today is the day to fulfill my promise and reward those who have served."
He gestured to Ed and Alex. The two stepped forward and together lifted a heavy oak chest. With a "click," the lid opened, revealing rows of neatly arranged crystal vials. Each vial contained a thick, dark-brown liquid that shimmered with a strange luster under the morning sun, as if it held a powerful life force.