One man and one griffin patrolled over a thousand kilometers south along the Blackwater River. The vast expanse of water acted like a giant mirror, reflecting the sky above.
Leylo looked as far as his eyes could see, spreading his mental perception to its maximum to search for any possible clues. However, the Eternal Turtle remained a phantom of legend; no matter how he searched, he found no trace of it. Though the river held no shortage of powerful aquatic magical beasts—some even as large as small islands—none were the target he sought.
As evening drew near, the sunset painted the clouds in magnificent hues of orange and red, casting a golden halo over the river.
"It seems there will be no harvest today." Leylo felt a hint of regret, but he didn't push his luck. Creatures of legend were things of chance, not demand. He turned Tempest around to begin the return journey.
Just then, a rustling sound from a marshy bank in a river bend caught his attention. He focused his gaze to see a dozen figures emerging from the reed beds. These creatures had humanoid upper bodies with skin covered in fine green scales and thick, muscular snake tails for lower halves. Most held poisoned bone spears or scimitars, moving silently with an aura of cold gloom.
"Minions of the Magic Snake." Leylo's eyes narrowed. It looked like a small search party sent from the Emerald Marsh to look for the turtle.
At their head was a tall Naga Priest wearing a crude crown of bone and feathers, clutching a black staff entwined with a small, living snake. The priest seemed to sense the gaze from above and snapped its head up, its cold vertical pupils locking onto Leylo and Tempest. It let out a string of raspy syllables and raised its staff; the snake atop it hissed, and a murky surge of mana began to gather.
"Trying to cast? Too late. Tempest!"
"Screee!"
Without needing another word, Tempest understood. He let out a sky-shattering roar, tucked his wings, and dove from the clouds like a bolt of yellow-brown lightning! The wind howled and the air pressure plummeted!
The Naga Priest's gathering mana shattered as it was gripped by terror. Before it could react, a colossal force descended.
CRACK!
The sound of splintering bone was sickening. Tempest's steel-like talons gripped the priest's head like a vise and crushed it instantly! Red and white sprayed across the sand as the headless corpse slumped over. The entire process was over in a flash; the remaining minions didn't even realize their leader was dead until Tempest pulled up in a lethal, elegant arc.
Simultaneously, dozens of pale-green wind blades condensed in the air, whistling toward the panicked snake-men like spinning saws.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Where the blades passed, blood sprayed. Ordinary minions had no hope against the magic of a Storm Griffin King. Screams erupted and were cut short just as quickly. In the blink of an eye, the dozen snake-men were shredded into pieces. Tempest casually hooked the priest's body with a claw and tossed it into the river before letting out a triumphant cry.
Leylo patted the griffin's neck in appreciation. With the interlude settled, they flew back toward Blackstone Castle, bathed in the twilight glow.
1. The Call to Arms
The next morning, as the sun climbed the battlements of the castle, Ed hurried into the study. "My Lord, Count Gawain of Redleaf Territory has sent an urgent messenger."
Leylo raised an eyebrow. "Count Gawain? Send him in."
A dusty messenger entered and presented a letter sealed with wax. Gawain wrote that the neighboring Stoney Creek Territory—a respectable Baron's land—had been completely wiped out overnight by a warband from the Emerald Marsh. The Lord was dead, and the people had been dragged into the swamp as "blood food."
Gawain was deeply worried. With the main forces of the Northern Lords soon to be diverted to the war against the Sun Kingdom, the interior would be hollow. He proposed that the Northern Alliance assemble half a month early at Redleaf Territory to conduct a massive "clearing operation" on the marsh's outskirts. This would serve as a deterrent and weaken the monsters' strength to ensure rear stability. The letter emphasized that Lord Luke supported this plan and would personally handle any Tier 5 beasts encountered.
Leylo tapped the desk. This coincided perfectly with his own thoughts—active offense was better than passive defense.
"Tell Count Gawain I agree. Blackstone's troops will arrive early," Leylo instructed.
2. The Birth of Elite Squads
Once the messenger left, Leylo began calculating his high-end combat power. He had plenty of Tier 3+ assets: his mount Tempest, four Earth Knights, eleven Storm Griffins, two Shadow Griffins, eleven adult Mammoths, and the newly tamed Armored Rhino. The problem was that these beasts were tied to him personally; they weren't yet a cohesive military unit.
"Ed! Select twenty of the most loyal and high-potential Great Knights. Have them assemble in the plaza this afternoon."
Under the afternoon sun, twenty knights stood like tall pines on the castle plaza. These were men who had bled with Leylo on the battlefield.
"Greeting, My Lord!" the twenty shouted, kneeling.
Leylo gestured for them to rise. "I have summoned you for a new appointment. From this day forward, you are my personal Guard Knights. Ten of you will receive Storm Griffins as mounts; the other ten will take Mammoths as partners."
A low gasp of suppressed excitement and feverish discussion rippled through the square.
Blackstone Elite Corps (Projected)
"These beasts are powerful, but they require riders who can match their spirit. You have the honor of being the first."