Baofeng let out several low, rhythmic cries.
The sound wasn’t the sharp screech of battle, but more like a declaration—a form of communication laced with a suppressive pressure.
In the nest, the two adult Shadow Griffins were already on high alert, as if facing a great enemy.
They arched their bodies, their dark gray feathers standing on end like a porcupine’s quills. Their wings were slightly spread, shielding the two chicks behind them.
Facing this uninvited guest, Baofeng, they showed no weakness, responding with sharp, rapid hissing shrieks of their own.
The sound was filled with vigilance, anger, and tension.
For a mont, cries echoed back and forth above the Stone Forest.
Baofeng’s calls were deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable majesty as he tried to assert his dominance. The two Shadow Griffins’ cries, however, were shrill and hurried, filled with resistance and the determination to protect.
To Raylo, it sounded just like three griffins having a fierce argunt, with neither side willing to back down.
Baofeng was clearly growing impatient. He began to circle faster, his cries growing ever higher as he tried to overwhelm the others with sheer volu and presence.
However, although the two Shadow Griffins were slightly smaller, their presence was no less imposing, and they continued to resist stubbornly.
This "exchange" between the two sides lasted for several minutes, ending in a stalemate.
Raylo frowned slightly. ’The communication is probably this difficult because Storm Griffins and Shadow Griffins are different subspecies,’ he guessed, and began to consider whether he needed to take further action.
Just then, Moonlight, who had been lying on Baofeng’s head the whole ti, seed to finally run out of patience.
Its long, fluffy tail flicked impatiently. Its pale gold eyes snapped open, a glimr of light flashing within them.
The next mont, with a flash of silver light, Moonlight’s deceptively soft body shot off Baofeng’s head like a cannonball, moving so fast it left only an afterimage.
Its target was the two adult Shadow Griffins locked in a tense standoff with Baofeng below.
"WHOOSH!"
Almost before Raylo could react, Moonlight had landed precisely on the head of one of the Shadow Griffins.
Then, it raised a forepaw and, without the slightest hesitation, brought it down on the griffin’s head—a head several tis larger than its entire body...
"BONK!"
A dull thud echoed.
The Shadow Griffin’s cry cut off abruptly. Its massive head wobbled, its eyes filled with astonishnt and confusion, as if it couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.
Before it could recover, Moonlight’s small figure blurred again, leaping with the sa incredible speed onto the head of the other Shadow Griffin.
"BONK!"
Another identical "Cat Cat Fist."
The second Shadow Griffin also fell silent instantly, wearing the sa dazed expression as its mate.
Sudden silence fell over the Stone Forest, leaving only the sound of the wind whining through the rocks.
The corner of Raylo’s mouth twitched slightly as he struggled to suppress a laugh.
Moonlight’s signature "Physical Beast Taming" technique was simple and crude, yet always surprisingly effective.
These two Shadow Griffins had clearly not escaped Moonlight’s "Iron Claw Punishnt."
After a brief stupor, the two Shadow Griffins, who had been "bonked" twice by Moonlight, seed to finally recover from the strange shock.
Their ruffled feathers slowly settled, and the ferocity and hostility in their eyes faded, replaced by confusion and... a hint of reverence?
They shook their heads cautiously, as if trying to confirm they weren’t hallucinating.
When their eyes again t Moonlight, who was perched overhead and leisurely grooming its whiskers with a paw, they instinctively flinched.
At that mont, although Moonlight still looked like a harmless, oversized cat, in the eyes of the two Shadow Griffins, it was as if they were facing a Giant Dragon.
Seeing this, Baofeng let out another low cry at the opportune mont. This ti, it held less force and more guidance.
The two Shadow Griffins exchanged a look, then glanced at their chicks, who were watching them dependently from the nest. Finally, they let out a few soft, responsive cries.
The sound was no longer sharp, but instead carried a hint of... submission.
Then, at Baofeng’s signal, they hesitated for a mont before spreading their wings, slowly rising into the air, and following Baofeng toward the stone pillar where Raylo was.
They circled the stone pillar a few tis, letting out a series of low calls, which seed to be a way of showing their surrender.
The two chicks chirped anxiously in their nest, and the adult Shadow Griffins imdiately answered with a few calls, seemingly to comfort them.
Seeing that the situation was under control, Moonlight gave a satisfied little yawn, leaped lightly from Baofeng’s head, and landed squarely in Raylo’s waiting arms.
It settled into a comfortable position, nuzzled its head against Raylo’s chest, and let out a soft purr.
Raylo smiled and stroked its soft fur.
Raylo had a theory about Moonlight’s thod of physical subjugation.
’Moonlight uses Transformation Magic to hide its identity as a Silver Dragon, presenting itself as a large cat.’
’At the sa ti, its draconic aura and pressure are suppressed.’
’But through physical contact—the "fist"—it transmits its draconic pressure and aura to the target.’
’Once the target feels that draconic aura and pressure, it naturally becos inclined to submit.’
’It’s just like the Black Dragon entrenched in the eastern Black Stone Mountain Range. The reason it can gather so many Magical Beast clans to serve it is, to so extent, because it relies on its draconic pressure. Compared to other High Tier Creatures, Giant Dragons are naturally better at making Magical Beasts submit.’
’This physical taming is also related to Moonlight’s Tier. During its juvenile stage, it could only ta Low Tier Magical Beasts like the Pegasus. But after entering its Growth Stage, it successfully tad even a Tier Three Magical Beast like Baofeng.’
Night fell quietly, and the Stone Forest gradually grew still.
After resting there for a night, Raylo received so good news the next morning.
[10: Upon arriving in Baiyang Territory, Vice Commander Luke of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order confird that Augustus had, without authorization, passed judgnt on one of the Duchy’s viscounts. As Viscount Baiyang was indeed guilty of colluding with an Evil Deity and performing blasphemous rites, and in order to avoid aggravating relations with the Light Holy See, the Duke has decided rely to expel Augustus from the country. Vice Commander Luke will arrive in Black Stone Territory this afternoon.]
With this intelligence, Raylo’s mind was at ease, and he delayed no longer.
He mounted Baofeng and led the Storm Griffin Group, along with the two newly subjugated Shadow Griffins, flying in a great, imposing procession toward Black Stone Territory.
The two adult Shadow Griffins, ever since being "physically enlightened" by Moonlight’s two "bonks," had completely lost their temper. Throughout the journey, they obediently followed Baofeng’s lead.
Raylo simply had Baofeng carry the entire griffin nest on his back. The two fluffy griffin chicks curiously poked their heads out of the nest, letting out faint chirps.
Baofeng was clearly unhappy about this. He would occasionally shake his massive head and let out a few low grumbles, as if complaining that he, the magnificent Storm Griffin King, was now a mobile bird’s nest manager.
The group didn’t return directly to Black Stone Castle, but first made a detour to the Stone Forest.
Raylo chose a steep, secluded stone pillar within the Stone Forest to be the new ho for the Shadow Griffin family.
After setting down the nest and watching the two adult Shadow Griffins begin to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings while comforting the chicks in the nest, Raylo was finally able to relax.
He patted Baofeng’s neck, signaling him to accelerate alone, shooting toward Black Stone Castle like an arrow loosed from a bow.
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