They didn’t have to wait for long.
About an hour later, as dusk began to fall, a cluster of black dots appeared in the distant sky, growing larger by the second.
"They’re here!"
Raylo’s spirits lifted.
Soon, Ed’s familiar face ca into view. He was followed by more than twenty Pegasus Knights in a neat formation. It was clear they had assembled and departed the mont they received their orders.
When Ed saw the vast herd of at least fifty Pegasi, even soone as normally composed as him couldn’t help but stare, a massive grin splitting his face from ear to ear.
"My heavens! My Lord, this... so many Pegasi!"
Ed’s voice was thick with incredulous joy. He stared at the majestic creatures with shining eyes, as if seeing countless valiant, battle-hardened Pegasus Knights beckoning to him.
’The Pegasus Knight Order of Black Stone Territory is finally going to beco a true power!’
Raylo laughed.
"Ed, don’t just stand there gawking. These Pegasi are spooked and have been on the run for a while, which makes it the perfect ti to capture them. Have your n get ready. Let’s move!"
"Yes, My Lord!"
Ed waved his hand excitedly and shouted his command.
"You heard him, n! Ready your lassos! Today, we’re taking every last one of these beauties back to Black Stone Castle!"
"OOAH!"
The Knights let out an excited roar, each pulling a specially prepared lasso from the side of his saddle.
"Master, let’s take the flanks, one on the left and one on the right. We’ll prevent any Pegasi from breaking from the herd and escaping," Raylo said to Master Barnaby.
"Don’t worry. Leave it to ."
Master Barnaby agreed cheerfully, guiding his Two-legged Flying Dragon to a higher altitude and sweeping his gaze over the entire Pegasus herd.
"Baofeng, you help too. Drive back any that try to stray off course."
Raylo patted Baofeng’s neck.
The Storm Griffin King let out a low cry and began to circle nimbly around the periter of the Pegasus herd.
"Move out!"
With a command from Ed, the twenty-odd Pegasus Knights fanned out, shouting as their lassos cut graceful arcs through the air, aid precisely at the still-startled Pegasi.
"Heh! Got one!"
One Knight was the first to succeed, his rope landing squarely around the neck of a Pegasus.
The startled Pegasus shot upward, but the Knight calmly pulled the rope taut. His own mount worked in perfect concert with him, and together they exerted their strength, slowly dragging the wild Pegasus down to the ground.
Once the Pegasus was on the ground, the other end of the lasso was tied securely to a sturdy tree trunk nearby, ensuring the creature could not break free.
With that done, the Knight ascended once more to find his next target.
The scene instantly beca a whirlwind of activity.
The neighing of Pegasi, the shouts of the Knights, and the sound of ropes whistling through the air all wove together.
So of the Pegasi were more docile; after being lassoed, they struggled only symbolically a few tis before accepting their fate.
But others were fierce-tempered and continued to leap and thrash with all their might even after being caught, giving the Knights no small amount of trouble as they tried to break free.
Below, the Knights of the Moonlight Knight Order, led by Alex, had also ridden over to help secure the captured Pegasi on the ground.
Ti trickled by amidst the tense yet orderly capture.
Night had long since fallen, and the Knights lit torches, illuminating the river valley.
Sweat soaked their clothes, but every face was beaming with excitent and satisfaction.
It took a full four or five hours, not until the moon was high in the sky, for the last Pegasus to be successfully subdued.
Ed wiped the sweat from his forehead, did a quick count, and reported excitedly to Raylo.
"My Lord, fifty-three in total!"
"Excellent! Absolutely excellent!"
Raylo was overjoyed as well.
"Let the n rest for a while, then take these Pegasi back to Black Stone Castle. Be careful not to spook them again."
"Yes, My Lord!"
Gazing at the more than fifty majestic white Pegasi before him, Raylo could already envision the magnificent sight of a Pegasus Knight Order of unprecedented scale soaring through the skies above Black Stone Territory.
Master Barnaby flew down as well, clucking his tongue in amazent as he looked upon their spectacular haul.
"Raylo, my boy, your luck is truly extraordinary. To think you could just co out for a trip and stumble upon such a massive prize."
Raylo chuckled.
"The feeling’s mutual. If you hadn’t been here to guard the flanks, Master, it would have been a lot more work."
"Haha, it was nothing."
Master Barnaby waved his hand dismissively, then said with a hint of regret,
"Looks like our trip to the Dragon’s Nest is off the table for today."
He still couldn’t stop thinking about that undiscovered Dragon’s Nest.
"It is indeed too late, and everyone is exhausted."
Raylo glanced at the Knights who were cautiously leading the Pegasi.
"Master, why don’t we rest at Black Stone Castle tonight? We can set out first thing in the morning and focus on finding that Dragon’s Nest. What do you say?"
"Excellent! It’s a deal!"
Excitent flashed in Master Barnaby’s eyes again.
"I’d like to see how that mutated Little Silver Dragon thinks it can escape my grasp!"
Under the cover of night, the triumphant party began their slow return to Black Stone Castle, their prize in tow.
The torchlight snaked through the mountain forest like a fiery dragon, accompanied all the way by the occasional neighing of the Pegasi and the laughter of the Knights.
「The next morning, at the first light of dawn.」
Raylo and Master Barnaby t in the castle courtyard.
Baofeng was already waiting off to the side. It shook its tawny Iron Feathers and let out a low cry, looking full of vigor.
Nearby, Master Barnaby’s Two-legged Flying Dragon was also flapping its wings, pawing impatiently at the ground.
"Ready, Master?" Raylo asked, swinging himself onto Baofeng’s broad back.
"I’ve been itching to go!"
Master Barnaby chuckled, nimbly climbing aboard his Two-legged Flying Dragon.
"Here’s hoping we find the little critter’s den today."
"Baofeng, let’s go!"
"SCREE!"
With a powerful beat of its wings, the Storm Griffin King whipped up a gale and launched into the air. The Two-legged Flying Dragon followed close behind. The two flying mounts swiftly disappeared into the morning mist, flying north toward the depths of the Black Stone Mountain Range.
The Black Stone Mountain Range rose and fell endlessly, its peaks clustered together.
The flight was monotonous, dragging on for hours with nothing to see but the endless, shifting shapes of the mountains below.
The Black Stone Mountain Range lived up to its na. The mountains themselves were mostly a deep black or iron gray, and the vegetation was far less lush than in the outside world, giving the area a desolate, primordial feel.
"Raylo, my boy, look over there!"
Master Barnaby suddenly shouted, pointing toward a precipitous peak up ahead.
Raylo looked where he was pointing. Halfway up the peak was a massive, shocking gash. A huge amount of scree and dirt had collapsed from the mountainside, forming the stark trail of a landslide that stretched all the way to the foot of the mountain.
And there, halfway up the collapsed section, a deep, dark cave mouth seven or eight ters high had been revealed. It was as if the mountain had opened a giant eye to stare at the sky.
"Looks like a recent landslide must have exposed this cave entrance."
Raylo urged Baofeng to fly a little closer for a better look.
Master Barnaby also guided his Two-legged Flying Dragon closer. He sniffed the air intently, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
"Interesting. There seems to be a lingering trace of... very faint Dragon Mighty here."
Raylo’s heart skipped a beat.
Master Barnaby clapped his hands together.
"Co on, let’s go down and see! Baofeng, and you, you lazy dragon, stand guard out here. Don’t let any witless Magical Beasts co and disturb us."
Baofeng gave a low cry, its gaze sweeping the surroundings.
The Two-legged Flying Dragon snorted, seemingly displeased with being called a "lazy dragon," but it still hovered faithfully near the entrance to the cave.
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