Barton pointed to the other side.
There, a cavalry unit of forty Tier Two Magical Beasts, Barbarian Bulls, was also training.
The Barbarian Bulls were powerfully built, their horns glinting with a tallic sheen, looking quite majestic.
But in front of the Mammoths, they were dwarfed in both size and presence.
Further in the distance was a mixed unit of over thirty different Giant Beasts. There were shell-backed Burrowing Dragons, Terror Claw Beasts with claws as sharp as knives, and even a few acid-spitting Swamp Multi-headed Lizards.
They were clearly in the early stages of coordinated training and appeared sowhat chaotic.
"Entrusting with the command of such a decisive force... I, Barton, will not forget this trust!"
Barton’s tone was utterly sincere.
Among nobles, handing over command of one’s ace troops to another was a sign of the highest trust.
Although it was due to an order from the "Iron Blood" Knight, Luke, from Barton’s perspective, the fact that Raylo and Lillian had handed over their trump card so cleanly and decisively was exceptionally rare.
"We are allies. Opposing the Fiery Sun Kingdom is our common goal," Raylo said.
"The Mammoth Knights will only be able to display their greatest effect within your Giant Beast Legion."
Barton was extrely pleased to hear this. He roared with laughter and pulled Raylo toward a nearby rest area.
"Co, co, let’s sit and talk. I just got my hands on a batch of excellent ale!"
The rest area was simple, just a few rustic wooden tables and stone stools.
In a corner, an enormous tiger lay on the ground.
It was over six ters long, its entire body covered in ink-black fur marked with Dark Gold stripes. Most striking were the pair of folded giant wings on its back, their mbranes shimring with a visible, dark red Magic Power.
This was the Count of Giant Stone’s Contracted Magical Beast, a Tier Four Winged Demon Tiger.
However, the beast, which should have been magnificent and imposing, seed off at the mont.
It lay on the ground, its breathing heavy and labored. It would let out an irritated, low growl from ti to ti, its tail anxiously slapping the ground and kicking up clouds of dust.
Its dark red eyes were bloodshot and filled with violence.
Barton noticed Raylo’s gaze. The smile on his face faded, and he heaved a heavy sigh.
"Sigh, don’t even ask. I don’t know what’s been wrong with this guy lately."
He poured a large mug of ale for himself and Raylo, the foam nearly overflowing.
"What’s going on?"
Raylo asked, his eyes never leaving the Winged Demon Tiger.
"It flies into a rage from ti to ti, attacking anyone who gets close. Sotis, it won’t even listen to ."
Barton gulped down a large mouthful of ale, his face etched with worry.
"At first, it was just a little irritable, but it’s gotten worse these past few days. I’ve had several physicians and Mages look at it, and they all say it isn’t injured or Cursed. They’re guessing that it might be... in heat."
As he said the last part, Barton’s expression beca a little awkward.
Raylo didn’t speak imdiately, carefully observing the Demon Tiger.
In fact, he already knew the source of the Winged Demon Tiger’s problem. His intelligence reports had ntioned the reason for its frenzies. He had co here precisely to solve this issue for the Count of Giant Stone, to prevent the beast from suddenly going berserk during tomorrow’s battle and causing so accident to befall the Count. His and Lillian’s Mammoth Knights were under the Count’s command; if sothing happened to Barton, their knights would be caught in the crossfire.
"Count Barton."
"Based on my experience raising Magical Beasts, its condition might not be as simple as being in heat."
Barton paused, looking at Raylo.
In the eyes of the Northern Lords, Raylo’s opinion on the subject of taming Magical Beasts carried far more weight than those of Mages who were re armchair strategists.
"Oh? Then what do you think the problem is, my friend?"
Barton was imdiately intrigued.
"Its condition looks more like it has been chronically ingesting sothing that is overstimulating its nerves, but which its body cannot fully tabolize,"
Raylo said slowly.
"I suggest you start by investigating its diet."
"Its diet?"
Barton frowned.
"Its food is handled by a dedicated keeper, and they only use the freshest High Tier Magical Beast at..."
His expression changed in an instant.
He was a man who, despite his rough exterior, was sharp and ticulous. Raylo’s words were like a bolt of lightning, cleaving through the fog in his mind and revealing the terrible possibility: there was a problem with the person feeding his tiger.
The Winged Demon Tiger was his most powerful combat asset and a partner who had fought by his side for many years. If sothing happened to it before the final battle, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Damn it!"
Barton slamd a fist on the table, making the solid wood groan.
He shot to his feet and roared at two of his Personal Guards nearby.
"You two, get over here!"
The two Personal Guards imdiately ran over.
"From now on, you two are to guard ’Black Wind’ and not leave its side for a mont!"
Barton’s tone was grim.
"All of its food must pass through my hands personally! No one but is to handle its diet. Do you understand!"
"Also, take the steward and attendants responsible for Black Wind’s food into custody."
"Yes, Lord Earl!"
The two Personal Guards replied loudly.
After dealing with the matter, Barton sat back down. The anger on his face faded, replaced by a trace of lingering fear and gratitude.
He raised his mug and spoke solemnly to Raylo.
"Raylo, my friend, I owe you for this one. Otherwise... my old partner here might have been in serious trouble."
"It was nothing."
Raylo raised his mug and clinked it against Barton’s.
"The final battle is imminent. You and your partner, Count Barton, are both indispensable assets to the alliance."
"Well said! To the final battle!"
Barton drained his mug in one go, his heroic spirit soaring.
"When I find the bastard who dared to drug my tiger’s food, I’m going to stuff him in a catapult and see how far he flies!"
The two n shared a look and laughed, the atmosphere growing lively once more.
They continued to chat about their plans and hopes for the decisive battle tomorrow, with the roars of the Giant Beasts and the shouts of the Knights in the distance serving as the backdrop to their conversation.
「The next day.」
As the first light of dawn appeared, the long, drawn-out sound of a horn tore through the pre-dawn tranquility, waking Raylo from his deep sleep like an invisible, giant hand.
The great battle was at hand.
Raylo rose quickly.
While changing his clothes, he filtered through the day’s intelligence reports. One particular piece of information caught his attention.
[10: Prince Karachi of the Fiery Sun Kingdom has secretly summoned his Swordsmanship Instructor, "Radiant Blade" Kade. This individual is a Tier Five Domain Knight from the Light Holy See, specializing in Light Divine Technique and Swordsmanship. He secretly arrived at the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s military camp last night. During the decisive battle, when the fighting between "Iron Blood" Luke and "Blood Lion" Aston is at its most intense, he will launch a surprise attack from the shadows with the intent to kill Luke in a single blow.]
’So, this is Karachi’s trump card.’
’A "decapitation" strike.’
’Simple, crude, yet lethally effective.’
Raylo himself had used this tactic many tis to great effect.
Now that the enemy was about to use it on his side, the feeling was not pleasant at all.
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