The Storm Griffin smacked its beak, and before it could even register the taste, a tyrannical aura erupted from within its body.
It’s happening!
Raylo’s gaze sharpened.
The Storm Griffin’s body began to tremble violently as the cyan Wind Elent around it surged, forming visible whirlwinds that kicked dust and grass into the air.
Its feathers stood on end like sharp steel needles, and its body began to swell at a visible rate.
Raylo grabbed a bottle of blue Energy Potion from a nearby box, twisted off the cap, and poured it directly into the Storm Griffin’s gaping beak.
"GLUG, GLUG, GLUG..."
The Storm Griffin seed to know this was crucial for its evolution, so it offered no resistance, allowing the Potion, thick with the aura of energy, to flow down its throat.
One bottle, two bottles, three...
As if they were free, Raylo poured one precious Energy Potion after another into the Storm Griffin’s mouth.
He wasn’t just pouring in Potions; he was pouring away glittering gold coins.
Moonlight shifted its position on the windowsill, its attention drawn to the scene.
As more Energy Potions were poured in, the Storm Griffin’s aura grew stronger, and the evolution process beca more violent.
It let out a high-pitched shriek that shook the very ground. A powerful pressure radiated out from it, making the hearts of the nearby attendants pound as they scrambled back.
In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen Energy Potions were gone.
The cyan light on the Storm Griffin’s body flickered erratically. The evolution seed to have hit a snag. Although its aura was still climbing, the pace had slowed considerably, as if it was just short of the final push.
Raylo frowned slightly.
’That was the entire stock of Energy Potions in Black Stone Territory. And it’s still not enough,’ he thought.
He glanced at the two remaining fruits on the Dragon Thorn Fruit Tree and, without hesitation, plucked another one.
’Nothing ventured, nothing gained!’
Raylo tossed the second Dragon Thorn Fruit toward the Storm Griffin.
The Storm Griffin, at a critical mont in its evolution, instinctively sensed the imnse energy within the Dragon Thorn Fruit and swallowed it without a second thought.
BOOM!
The mont the second Dragon Thorn Fruit went down, a torrent of energy, far more violent than before, erupted within the Storm Griffin.
The stalled evolution process surged forward again, as if it had been injected with a powerful fuel.
The Storm Griffin’s body expanded further. Already nearly three ters tall, it shot up even higher, almost reaching the size of a small house.
Its cyan feathers beca a deeper shade, as if forged from the purest Wind Elent. The edge of each feather flickered with a faint electric light.
The crest on its head grew longer and more magnificent, forming a natural crown.
Its sharp, eagle-like eyes now glead with a light so brilliant one dared not look directly at them, radiating majesty and Power.
"SCREEE!"
A long cry, sharp enough to pierce the clouds and shatter stone, echoed throughout Black Stone Territory.
The Storm Griffin abruptly spread its wings. Its massive wingspan blotted out nearly half the clearing as a fierce gale erupted, sending the surrounding trees rustling wildly.
A terrifying pressure, far surpassing that of a Tier Three Magical Beast, swept outward, heralding the birth of a new king.
Tier Four!
The Storm Griffin King!
A satisfied smile spread across Raylo’s face.
The cost had been steep—two precious Dragon Thorn Fruits and over a dozen Energy Potions—but seeing the Storm Griffin successfully evolve to Tier Four made it all worthwhile.
The Storm Griffin King slowly folded its wings and affectionately nuzzled its huge head against Raylo’s shoulder. Its eyes, so different from before, were now filled with gratitude and reliance.
Before, the Storm Griffin had only "surrendered" and beco Raylo’s mount after being cowed by the might of Black Stone Territory’s "Little Overlord."
It was a reluctant submission, and the Griffin felt no real affection for Raylo.
Now, having broken through its biological limits with Raylo’s help, the Storm Griffin finally felt true recognition and dependence on him.
"Go on, get a feel for your new Power."
Raylo patted the Storm Griffin King’s neck, which was covered in Iron Feathers, his own heart swelling with pride.
With the expansion of his territory, he was in ever-increasing need of more powerful allies.
On the windowsill, Moonlight yawned and stretched lazily. It then tucked its paws back under its furry body, settled into a more comfortable position, and went back to enjoying the quiet night.
「The next afternoon.」
Raylo sat behind a large oak desk, buried in a mountain of paperwork.
’I really need to select a new batch of Civil Servants!’
Raylo rubbed his temples. Just as he was about to start on the next docunt, the sound of hurried footsteps grew closer.
"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!"
"Co in!"
A travel-worn Knight in Leather Armor pushed the door open and knelt on one knee, his voice laced with urgency.
"Lord, urgent military intelligence! A ssage from the direction of the Jade Swamp reports that a large number of Demon Serpent’s Fangs have appeared in the border region. There are at least a hundred of them!"
"Demon Serpent’s Fangs?"
Raylo stood and walked to the window, gazing at the sprawling mountain range in the distance.
’So they’ve co after all.’
The slumbering Nine-headed Demon Serpent needed a massive amount of flesh and blood to advance. It looked like the territory was in for a period of harassnt from the Demon Serpent’s Fangs.
"Relay my command! All Pegasus Knights, assemble at the training grounds imdiately! Everyone else, heighten the territory’s security!"
"Yes, Lord!"
The Knight acknowledged the order, rose swiftly, and departed.
Raylo strode out of the study, the last traces of his earlier languor gone, replaced by a surging battlelust.
He considered his strategy as he walked.
The Demon Serpent’s Fangs were not high-tier—mostly Tier One, with a few reaching Tier Two—but their strength was in their sheer numbers. Once they ford a swarm, their charge could not be underestimated.
More importantly, the purpose of the Demon Serpent’s Fangs was to plunder flesh and blood for the Nine-headed Demon Serpent’s advancent. If they were allowed to rampage through the territory, it would be a devastating blow to the already sparse population.
More importantly, their appearance often ant a more powerful monster was controlling them from the shadows.
When he arrived at the open training grounds outside the castle, dozens of Pegasus Knights were already in formation. Their silver armor glead in the sun, and their Pegasus mounts pawed restlessly at the ground, neighing intermittently.
These Pegasus Knights were Black Stone Territory’s elite aerial force, each a formidable warrior in their own right.
"ROAR!"
A massive cyan figure soared into the sky, riding a violent current of air like a descending thundercloud, and landed before Raylo within monts.
It was none other than the newly evolved Storm Griffin King!
The Storm Griffin King was now a full size larger than before. Its five-ter height was imnse and imposing. When it spread its giant wings, its wingspan of over twenty ters could kick up a gale with a single flap.
Its cyan-black feathers looked as if they were forged from the purest Wind Elent, each one flickering with a faint electric light, their edges as sharp as blades.
The crest on its head was even longer and more magnificent, forming a natural crown. Its sharp, eagle-like eyes glinted with a cold light, brimming with majesty and Power.
It affectionately nuzzled its massive head against Raylo’s shoulder, a low rumble purring in its throat. Its eyes held a trace of eager excitent.
Clearly, after its evolution, it was itching for a battle to test its newfound Power.
Raylo patted the Iron Feathers on the Storm Griffin King’s neck and leaped onto its broad back.
"Lord!"
The Pegasus Knights saluted in unison.
"Move out!"
Raylo wasted no words.
Moonlight appeared from out of nowhere and leaped into Raylo’s arms.
"SCREEE!"
The Storm Griffin King let out a shriek that could pierce clouds and shatter stone, then abruptly spread its massive wings.
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