“Everyone, listen up!”
Barrett’s voice was loud and powerful.
“According to the previous groupings, First and Second Pegasus Squads, fall in!”
Twenty Knights responded in unison, stepping forward with synchronized strides.
They had changed into lighter leather armor, more suitable for aerial movement.
Barrett nodded, “We are not starting from scratch. The six Pegasus we tamed earlier have already allowed many brothers to experience the feeling of flight. Your foundation will be key to our rapid formation of combat effectiveness!”
He paused, his tone becoming more serious.
“However, I must warn you! Flying and aerial combat are two different things! The sky, while our open road, can also be our grave! Discipline, cooperation, and skill are indispensable! From today on, you are no longer merely Knights on horseback; you will be hunters of the sky! Training will be tough, exhausting, and even dangerous. Do you have confidence?!”
“Yes!”
The Knights roared in unison, their voices shaking the surroundings.
“Very good! Now, according to your squad divisions, choose your partners!”
Barrett commanded.
The Knights immediately sprang into action.
Thanks to Moonlight’s “preliminary work,” the selection process went much more smoothly.
Although the new Pegasus were still a bit unfamiliar and resistant, under the Knights’ patient comforting and attempts, they gradually accepted their new masters on their backs.
Of course, this process was not entirely smooth sailing.
“Hey! Easy there! Buddy, where are you trying to throw me?”
As soon as a Knight climbed onto a Pegasus’s back, the Pegasus suddenly flapped its wings, almost unseating him.
“Steady! Steady! I’m not asking you to dance on its back!” Barrett shouted.
The training ground was a lively scene of “people and horses tumbling.”
Fortunately, the Knights all had riding experience, and they had previously experienced flying in batches. Although somewhat disheveled, they quickly adapted to the Pegasus’s rhythm.
Following Barrett’s command, the Pegasus Knight of the two squads began attempting simple formation flying.
At first, the formation was crooked, and the altitude was uneven, looking precarious.
“Maintain altitude! First squad, align with me!”
Ed struggled to control his Pegasus while loudly issuing commands.
He had relatively more experience and flew the most steadily.
“Second squad! Spacing! Watch your spacing!” Bolin roared.
Amidst stumbles, the formation slowly began to straighten out.
The Knights gradually mastered the techniques of guiding the Pegasus through reins and body weight for turning, climbing, and diving.
Although occasionally a Pegasus would still be disobedient, or a Knight would make an operational error leading to temporary chaos, drawing angry roars from Barrett on the ground, overall, progress was remarkably fast.
Compared to when there were only six Pegasus and everyone took turns experiencing flight, this structured training now was significantly more efficient.
The formation in the sky, though still a bit wobbly, was vastly different from the beginning.
The Knights, controlling their Pegasus, progressed from teetering precariously to being able to barely maintain formation and perform simple climbs and dives, with visible improvement.
Ed and Bolin’s hoarse commands echoed in the air, while Barrett on the ground, like a hunter watching an eagle, sharply scrutinized every detail, occasionally letting out a deafening roar to correct the Knights’ mistakes.
“Hey, second squad! Your Pegasus’s head is leaning into the next squad! Trying to visit?!”
“First squad! Altitude! Altitude! Are you here to plow the fields?!”
Occasionally, a Knight would make an operational error, or their Pegasus would throw a minor tantrum, leading to a brief moment of chaos, which would draw some good-natured laughter and even more severe reprimands from Barrett.
But overall, this aerial force was growing at an astonishing rate.
Lei Luo stood not far away, watching it all, a faint smile on his lips.
Moonlight had approached at some point, squatting at his feet, pawing at his pant leg with its small claws, seemingly reminding him of the outstanding balance for fifty-one roasted geese.
Lei Luo looked down at it, then flicked its forehead with annoyance, earning a silent, tooth-baring protest from the little creature.
Lei Luo raised his hand, waving to Barrett.
Barrett understood, turned to face the sky, and blew a sharp whistle.
“Everyone! Land! Reorganize formation!”
Though somewhat perplexed, the Knights immediately obeyed the command.
The Pegasus flapped their wings, landing with some bumps, one after another, on the open ground.
The Knights dismounted, quickly lining up by squad.
Lei Luo walked to the front of the formation, his gaze sweeping over the young, resolute faces; sweat soaked their foreheads, but their eyes gleamed with excitement and anticipation.
“Very good.”
Lei Luo spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone’s ears.
“In such a short time, your progress has exceeded my expectations. How does it feel to fly into the sky?”
“Awesome!”
Someone shouted, and it immediately drew a chorus of agreement.
“Excellent!”
Lei Luo nodded.
“The sky is the domain of the brave, but it is also full of unknowns and dangers. To conquer it, one needs not only courage but also strength and dedication.”
He changed his tone.
“And dedication should be rewarded.”
“Ed, Bolin.”
Lei Luo called out their names.
“As squad commanders, you have led by example in past battles, setting a standard for all Knights.”
He then turned to Barrett: “Instructor Barrett, your rigorous training is the cornerstone of this team’s rapid formation.”
Barrett’s face still held a soldier’s solemnity, but a flicker of emotion appeared in his eyes.
“And,” Lei Luo’s gaze swept over several people in the formation, “Cad, Simon, Hark, and… Lorin.”
The four Knights whose names were called clearly froze, then their faces showed excitement.
They were all Knights who had distinguished themselves and earned merits in previous battles against the Magic Snake Claw and the Blood Wolf Band.
“The seven of you have proven your bravery in past battles and made outstanding contributions to Blackstone Territory. To commend your achievements…”
He paused, emphasizing his words.
“I have decided to bestow upon each of you a Pegasus!”
As his words fell, the entire training ground was first silent, then erupted in a huge uproar.
Barrett watched it all, a rare smile gracing his lips.
He knew that this move by Lei Luo would ignite the Knights’ fighting spirit more than any speech.
“This is both an affirmation of your past and an expectation for your future. I hope that you will become the vanguard and role models for this Pegasus Knight Order!”
Lei Luo finally said to all the Knights: “A Knight’s glory can only be gained in war, and a man’s achievements can only be exchanged for the heads of enemies. Esteemed Knights, I look forward to the remaining Pegasus finding their masters after the next battle.”
“Yes!”
The Knights roared their assent, their voices louder than any previous time.