“The patrolling knights discovered some huge claw prints, much larger than those of ordinary wild wolves, and quite numerous, scattered haphazardly.
There were signs of trampling and gnawing on the ground, as if a group of large predators had passed by,” Aid said in a deep voice.
“The patrol team dared not go deep; they only investigated the periphery before quickly reporting back.
Based on experience, it seems a considerable number of magical beasts have infiltrated the territory.”
Lei Luo nodded; it seemed a small beast tide from the Black Stone Mountain Range was approaching.
“Expand the alert range, dispatch the Pegasus Knights to patrol the area around the territory, and make sure to ascertain the number and types of magical beasts that have appeared!”
“Yes, my Lord!” Aid acknowledged the order.
On the morning of the third day, just as dawn was breaking, urgent hoofbeats shattered the tranquility of Blackstone Town.
A Pegasus Knight, responsible for outer perimeter patrols, covered in morning dew, galloped into Blackstone Town.
“My Lord! This is bad!” The knight’s voice carried an undisguised panic.
“Magical beasts! They are magical beasts! They… they have entered!”
Lei Luo threw on his coat, grabbed the longsword hanging on the wall, and strode out of the wooden house.
“Don’t panic! Explain clearly! What magical beasts? How many? Where were they found?”
“They are… they are Hyenas! And Black Wind Dire Wolves! I even saw a few Spine Bristle Boars!” The knight panted, trying to calm his emotions.
“There are too many, at least… at least over a hundred! They are in the northeast direction, less than twenty kilometers from the town! They are heading this way!”
Over a hundred magical beasts!
Hyenas are cunning and vicious, Black Wind Dire Wolves are fast and highly aggressive, while Spine Bristle Boars have thick hides and are quite difficult to deal with, being second-tier magical beasts.
Aid had also arrived upon hearing the news, his expression equally grave.
“My Lord, we must organize a defense immediately!”
“Aid, gather the army!”
“Yes!” Aid turned and sprinted away.
Soon, the army began to assemble in the town square.
Several core members came to the meeting hall.
On the spread-out map, a red X was conspicuous.
Lei Luo pointed to the red X on the map and said, “This Rocky Slope? The terrain is complex, full of strange rocks, making it a natural ambush site.
We need to find a way to lure the magical beasts there!”
“Aid, immediately lead the main force and rush to the Rocky Slope at the fastest speed to set up traps and ditches!
I will personally lead the Pegasus Knights to intercept and drive them from the air, herding that group of invading magical beasts into the grave we’ve prepared for them!”
“My Lord, this is too dangerous!” Aid said anxiously.
“There is danger, but it’s within a controllable range,” Lei Luo said.
“We are lucky; there are no flying magical beasts among this group, so our Pegasus Knights can give us the initiative in this war.”
Aid looked at Lei Luo’s resolute gaze, knowing Lei Luo’s mind was made up.
He suddenly straightened his chest: “Yes!”
Aid immediately rallied his men, taking most of the knights and armed, sturdy militiamen, and galloped towards the Rocky Slope.
They needed to complete the trap arrangements and battle preparations before the magical beasts arrived.
Two Pegasus Knight squads were already waiting in the square.
Moonlight leaped into Lei Luo’s arms, and together they swung onto the Storm Gryphon’s broad back, gripping the reins on the saddle.
The Storm Gryphon let out a clear eagle cry, its huge wings powerfully flapping, stirring up a gale, and soaring into the sky.
Closely following, several Pegasus Knights also flapped their pure white wings, following their lord, shooting like arrows from a bowstring towards the turbulent sky in the northeast.
The wind howled in their ears, and Blackstone Town below rapidly shrank, becoming a blurry patch of color.
Lei Luo crouched low, pressing against the Storm Gryphon’s warm and solid back, his sharp gaze sweeping over the vast forest and wilderness below like an eagle.
The Storm Gryphon’s speed was incredibly fast; the powerful airflow was sliced by its strong wings, producing a tearing sound.
Two teams of Pegasus Knights followed closely, forming a loose arrow formation; their pure white Pegasi shone with a sacred luster in the sunlight, forming a stark contrast with the Storm Gryphon’s tawny body.
Soon, they passed over the edge of the forest below, where trees were broken, and the ground was dug up, a scene of utter chaos.
A strong, pungent, musky odor, unique to magical beasts, faintly emanated from the air.
“Target sighted!” A sharp-eyed Pegasus Knight pointed to a position ahead and to the left.
Lei Luo looked in the direction he indicated, his pupils slightly contracting.
He saw several Hyenas tearing at a dead wild deer in a relatively open clearing in the woods.
These Hyenas were nearly twice the size of ordinary wild dogs, with dirty yellowish-brown fur, drool hanging from their mouths, and cruel, greedy eyes.
They seemed to be scattered individuals who had broken away from the main group, attracted by food.
“Clear out these stragglers!” Lei Luo ordered.
“Quickly and decisively!”
Upon receiving the command, the aerial formation immediately reacted.
Several Pegasus Knights tacitly lowered their altitude, diving down like white lightning.
The long spears in their hands traced sharp trajectories in the air, their tips glinting with cold light.
The Hyenas, engrossed in tearing at their prey, clearly did not anticipate an attack from the sky.
By the time they sensed danger and lifted their heads to snarl, it was already too late.
“Thud!” “Thud!”
The long spears accurately pierced the necks of the two largest Hyenas; the immense impact pinned their bodies to the ground, and blood instantly stained the grass.
The remaining Hyenas, startled by this sudden attack, scattered and fled, emitting terrified howls.
Other Pegasus Knights followed closely, using the Pegasus’s mobility to cut off and surround the fleeing Hyenas, much like sheepdogs herding sheep.
Lei Luo did not participate in the encirclement of the Hyenas; his Storm Gryphon circled at a higher altitude, his gaze fixed on the deeper parts of the forest further away.
He could feel a larger, more chaotic presence approaching.
Indeed, not long after, accompanied by a rumbling sound of hooves like distant thunder and chaotic roars, large areas of trees began to shake and collapse.
A group of dark figures burst out from the concealment of the forest, appearing in the open field ahead.
Leading the charge were dozens of Black Wind Dire Wolves.
These Dire Wolves were covered in sleek, black fur, their bodies comparable in size to ponies, running as swiftly as the wind, their fangs bared, and their eyes glinting with bloodthirsty red light.
They spread out in a fan shape, continuously emitting low growls, seemingly herding something.
Behind the pack of Dire Wolves were even larger, more impactful presences.
A dozen Spine Bristle Boars!
These Boars stood over two meters at the shoulder, their bodies covered in thick, rock-like hard hides, their backs to their tails bristling with sharp bone spikes, and their two curved giant horns glinting with a metallic luster.
Each step they took caused the ground to tremble slightly, and they exhaled white, coarse breaths, clearly in a state of frenzy.
And between the Dire Wolves and the Boars, there were even more Hyenas, closely following the main force, seizing opportunities to attack.
The entire magical beast horde numbered no less than a hundred!
“Target sighted!” Lei Luo’s voice was steady and strong.
“Proceed as planned! Team one, drive them from the left flank! Team two, pressure from the right flank! Pay attention to flight altitude, use arrows and javelins to attack and drive them!”