Baofeng let out several low, rhythmic cries.
The sound wasnât the sharp screech of battle, but more like a declarationâa form of communication laced with a suppressive pressure.
In the nest, the two adult Shadow Griffins were already on high alert, as if facing a great enemy.
They arched their bodies, their dark gray feathers standing on end like a porcupineâs quills. Their wings were slightly spread, shielding the two chicks behind them.
Facing this uninvited guest, Baofeng, they showed no weakness, responding with sharp, rapid hissing shrieks of their own.
The sound was filled with vigilance, anger, and tension.
For a moment, cries echoed back and forth above the Stone Forest.
Baofengâs calls were deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable majesty as he tried to assert his dominance. The two Shadow Griffinsâ cries, however, were shrill and hurried, filled with resistance and the determination to protect.
To Raylo, it sounded just like three griffins having a fierce argument, with neither side willing to back down.
Baofeng was clearly growing impatient. He began to circle faster, his cries growing ever higher as he tried to overwhelm the others with sheer volume and presence.
However, although the two Shadow Griffins were slightly smaller, their presence was no less imposing, and they continued to resist stubbornly.
This "exchange" between the two sides lasted for several minutes, ending in a stalemate.
Raylo frowned slightly. âThe communication is probably this difficult because Storm Griffins and Shadow Griffins are different subspecies,â he guessed, and began to consider whether he needed to take further action.
Just then, Moonlight, who had been lying on Baofengâs head the whole time, seemed to finally run out of patience.
Its long, fluffy tail flicked impatiently. Its pale gold eyes snapped open, a glimmer of light flashing within them.
The next moment, with a flash of silver light, Moonlightâs deceptively soft body shot off Baofengâs head like a cannonball, moving so fast it left only an afterimage.
Its target was the two adult Shadow Griffins locked in a tense standoff with Baofeng below.
"WHOOSH!"
Almost before Raylo could react, Moonlight had landed precisely on the head of one of the Shadow Griffins.
Then, it raised a forepaw and, without the slightest hesitation, brought it down on the griffinâs headâa head several times larger than its entire body...
"BONK!"
A dull thud echoed.
The Shadow Griffinâs cry cut off abruptly. Its massive head wobbled, its eyes filled with astonishment and confusion, as if it couldnât comprehend what had just happened.
Before it could recover, Moonlightâs small figure blurred again, leaping with the same incredible speed onto the head of the other Shadow Griffin.
"BONK!"
Another identical "Cat Cat Fist."
The second Shadow Griffin also fell silent instantly, wearing the same dazed expression as its mate.
Sudden silence fell over the Stone Forest, leaving only the sound of the wind whining through the rocks.
The corner of Rayloâs mouth twitched slightly as he struggled to suppress a laugh.
Moonlightâs signature "Physical Beast Taming" technique was simple and crude, yet always surprisingly effective.
These two Shadow Griffins had clearly not escaped Moonlightâs "Iron Claw Punishment."
After a brief stupor, the two Shadow Griffins, who had been "bonked" twice by Moonlight, seemed to finally recover from the strange shock.
Their ruffled feathers slowly settled, and the ferocity and hostility in their eyes faded, replaced by confusion and... a hint of reverence?
They shook their heads cautiously, as if trying to confirm they werenât hallucinating.
When their eyes again met Moonlight, who was perched overhead and leisurely grooming its whiskers with a paw, they instinctively flinched.
At that moment, although Moonlight still looked like a harmless, oversized cat, in the eyes of the two Shadow Griffins, it was as if they were facing a Giant Dragon.
Seeing this, Baofeng let out another low cry at the opportune moment. This time, it held less force and more guidance.
The two Shadow Griffins exchanged a look, then glanced at their chicks, who were watching them dependently from the nest. Finally, they let out a few soft, responsive cries.
The sound was no longer sharp, but instead carried a hint of... submission.
Then, at Baofengâs signal, they hesitated for a moment before spreading their wings, slowly rising into the air, and following Baofeng toward the stone pillar where Raylo was.
They circled the stone pillar a few times, letting out a series of low calls, which seemed to be a way of showing their surrender.
The two chicks chirped anxiously in their nest, and the adult Shadow Griffins immediately answered with a few calls, seemingly to comfort them.
Seeing that the situation was under control, Moonlight gave a satisfied little yawn, leaped lightly from Baofengâs head, and landed squarely in Rayloâs waiting arms.
It settled into a comfortable position, nuzzled its head against Rayloâs chest, and let out a soft purr.
Raylo smiled and stroked its soft fur.
Raylo had a theory about Moonlightâs method of physical subjugation.
âMoonlight uses Transformation Magic to hide its identity as a Silver Dragon, presenting itself as a large cat.â
âAt the same time, its draconic aura and pressure are suppressed.â
âBut through physical contactâthe "fist"âit transmits its draconic pressure and aura to the target.â
âOnce the target feels that draconic aura and pressure, it naturally becomes inclined to submit.â
âItâs just like the Black Dragon entrenched in the eastern Black Stone Mountain Range. The reason it can gather so many Magical Beast clans to serve it is, to some extent, because it relies on its draconic pressure. Compared to other High Tier Creatures, Giant Dragons are naturally better at making Magical Beasts submit.â
âThis physical taming is also related to Moonlightâs Tier. During its juvenile stage, it could only tame Low Tier Magical Beasts like the Pegasus. But after entering its Growth Stage, it successfully tamed even a Tier Three Magical Beast like Baofeng.â
Night fell quietly, and the Stone Forest gradually grew still.
After resting there for a night, Raylo received some good news the next morning.
[10: Upon arriving in Baiyang Territory, Vice Commander Luke of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order confirmed that Augustus had, without authorization, passed judgment on one of the Duchyâs viscounts. As Viscount Baiyang was indeed guilty of colluding with an Evil Deity and performing blasphemous rites, and in order to avoid aggravating relations with the Light Holy See, the Duke has decided merely to expel Augustus from the country. Vice Commander Luke will arrive in Black Stone Territory this afternoon.]
With this intelligence, Rayloâs mind was at ease, and he delayed no longer.
He mounted Baofeng and led the Storm Griffin Group, along with the two newly subjugated Shadow Griffins, flying in a great, imposing procession toward Black Stone Territory.
The two adult Shadow Griffins, ever since being "physically enlightened" by Moonlightâs two "bonks," had completely lost their temper. Throughout the journey, they obediently followed Baofengâs lead.
Raylo simply had Baofeng carry the entire griffin nest on his back. The two fluffy griffin chicks curiously poked their heads out of the nest, letting out faint chirps.
Baofeng was clearly unhappy about this. He would occasionally shake his massive head and let out a few low grumbles, as if complaining that he, the magnificent Storm Griffin King, was now a mobile birdâs nest manager.
The group didnât return directly to Black Stone Castle, but first made a detour to the Stone Forest.
Raylo chose a steep, secluded stone pillar within the Stone Forest to be the new home for the Shadow Griffin family.
After setting down the nest and watching the two adult Shadow Griffins begin to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings while comforting the chicks in the nest, Raylo was finally able to relax.
He patted Baofengâs neck, signaling him to accelerate alone, shooting toward Black Stone Castle like an arrow loosed from a bow.