[6: In the Southern Continent, a dangerous sport called "Sky Fishing" is becoming popular among the powerful nobles of the coastal cities. They travel to Flying Dragon Island on Magic Airships, using huge chunks of meat as bait to catch Subspecies Flying Dragons.]

[7: Influenced by the "war game" between the Witch Demon King and the Vampire Prince, large numbers of Werewolves are gathering in the Bloody Forest, the Vampire Prince’s domain. The Vampire Prince is summoning his Werewolf Legion.]

[8: After repelling Blood Throat, the "Black King" began commanding its Ratfolk subjects to build a White Bone Fortress in the Western Wetlands using the bones of the war dead. The Black King is doing this because it has reached an agreement with the Necromancer Modi Caesar of the Abandoned Ruins. It will gift the White Bone Fortress to Modi Caesar upon its completion, and in return, Modi Caesar will craft a custom set of Giant Dragon Armor for it.]

[9: Deep within the bloodline memories of Giant Dragons, there is a doomsday prophecy of "Two Suns in the Sky." When the second Sun rises, the sky will burn, the earth will crack, and the Giant Dragon Realm will face its fated enemy. All of the Dragon Race will face a final choice.]

[10: In the southern part of the Jade Swamp, 800 kilometers from Black Stone Territory, a brief Elemental Storm will erupt in five months. This will cause an ancient Lizardman Divine Hall to rise from the depths of the marsh. On the divine hall’s altar rests a constantly beating "Heart of the Giant Beast." The Heart of the Giant Beast belonged to the Modo Giant Beast, the former Guardian Magical Beast of the Jade Swamp’s Lizardfolk. The Modo Giant Beast was a Catastrophe Level Magical Beast, slain by the master of the Eternal Giant Turtle, a powerful human Magic Dominator. Before its death, the Modo Giant Beast hid its most important source of Power, the Heart of the Giant Beast, deep within the Jade Swamp’s mire, attempting to use this heart to resurrect itself.]

The early morning air was cool and fresh, carrying the scent of soil and green leaves.

The scene in the square was quite a spectacle.

The hundred-meter-long Golden Dragon, Sun, lay sprawled in the center of the square like a small mountain of molten gold.

Sunlight glinted off his massive scales, creating a dazzling brilliance. Every breath he took stirred a wave of scorching heat.

Next to him, even the Hill Giants seemed... not so giant anymore.

These big oafs were excitedly fiddling with the new "toys" that had arrived last night.

Ropes tanned from the tendons of Magical Beasts, each as thick as a grown man’s arm, were being swung around like hemp cords, making a whooshing sound.

Giant nets woven from iron chains looked like simple fishing nets in their hands.

One Giant, on a whim, draped a huge Beast Capture Net over his shoulders, trying to wear it as a novel cloak. He ended up hopelessly entangled and was now clumsily trying to free himself, drawing gleeful laughter from his companions.

On the other side, Ed and the Griffin Knights under his command stood fully equipped and ready to depart.

They were mounted on their saddles, standing in silent formation. Their Griffins quietly preened their feathers, with only the occasional, impatient scrape of a beak against a talon betraying their restlessness.

The entire troop formed a stark contrast of discipline and chaos against the nearby Giants.

"My Lord."

Seeing Raylo approach, Ed immediately went to greet him.

The Knights behind him saluted in unison.

"How are the preparations?"

"My Lord, all supplies have been inventoried, and all personnel are assembled. We can depart at any time."

Ed said.

Raylo nodded. His gaze swept over the disciplined Knights, then turned to the group of Giants still playing with the nets, finally resting on Sun’s enormous head.

"Sun, get your Giant squad ready to move out."

The Golden Dragon snorted, blasting out two jets of hot white vapor in response.

Originally, Raylo’s only objective for this trip to the Giant Dragon Realm was the Mammoth Herd, but the system intelligence he received this morning had given him a new idea.

’That Hill Giant named Kado, the one who returned to the Giant Camp heartbroken, maybe I can capture him at the same time.’

Sun finally let out an impatient, low roar. The sound wave was like a physical shockwave, knocking the Hill Giants near him flat on their backsides.

The Giants’ boisterous laughter died instantly. They all dropped the ropes and iron nets in their hands and began to clumsily form ranks.

"Move out."

Raylo vaulted onto the waiting Storm Griffin King. The magnificent, tawny-colored Magical Beast with Iron Feathers let out a high-pitched cry, the gale from its beating wings kicking up clouds of dust.

Its body was agile and its eyes were sharp, possessing a kingly aura in no way inferior to any other sovereign of the sky.

Moonlight and Coal Ball landed silently on the Griffin’s broad saddle.

"ROAR!"

The Golden Dragon Sun roared and was the first to take to the sky, his hundred-meter-long body blotting out the daylight and casting a massive shadow.

Fourteen Hill Giants broke into a run, their long strides keeping pace with the Golden Dragon’s shadow.

The Thunderboltous Griffin King beneath Ed let out a shriek laced with crackling electricity, leading the Knights behind him soaring into the sky.

The formation of thirty Griffin Knights flew like a sharp dagger, cutting through the sky and clearing a path ahead.

The ranks of the Griffin Knights had expanded. Among them were thirteen new faces, riding the very Thunderboltous Griffins that had been tamed previously.

These thirteen new Knights were the result of Raylo’s efforts over the past few days.

While Sun was training the Hill Giants in the valley, he hadn’t been idle either.

There was no shortage of Great Knights in his territory who possessed both loyalty and strength, and the unbonded Thunderboltous Griffins were the perfect reward.

He had personally presided over the bonding rituals, expanding this powerful aerial force to thirty riders.

The new Knights’ Armor was pristine, and their faces held a lingering trace of excitement and high spirits. The Thunderboltous Griffins beneath them flew with a steady, powerful grace, faint sparks of electricity arcing between their Iron Feathers.

The mighty procession traveled south.

Sensing this terrifying presence, the Magical Beasts along the way either fled in terror or hid themselves away, not daring to cause the slightest offense.

Around three in the afternoon, a continuous mountain range appeared on the horizon.

Ed, at the head of the formation, slowed his pace. His Thunderboltous Griffin King circled in the air, its gaze sweeping over the target mountain peak below.

Soon, he flew back to Raylo’s side, his expression grave.

"My Lord, something’s wrong."

Ed reported in a low voice.

"There’s a large flock of Fire Demon Crows circling nearby."

Raylo’s gaze sharpened, and he looked in the direction Ed indicated.

In the sky above the distant mountain peak, hundreds of black specks circled like vultures, letting out piercing shrieks.

Those Fire Demon Crows were a dark crimson color. Dim red sparks danced along the edges of their feathers, and their eyes burned with an ominous Flame.

They were the most common scouts under the command of the Black Dragon, the "Black King."

Raylo’s heart sank.

This secret entrance to the Giant Dragon Realm was one of his most important trump cards.

If the "Black King" discovered it, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Not only would he lose a channel for freely entering and exiting the Giant Dragon Realm, but he might also attract a powerful Black Dragon Lord to covet his territory.

He would absolutely not allow that to happen.

"Ed."

Raylo ordered.

"Take the Griffin Knights, drive them away—the farther, the better. Leave no witnesses."

"Yes, My Lord!"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ed yanked his reins. The Thunderboltous Griffin King beneath him let out a savage thunderclap, then wheeled around and dove.

"Thunderbolt Squadron, disperse the targets on the left flank!"

"Storm Squadron, envelop the right flank!"

The commands were relayed swiftly through the Knights’ battle cries.

The thirty Griffin Knights instantly became thirty sharp arrows, whistling down from the sky.

The thirteen Thunderbolt Griffon Knights among them were like Long Spears hurled by the Thunder Deity, trailing wisps of electricity as they flew, their momentum terrifying.

The Demon Fire Crow Group circling above the peak had clearly not expected such a swift and violent assault.

Though they were vicious, they were fundamentally just Low Tier Magical Beasts. How could they possibly be a match for these Elite Knights and their Griffins?

"SCREEE!"

Ed’s Thunderboltous Griffin King took the lead, its wings stirring up wind and thunder. A Lightning Chain shot from its mouth and exploded in the middle of the flock. Seven or eight Fire Demon Crows were incinerated into charcoal by the blast before they could even cry out.