"Quick, gather them carefully!"
Raylo commanded, his voice filled with excitement.
"Take only the stems and leaves. Leave the roots."
Everyone quickly and carefully got to work, snapping off the mature Earth Dragon Grass. They placed the stems and leaves in soft cloth bags, leaving the roots in the ground to continue growing.
Moonlight's agile form shot up to the treetops like a white flash of lightning.
A long-tailed, blue-streaked sparrow up there had caught its attention.
However, just as it plucked out a few feathers, it froze. Its ears perked up warily, and its sharp gaze shot toward the distant sky.
"Mrow... Meeeow!"
A low, urgent warning cry suddenly shattered the tranquility of the forest.
Raylo, Ed, and the others, who had been focused on harvesting the Earth Dragon Grass, all froze. They snapped their heads up, following Moonlight's gaze.
There, against the western horizon under the sunset's afterglow, several small black dots were rapidly growing larger, flying toward their position at high speed.
"What is that?" one of the Knights asked, his voice filled with alarm and uncertainty.
As they drew closer, the outlines of the black dots gradually became clear.
Their forms were elegant and powerful, with pristine white wings spread wide in the air.
"It's... Pegasus!"
'Pegasi... the herd of Pegasi mentioned in the earlier intelligence reports. I've sent Knights to search for them in the Mist Forest from afar multiple times, all to no avail. And they just show up now?'
Almost instantly, Raylo thought of the Earth Dragon Grass and its alluring, fresh fragrance.
'It seems they were drawn by the Earth Dragon Grass, too.'
"This is a rare opportunity. We're going to capture these Pegasi."
He lowered his voice, but couldn't hide the excitement in his tone.
"Moonlight, don't move yet. Wait for my command."
Perched in the treetops, Moonlight flicked its tail and let out a low growl from its throat, as if in response.
Its pale golden eyes were locked onto the approaching herd of Pegasi, filled with curiosity and eager anticipation.
There were six Pegasi in the herd, all of them snow-white without a single fleck of another color.
They flapped their broad wings, gliding with an elegant grace like Elves of the sky.
Clearly, they too were drawn by the unique aroma of the Earth Dragon Grass. After circling a few times to confirm there was no danger, they began to slowly descend.
"My lord, should we..."
Ed moved closer, his voice hushed and his eyes eager.
The value of a Pegasus was undeniable. Whether as a mount or a strategic asset, it far surpassed an ordinary warhorse.
Capturing even a few would be a massive boost to the strength of Black Stone Territory.
"Don't rush."
Raylo made a calming gesture, his gaze shifting to the agile form of Moonlight squatting in the treetops.
"Moonlight, do me a favor. Use your... erm, little trick, and hide us so they don't spot us."
He tried to phrase it in a way Moonlight could understand.
Moonlight tilted its fluffy head.
It glanced down at the Knights holding their breath on the ground, then looked up at the descending Pegasi, and gave a light wave of its furry paw.
Then, a strange scene unfolded.
Centered on the thicket where Raylo and his men were hiding, the surrounding light seemed to ripple and distort slightly, like waves on water.
The colors and outlines of their bodies blended more perfectly with the surrounding trees and weeds, as if they were cloaked in a camouflage woven from shadows and leaves.
Without looking closely, it would be difficult to notice the dozen or so people hidden there.
"This..."
Ed and the other Knights stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.
They could see each other clearly, but they felt as if they had become part of the environment, their presence greatly diminished.
"Ready the Rope Traps," Raylo ordered calmly, suppressing his excitement. "Wait until they've landed, completely let down their guard, and start eating the Earth Dragon Grass. On my command, we move together!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Knights responded in hushed voices.
The air seemed to freeze.
Everyone held their breath, hearts pounding in their chests with a mix of tension and anticipation.
The only sounds were the occasional chirping of insects and the rush of wind from the flapping of the Pegasi's wings.
Finally, the lead Pegasus, the most magnificent of the herd, was the first to land.
It twitched its ears warily and scanned its surroundings, its long lashes fluttering over clear eyes like the purest of lakes.
After confirming it was safe, it gracefully lowered its head and began to enjoy the alluringly fragrant Earth Dragon Grass.
One by one, the other Pegasi landed, gathering around the patch of Earth Dragon Grass and letting out soft, contented whinnies.
They were completely absorbed by the tempting delicacy, oblivious to the danger just a stone's throw away.
'Now!'
A sharp glint flashed in Raylo's eyes as he decisively swung his hand forward!
"Go!"
The command was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake!
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
A dozen ropes shot out like vipers striking from their dens, accurately targeting the white figures busy munching on Earth Dragon Grass.
"NEIGH—!"
The herd of Pegasi instantly erupted into chaos!
They shrieked in terror, trying to take flight.
But the well-prepared Knights were faster!
The Rope Traps accurately snagged the necks of five of the Pegasi.
The Knights immediately yanked back on the ropes while groups of them rushed forward, attempting to control the panicked Pegasi.
For a moment, the grove was a scene of utter chaos, with men and beasts tumbling everywhere!
The Pegasi possessed immense Power, and even when ensnared, they struggled desperately, bucking, leaping, and kicking.
Though the Knights were well-trained, they had to use every ounce of their strength.
Some Knights were dragged stumbling across the ground, while others were nearly kicked by flailing hooves.
Ed, being particularly agile, had successfully roped the most magnificent Pegasus. He held tight to the rope, wrestling with the beast with all his might, the muscles on his arms knotting and veins bulging.
In the chaos, a slightly smaller but much quicker Pegasus had leaped back at the very instant the rope flew at it, dodging the deadly restraint.
It let out a sharp cry, beat its wings furiously, and kicked up a gale of wind as it shot off the ground, about to soar into the sky and escape!
"Oh no! Stop it!" a Knight yelled, watching the Pegasus about to clear the treetops.
At that critical moment, a white shadow shot down from the canopy of a nearby tree like an arrow released from a bow!
It was Moonlight!
Its small body traced a graceful arc through the air, landing with pinpoint accuracy on the ascending Pegasus's back—no, to be more precise, it landed right on top of its head!
The Pegasus clearly hadn't expected a "pendant" to suddenly appear on its head and jerked its head up in shock.
Then, something happened that left everyone dumbfounded.
Moonlight squatted steadily on the Pegasus's head, raised its two fluffy front paws, and aimed for the smooth crown of its head—
BONK! BONK!
Two crisp yet muffled thuds rang out. The blows weren't powerful, but they seemed to carry some kind of strange, concussive effect.
'Like... bonking it on the noggin?'
The Pegasus, which had been struggling to fly upward, took the two hits and its massive body went rigid. Its ascent came to an abrupt halt.
It shook its head hard, its eyes clearly growing dazed. Its flight path became wobbly and erratic, as if it were drunk.
"Meeow~"
Moonlight seemed quite pleased with the "results" of its attack. It swished its big tail smugly and even stomped on the Pegasus's head a couple of times, as if declaring ownership.
"...Nice one!"
Raylo was stunned for a moment, then shouted, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
'He'd never imagined Moonlight possessed such a method of "physical persuasion."'
"Quick! Now's our chance!"
Ed reacted instantly, immediately commanding two Knights.
Shaken from their stupor, the two Knights quickly threw the spare Rope Traps they were holding.
Having lost its balance and momentum, the Pegasus was now just a wobbling target, and it was easily ensnared.