A familiar scent washed over him, a world apart from the air of the Giant Dragon Realm, which was thick with the smell of sulfur and raw Magic Power.

The cave was dimly lit.

A single step, a world of difference.

Sun’s enormous body nearly filled the entire cave. It carefully folded its wings, making sure its Dragon Scales didn’t scrape against the fragile rock walls. The shock and wariness from its time in that ancient world still lingered in its golden, draconic eyes.

They didn’t linger for a moment.

"Let’s go."

Raylo led the way out of the cave.

The brilliant sunlight made him squint slightly. The rolling silhouette of the Black Stone Mountain Range filled his vision.

Sun spread its golden wings and took to the sky, carrying Raylo and the two little ones.

The silhouette of Black Stone Castle soon appeared on the horizon.

Back at the castle, Raylo gave his orders.

"Have the kitchen prepare food and hot water."

He added, "And no one is to disturb me without my express command."

"Yes, sir."

The Personal Guard bowed, withdrew, and closed the heavy oak door behind him.

Silence fell over the study, broken only by the crackling of the fireplace.

Raylo walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window and gazed down at his domain.

From here, he could see the bustling town, the newly tilled fields in the distance, and the city walls currently under expansion.

Everything was flourishing and orderly.

Yet, beneath this veneer of peace, a storm was brewing—one powerful enough to destroy it all.

The Saint Violet Empire. Duke Angmar.

A Tier Six Catastrophe Level powerhouse.

The title weighed on Raylo’s mind like a great mountain.

He knew full well this was an opponent on a completely different level than Graves of the Thorns, whom he had disposed of earlier. This was a terrifying being, an army of one, capable of leveling an entire city with a mere gesture.

Tier Six: Calamity Dominator. It meant a being capable of commanding natural disasters.

Raylo began to calmly analyze the situation.

First, the disparity in power between the Empire and the Duchy was an impassable gulf.

There was no way the Thunder Dragon Duchy would go to war with the Violet Empire over a single prisoner.

Therefore, with Duke Angmar arriving in person, Eliot’s release was a foregone conclusion. The only point of contention would be the amount of ransom.

His Majesty the King in Thunder Dragon City and the high nobles would handle the matter "perfectly"—preserving the Duchy’s dignity without offending the Empire’s Duke.

The real trouble was Eliot.

Duke Angmar’s nephew.

Raylo could already predict that under Duke Angmar’s pressure, Thunder Dragon City would most likely choose to compromise.

When weighing the wrath of a Catastrophe Level powerhouse against a prince who was already in prison, the Cabinet Ministers would have no trouble with their calculations.

Then, Eliot would be released without charge, perhaps after paying some trivial, insignificant price.

’And then what?’

Raylo’s eyes grew cold.

’Given Eliot’s vengeful nature, his time in prison would only fuel his hatred for me.’

’He’ll be like a venomous snake, hiding behind Duke Angmar and constantly whispering poison in his ear.’

’A Catastrophe Level powerhouse might find it beneath him to personally act against a minor Count.’

’But if his nephew is constantly in his ear, embellishing the story and escalating a personal grudge into a matter of the Empire’s honor, things would be completely different.’

’Duke Angmar would only need one "reasonable" pretext to wipe Black Stone Territory off the map.’

’And Eliot would spare no effort to create that pretext for him.’

’When that time comes, I’ll have to face a Celestial Calamity alone.’

’Black Stone Territory will be reduced to Scorched Earth, and all my efforts will go up in smoke.’

’I can’t pin my hopes on the protection of the Thunder Dragon Duke, nor on the "mercy" of Duke Angmar.’

’Entrusting one’s fate to others is the most foolish thing a person can do.’

At this thought, Raylo made his decision.

Rather than passively await the outcome, he would take a seat at the table himself.

He had to go to Thunder Dragon City.

Only by placing himself at the center of the storm would he have a voice in the matter.

In Thunder Dragon City, the Thunder Dragon Duke possessed the power to contend with a Catastrophe Level expert, which would be enough to guarantee his safety.

With his course of action clear, Raylo no longer hesitated.

He stood up and pulled open the doors to his study.

A Personal Guard stood waiting outside, helmet in his arms, leaning against the wall for Raylo’s command.

"Relay my orders."

"Yes, sir."

"Have Ed assemble my Griffin Guard—all sixteen of them."

Raylo’s tone was resolute.

"We depart for Thunder Dragon City at once."

"Yes, sir!"

Soon, the sounds of urgent footsteps and the low calls of Griffins echoed across the plaza of Black Stone Castle.

Sixteen Griffin Knights assembled swiftly. Their movements were sharp and practiced—they were Raylo’s most elite aerial force.

Raylo changed into a new set of formal attire befitting his station as Lord, over which he wore a black cloak embroidered with the crest of the Black Stone Territory.

He descended the steps at a deliberate pace. Moonlight followed behind, leaping gracefully onto Baofeng’s saddle.

Coal Ball poked its head out from Baofeng’s feathers, seemingly thrilled by the group excursion. Its glossy black eyes were wide with curiosity.

ROAR!

An earth-shaking dragon’s roar echoed through the clouds as Sun’s enormous golden body launched from the cliff behind the castle. It circled once in the air, its golden scales glittering under the sun’s rays—a moving sun itself.

Raylo gently patted Baofeng’s neck.

"Let’s move out!"

The Storm Griffin King let out a piercing cry. With a powerful beat of its wings, it kicked up a gale and soared into the sky.

The sixteen Griffin Knights followed close behind in a tight, disciplined formation.

High above them, Sun adjusted its flight path. Its massive Dragon Wings spread wide, forming a magnificent yet oppressive golden canopy that cast the entire squadron in its shadow.

The wind howled in his ears as Raylo’s gaze swept past the sprawling mountain ranges toward the distant horizon.

’Duke Angmar...’

’I’m eager to see for myself just what a so-called Catastrophe Level powerhouse is really like.’

The gales kicked up by the Storm Griffin King’s wings left long vapor trails in its wake.

Sun flew at the highest altitude, its massive body eclipsing the harsh sun. It occasionally adjusted the angle of its golden Dragon Wings, deliberately slowing its pace to match the Griffin squadron below.

Several consecutive days of flying at full speed was a great trial for both the Knights and their Griffins.

They landed only briefly late at night to replenish their water and food before taking to the skies once more.

Everyone’s spirits lifted when a massive, grayish-white silhouette appeared on the distant horizon.

Thunder Dragon City.

The capital of the Thunder Dragon Duchy, a massive city built upon the plains.

Orderly streets divided the city into countless blocks, lined with magnificent, tightly packed buildings. At the very heart of the city stood the towering Royal Palace.

"Sir, are we heading directly to the Royal Palace?"

Ed drew his Griffin closer and shouted over the wind.

"No."

Raylo shook his head.

"We’ll find lodging first."