Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 136 - 130: Hunting Mammoth Herd

Raylo spread a Beast Hide map out on a flat rock, its surface sketched with a charcoal outline of the canyon’s topography.

His slender fingers tapped several key locations on the map.

"I’ve already had Ed send men to scout the canyon walls. There are several spots suitable for triggering a landslide. We’ll need to haul a large number of logs and boulders to block the main entrance and the narrow exit. Mammoths are Tier Three Magical Beasts of immense Power, so both ends of the canyon must be sealed tight."

"We must dig traps within the canyon, deep and wide enough to be effective. These will mostly be pits and trenches, and their primary purpose is to slow the behemoths down."

Lillian nodded slightly and added.

"As for Magic, Great Mage Alina and I have discussed it. We’ll set up some trigger-based restrictive Arrays along the edges of the trap zones—things like slowing fields and gravity zones to drain their stamina and limit their speed."

"Excellent."

Raylo’s gaze turned to Ed and Kaine.

"All Knights, move out immediately. Dig, haul, and camouflage. Everything must be completed as quickly as possible."

"Ed, have the Pegasus Knights spread out as Scouts to reconnoiter the Mammoth Herd’s migration route. Report back the instant you find them."

"Yes, my Lord!"

Ed and Kaine replied in unison.

With the order given, the Knights burst into a flurry of activity.

Shovels and pickaxes flew, clearing away dirt and stone. One by one, deep pits and trenches, large enough to trap the Giant Beasts, began to take shape in the canyon.

The Mages, under Lillian and Alina’s guidance, carefully carved Magic Runes in the designated positions and buried Magic Crystals to act as the cores of the Arrays. Faint fluctuations of elemental Power occasionally drifted through the air.

Several hours passed quietly. The Sun passed its zenith and began to descend westward.

All the traps in the canyon were properly set and carefully camouflaged with leaves and dust. From a distance, they blended in with the surroundings, showing no sign of anything unusual.

According to the plan, the Knights retreated into the pre-dug trenches or hid in recesses behind the canyon walls, leaving only a few experienced Scouts on high ground to keep watch.

The afternoon Sun scorched the earth, and the air was filled with a dry heat that made one drowsy.

Waiting often wears down a person’s will more than a fierce battle.

Raylo stood on a hidden high ground on one side of the canyon. Baofeng lay quietly beside him, like a rock poised to strike. Only its eagle-like eyes moved from time to time, vigilantly scanning the distance.

Lillian walked lightly to his side and handed him a waterskin filled with fresh water.

"Brother, will those big things... will they really come?"

Her voice carried a hint of nervousness.

Raylo took the waterskin, tilted his head back, and took a drink. The cool spring water dispelled some of the oppressive heat.

"They will come. Lillian, patience is a hunter’s greatest quality."

As they were speaking, a tiny black dot appeared on the distant horizon, growing larger at an astonishing speed.

"A Scout is returning!"

A Moonlight Knight on watch high above shouted a warning.

In the blink of an eye, the Pegasus Knight had dived down, landing steadily in front of Raylo and Lillian before dismounting with clean, efficient movements.

His cheeks were flushed from the high-speed flight.

"My Lord! Her Highness Princess!"

"To the northwest, about twenty kilometers away, we’ve spotted the Mammoth Herd!"

Raylo and Lillian quickly exchanged a glance.

’They’re finally here!’

Raylo clenched his fists abruptly.

"All units, on alert! Prepare to execute the plan!"

The atmosphere in the canyon suddenly grew tense.

Raylo’s gaze swept over the Knights waiting in formation in the canyon, finally resting on Lillian.

"Lillian, I’m leaving this to you."

Lillian nodded.

"Don’t worry, Brother."

Raylo said no more, deftly vaulting onto Baofeng.

The Storm Griffin King sensed its master’s battle intent and let out a long cry that seemed to pierce the clouds and shatter stone. With a mighty flap of its wings, it kicked up a powerful gust of wind. Its massive body shot skyward like an arrow loosed from its bow.

Behind him, the Storm Griffin Group followed closely, forming a loose, tan-colored aerial formation.

On the other side, Alina Great Mage and her disciples also mounted their respective Pegasi and rose into the sky.

Their movements were swift. They formed an agile formation on the right flank, the white wings of the Pegasi shimmering in the sunlight.

"Great Mage Alina, stick to the plan!"

Raylo shouted.

"Understood."

Alina Great Mage nodded in response.

The two flying groups, like the two wings of a giant closing net, sped toward the northwest to flank their target.

Before long, dust billowed on the distant horizon. A heavy, rhythmic tremor could be felt through the ground, growing closer like rolling thunder.

The Mammoth Herd finally appeared in everyone’s line of sight.

They warily shook their long-haired heads. Their thick trunks were raised high, nervously sniffing the strange scents in the air as they let out low bellows.

’They’re here!’

Raylo’s spirits lifted, his sharp gaze locking onto the herd.

Under his command, the Storm Griffin Group suddenly dropped altitude. Like streaks of tan Lightning, they skimmed the ground, sweeping past the left side of the Mammoth Herd at high speed.

Baofeng unleashed the oppressive aura of a Tier Four Magical Beast. This pressure, combined with the gales from the Storm Griffins’ massive wings and their intimidating screeches, instantly startled the Mammoths at the edge of the herd. A commotion rippled through the entire group, and they subconsciously began to veer right.

On the right, the Magic released by Alina Great Mage and her students flared up at the perfect moment.

Flashes of light and sound interwove, and illusory Flames leaped about. Like a shepherd’s nimble whip, the Magic cleverly cut off the Mammoth Herd’s escape to the right, forcing them to run toward the prepared canyon entrance.

Under the coercion of the two aerial forces, the herd moved as if guided by an invisible hand, constantly correcting its direction of travel.

The aerial units were perfectly coordinated, acting like two giant, invisible hands squeezing the Mammoth Herd and correcting its path.

Raylo commanded the Griffin group, at times diving, at times circling, precisely controlling the force and direction of the drive.

"Good, maintain this rhythm!"

Raylo said in a low voice, his gaze locked on the adult Mammoth at the head of the herd.

That was the leader of the Mammoth Herd, guiding its direction.

Under the continuous herding, the lead Mammoth was the first to charge into the narrow canyon entrance. The rest of the herd followed like a tide, their thundering hooves making the entire canyon seem to tremble.

"Now!"

Lillian’s clear voice rang out at the mouth of the canyon.

The Knights, who had long been lying in ambush on both sides of the canyon, moved on command, letting out a sky-shaking battle cry in unison.

Together, they pushed the giant logs and heavy boulders that had been prepared long ago.