23: Chapter 23: Team Up to Enter the Mess Mountains! Hunt the Griffin?

Red Maple Manor.

Morning light filtered through the gaps in the maple leaves, cutting tiny golden spots onto the velvet bedsheets.

Rowan opened his eyes and gently pulled back his arm, which was buried in a certain warm, moist place.

"Living under someone else's roof really makes for exhausting nights," he thought with a wry smile, sitting up to get dressed.

He had to leave Gino City today.

Going to the church too frequently would only arouse suspicion.

Priestess Aliyah's perception was also quite keen.

Recalling how he had courted Sylvia—from their first meeting to finally winning her over—it had taken months of slow, meticulous work, involving patient planning and cautious testing. Nothing could be rushed.

Facing this priestess, who seemed even harder to win over, being too eager for success would only alert the target.

As it happened, his supply of lionheart dawn secret potion had run out.

The original plan was to head to Ice Lake City immediately after the ball to buy ingredients, but the sudden matter with the priestess had delayed him for several days.

Fortunately, it wasn't a total loss.

At the very least, he already had a rough plan for his next point of contact with the priestess.

After finishing the breakfast meticulously prepared by the servants, Rowan bid farewell to Lady Lillian and left Gino City.

...

Ice Lake City, northern Will Province.

In the city built of grey-white stone, the air was thick with moisture and a biting chill.

Rowan visited every sizable merchant guild in the city and even attended three underground auctions, but the results were surprisingly consistent:

"Radiant Griffin heart blood? Out of stock!"

At the final stop, the Monument Merchant Guild, a manager said:

"You've come too late, sir."

"Half a month ago, people came from the Royal Capital and swept up all the Radiant Griffin materials near the Mess Mountains."

"I heard that the Dawn Knight is trying to break through to the Sky Knight realm, so his demand is enormous."

The Dawn Knight?

He seemed to have heard someone mention that name before.

After a moment's thought, Rowan remembered that it seemed to be the title of Sylvia's former fiancé.

Standing at the entrance of the last merchant guild, he watched the bustling crowds on the street, a strange sense of absurdity rising in his heart.

While he was lost in thought, a hearty voice rang out beside him:

"Friend, did I hear correctly that you came here to buy a Radiant Griffin heart?"

Hearing this, Rowan turned around.

The speaker was a tall middle-aged man with a thick, brownish-red beard.

He wore well-maintained chainmail under a thick leather vest, a knight's sword at his waist, and had sharp eyes.

Not far behind him stood two others.

One was tall and thin, dressed in ranger attire suited for movement, with daggers of various lengths hanging from his belt.

The other was stout and stocky, carrying a square metal tower shield almost as tall as himself. He had an honest face and a steady aura.

"I am Victor, 'Blazing' Victor, a Senior Knight," the bearded man spoke first, extending a large hand clad in an iron gauntlet.

"These two are companions I've recently found who also need Radiant Griffin materials: Jeremy and Parker."

He pointed to the tall, thin ranger. "'Nightshadow' Jeremy, an Official Knight, specialized in tracking and harassment."

Then he pointed to the shield warrior. "'Bastion' Parker, a Senior Knight, specialized in defense."

Jeremy nodded slightly.

Parker gave a simple, honest grin.

"I'm Rowan," Rowan replied briefly, shaking Victor's hand while quickly scanning the three of them.

Victor had the strongest presence and seemed to be the most powerful, holding the dominant position.

Jeremy's footsteps were almost silent, and his knuckles were heavily calloused; he was likely an expert with throwing knives or short piercers.

Parker's stance was extremely stable and his breathing long; the edges of that tower shield showed subtle dents from impact.

Victor got straight to the point:

"What you need is the Radiant Griffin heart, which is different from what we're after. It seems our goals can be aligned."

"Currently, all the stock on the market has been swept up by that Dawn Knight from the royal family. Even if there were stock, it wouldn't reach our hands."

"We plan to form a team and head into the inner reaches of the Mess Mountains to do a job. We have relevant intelligence."

He looked at Rowan and said, "Friend, you look like an Official Knight. I wonder if you're interested? What are you specialized in?"

After thinking for a moment, Rowan said calmly, "Official Knight, Archery Specialization."

Upon hearing this, Victor immediately showed a look of joy and said happily, "That's perfect, friend. We happen to be lacking a knight with long-range attack capabilities. I wonder if you're interested in joining us?"

Seeing this, Rowan asked in return, "Are you certain there's a lone Radiant Griffin in the inner reaches? And how will the loot be distributed after the kill?"

Hearing this, Victor explained:

"Jeremy used to be part of the mountain patrol; he knows several areas where Radiant Griffin nests might be. It's currently the Griffin Silence Season, so the chances of encountering a lone griffin are high."

Then he said solemnly, "As for the distribution plan, it's based on need. This naturally needs to be agreed upon beforehand to avoid internal strife later."

"I need the Radiant Griffin's magic crystal, so that goes to me. Parker needs the Radiant Feathers, so those go to him. The Griffin Eyes go to Jeremy."

"And the Radiant Griffin heart, if you join, will go to you. The remaining flesh and pelt will be sold, and the gold coins will be split four ways. It's estimated to be no less than 100 gold coins per person."

After listening, Rowan did a quick calculation in his mind.

The magic crystal had the highest value, but it was useless to him.

The Radiant Feathers were the most expensive materials after the magic crystal.

The eyes and the heart were of roughly equal value.

The distribution plan seemed very fair.

But that was provided the intelligence was accurate and the hunt successful.

"I need to see Knight Jeremy's intelligence sketches and assess your strength to evaluate the probability of success."

Rowan made his demand.

Victor seemed to appreciate Rowan's caution and gestured to Jeremy.

Jeremy pulled a beast-hide map from his breast pocket. On it, a portion of the inner Mess Mountains was outlined in charcoal, with several red dots and routes marked.

There were also several lines of brief observations: griffin activity times, hunting habits, and so on.

Though crude, it didn't look fabricated.

Next, Victor and the others demonstrated their Battle Qi. They were indeed two Senior Knights and one Official Knight.

Looking at it this way, with him included, it really was possible to successfully hunt a lone Radiant Griffin.

Thus, Rowan also revealed his Official Knight-level Frost Battle Qi and Silent Pilgrimage Archery, saying:

"I'll join."

"That's great, friend."

...

Two days later.

Inner Mess Mountains.

On an exposed, grey-white giant rock platform.

The cold wind howled, kicking up grass debris from the ground.

The four of them were in a loose formation, hidden in the shadows of the rocks on the downwind side.

Victor and Jeremy were prone in front, Parker held his shield on the flank, and Rowan was half-kneeling behind a taller rock.

Several hundred meters ahead of them, in a leeward depression of the cliff, the outline of a massive nest was faintly visible.

At that moment, a colossal creature was folding its wings, which shimmered with a pale golden light, and landing by the nest.

It was indeed a Radiant Griffin!

It was nearly four meters long, and when standing, it was taller than the sturdiest warhorse, with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion.

A dawn-like shimmer flowed along the edges of every feather, and its eyes were like molten gold, radiating majesty as it looked around.

Its powerful talons dug deep into the rock, exuding the overwhelming pressure of a Peak Knight.

"Execute the plan!" Victor growled and was the first to charge out!

His Battle Qi erupted, his body covered in a Blazing light as his speed surged, charging straight for the griffin!

Jeremy was like a ghost, his figure flickering a few times before vanishing into the jagged rocks, circling around from the flank.

Parker let out a low shout and charged forward with his shield raised, his steps heavy and steady, providing flank cover for Victor.

Rowan held his breath and drew his bow.

The bowstring was pulled into a silent full moon.

He locked tightly onto the griffin's position.

First Snow: North Wind Arrow Rain!

Twang!

Three Ice-Splitting Arrows left the string, not aimed directly but arced high into the sky.

As the arrows reached their peak, the tiny runes carved on the shafts flashed, and the arrows suddenly split!

One became three, three became nine!

Dozens of pale blue ice crystal arrows, condensed from Frost Battle Qi, descended like a sudden, freezing rain, covering the griffin and its surrounding area!

This arrow rain was intended to restrict the Radiant Griffin's movement and create an opening for his teammates to strike.

The Radiant Griffin grew alert, its golden eyes snapping open as it flared its wings! The radiance surged, forming a film of light.

Most of the ice arrows were blocked and deflected by the light film, producing a dense clattering sound.

However, some still penetrated, leaving white Frost on its feathers. The spreading chill caused its movements to stiffen slightly.

Now was the time!

Victor had already reached it. Roaring, he leaped up, his earth-yellow Battle Qi condensing on his sword as he swung down with a heavy blow!

"Blazing Slash!"

Jeremy abruptly flickered out from the shadows on the side, his two poison-coated short piercers like a viper's fangs, aiming straight for the griffin's relatively soft lower flank.

Parker slammed his shield hard against one of the griffin's forelimbs, attempting to break its balance.

"Skree—!" The griffin let out a piercing cry that could shatter stone, its light film vibrating violently.

It began to fight, following its instincts.

The Radiant Griffin swiped a claw at Victor's greatsword.

Its other wing swept out like a guillotine toward Jeremy.

Simultaneously, it whipped its head around, its sharp beak pecking at Parker's tower shield!

Clang! Boom! Bang!

The sounds of clashing metal and exploding Battle Qi erupted!

Victor was shaken back several steps, blood dripping from his palm.

Jeremy narrowly avoided the wing strike, his poison piercers only leaving shallow bloody marks on the griffin's flank.

Parker's tower shield let out a dull, massive boom, and he was pushed backward by the immense force, plowing furrows into the rock.

Rowan's eyes were cold as his fingers flicked repeatedly.

Pilgrimage: Frost Bridge Chain!

Arrow after arrow shot out, almost nose-to-tail!

In their flight paths, the arrows trailed visible tracks of Frost that connected to one another, as if bridging the air with Frost.

The Radiant Griffin was restricted and couldn't dodge in time.

The first arrow was blocked by the scales on its body, but the second and third arrows followed almost the exact same trajectory, their power stacking layer upon layer!

Puchi!

The third arrow finally pierced the scales, embedding itself deep beneath the griffin's armor!

Extreme cold Battle Qi instantly spread, freezing a large patch of flesh around the wound!

The griffin hissed in pain, its golden light flaring brilliantly to force back the close-combatants Victor and Jeremy. Its wings flapped wildly as it tried to take to the air!

"Don't even think about it!" Parker roared, slamming his tower shield heavily into the ground. The runes on the shield lit up, and a translucent forcefield barrier expanded, sealing off the space above.

Rowan drew his bow once more.

This time, his fingers held only a single arrow that was crystal clear, looking as if it were carved from ten-thousand-year-old ice.

Battle Qi poured frantically into it, and the light around the arrow shaft began to distort and blur.

This time, it was:

Winter Curtain: Silent Funeral!

The arrow was released.

No light!

The moment the arrow left the string, it seemed to vanish completely from sight, leaving only a faint trace of distorted air as it shot toward the griffin's wide-open maw at an incredible speed.

That was the point where its radiant defense was relatively weak!

In its struggle to deal with the three people surrounding it, the griffin didn't notice this silent, soundless arrow.

The ice crystal arrow seemed to appear out of nowhere, already sinking halfway into the griffin's throat!

Terrifying power erupted instantly!

"Skree—!" A wretched, piercing scream rang out.

The griffin instantly fell into a frenzy, its radiance shooting out in chaotic bursts!

Its claws flailed wildly, its massive wings beat the air, and rocks shattered.

"Now!" Victor, his face covered in blood, took the opportunity to pounce again, his flaming greatsword slashing heavily at the griffin's injured neck!

Jeremy's figure was like smoke as his poison piercers accurately stabbed into the griffin's wounds!

Parker braced himself against his shield, desperately resisting the griffin's struggles from the other side.

Rowan kept drawing his bow, shooting arrow after arrow at the griffin's wounds and joints, compounding its pain and weakness.

However, the Radiant Griffin's Peak Knight-level strength far exceeded their previous imagination.

Even with a plan in place, the battle was extremely brutal.

But the Radiant Griffin was ultimately just a magical beast. It gradually fell before the four of them, though its death throes were terrifying beyond measure.

Victor, whom the Radiant Griffin hated most, took a spiteful final blow; his breastplate was torn open, and he was sent flying.

Parker's tower shield was completely deformed during the fight, and he himself slumped to the ground, gasping for breath.

Only Jeremy, seeing things take a turn for the worse, had run the fastest and escaped with only light injuries.

Finally, the Radiant Griffin's massive body crashed to the ground, its golden light fading, its molten-gold eyes gradually losing their luster.

On the devastated battlefield, only the howling cold wind and the heavy breathing of the survivors remained.

...