Chapter 623 - 453: The Terrifying "Celestial Claw" and Taming the Cloud Sea Giant Whale
Chapter 623: Chapter 453: The Terrifying "Celestial Claw" and Taming the Cloud Sea Giant Whale
"Their talons can tear through space with ease, and their cries can shatter the stars."
Every one of Sun’s words struck them like a boulder, sending massive waves crashing through their minds.
Raylo watched the Cloud Sea Giant Whale in silence.
This behemoth could only flee in terror as its home was destroyed and its kind were hunted.
And its pursuer was merely a fledgling.
"In their world, the ’Celestial Claw’ is at the apex of the food chain, the ruler of the skies. They have no natural predators."
No natural predators.
Raylo mulled over those three words.
He lifted his head and looked toward the sky.
’It’s a good thing those terrifying Demon Birds live in another world. If not, that would be truly horrifying.’
Raylo took a deep breath.
He walked up to the giant whale, reached out his hand, and gently patted its enormous head.
The giant whale’s skin was cool and smooth to the touch, like a massive piece of jade.
Feeling Raylo’s touch, the giant whale remained docile and still, simply watching him with its enormous blue eyes.
"Sun, tell it there’s no need to be afraid anymore."
Raylo said.
"The nightmare of the past is over. This is the Black Stone Territory. No one can harm it here."
Sun relayed Raylo’s words.
Moisture seemed to well up in the Cloud Sea Giant Whale’s enormous eyes, and it let out a low whimper.
Raylo turned to look at Kado.
"Kado, have your people unbind it."
"My Lord..."
Kado hesitated.
"Unbind it," Raylo insisted.
Kado nodded and waved to the Hill Giants behind him.
The Giants walked forward and began to undo the hundreds of ropes binding the Cloud Sea Giant Whale.
With a CLANG, the last rope was undone.
The Cloud Sea Giant Whale was free.
It moved its massive body, kicking up clouds of dust from the ground.
Everyone instinctively took a step back.
The giant whale made no violent moves. After stretching a bit, it simply stayed quietly in place.
"Alright, big fella."
Raylo smiled.
"Welcome to the Black Stone Territory."
He glanced at the Potion vial on the ground nearby. It was the Life Potion that Master Barnaby had made using the Heart of the Ancient Tree.
In just half an hour, the wound on the Giant Beast’s back had stopped bleeding and had even healed over and scabbed.
"Looks like you’re recovering well," Raylo said to the giant whale.
"Can you fly?"
The giant whale let out a low cry, as if in response.
"Excellent."
Raylo looked at Kado.
"Kado, gather your Giant Legion. We’re riding it back."
"R-ride it?"
Kado’s eyes went wide as he pointed at the giant whale, then at himself.
"That’s right. We have to show the people our newest member of the Black Stone Territory."
With that, Raylo leaped onto the whale’s broad back.
The whale’s back was like a flat plaza. Though there were still patches of wet blood, they didn’t make it difficult to stand.
Nearby, the Hill Giants’ faces lit up with excitement.
They followed Raylo’s example, one by one clumsily clambering onto the whale’s back.
"Sun, you lead the way," Raylo shouted.
"Yes, Lord."
Sun let out a soaring dragon’s cry, beat its wings, and soared high.
The Cloud Sea Giant Whale also let out a long, drawn-out call, its massive body slowly rising into the air.
A feeling of weightlessness washed over them, and the Hill Giants let out a collective gasp, scrambling to grab onto the bony protrusions on the whale’s back.
Raylo stood steadily at the very front, the wind whistling past his ears.
This feeling was completely different from riding a Griffin or a Giant Dragon.
The Cloud Sea Giant Whale flew so smoothly it felt like standing on a moving landmass.
Yet its speed was astonishing.
The mountains and rivers below receded rapidly. Even Baofeng, flying at full speed, probably couldn’t keep up.
"WOOHOO!"
The Hill Giants quickly adapted to this mode of flight and began to whoop and holler in excitement.
Their voices, mixed with the sound of the wind, carried for a great distance.
Soon, the silhouette of a city taking shape appeared on the distant horizon.
Black Stone City.
Countless specks moved about busily on the construction site below.
When Sun’s enormous golden figure appeared in the sky, people on the ground had already begun to cheer.
But when they saw the even more colossal figure following close behind, all the cheering turned into stunned silence.
A creature larger than a mountain was descending from the sky.
HUUU!
The Cloud Sea Giant Whale let out a deep call, as if announcing its arrival.
Guided by Raylo’s will, it slowly landed in an open area outside Black Stone City.
Its massive body touched down, and the entire ground shook.
Countless people poured out from the construction site and their tents, gathering to watch from a distance, their faces filled with awe and curiosity.
Raylo leaped down from the whale’s back.
"Sun, ask it what it eats."
Sun communicated with the giant whale for a moment, then replied, "Lord, it says it’s an omnivore. It can eat both meat and plants."
"If it eats anything, that makes things easy."
Raylo nodded.
He walked over to Kado.
"Kado, from this day forward, this big fella is assigned to your Giant Legion."
"To... to us?"
A look of delighted surprise spread across Kado’s face.
"That’s right. You’ll be responsible for its food and daily care."
Raylo pointed to the distant Black Stone Mountain Range.
"Starting tomorrow, its task will be to transport stone from the mountains to speed up the construction of Black Stone City."
"No problem, Lord! We’ll get the job done!"
Kado roared excitedly, pounding his chest.
Raylo then summoned a Pegasus Knight.
"Go to Seagull Port at once. Tell the White Siblings to organize a fleet to go out fishing every day. Have them send the freshest seafood to Black Stone City."
"Yes, Lord!"
The Pegasus Knight acknowledged the order, immediately taking to the sky and departing.
Night gradually fell, blanketing the bustling construction site. Bonfires were lit in the open spaces, chasing away the early winter chill.
Raylo, Ed, and the Hill Giant Kado sat around a huge bonfire.
A few Personal Guards were roasting a skinned wild ox, the fat dripping into the flames with a SIZZLE.
"Lord, does that big fella really eat anything?" Kado asked indistinctly, tearing off a large chunk of roasted meat and stuffing it into his mouth.
Raylo took a sip from his mug of ale.
"Sun asked. It’s an omnivore, but it prefers meat."
Kado scratched his head.
"That could be a problem. How much meat would a big fella like that eat in a day?"
"I’ve already sent a messenger to Seagull Port," Raylo said, watching the dancing flames.
"Starting tomorrow, a dedicated fleet will be fishing for it."
Ed, who had been quietly wiping his Long Sword nearby, looked up at his words.
"Lord, organizing a dedicated fleet... the expense will be considerable."
"It’s worth it," Raylo replied.
"With it, the construction of Black Stone City can be ten times faster. This cost is nothing in comparison."
"Besides, a Giant Legion that can be rapidly deployed will be a decisive force in future battles!"
Kado nodded vigorously and swallowed the meat in his mouth.
"Don’t worry, Lord! We’ll take good care of it!"
Raylo smiled and stood up.
"You all carry on. I’m heading out for a bit."
Ed immediately put down his Long Sword and stood up as well.
"Lord, I’ll accompany you."
Raylo waved his hand.
"No need. I’ll go alone."
He walked toward an open space at the edge of the camp.
Raylo let out a whistle.
The Blue Cat resting nearby opened its eyes, stretched lazily, and its body rapidly expanded in mid-air.
In the blink of an eye, a Thunder Dragon appeared in the open space, its blue scales crackling with arcs of electricity.
Lightning lowered its massive head, bringing it close to Raylo.
Hearing the commotion, Moonlight came over as well.
Raylo picked up Moonlight and swung himself onto the dragon’s back.
"Let’s go, Lightning. To the Observatory on the highest peak of the Black Stone Mountain Range."
Lightning let out a low roar and gave a powerful flap of its wings.
A fierce wind kicked up dust from the ground as the Thunder Dragon shot up, instantly soaring into the clouds.
Kado and Ed tilted their heads back, watching the blue streak of lightning disappear into the depths of the night.
"Is the Lord... going to see the Lady?" Kado asked.
Ed didn’t answer. He just sat back down and continued to polish his sword.