Boom! Boom!
The sound of pursuit behind them grew louder and louder, accompanied by the crack of trees being snapped and the rumble of rocks being crushed!
The Ironclad Rhinoceros had clearly lost all reason, following the scent left by its calves and Reylo's group, charging madly after them!
"Ahead! Into that boulder forest!"
Bolin shouted, pointing towards a complex terrain ahead, filled with towering boulders.
It was a place he had pre-selected, the only spot that might temporarily hinder the Ironclad Rhinoceros's pursuit!
The three of them pushed their horses to the limit, finally charging into the boulder forest at the very last moment before being caught up!
Boom!
Almost the instant they entered, the massive body of the Ironclad Rhinoceros slammed violently into the edge of the boulder forest, smashing several huge rocks into fragments!
But the complex terrain ultimately obstructed its charge, preventing it from rampaging unchecked as it could on flat ground.
"Moo! Moo—!"
The Ironclad Rhinoceros roared and charged madly outside the boulder forest, hurling boulders aside in an attempt to break in, but was temporarily blocked by the complex terrain.
"Go! Don't stop!"
Taking advantage of the cover provided by the boulders, the trio continued their retreat towards Blackstone Town.
Behind them, the Ironclad Rhinoceros's furious and unwilling roars echoed, along with the continuous sound of boulders being shattered.
The entire river valley was thrown into chaos by the rage of this third-order magical beast, with many unfortunate smaller magical beasts losing their lives in this senseless disaster.
It wasn't until they had run far enough that the roars behind them faded completely, and the three dared to slightly slow their pace.
Not daring to linger, they continued their rapid journey until the vague outline of Blackstone Town came into view, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
2
The three of them looked at each other, all covered in dust and dirt, their clothes tattered.
"Ha ha ha..."
They all laughed at each other's disheveled appearance.
The outline of Blackstone Town gradually became clearer in the twilight, and the trio's taut nerves finally relaxed slightly.
The wild laughter of having survived the ordeal had exhausted much of their energy, leaving only fatigue and a sense of fulfillment.
"We're finally back."
Bolin wiped the dust off his face, his voice hoarse.
The little rhinoceros he was carrying was still fidgeting, emitting faint "umms".
The one on Ed's shoulder was the heaviest, causing him to stumble slightly, but his face was filled with excitement.
2
"Sir, these two little guys are really something!"
As they entered Blackstone Town, the sky had completely darkened.
Sparse lanterns flickered in the night breeze.
Reylo didn't head directly to his residence but instead led the two around to the stables.
It was spacious enough there, suitable for housing these two "hot potatoes".
1
"Ed, stay here and keep an eye on them."
Inside the stables, the two little rhinoceroses huddled together, rubbing against each other, looking much more settled.
"Get some clean hay and water. These little things may not look big, but they're quite strong."
"Don't worry, Sir."
Ed herded the two little rhinoceroses into a corner, patting his chest in assurance.
"Leave it to me. I'll make sure they're raised fat and... uh, no, strong and healthy!"
He looked at the little rhinoceroses' dark fur and chuckled to himself.
Reylo nodded.
Ed was loyal and reliable. He intended to have Ed bond with the rhinoceros calves, allowing them to cultivate a relationship first.
Reylo was alone and didn't immediately go to find Old Buck, the town mayor.
He walked around the outskirts of Blackstone Town, checking some small traps he had quietly set up before entering the town during the day.
Sure enough, several simple snare traps made from tough vines and wooden sticks near the edge of the town had already yielded results.
Inside the traps, several plump, sandy-colored creatures were struggling futilely.
They looked somewhat similar to marmots, about the same size, with round bodies, short legs, and small black bean-like eyes darting around, exuding a certain foolishness. They weren't aggressive at all, just tangled up by the vines around their legs, whimpering.
These were the common magical creatures in the Blackstone Mountains - sand gerbils.
Reylo was just about to retrieve the prey from the traps when suddenly, a silver-white shadow darted past him like a ghost!
"Moonlight?" Reylo raised an eyebrow slightly. Considering the danger of stealing the Ironclad Rhinoceros's calves, he had left Moonlight in Blackstone Town.
Like a flowing moonbeam, Moonlight nimbly darted and leaped through the dim corners of the town.
It轻盈地 (lightly) landed on a low wall, perking up its ears as if listening for something.
The next second, it shot out like lightning!
Its claws dug into the ground, and a sand gerbil attempting to scurry back into its burrow was plucked out and tossed aside.
The gerbil, dazed and confused, hadn't even reacted before being pinned down by Moonlight's claws, unable to move.
Moonlight seemed to revel in this "hunting game".
It didn't rush to kill its prey but instead, like a cat playing with a mouse, "swept" through the town.
Wherever there was movement from the sand gerbils, it would pounce like lightning, accurately揪出 (plucking out) those trying to forage or dig holes at night.
Before long, near the area where Reylo had set the traps, a dozen or so sand gerbils subdued by Moonlight were piled up, each lying瘫软 (limp) on the ground like a plump potato.
Reylo couldn't help but smile at Moonlight's efficient "work".
Just then, Old Buck ambled over with an oil lamp.
"What are you going to do with these sand gerbils, Old Mayor?" Reylo asked.
"Sand gerbils, huh..."
Old Buck stroked his beard, a glint flashing in his cloudy eyes. He leaned in closer, poking the fattest gerbil with his cane.
"This thing may not look impressive, but its meat is firm and has no earthy taste. Especially when roasted slowly over fruitwood, the fat sizzles out, and the flavor...啧啧 (tsk tsk), it's truly unique!"
Reylo's heart stirred at the words. After a busy day and a heart-pounding escape, his stomach was already empty.
He looked at the pile of plump sand gerbils, as if already smelling the aroma of roasted meat.
They lit a fire and started roasting the meat.
Before long, the scent of roasted meat mingled with the fragrance of fruitwood, permeating the night air of Blackstone Town.
The aroma spread, and Moonlight's drool slowly dripped.
Reylo, Ed, and Bolin sat around the campfire, each holding a golden-brown roasted sand gerbil, gnawing away.
Old Buck was right; the sand gerbil meat indeed had a unique flavor. The skin was crispy, the meat inside was firm and chewy, with a faint hint of fruitwood smoke, much more delicious than expected.
Moonlight crouched nearby, savoring its own spoils.
Since following Reylo, Moonlight had only eaten cooked food. Although it had just caught many sand gerbils, it hadn't touched a single one.
Now, with two furry paws holding a roasted sand gerbil, it ate with relish, its throat rumbling with satisfaction.
As the night deepened, the campfire crackled.
From the distant stables, occasional low moans of unease from the little rhinoceroses could be heard.