Chapter 216: Riding with Beauty

It truly lived up to its name as a reward from the Dragon Dynasty. While it could not rival Marcus’s own Mythic mount, the Violet Thunderwing Steed, the Cloud Mist Gale Steed possessed remarkable attributes in its own right. Two unique abilities, excellent base stats, and the rare capacity to carry dual riders made it a standout among Grade 8 mounts.

When Marcus opened the Mount Leaderboard, the Cloud Mist Gale Steed sat firmly in fourth place, just beneath Blaze Phoenix’s Three Tailed Flying Fox.

And it deserved that ranking.

The steed was breathtaking. Its coat was pure white without the faintest blemish, as though shaped from drifting clouds. A gleaming golden saddle rested across its back, polished to a regal shine that only heightened its refined aura. Elegant yet powerful, it carried the quiet dignity of a creature born for the skies.

Marcus glanced at Chloe with a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“Chloe, how about we let Pegasus Citadel witness what a true Pegasus Knight looks like in flight?”

Without another word, he transferred ownership of the Grade 8 Cloud Mist Gale Steed to her.

The mount suited Chloe perfectly. As a Pegasus Knight, she would draw out its full potential. In Marcus’s hands it would serve little purpose beyond being sold for gold, and although it would fetch an impressive price, he had no need for the money. Selling such a rare mount felt shortsighted. Truly exceptional items only grew more valuable with time.

He expected Chloe to ignore him out of habit. Normally she would brush him aside until Anya stepped in to smooth things over. Yet today, surprisingly, Chloe accepted the mount quietly, with no sarcasm or resistance. She simply reached out and bound the steed to herself.

Marcus blinked. That alone felt more astonishing than the mount’s stats.

Mounts were prohibited within city limits, Pegasus included. Airspace below five hundred feet above major cities was restricted, though designated Pegasus Outposts allowed riders to take off and land safely. Marcus, Anya, and Chloe stood at one such outpost on the edge of Pegasus Citadel.

Chloe stepped forward, her armor glinting in the light. With a fluid, effortless motion, she performed a light flip and landed cleanly upon the Cloud Mist Gale Steed’s back. The steed answered with a proud, resonant whinny, its wings stretching wide as if in celebration.

Against the pure white of the Pegasus, Chloe appeared radiant and commanding. Her posture was straight and her expression resolute. In that moment she resembled a goddess of war descended to the mortal realm.

“Fly.”

She turned her head slightly toward Marcus.

He gave a small nod, reassuring her without words. Go on. We will follow.

“Go,” she whispered.

The Cloud Mist Gale Steed beat its wings, stirring wind and dust across the outpost platform. Slowly it lifted from the ground, ascending with measured grace. Once she passed five hundred feet, she would be free to soar without restriction.

Pegasus Knights were born for the heavens. Favored by fate, sovereigns of the open sky, they found their true battlefield above the clouds. On the ground they fought like any other Knight, but in the air their strength doubled, their defense hardened, and their mobility surpassed nearly every other class. In siege warfare especially, they were terror and salvation alike.

The sky was where they became legends.

As Chloe rose two hundred feet above Pegasus Citadel, players below finally noticed the white figure climbing into the blue.

“Look! A Pegasus!”

“Is that the Violet Thunderwing Steed? The second ranked mount?”

Gasps spread rapidly through the streets. Players stopped mid conversation, craning their necks upward. Within moments, the entire city seemed to tilt toward the sky.

The massive wings. The elegant ascent. The pure white brilliance of the mount.

Envy flared like dry tinder catching flame.

Who had never dreamed of flying? Who had never imagined breaking free from gravity and soaring beyond rooftops? Dominion offered that dream, but only to those strong enough to grasp it.

To see someone else claim that freedom so openly stirred something sharp in the chest.

“Are you blind?” a sharp voiced Assassin scoffed at the Fighter beside him. “Have you never seen the forums? The Violet Thunderwing Steed is violet red, with lightning crackling through its wings. When it flies it leaves a trail of flame like fireworks. That one up there is pure white. It’s obviously not the Violet Thunderwing Steed.”

The Fighter scratched his head, embarrassed.

Another player, a Mage, narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “He’s right. That should be the Cloud Mist Gale Steed. Fourth on the leaderboard. A Grade 8 mount.”

Recognition rippled outward. Players squinted, trying to make out the rider. From this distance they could only see the silhouette of a slender Knight seated tall in the saddle.

“A female Knight?” someone murmured.

Speculation spread quickly.

“Vi… Vi…”

The Fighter suddenly stiffened, pointing skyward with trembling fingers. His eyes bulged as though he had seen something impossible.

The Assassin groaned. “Violet what? I just explained this to you.”

“Vi… Violet Thunderwing Steed.”

This time the stammer did not come from the Fighter alone.

The Mage who had identified the Cloud Mist Gale Steed stared upward, mouth hanging open.

The Assassin’s irritation faltered. A chill crept up his spine as he slowly followed their pointing hands.

High above the white Pegasus, another figure emerged from the clouds.

Beneath the Cloud Mist Gale Steed soared an even larger, more imposing Pegasus, its entire body a deep violet red. Lightning crackled along its enormous wings, and each powerful beat left behind a shimmering trail of fire that lingered in the air like living sparks.

There was no mistaking it, that was the second ranked mount on the Mount Leaderboard.

The Mythic Violet Thunderwing Steed.

The Assassin’s throat went dry. “Mythic… Vi… Violet Thunderwing Steed…”

His once sharp tongue tangled uselessly.

Upon the broad back of the Mythic mount sat a tall, commanding Knight clad in armor that seemed forged from authority itself. His presence radiated strength, calm, and quiet dominance.

Cradled securely in his arms was a slender figure.

She sat sideways before him, held close against his chest as the wind teased strands of her hair loose. The soft locks streamed back in the current, brushing lightly against the Knight’s armor.

Below them, Chloe rode the pure white Cloud Mist Gale Steed.

Above her, Marcus followed on the blazing violet Mythic mount.

Two Pegasi cut across the sky, one white as drifting clouds, the other blazing with stormfire. Together they painted a breathtaking tableau over Pegasus Citadel.

A beautiful woman, a magnificent mount and a valiant Knight riding with beauty through the heavens.

And for a long moment, the entire city could only look up in silence.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep