Facing the manticore's steady advance, the seventeen pegasi raised their heads and neighed, even stirring their magic power in an attempt to strike first. Yet the manticore was in no hurry to attack. It merely closed in slowly, exerting immense pressure on the pegasi and forcing chaos to arise within them.
Only by winning amid chaos could it obtain the prey it wanted.
But the pegasi were no fools. They did not scatter, instead staying tightly clustered together as they faced the manticore.
This standoff continued for a full two hours. At last, in the contest of will and patience, the manticore emerged victorious. One pegasus from the small herd could no longer endure it, turned around, and bolted.
The moment one pegasus fled, all the others began fleeing as well.
With a great flutter, the entire pegasus herd beat their wings and flew above the forest.
A flash of lightning gleamed in the manticore's seemingly venomous eyes. It beat its enormous bat wings and swiftly gave chase, picking out one pegasus and pursuing it relentlessly.
"Come on, Bard, let's follow them!"
"Wuiya!"
The Invisible Dragon responded softly. Its form seemed to teleport as it effortlessly followed behind the pegasi and the manticore. Liszt then said to A Ke, "When the manticore is about to pounce on the pegasus, interrupt it. Don't let it catch the pegasus too easily, or the pegasus might not flee toward the larger herd."
Pegasi were high-level draconic beasts. They were quite intelligent, and when confronted with danger, there was a strong chance they would seek help from their own kind.
However, if the pegasus could not even hold out until it reached the larger herd, Liszt's plan would naturally fall behind. So he had to maintain the balance—give the pegasus hope of escaping to