From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 676 The Sacred Reins of Doom

Not only did the two representatives of the Dawnblade Knights notice Ivy, but Rupert Hagrid, the Hogwarts Game Ranger and Professor of Magical Creatures Conservation, also noticed Headmaster Dumbledore and Master Doom beside him.

"Ivy! Hahaha!" Hagrid patted Ivy on the shoulder enthusiastically. "It's so good to see you! You don't know, Norbert has completely grown into a beautiful young woman!"

“Really? I’m not surprised at all.” After a few pleasantries, Ivy immediately got to the point. “I think you know why we’re here. How many rideable horses are available for sale at Pegasus Ranch?”

“Lord Doom.” Regil, with his hands behind his back as always, nodded to Ivy and interrupted the conversation, “If I may be so bold, these pegasus are all animals of excellent physique, but they are not suitable warhorses.”

That's right.

Pegasus Ranch's initial goal was simply to breed a group of hybrid Pegasus horses to replace flying broomsticks and become a more comfortable and dignified means of international travel.

However, the efficiency of the various national ministries of magic was not much different from that of the British ministries, and the project made little progress. Even with Fudge's diplomatic efforts, very few were willing to cooperate. The ministries of magic were overwhelmed with countless affairs; how could the Minister for Magic possibly focus all his energy on such a trivial matter?

Therefore, unless a safety incident occurs at Pegasus Ranch, it will likely have to maintain this state of continuous expansion while incurring losses.

Fortunately, the Hogwarts Board of Governors' financial backers were willing to foot the bill, because everyone knew that the Hogwarts Magical Creatures Breeding and Farming Centre and its affiliated Pegasus Farm were projects personally proposed by Master Doom. They were willing to pay any amount of Galleons to cultivate a relationship with this magical master who could resurrect the dead.

Although the Pegasus Ranch survived, the Pegasus bred there were never intended to be warhorses.

Horses are extremely sensitive creatures. To get them to obediently be ridden on someone's back, they need to undergo complicated desensitization training. And to enable them to face guns and gleaming spikes on the battlefield without flinching, requires even greater effort.

Not to mention that the warhorses equipped for cavalry usually need to undergo training in formations and tactics so that they know how to cooperate with the rider's commands and even perform certain specific actions to help fight or protect the rider. They also need to adapt to various environments, such as crossing rivers or traversing rugged terrain.

Hagrid raised all the magical creatures in the breeding grounds very well, but this was relative to their counterparts living in the wild. The Pegasus horses in the Pegasus Ranch were all robust with bulging muscles, and their wings, used for flight, were glossy and smooth, their feathers reflecting an unusual luster in the sunlight.

But this doesn't mean they were war animals suited for the battlefield. At best, they were simply well-bred livestock for transportation.

“They can serve as transportation for our messengers, but they are unlikely to carry knights and play a role on the front lines,” Regil continued, stating his point of view. “Perhaps we could send a professional warhorse trainer to work with the knights to figure out how to train these pegasus horses, but the idea of ​​immediately reorganizing the Pegasus Knights after buying them back to the city of Jueze is probably just wishful thinking. In any case, they are unlikely to immediately strengthen our air power.”

“You’re absolutely right, Deputy Enforcer.” Ivy conjured a piece of raw, bloody beef and fed it to a Thestral that had come closer, then casually stroked its body covered in short, gray-black fur.

The Thestral tore at the raw beef with its sharp teeth, glanced up at Ivy's face with its pupil-less white eyes, then swished its tail and continued enjoying its lunch.

“But these creatures are not ordinary livestock; they are magical animals native to this land. Their bodies contain mysterious powers and flow with the secrets of magic.” Ivy conjured up a handful of water to wash the bloodstains off her hands and led the delegation further into the ranch. “I never said I would let you ride on their backs without any preparation.”

“That’s not surprising,” Regil nodded with satisfaction. “You always have a plan and preparation. But could we experience the effect firsthand?”

“Of course.” Ivy looked toward the distant Black Lake, where a monstrous horse with brown fur interspersed with gray was carrying a knight across the lake. The air currents created ripples on the water, startling a flock of birds in the waterside bushes.

"Who is that person riding on the Pegasus?" Ivy asked, pointing to the rider on the horse.

“It is Sir Egger of the Green Raven Knights, one of the Queen’s bodyguards,” Ashius replied.

The Green Raven Knights were the name Queen Godfrey adopted when she was hiding her identity within the Crusader. In addition to herself, several other royal knights also joined the Crusader with her as her bodyguards.

After Godfrey appeared during the siege of Favored City, the Green Raven Knights did not disband. Instead, Sir Aegon, who remained in Favored City, took over and continued to expand the order by selecting soldiers from among the pilgrims and new recruits from Nerezion.

Because of the Queen's influence, the baby elephant Kuntori was also included in the delegation's list.

As expected of someone from a society where military culture is prevalent, Little Elephant even possesses a considerable degree of political sensitivity.

"Sir Egger, come back to the ranch. It's time to transform your mount into a true warhorse." Ivy used a megaphone spell to transmit the message to Sir Egger, who was laughing on the lake.

The Pegasus, which was gliding at high speed on the lake, immediately changed direction and headed towards the ranch. A moment later, Sir Egger, a tall man with a full beard, stood in front of Ivy.

“Lord Doom,” Sir Egger smiled, “we’ve met a few times, but this is the first time we’ve spoken.”

"How does it feel to fly in the sky?" Ivy asked. "Are you confident that you can use your martial arts skills to kill the demons that are also flying in the air while controlling it?"

“The feeling of flying is fantastic! Pegasus is far more maneuverable in the air than warhorses on the ground.” Sir Egger didn’t hesitate much. He was a wise and cautious royal knight; otherwise, Queen Godfrey wouldn’t have chosen him as her attendant. “As for riding it to take down demons… after a period of training and practice, I can probably perform at a certain level… but the air and the ground are two different battlefields after all. My skills are all for conquering enemies on the ground. The air is probably not my home turf.”

This was said euphemistically, but it also reflected that the royal knight in front of him did not have absolute confidence.

When Ivy first proposed forming the Pegasus Knights, all the knight commanders in the Crusader Army were pleasantly surprised and excited. But after actually riding a Pegasus and flying around in the air, that excitement naturally disappeared.

Not everyone can handle the fear of leaving the ground, let alone wielding weapons and fighting demons on the back of a Pegasus.

Before he became a golden dragon, Ivy had ridden a hippogriff, a flying broom, and other types of winged horses. He had also used magic to fly in the air and knew very well that the sky was not the domain of all humans.

Flying is a challenge for many people.

Even now, he hasn't forgotten the emotion and lingering fear of riding the Swiftwing for the first time, so he can roughly understand the thoughts of these prospective Pegasus riders.

“You’re right, Sir Aegis, the air and the ground are indeed two completely different battlefields.” Ivy nodded. “Before even considering forming the Pegasus Knights, I had already anticipated the potential problems that knights and mounts might encounter in coordination, and I devised a countermeasure. I will use a spell to link the knight and the Pegasus; it will understand your language, be telepathic with you, and all buff spells targeting you will also work on it.” The original spell model for this spell comes from the fourth-circle conjuration spell [Find a High Mount] in the paladin's spellbook. Its effect is to summon a loyal and majestic celestial spirit as a mount for the paladin, which will appear in the form chosen by the rider/caster, with the Pegasus being one of the alternative forms. The rest of the effects are largely consistent with Ivy’s previous description.

The reason Ivy would know how to cast this spell is simple: he possesses solar divinity and is a transcendent being capable of bestowing divine powers upon others.

He naturally became familiar with the spells possessed by professions that served the gods, such as paladins and priests.

Therefore, based on the fourth-circle spell "Find a High Mount," Ivy made some modifications and created a new second-circle spell called "Doom's Sacred Reins."

This spell can be cast successfully if neither the rider nor the mount objects, linking their minds, enlightening the mount, and treating the rider and mount as one. Once successful, the spell lasts indefinitely until either of them dies, or another sacred bridle is established between them.

Through Ivy's spell, a golden rein appeared between the fleece-covered winged horse and the knight, Aigle. A divine bond was established; the knight was no longer merely a passenger on horseback, but a being that could be described as one with his horse.

Sir Egger, once again mounting his horse, displayed an exceptionally high level of flying memory. The coordination between man and horse was simply seamless, as if he himself had wings and was born knowing what movements to use to make Pegasus fly more comfortably and quickly.

The Pegasus, which serves as a mount, also possesses Sir Egger's battle will, honed through countless trials, and will not back down in the face of swords and shadows on the battlefield or the terrifying aura of demons.

Even the usually composed Regil couldn't help but express his excitement, recognizing this as a significant tactical advantage: "The only problem is that if every Pegasus Knight requires you to cast a spell to create this link, it might have some impact on the Crusader's military and political affairs."

“I can grant this spell to others, such as the two members of the Dawnblade Knights…” Ivy looked at Ashius and Amar, who had inscrutable expressions, “Perhaps after we return to the City of Favor and study it, this power can be shared with all the priests and paladins of the Holy Order.”

“You are the sun here, and we are all bathed in your grace... But... we have sworn allegiance to Shane, and whether or not to accept your gift must be decided by praying to the Goddess of Morning Flowers…” Amar, the priestess of the Dawnblade Knights, gave a solemn bow and politely declined Ivy’s offer.

"Don't worry, I just had a sudden urge..." Ivy waved her hand with a smile. "It's almost lunchtime, and the Hogwarts kitchen always satisfies everyone's stomach."

The solar divinity from Faerûn was not simply a matter of making Ivy a divine being.

The divinity of the sun also gave him the key to embark on the supreme path. As long as he stepped on that path, he could naturally wield the power of the sun god and obtain the position of the sun god.

However, in Faerûn, the temple of the Sun God is watched by many with ill intentions, and the body of the previous Sun God still occupies a place inside.

Even if Ivy gets the key, it won't be so easy for her to open the door, step onto the steps, and sit on the throne.

In Grallion, not only does a legitimate deity sit on the throne of the sun god, but she also helps several lost gods who claim to have a claim to the sun to regain their faith and power, and together with them, they form the Temple of the Holy Covenant of the Touch of the Sun.

Although Ivy, the claimant from another world, was not immediately approached, she was unlikely to obtain any authority from the Sun God.

It was only after returning to Hogwarts that Ivy truly felt the power she enjoyed as a holder of the Sun Godhood.

The only true god in this world is the Grim Reaper of the wizards, a perpetual recluse who calls herself Lady Empty. Now that this deity has obtained a body that allows her to visit other worlds, she has vanished without a trace, showing no intention of tending to her own backyard.

After the One God left home to travel, and the native inhabitants returned with the divinity of another world, this world naturally gave Ivy a response.

The duty of the sun god was very simple—to shine, and that was all.

It doesn't matter whether the sun's light scorches the earth's surface or turns the earth into an ice mass, as long as it's still shining.

There's a strange sense of peace, as if living is acceptable and dying is also acceptable.

It is probably this indifferent attitude of not caring about life or death that made Ms. Kongji, who had been the Grim Reaper for countless years, have the idea of ​​running away from home.

It's important to understand that the sun itself is a massive mass of hot plasma gas, and the fusion reactions that occur within it naturally emit light that illuminates the solar system. There's absolutely no need for Ivy, the sun god, to do anything else.

The power obtained as a result of fulfilling the duties of the sun god was so simple it was outrageous: it was simply to emit light.

He can make himself glow, or make something else glow, or create a luminous object.

With this divine power, Ivy could probably make a fortune by starting a photovoltaic power generation company or a controlled nuclear fusion technology company, but for the supreme god of the only star in the solar system, it would be incredibly beneath him. Not to mention, this solar divine power cannot be applied across worlds. He could unify the Earth without using his divine power to create nuclear fusion; he has no suitable enemy, so who would he use it on?
Besides the eight planets, the solar system contains countless other celestial bodies, ranging from small asteroid belts and icy rings around Saturn and Jupiter to large moons and satellites of other planets. All of these celestial bodies orbiting the sun in space, except for Earth, show no signs of life.

On Earth, the most unique life forms are wizards who can use magic. Other intelligent beings that can use magic are ranked slightly behind, not to mention magical creatures that are even less intelligent.

However, even after so many years of development, these most special life forms on Earth, namely wizards, are still no match for their more ordinary counterparts.

They showed little spirit of inquiry, whether in utilizing the Earth's own resources or in exploring the possibilities of magic.

The only person in modern times who tried to challenge death turned himself into a noseless ghost, let alone delve into the mysteries of death.

Ivy obtained the position of the sun god of this world with ease and effort, but after experiencing this power, she did not intend to become deeply bound to it.

Don't you see that even the only god of this century wants to quit and run away? Who wants to stay here?

As for distributing divine spells to others, that's something any being who has embarked on the path of demigods can do. It's just that due to Ivy's magical prowess, he can also distribute other spells that conform to the restrictions of his domain and divine office.

(End of this chapter)