Chapter 24 - 1

 Bang!

 A stone held by a pale hand loomed larger in Jacaerys Velaryon's eyes.

 The next second, he crashed heavily to the ground.

 "Jace!"

 A worried little girl's voice brought Jacaerys back from the haze of dizziness and pain.

 He saw a silver-haired boy standing in front of him, a stone raised in his right hand, ready to strike again.

 Out of sheer survival instinct, Jacaerys grabbed a handful of sand and flung it toward the boy.

 The silver-haired boy's eyes were blinded by the sand, causing him to stagger backward, blinking furiously.

 In that moment, a black-haired boy, younger but swift, darted forward with a short blade in hand.

 A high-pitched scream echoed through the courtyard as the silver-haired boy dropped to the ground, clutching his bleeding left eye.

 "Oh gods! Stop this madness now!"

 The boy's scream had attracted several burly guards clad in silver armor, with white cloaks fluttering behind them.

 "Prince Aemond, let me see!"

 The leading guard, a bald man with a white beard, rushed forward to examine the silver-haired boy's injury.

 He turned to the others behind him and commanded,

 "Inform King Viserys and the maesters, quickly!"

 The entrance to the dimly lit castle was filled with tension as the guards, children, and bystanders looked on in alarm.

 They all knew this incident had grown serious.

 But Jacaerys had little time to dwell on that now. As he stood, he noticed something strange.

 His height barely reached the waist of the guards, and his limbs were small, childlike.

 His head throbbed, the pain grounding him. This wasn't a dream.

 Suddenly, fragmented memories flooded his mind.

 Time: 120 AC. Location: High Tide, the seat of House Velaryon.

 His grandfather was Viserys I Targaryen.

 His mother, Rhaenyra Targaryen, was the Light of the Realm.

 And he...

 He was Jacaerys Velaryon, second in line to the Iron Throne, just six years old!

 What kind of cruel joke was this?

 In his past life, he was just an exhausted office worker who couldn't sleep after binge-watching television.

 Now he found himself in the brutal world of Game of Thrones, where human life was cheap.

 And of all times to be thrust into, it had to be during the Dance of the Dragons, an era he only vaguely knew from the first season of *House of the Dragon*!

 What fate awaited this young body?

 As Jacaerys tried to make sense of it all, his fragmented memories began to merge.

 In the grand hall of High Tide, Queen Alicent Hightower was embroiled in a fierce argument with his mother, Rhaenyra, over the injury to her son.

 King Viserys, ever the peacekeeper, wanted the matter resolved quietly. He sought apologies and reconciliation between his children and grandchildren.

 But Alicent was unyielding, her face cold and unforgiving.

 "Rhaenyra's sons must pay. An eye for an eye!" she demanded, her voice sharp as steel.

 Rhaenyra, standing beside her two sons, felt her grip tighten around their hands.

 Jacaerys, now fully aware of his surroundings, realized he had to act.

 Though the original story unfolded with only Rhaenyra receiving a cut on her arm, he knew the larger implications of this event.

 If Rhaenyra's reputation, already fragile, took another blow, their position would weaken.

 To survive, Jacaerys needed to protect his mother's claim to the throne.

 Breaking free from Rhaenyra's grip, Jacaerys stepped forward and shouted,

 "Your Majesty, let us set aside the matter of my brother's eye for a moment."

 The room fell silent.

 "Prince Aemond slandered my brother and me, casting doubt on our lineage. Vhagar belonged to my aunt, and she should have passed him to Rhaena.

 I am willing to offer compensation for my brother's injury, but Vhagar must be returned.

 And according to the laws of the kingdom, thieves lose a hand!"

 His words, particularly the emphasis on "the laws of the kingdom," echoed through the hall, drawing shocked glances from the gathered nobles.

 No one had expected the young, previously cowering child to speak so boldly.

 Alicent's eyes were filled with fury as she glared at Rhaenyra, refusing to dignify Jacaerys with a response.

 Aemond, his left eye freshly bandaged by the maester, spat back,

 "Vhagar has no rider now. He's a wild dragon!"

 Jacaerys sneered.

 "Wild he may be, but Vhagar is still on Driftmark, which belongs to House Velaryon!

 You can ask any lord in this hall: everything on a lord's lands belongs to that lord's family!"

 His words had set a trap. If Aemond sought validation from the other nobles, he would only be humiliating himself.

 But Aemond, unlike his reckless older brother Aegon, was sharp. He wasn't so easily baited.

 "So what if it's theft?" Aemond said, his remaining eye gleaming with malice.

 "I am a Targaryen. I am above such laws."

 "Immunity from law?" Jacaerys retorted.

 "That's just a term meant to placate the smallfolk!

 We Velaryons are descended from Valyria's ancient and noble bloodline. Aegon the Conqueror sailed to Westeros on our ships!

 If you want to discuss immunity in the Hall of Nine Voyages, then ask my grandfather, Lord Corlys Velaryon, what he thinks!"

 The attention of the hall shifted from the two young princes to Lord Corlys Velaryon.

 Before the Sea Snake could speak, King Viserys raised his voice,

 "Enough! In the name of the King, I declare this matter closed!"

 The king, weakened by illness and missing several limbs, shuffled out of the hall, his scepter thudding against the stone floor.

 In the Hall of Nine, Alicent stood with her sons Aemond and Aegon, and Ser Criston Cole by her side. Ser Otto Hightower, the newly reinstated Hand of the King, watched with a knowing smile.

 Opposite them, Rhaenyra held her sons Jacaerys and Lucerys close. Daemon Targaryen and Lord Corlys stood at her side.

 An invisible chasm had opened between the two sides.

 Afterward, Rhaenyra escorted her sons back to their chambers to be tended by the maester.

 When Laenor Velaryon, their father, finally returned, Jacaerys wisely led his brother and the maester out of their mother's room, giving them privacy.

 "Jacaerys, come here!"

 Jacaerys paused, turning to see his grandfather, Lord Corlys, calling him.

 "Grandfather, what is it?"

 Lord Corlys, his stern features softening, smiled at Jacaerys.

 "Are you proud of your Velaryon blood, boy?"

 "Of course, grandfather! The Velaryon name is even older than the Targaryen name!"

 Lord Corlys chuckled, clapping Jacaerys on the shoulder.

 "You'll take the Targaryen name when you inherit the throne. But never forget, your Velaryon blood runs just as strong."

 "I won't, Grandfather. Even if I carry the Targaryen name, I'll make sure to keep House Velaryon prosperous."

 "Good lad."

 Lord Corlys patted his shoulder one last time.

 "Remember, House Velaryon stands behind you."

Listening to Earl Corys subtly hint at his intention to take sides, Jacaerys smiled and nodded, saying, "Thank you, Grandpa!"

That night, Jacaerys, filled with worry, slept uneasily like many of the others in the keep.

The next day, the king and the entire royal family set sail back to King's Landing.

"Hula, hula!"

A heavy sound of something slicing through the air echoed overhead. Jacaerys, standing on the castle's ramparts, looked up.

An ancient dragon of immense size, covered in green-bronze scales, soared in the sky.

Jacaerys, comparing it to the Boeing 747 he had flown in his previous life, was astonished to realize that the torso of this ancient dragon was far larger than the aircraft.

Including its thick, long tail, the dragon's overall length was equivalent to two Boeing planes combined.

The dragon's wings, bearing many scars, were even more exaggerated in size.

Fully extended, the dragon's wings cast a vast shadow over the castle.

By rough estimate, the wings alone spanned the size of three or four football fields.

The shadow, appearing capable of blocking out the sun, made many of the guards and servants in the city so nervous they swallowed hard.

This was Vhagar, the oldest and largest dragon in existence.

This ancient dragon, named after the Valyrian god, was a force that could easily be mistaken for a deity in the age of cold steel.

In addition to Vhagar, there were two much smaller young dragons in the sky.

One was covered in shiny golden scales, with light pink wing membranes—a truly splendid sight.

This was Aegon's dragon, Sunfyre.

The other, with a slender body of light blue streaked with silver lines, belonged to Helaena Targaryen. It was her dragon, Dreamfyre.

Looking up, Jacaerys could barely make out the three dragon riders on their mounts.

But somehow, with an uncanny sense of connection, he knew Aemond, riding atop Vhagar, was staring back at him.

Dragons... I have one too!

Watching the three giant dragons carrying their future enemies gradually disappear into the sky, Jacaerys longed to return to Dragonstone.

The subsequent events played out as he had hoped.

Rhaenyra, Daemon, and Laenor, with his lover, staged a fake death.

After a hasty farewell to the grieving Velaryon family, Rhaenyra and Daemon returned to Dragonstone with their two sons and two daughters to prepare for their wedding.

Once they arrived at Dragonstone, Jacaerys wasted no time and went straight to the dragon's lair.

Hiss~~~

In the hot, dim dragon cave, a green-scaled young dragon about the size of a horse slowly approached, growling softly.

"Vermax, stop!"

Facing a dragon for the first time, Jacaerys commanded in his broken High Valyrian.

The young dragon with green scales seemed to understand. It folded its wings, tilted its head, and stared at Jacaerys with its large, brown, vertical pupils.

Nervously licking his lips, Jacaerys slowly reached out and touched the side of Vermax's face.

As his pale palm brushed against the emerald dragon scales, something strange happened!

[Pet name: Vermax, owner: Jacaerys Velaryon.

Body length: 2.03 meters, weight: 735.72 kilograms.

Pet Entry Box: 2/2.

Pet Item: gluttony (white): Appetite +10%, Growth Rate +10%.

Clumsy (gray): Agility -10%.

Current Item Points: 0.]

Hahaha, that's great!

Looking at the translucent entry panel in front of him, Jacaerys could hardly suppress his excitement.

Along the way, he had been thinking hard about how to strengthen himself to face Aemond and Vhagar.

Now, the solution was right before him.

The first half of this cheat system showed Vermax's physical data, which could be ignored for now. The real focus was on the second half.

The term "box" naturally referred to the number of entries it held. These two entries, one white and one gray, seemed to be what Vermax was born with.

The white entry for gluttony was straightforward: it meant eating a lot and growing fast.

Does the dragon have a big appetite?

To the noble-born Jacaerys, this meant little. He was more concerned that Vermax wasn't growing fast or big enough. After all, in this world, the bigger the dragon, the more power it held.

The gray entry, clumsiness, on the other hand, was a completely negative trait.

Well, no wonder in the last episode of the original series, my Vermax was a whole circle larger than my brother's Arrax.

Gluttony is important; I must find a way to increase its level. As for clumsiness, it needs to be modified or deleted as soon as possible.

The levels of these entries are white and gray. Could it be that the entry levels work like a certain online game I played in my previous life?

The most important question is how to acquire points for these entries.

Meh!

Just as Jacaerys frowned in thought, a lamb's bleat echoed from outside the dragon cave.

He turned to see a dragon guard in a gray robe walking in, leading a white lamb.

"Prince Jacaerys, time to feed Vermax!"

Jacaerys couldn't fully understand the High Valyrian spoken by the dragon guards, but it didn't stop him from grasping the meaning.

After nodding in agreement, the guard tied the lamb to a charred stone pillar.

With an inviting gesture from the guard, Jacaerys excitedly shouted a High Valyrian command.

"Dracarys!"

Whoosh!

After a brief wait, Vermax turned his thick dragon neck and breathed a burst of orange-red flame towards the lamb.

The heat was so intense that Jacaerys had to step back, clearly not possessing the indestructible resistance to fire that Daenerys, the Mother of Dragons, had.

The flames lasted only two or three seconds, but it was enough for the lamb to be reduced to a pile of charred meat, the scent of which was akin to a barbecue.

"Stop!"

Vermax, eager to devour his meal, was about to step forward but paused at Jacaerys' command.

The dragon guard's eyes widened in surprise.

Whether at King's Landing or in the dragon caves of Dragonstone, no one had been able to fully control the behavior of these young dragons.

After all, young dragons are like human children, with minds still developing.

But with just one order, Jacaerys had stopped the normally greedy Vermax!

"Eat!"

Chomp, chomp!

Upon receiving the order, Vermax eagerly began devouring his meal.

The dragon guard, standing nearby, had no idea of the spiritual connection that had formed between Jacaerys and Vermax the moment Jacaerys activated his cheat system.

This connection allowed Jacaerys to control Vermax effortlessly, without any formal dragon taming training.

Having tight control over a dragon's actions was crucial in battle.

In the original series, if Arrax and Aemond had been able to control their dragons, the Dance of the Dragons might never have occurred.

This thought quickly wiped away the brief sense of satisfaction Jacaerys had felt from activating the cheat system.

He had just experienced the heat of Vermax's flames up close, and this was still a young dragon. Nine years after the events of the original drama, Arrax, already in his growth phase, had failed to breach Vhagar's defenses with just one breath of fire.

This illustrated the terrifying power of ancient dragons.

[Entry Points +1]

Hmm? The entry points increased?

Was it because of the eating?

Jacaerys' attention was drawn to the point prompt that flashed in the lower left corner of his vision.

After a moment's thought, he gestured to the guard to bring another lamb.

Sure enough, after Vermax devoured his second meal, Jacaerys gained another entry point.

But when Vermax, with his now round belly, ate a third lamb, there was no additional point.

It seemed like you could only gain two points per day from feeding.

After studying the system for a while without finding anything new, Jacaerys said goodbye to the now-sleepy Vermax and returned to the Stone Drum Tower.

Stone Drum Tower was the main fortress of Dragonstone. It was named for the rumbling noises heard within its ancient walls during storms.

"Jace, where have you been?

Come on, my father and your mother's wedding ceremony is about to begin."

As soon as Jacaerys entered the hall of the Stone Drum Tower, a delicate-faced girl with long silver hair and purple eyes rushed up, grabbing his hand and pulling him outside.

Jacaerys smiled helplessly at the cute, pouting girl.

This was Baela Targaryen, daughter of Daemon and his betrothed.

Jacaerys had his reservations about the Targaryens' chaotic relationships and their obsession with bloodline purity.

But there was no choice. Beyond the personal opinions of Rhaenyra and Daemon, the Velaryon fleet that dominated the Narrow Sea made this political marriage necessary.

Just as in the original drama, Jacaerys and his four children witnessed the ceremony.

Rhaenyra and Daemon cut their palms with obsidian daggers, clasped their hands together, and drank blood wine, completing the ancient Valyrian wedding ritual.

For over a month, Jacaerys studied High Valyrian and the lore of the Seven Kingdoms every morning.

In the afternoons, he practiced swordsmanship with his new father, Daemon, before heading to the dragon lairs to feed Vermax.

On the fiftieth day, when his entry points reached 100, the cheat system finally changed.

There was now a random refresh option for both Gluttony and Clumsiness.

Without hesitation, Jacaerys chose to refresh Clumsiness.

In an instant, the points he had worked so hard to accumulate were gone, replaced by a new entry.

[Weak and Fragile (Gray): Defense -10%.

Do you want to replace the new pet item?]

"..."

Jacaerys was speechless. The new entry was even worse than clumsiness! It seemed all the points he had accumulated over fifty days were wasted.

He would need a lot more points to refresh to a better trait.

Two points a day were too slow. He needed to find a way to speed things up.

Well, let's try feeding Vermax different types of food first!

After deciding not to replace the trait, Jacaerys headed straight to the lord's bedroom in the Stone Drum Tower.

I don't know whether to say that Rhaenyra is stronger or if Daemon is stronger.

The newlyweds had only been married for fifty days, and Rhaenyra was already more than a month pregnant.

Perhaps because of her own mother's tragedy, Rhaenyra, who had already given birth to three sons, still attached great importance to pregnancy and insisted on giving birth alone.

After expressing to Rhaenyra her desire to visit the fishing village in Dragonstone's territory, she directly assigned four guards to Jacaerys.

It seemed that his previous performance in Climax City had left an impression.

Had this been in the past, Rhaenyra, who valued the safety of her children above all else, would have surely confined Jacaerys to the main castle.

However, there was a small incident before leaving the Stone Drum Tower.

Upon hearing the news, Lucerys, Baela, and Rhaena arrived and tried to persuade him otherwise.

Jacaerys had no choice but to bring along these three little burdens.

Dragon Claw Village was located at the foot of Dragon Mountain, on the shore of the Narrow Sea.

The terrain of this small fishing village was relatively flat, and the soil was fertile.

As a result, both farmers and fishermen thrived here.

Though there were only about a thousand permanent residents, it was situated across the sea from the bustling town of Spicetown on Driftmark.

Many merchant ships chose to dock at Dragon Claw Village, lending it a sense of prosperity.

As the guards bearing the three-headed dragon crest on their armor escorted the four children into Dragon Claw Village, the previously lively atmosphere fell silent.

"Prince Jacaerys, Prince Lucerys!"

"Prince Jacaerys! Salutations to you, our future Lord!"

"Prince Jacaerys, the future King!"

The civilians quickly bowed their heads and greeted Jacaerys and Lucerys.

Jacaerys, who had been just an ordinary office worker in his previous life, had never experienced such treatment. He smiled politely and nodded in acknowledgment.

But he didn't forget his purpose here and headed straight for the village's open-air market.

Armed with a hefty pouch filled with silver stags, Jacaerys began shopping.

A bull cost five silver stags, a fat pig two, a large sea fish half a stag, and various sea food were sold for copper stars.

He bought a portion of everything edible.

Of course, the three little burdens did not disappoint Jacaerys.

Along the way, they clamored for all sorts of items they had never seen before.

Jacaerys was so frustrated that he ended up buying them various snacks to quiet them down.

After buying so much, it was impossible to carry everything back.

So Jacaerys ordered the captain of the guard to take one of his men and recruit a few laborers to help transport the goods.

However, only a few minutes after the two guards left, something unexpected happened!

A large number of copper stars and a few silver stags were thrown into the crowd from all directions.

"Money's fallen! Pick it up quickly!"

At the loud shout, more than a hundred civilians in the market immediately rushed to grab the scattered coins.

"Princes and Princesses, stand behind us!"

Sensing that something was wrong, the two remaining guards immediately placed Jacaerys and the other three behind them.

The open-air market was enclosed by walls and had two exits—one large and one small.

The market space had already been crowded, and with all the goods and over a hundred people scrambling for coins, it became even more packed.

The chaos prevented the two guards from even drawing the swords at their waists.

Jacaerys remained calm in the face of danger, quickly surveying the surroundings through the gaps in the crowd.

He then pointed to a stall built against the wall, and shouted, "Let's head over there!"

Whoosh!

The two guards, following his orders, shielded Jacaerys and the others as they made their way toward the stall by the wall.

Suddenly, a cold arrow flew through the air, striking a civilian trapped in the crowd ahead.

Ah!

The civilian screamed in agony, and the market's chaotic scene descended into complete pandemonium.

Some of the civilians closest to the exits tried to escape, but masked men with swords blocked both exits.

The people at the edges were pushed back by the sword-wielding men, while those in the center tried to force their way out.

In the midst of the pushing and shoving, several elderly and children were knocked to the ground.

Their bodies were mercilessly trampled underfoot.

This was a targeted assassination!

Jacaerys, being too short, hadn't noticed the coins being tossed into the crowd earlier.

But the arrows told him clearly: this wasn't a random riot.

At that moment, he focused all his attention on the faint spiritual connection he shared.

Hiss!

In the artificial dragon lair on Dragon Mountain, the young Vermax let out a roar that sounded like a mix of snake hiss and dragon growl.

Swish, swish, swish! Puff, puff!

Six arrows gleamed with cold light as they shot out from the market's small exit, burying themselves deep in flesh and bone.

"Ah!!!"

The two civilians, used as human shields by the guards, screamed in pain before falling silent.

This cruel strategy had been devised by Jacaerys. He had no other choice; at six years old, he was practically powerless. If the two guards died, he would be left at the mercy of the assassins.

Being a pragmatist, Jacaerys would do anything to preserve his life. After all, he didn't know if death in this world meant true death.

Life is precious, and he hadn't even started to enjoy it yet!

In stark contrast to Jacaerys' calm and calculated demeanor, the other three children were terrified. They trembled uncontrollably, their faces pale.

This riot and assassination, which involved hundreds, was entirely different from the petty fights with Aemond from before.

Clank, clank, clank! Kill!

The clash of steel and shouts of battle echoed from the market's main entrance. Whether it was the militia from Dragon Claw Village or the guards Jacaerys had dispatched earlier was unclear.

But with the assassins no longer blocking the exit, civilians began fleeing the market in a desperate attempt to save themselves.

The dwindling number of civilians presented both advantages and disadvantages for Jacaerys. The advantage was that he and his group quickly reached a stall near the wall, securing a position where they only had to face enemies from one direction. The disadvantage was that, with fewer people around, the six assassins at the small exit discarded their bows, drew their swords, and advanced on Jacaerys' group.

Clang, clang!

Without the threat of arrows, the two guards dropped their lifeless human shields, now riddled with arrows like pincushions, and drew their longswords, ready for battle.

Jacaerys unsheathed the short blade he always carried with him—the same one that had blinded Aemond not long ago.

Clang! Rip!

As soon as the two sides clashed, one of the assassins was quickly struck down by Jacaerys' guards. It wasn't due to their exceptional skill but the high-quality armor provided by House Targaryen.

In the era of cold steel, having armor made all the difference.

Phew!

One guard finished the downed assassin by driving his sword through the man's neck, blood gushing and turning the ground beneath them red.

The remaining five assassins grew cautious after witnessing this. They split up, attempting to outflank the guards. Despite their numbers, the guards' superior armor and strategic position created a stalemate.

But Dragon Claw Village was Jacaerys' domain, and the longer the fight dragged on, the better his chances.

The assassins, however, were no fools. One of the three attacking the guard on the left suddenly retreated, withdrawing from the battle. He dropped his sword, pulled out a dagger, and leaped forward, slipping between the guard's legs before turning to attack.

Not good!

Jacaerys reacted instantly, rushing forward to plunge his short blade into the assassin's left eye as he lay on the ground. The man let out a sharp scream and died on the spot, but not before his dagger pierced the gap in the guard's knee armor.

Phew!

The guard fell to his knees with a scream, and the other two assassins seized the opportunity, driving their swords into his neck. With one guard down, Jacaerys and his companions found themselves in grave danger.

Hula, hula! Hisss!!!

Suddenly, the flapping of wings and the shriek of a young dragon filled the air above the open market.

"Dracarys!"

With a look of fierce determination, Jacaerys pointed toward the assassins on his left and shouted the deadliest word in Valyrian in his young, childish voice.

Wow!

Deadly dragonfire erupted from Vermax's maw, streaking through the sky like a burning orange comet. The two assassins were instantly engulfed in flames, becoming human torches.

Vermax's flames were not yet strong enough to melt metal, so the men did not die immediately. Instead, they suffered an excruciating fate, screaming and flailing in agony as they set nearby market goods ablaze before collapsing into charred husks.

Bang!

Vermax descended from the sky, his 700-kilogram frame crushing another assassin, breaking bones and flesh alike as the man wailed in pain.

The final assassin saw no escape and fled. The remaining guard prepared to pursue him, but Jacaerys stopped him with a gesture.

As the second Valyrian command left his lips, the fleeing assassin was set aflame by another burst of dragonfire.

Unfortunately, a nearby civilian was caught in the flames as well.

There was no helping it. To Vermax, anyone who wasn't his master was expendable.

Jacaerys didn't have time to mourn the collateral damage. His focus was on the new information flashing before his eyes.

[Entry Points +20]

The deaths of the assassins had revealed a second method of gaining entry points, far more rewarding than eating.

However, Jacaerys wasn't entirely sure what triggered this second method. That's why he had stopped the guard from continuing the chase—he wanted to experiment.

[Entry Points +10]

The burning assassins and the unfortunate civilian soon died, and another prompt appeared. Though the two were both killed by dragonfire, the points were halved.

The only difference between them...

That civilian wasn't my enemy!

Jacaerys considered this revelation carefully. He then commanded Vermax telepathically to finish off the assassin still pinned beneath the dragon.

Bang!

The assassin's head exploded under Vermax's claw, and another prompt appeared.

[Entry Points +10]

Now that Jacaerys had tested the theory, he confirmed it: the second method of gaining points required Vermax to kill the enemy.

Ugh, ugh!

The sound of retching caught Jacaerys' attention. He turned to see Lucerys and the twin silver-haired sisters vomiting violently. The market floor was littered with mangled corpses, both assassins and civilians trampled beyond recognition. The stench of blood, burning flesh, and bodily waste filled the air.

For the three children, it was all too much.

Jacaerys, who had never experienced such horrors in his previous life and had never taken a life himself, felt little more than disgust. Despite absorbing memories from this world, he still felt detached, as if the people around him were nothing more than NPCs from a game or a movie.

Who feels guilty killing an NPC?

That was why, when Vermax accidentally killed the civilian, Jacaerys felt a small pang of regret, but no guilt.

Such a mentality might prove either useful or dangerous in this brutal world.

But enough of that.

After instructing the guard to tend to Lucerys and the twins, Jacaerys and Vermax rushed toward the market's main exit. To him, the assassins were no longer people—they were walking bags of attribute points.

With Vermax by his side, Jacaerys had the most powerful weapon imaginable. Against the Dragon Claw Village militia, the assassins had held their ground. But before the might of Vermax, they stood no chance.

After another scorching blast of dragonfire, Jacaerys earned 120 more points.

It was time to strengthen Vermax again!

"Damn it, move the water faster!

Don't touch the assassin's body. Wait until the fire is out before checking for any information!"

The captain of the guards, sent out by Jacaerys, was directing the firefighting efforts, cleaning up the bodies, and managing the aftermath.

Two other guards stood with swords drawn, vigilantly protecting Jacaerys and the others.

In truth, their protection wasn't really necessary anymore.

With Vermax nearby, no one dared to approach Jacaerys and his companions.

Huh!

Jacaerys felt as if he was playing a metaphysical card game from his previous life.

First, he washed his bloodstained hands, then took a deep breath and concentrated before refreshing the Clumsy entry.

[Flexible (White): Agility +10%.

Do you want to replace the new pet entry?]

Jacaerys wasn't sure if he should credit this card drawing system for its metaphysical luck.

The second randomly refreshed entry made him quite satisfied, and he immediately replaced the previous negative one.

With the positive and negative factors balanced, Vermax's agility was directly increased by 20%.

Vermax, who had been lying lazily on the ground, seemed to sense a change in his body.

He slowly stood up and tilted his head towards Jacaerys as if waiting for further instruction.

"Soves( Fly)"

Upon Jacaerys's command, Vermax immediately flapped his wings and soared into the sky.

The 20% agility bonus was evident.

Vermax moved excitedly and gracefully across the skies above Dragon Claw Village.

The other three children looked up at Vermax, flying freely, their faces filled with longing and envy.

Lucerys's Araxes wasn't growing fast enough and couldn't fly just yet.

Baela's Moondancer was even smaller than Araxes.

Meanwhile, Rhaena's dragon egg hadn't hatched at all, and she resented Aemond for taking away her mother's dragon.

Jacaerys, however, had a different mindset. He was filled with excitement.

At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he could become a true Dragon Rider!

Hula, hula!

A heavy sound of air being sliced through echoed, and a massive red dragon shadow appeared over Dragon Claw Village.

Next to the red dragon's silhouette, Vermax, already possessing some of the might of a dragon, looked like a harmless kitten.

This massive red dragon was as long as a Boeing aircraft and almost half the size of Vhagar.

But its body was particularly slender, a bit like a wind snake from an online game in his past life.

The most distinctive feature of this fiery red dragon was the wing membranes that grew on its hind legs and tail.

It was this structure, so different from traditional dragons, that gave it unparalleled speed and agility in flight.

'Blood Wyrm' Caraxes.

The fastest flying dragon, aside from the Red Queen, and Prince Daemon's mount.

Bang!

Caraxes landed heavily on a flat piece of farmland.

Daemon, anxious after receiving the report, didn't care about the destroyed crops as he rushed straight into Dragon Claw Village.

He didn't relax until he saw that his two daughters and the Velaryon brothers were safe.

Despite his unruly and ill-tempered nature, this 'Rogue Prince' clearly cared deeply for his family.

"Once we've gathered all the information on these assassins, chop up their bodies and feed them to the dogs."

"Father, wait!"

Daemon, who had issued his cold command, was about to return to the castle with the four children when Jacaerys stopped him.

"Jace, what is it?"

"I can't stand the fact that these men scared Baela and Rhaena!"

Jacaerys looked up and replied, then turned to Vermax, who had just landed, and gave the order to eat.

The sound of the dragon tearing into the assassin's flesh sent a shiver through the villagers of Dragon Claw.

The fear that they too might become dragon fodder kept their breaths shallow and movements cautious.

The other three children covered their eyes, too frightened to witness the bloody scene.

Daemon, watching Jacaerys with interest, allowed a small smile to creep onto his face.

Jacaerys knew that allowing Vermax to devour the assassins might bring negative consequences.

But he couldn't pass up the chance to earn points for himself.

Vermax had already eaten earlier, and though flying and fighting had used up some of his energy, one assassin was enough to fill him.

Seeing that no prompt for extra points appeared, Jacaerys abandoned the dark thought that had crossed his mind.

It seemed that regardless of what Vermax consumed, he only gained two points a day.

Without further concern, he followed Daemon back to Dragonstone's main castle.

Upon their return to the Stone Drum Tower, Daemon told the Velaryon brothers to see their mother, while he personally escorted his frightened daughters to their rooms.

As soon as they entered the lord's chambers, Rhaenyra rushed over, hugging her sons tightly and checking them for injuries.

Then, she began questioning them.

Though her tone was sharp, Jacaerys could sense her worry and concern.

Seizing the moment, he brought up a suggestion he had been pondering for some time.

"What?

You want to recruit a group of village children to serve as your guards?"

Rhaenyra looked at Jacaerys in surprise. After a moment of hesitation, she responded,

"Jace, as long as you stay in the Stone Drum Tower, you don't need to worry about your safety.

If you want guards, I can assign them to you.

What could a group of children do?"

"Mother, we can't stay in the Stone Drum Tower forever.

And these children would be easier to control and instill loyalty in.

Even the renowned Kingsguard can betray, after all. Isn't that true?"

Jacaerys's words immediately reminded Rhaenyra of the man who had betrayed her.

Ser Criston Cole, once a trusted Kingsguard, now stood firmly by Queen Alicent's side.

Sensing his mother's internal conflict, Jacaerys pressed on,

"Mother, please grant my request.

They'll train with me and Lucerys, growing alongside us.

They will be our White Knights.

Our safety should be protected by people we trust."

"I think Jace is right.

I trust the thieves, gamblers, and killers I grew up with in Flea Bottom more than the Kingsguard!"

Daemon, who had appeared at some point, leaned lazily against the doorway and interrupted.

"Rhaenyra, if you're still concerned, I could ask some friends in Flea Bottom to send over a batch of orphans.

They're illiterate, and we can cut out their tongues.

That way, everything remains a secret."

"No!"

Both Rhaenyra and Jacaerys immediately rejected Daemon's suggestion.

With his mother signaling him to speak first, Jacaerys quickly continued,

"Father, a child with a family to care for is more loyal.

And my guards need to be able to read and speak.

Otherwise, they can't help me with much."

"Alright, I'll send someone to Dragon Claw Village to recruit fourteen children your age.

Until they come of age, their expenses will be covered by us.

Once you're adults, you'll have to find your own way to pay for weapons, armor, and horses."

"Thank you, Mother, thank you, Father!"

Jacaerys immediately pulled Lucerys over to bow and express their gratitude.

Although fourteen wasn't many, it was enough to form the start of his team.

After the boys left, Rhaenyra asked,

"Did you find out who sent them?"

Daemon shook his head.

"No information from the twenty assassins, but you know who it is."

"It can't be Alicent!"

"What about her hypocritical father?"

"Alright, from today, we'll strengthen security at Dragonstone.

The most important thing now is to ensure the safe birth of our child."

Hearing this, Daemon's expression softened, and for the moment, he put his plans for revenge on hold.

On the third day after the assassination in Dragonclaw Village, fourteen boys, around five or six years old, appeared at the Shig Tower.

As Jacaerys had said before everything within the territory belongs to the lord.

The same applied to the population.

Under the orders of the Princess of Dragonstone, the common folk of Dragonclaw Village could only let the lord's guards select their children.

Now, Rhaenyra was more generous and kind.

Not only did she reward the parents of these fourteen children with ten silver stags, but she also allowed them to return home to visit their families at the end of each year.

Yes, in the world of *Game of Thrones*, the children of commoners were only worth two cows.

Even so, the people of Dragonclaw Village remained grateful to Rhaenyra and continued to sing praises for their lord.

Jacaerys, who became the leader of the children, used the military training methods from his previous life to instill discipline and absolute obedience in these fourteen children.

In a flash, more than half a year passed.

The duration of winter and summer in the *Game of Thrones* world is unpredictable, and a "year" is calculated based on a fixed number of days.

Therefore, the end of the year could be winter or summer.

The year 120 AC had a normal climate. Temperatures dropped towards the end of the year, and snow had recently started falling.

Initially, Rhaenyra and Daemon showed more concern for the fourteen children.

However, they soon noticed that Jacaerys was simply playing with them.

Apart from studying the basics of literacy every day, the children would either walk in formation or stand still for an hour or two.

After a while, they lost interest.

In their view, Dragonstone did not need these fourteen children.

They considered them merely as playmates for Jacaerys and Lucerys.

Lucerys, too, was enthusiastic about training with Jacaerys in the beginning.

But after two days, he found it tiring and dull. After that, he played every day with his three-year-old brother, Joffrey.

It was their older sister, Baela, who eventually joined in and consistently trained with her betrothed.

Jacaerys felt he had led a fulfilling life over the past six months.

In addition to his routine training with the guards, he studied High Valyrian daily and learned swordsmanship from Daemon.

As for the most important task—feeding Vermax—it was never neglected.

Without additional points from battle, Jacaerys could only gain over 300 entry points in six months by eating well.

However, these points did not generate new options in the entry panel.

Unable to resist, Jacaerys impulsively refreshed the panel one day.

The result was a grey entry: [Cowardly], which reduced attack power by 10%.

Feeling regret, Jacaerys decided to accumulate points and wait for the entry panel to change again.

Of course, not all was bad during those six months.

After repeated checks by the Dragonstone guards in the Dragonpit, it was confirmed that Vermax had grown large enough to carry a rider!

On the day Jacaerys officially became a dragon rider, even Rhaenyra, who was more than eight months pregnant, came to the Dragonpit to witness it.

Whoosh, whoosh!

With the dragon saddle secured on his back by the dragon guards, Vermax descended from the sky, landing at the entrance of the Flying Dragon Tower.

The dragon saddle for Vermax was modeled after Rhaenyra's Syrax. The only difference was the color, which was changed to green to better match Vermax.

Excited beyond measure, Jacaerys stepped onto Vermax's wing and climbed into the soft, comfortable saddle.

After adjusting himself and gripping the two handles in front of the saddle tightly, he shouted, "Soves!"

Hiss~

Vermax let out a cry toward the sky, then pushed off with his powerful hind legs.

Man and dragon plummeted from the top of the Flying Dragon Tower, freefalling toward the rough waters of the Narrow Sea.

Whoosh, whoosh!

At a certain height, Vermax spread his mighty wings and beat them vigorously.

Splash!

The giant green-scaled dragon skimmed the surface of the Narrow Sea, slicing through the water like an arrow before soaring forward.

Whoosh!

The whistling wind rushed past Jacaerys' ears, and the scent of salty seawater hit his face.

Having just experienced the weightlessness of a freefall, he was now feeling the thrill of speed.

Ahh!

Overcome by multiple sensations, Jacaerys couldn't help but scream.

It was as if he was releasing all the pent-up emotions from both his past and present lives.

Ordinary dragon riders used reins to control the dragon's direction, but Jacaerys, with his mental connection to Vermax, didn't need them.

With a simple thought, Vermax immediately beat his wings and soared from the sea to the sky.

In just a few minutes, the dragon carried Jacaerys through the clouds, flying high in the sky.

Despite being thousands of meters above the ground without any protection, Jacaerys was not freezing.

A warm aura emanated from Vermax's body, keeping him warm.

Yes, dragons, as legendary creatures, possessed strange abilities.

Otherwise, dragon riders would freeze into popsicles while flying at high altitudes and speeds.

After half an hour of flying through the dazzling sunlight and white clouds, Jacaerys returned to the Stone Drum Tower, feeling exhilarated yet longing for more.

As Vermax descended, passing through snow-filled cumulonimbus clouds, Jacaerys suddenly shouted, "Dracarys!"

Woosh!

A column of orange flame spewed from Vermax's sharp, toothy maw.

The clouds above the tower evaporated into streams of vapor under the intense heat of the dragonfire.

Continuing to breathe dragonfire, Vermax circled the sky two or three times.

In moments, the cloud cover above the Stone Drum Tower had completely dissipated.

A beam of sunlight pierced through the gap in the clouds, illuminating the Flying Dragon Tower.

Everyone below—Rhaenyra, Daemon, the twins, the fourteen guards—gazed up, watching a dragon and its rider descending, bathed in golden light.

At that moment, their expressions were varied.

Jacaerys was unaware of what those below him were thinking. He was immersed in his own sense of accomplishment.

Although it was a small change in the weather, it was a feat beyond human ability.

After this exhilarating flight, Jacaerys set his life goal for the first time.

To become the most powerful dragon rider.

And to live freely in this world, never allowing himself to suffer injustice.

...

In the blink of an eye, another month passed.

At the end of 120 AC, Rhaenyra and Daemon's first son, Aegon Targaryen, was born.

While the name was meant to honor their ancestors, it was rather awkward having two Aegons in the same era.

The fourteen child guards, now showing signs of becoming proper warriors, were finally allowed to return home for a much-anticipated holiday.

Generous as ever, Jacaerys also allowed them to take portions of leftover food from the feast celebrating Aegon's birth.

However, these gestures couldn't repair his tarnished reputation.

Over the past six months, with some help, the story of Jacaerys' previous behavior—where he had allowed his dragon to bite someone—had spread far and wide.

Rhaenyra was criticized as a poor mother, and Jacaerys gained a reputation for cruelty and evil that stretched across the Seven Kingdoms.

Even King Viserys sent a raven, urging Rhaenyra to rein in her son.

Under these circumstances, the young Jacaerys was confined to Dragonstone by Rhaenyra.

And this confinement would last for six long years.

___________

127 AC, Dragonstone, in Aegon's garden, filled with tall black trees and wild roses.

Ding ding ding!

As time passed, Daemon, now more composed than ever, was sparring with a handsome black-haired boy.

The boy was brimming with youthful energy, his swordplay focused more on offense than defense, showing off his skills to the fullest.

Daemon, with his expert swordsmanship and vast battlefield experience, stood as firm as a mountain.

He waited patiently for the boy's energy to wane and his strength to fade.

With a quick strike, Daemon hit the boy's sword hand hard, knocking the weapon out of his grasp.

Bang!

The sword dropped, and the match was decided.

Fortunately, they were using blunt training swords, or Daemon's blow could have severed the boy's hand.

"Father, I lost again!

You really are the strongest warrior in the Seven Kingdoms!" Jacaerys rubbed his sore hand and praised Daemon.

Daemon, who had a proud and arrogant streak, was pleased with the compliment, but he replied, "The strongest warrior in the Seven Kingdoms? Twenty years ago, I was bested by Ser Criston Cole in a tournament, publicly."

Wasn't that because you underestimated him and celebrated too early? Jacaerys thought to himself but continued to flatter him, "I don't know about that, but I do know of your legendary feat, single-handedly storming the Stepstones and killing the Crab Feeder!"

"Haha, that's an old tale now, no need to bring it up again."

Daemon's mood brightened with the praise, and he even smiled.

But quickly, he noticed something unusual and eyed Jacaerys carefully. "Jace, you're behaving oddly today. Is there something you need?"

"Well, Baela and I were hoping to visit Grandma Rhaenys and Rhaena on Driftmark Island. Could you put in a good word with Mother for us? I promise we'll only be gone for a few days and return promptly!"

Seeing that Daemon had figured out his intentions, Jacaerys scratched his head, smiling sheepishly.

Six years ago, Lady Rhaenys Targaryen, out of concern for certain matters, had come to Dragonstone herself to take Rhaena and Baela. However, she had been fascinated by Jacaerys' dragon training, so the Lady had taken only Rhaena back to Tidehead.

"Oh? You're really just going to visit your relatives?" Daemon smirked, clearly unconvinced by the excuse.

But he didn't press the issue. Tossing his training sword to Jacaerys, he turned and walked away.

After years of living together, Jacaerys had come to understand Daemon's character well. His reaction was a sign of approval.

Sure enough, about twenty minutes later, a servant hurried over to inform Jacaerys that his lord father was waiting for him in the Table Hall of the Stone Drum Tower.

The Table Hall, located at the top of the Stone Drum Tower, was a vast, round room. In its center stood a massive black wooden table, carved with an intricate map of Westeros. The map table was an impressive sight—over fifty feet long, twenty-five feet wide at its broadest, and just over four feet at its narrowest.

Crackling!

A roaring fire blazed in the large fireplace. Rhaenyra, dressed in a black gown embroidered with golden dragon patterns, sat beside the hearth.

"Mother!"

"Come, sit, Jace."

Rhaenyra waved him over, gently stroking his cheek as he approached. "Time flies! You're already thirteen and growing into a fine young man!"

Rhaenyra had been a dedicated mother, caring for and educating Jacaerys for seven years. Yet, the sense of distance in Jacaerys' heart, a boy who had lived two lives, remained. Despite his efforts to act like a dutiful son, Rhaenyra could still sense the rift between them.

"You've been finding reasons to leave Dragonstone for years, but I've always refused. But today, I think Daemon was right. If I keep you confined here, you'll find a way to escape in secret, just as I once did.

Jace, the world beyond Dragonstone is dangerous. I just want to protect you, Lucerys, Joffrey, Aegon, and Viserys."

The Viserys she mentioned was her second son with Daemon, born in 122 AC, now just five years old.

Jacaerys had thought of many excuses to leave the island, but he hadn't expected Rhaenyra to express her concerns so openly. After a brief silence, he spoke. "Mother, there are growing tensions in the realm. Many things may happen in the future, things we cannot foresee. I just want to take control of my own destiny."

His words seemed to strike a chord with Rhaenyra. She clenched her teeth and said, "I'll allow you to leave Dragonstone, but on two conditions. First, Vermax must go with you. Second, you must send me a raven every seven days."

"No problem, Mother. I'll do as you ask!"

With that, Rhaenyra cupped his face in her hands and pressed her forehead to his. "Jace, if you're ever in danger, fly Vermax back to Dragonstone at once. Do you hear me?"

"Mother, I swear I'll return safely."

After hearing his promise, Rhaenyra kissed his forehead and said, "Good. Now, go prepare for your journey."

"Yes!" Jacaerys, eager to leave before she changed her mind, quickly turned and left the room.

As she watched him go, Rhaenyra's thoughts drifted back to her younger days when she was first named heir to the Iron Throne.

A total of sixteen people accompanied Jacaerys on his journey. Besides Baela, there were fourteen guards who had trained with him personally.

For some reason, Lucerys had never shown much interest in fighting. Perhaps it was due to the trauma of blinding Aemond as a child. He also had a severe case of seasickness and would vomit everywhere while aboard ships. His dragon, Arrax, wouldn't be large enough to carry anyone until the following year. So, Jacaerys hadn't included him in the travel plans.

Likewise, Baela's Moondancer, being smaller than Arrax, wouldn't be able to carry passengers until the next year.

That afternoon, Jacaerys and his companions made their way to the port at Dragon Claw Village. A medium-sized flat-bottomed boat, over forty meters long, bearing the three-headed dragon sigil on its mast, was docked there.

However, this type of ship was unusual! When members of House Targaryen traveled from Dragonstone, they typically used rowing boats powered by oars for short trips to places like Tidehead or King's Landing. Only for longer journeys would they ride dragons or take flat-bottomed ships like this one.

After giving his daughter some final instructions, Daemon approached Jacaerys. He spoke softly, "Jace, over the years, you've often asked me about my past. I already knew the purpose of your trip, so I had this ship prepared for you. But let me remind you, your sword skills are strong offensively, but your defense is lacking. Out there, the enemies won't be as kind as I am. Of course, that old Sea Snake won't let you come to harm either. And above all, protect Baela!"

"I will!" Jacaerys responded firmly.

Splash!

The sailors unfurled the massive sails of the flat-bottomed boat, and with the wind and current in their favor, the ship surged forward, cutting through the waves.

A massive green dragon, one-third the length of the ship, soared above them, letting out a series of excited roars, as if celebrating its newfound freedom!

Snap, snap, snap!

A young guard, clad in full armor emblazoned with the three-headed dragon of House Targaryen, approached the bow.

"Reporting to Prince Jacaerys," the guard said, his hands clasped behind his back. "We have thoroughly searched the entire ship. No suspicious items were found. The captain confirmed all sailors are familiar faces."

"Well done, Stone," Jacaerys nodded approvingly before giving his orders. "Now go and inform the captain to change our destination. During the remainder of the voyage, your squadron and Rudy's will alternate duties."

"Yes, my prince!"

The fourteen guards were divided into two teams of seven, much like the structure of the Kingsguard. Stone and Rudy, the most competent, led each team.

Rhaenyra, sharp-tongued but kind-hearted, had quietly ensured that Jacaerys would be prepared. Although he had initially been responsible for purchasing the armor and weapons for these fourteen men, she had seen to it that they were delivered to his quarters before their departure.

The current market value for such finely crafted armor and weapons was staggering—about two thousand silver stags, or ten gold dragons per set. Ironically, a single set of cold armor and weaponry was worth more than the lives of two hundred common children.

Though Jacaerys had some coin of his own as a prince, it would never have been enough to afford these armaments on his own. Initially, he had intended to request help from Lord Corys Velaryon. However, with the issue of arms and armor resolved, Jacaerys now planned to ask for something else when the time was right.

Hoola, hoola!

As Jacaerys finished issuing his orders, Vermax, his dragon, soared over the ship, casting a shadow on the deck. Jacaerys instinctively opened the dragon's entry panel.

[Pet name: Vermax, owner: Jacaerys Velaryon

Body length: 13.89 meters, weight: 6,382.22 kilograms

Entry slots: 2/2

Trait quality:

Greedy (green): Appetite +20%, Growth rate +20%

Agile (green): Agility +20%

Current points: 2498]

Over the past six years, Vermax had accumulated nearly 4,500 entry points through sheer gluttony. The entry panel had undergone significant changes by the end of 121 AC, now allowing upgrades—1,000 points were required to elevate a white trait to green.

Without hesitation, Jacaerys had upgraded Vermax's greed, and the results were evident. Vermax was growing faster than Arrax, despite only being hatched a year apart. Now, Vermax was nearly twice Arrax's size. The Dragonkeepers at Dragonstone had even sent ravens to consult with their counterparts in King's Landing about Vermax's rapid growth.

However, compared to Vhagar, Vermax was still a juvenile. Jacaerys knew from memories of his previous life that King Viserys would die in two years, sparking the Dance of Dragons. The points Vermax earned from feeding alone wouldn't be enough to give him a significant edge by then, which is why Jacaerys had left Dragonstone—to gather more entry points.

And what better place to harvest them than the war-torn Stepstones, where multiple factions clashed in chaos?

As Jacaerys plotted his next move, Baela Velaryon, a slim girl with long, beautiful silver hair, emerged from the cabin and approached the bow.

"Jace, I heard we're no longer headed to Driftmark?" she asked.

"Yes. Lord Corys has been fighting in the Stepstones for four years, and we're going to assist him this time," Jacaerys replied, glancing at his betrothed.

Unlike her elegant and composed sister, Baela had a fiery passion for battles and dragons. Hearing this news, she brightened immediately. "That's wonderful! I may not get to see Rhaenys or Rhaena, but the chance to fight in a real battle with swords and fire... It's thrilling. It's just a pity that Moon Dancer is still too small. Otherwise, I'd ride her into battle and burn our enemies to the ground."

"It's not as simple as that. Even my father couldn't burn them all while riding Caraxes. He only won by feigning surrender."

"Feigned surrender?" Baela scoffed. "I hate such tactics! War should be fought openly, face to face!"

Jacaerys concealed a smile. To him, the idea of surrender as a trick was hardly a conspiracy. Compared to the cunning of ancient empires of Earth, Westerosi tactics seemed laughably simple. As a youtube history nerd he believes could easily crush the scheming in the Game of Thrones world.

Once they reached the Stepstones and Jacaerys gathered intelligence, he intended to showcase his military prowess. If things went smoothly, their voyage from Dragonstone to the Stepstones would take about two weeks. However, shifting winds and currents, along with stops at castles , had extended their journey to nearly a month.

There was no helping it. Jacaerys was forced to send a raven back to Dragonstone every seven days. Only noble castles had ravens' nests, aside from the rare, specially trained ravens that could be carried with them. The noble families they visited along the way welcomed the eldest son of Princess Rhaenyra with open arms. Despite his reputation, Jacaerys' royal blood overpowered any rumors.

If Baela had not been by his side at all times, there might have been some noblewoman sneaking into his quarters at night. After all, engagements in Westeros weren't always set in stone, and there was the precedent of Aegon the Conqueror marrying two wives.

Jacaerys had no qualms about this. If the woman met his aesthetic standards, he would accept her advances. But his body was still developing, and after being exposed to the beauties of his past life, his tastes had become more selective. To gain his favor, one would need to rival Baela in appearance.

If Baela had already come of age, she might have found herself "consumed" by now.

But back to the matter at hand!

On the twenty-eighth day after leaving Dragonstone, Jacaerys and his party finally reached the northern waters of the Stepstones. Perhaps Daemon had sent a raven ahead to alert the garrison. Ten large warships, flying the silver seahorse banner of House Velaryon, patrolled the waters, awaiting their arrival.

Puff!

Aboard the *Sea Snake*, a massive ship over a hundred meters long, Jacaerys and Baela were warmly greeted by Lord Corys Velaryon.

After seven long years apart, Corys embraced his grandchildren. "You've grown into fine young people, but why have you come here? This is no place for you!"

"Grandfather, didn't you always say I could ask for anything I needed?" Jacaerys grinned. "I can help you win this war, but I need your trust—and your full support."

---

"Snort!

Only a kid like you, who hasn't even fully grown his hair, could say such things!

Go back to your Dragonstone, Honorable Prince Jacaerys!"

Lord Corys had not yet spoken.

A middle-aged knight behind him, clad in the silver-white armor of House Velaryon, responded bluntly.

"Shut up, Vaemond!

I'm really touched that Jace has such thoughtfulness."

After hearing what Lord Corys said, Jacaerys knew who this man was.

Lord Corys's younger brother, Vaemond Velaryon.

Knowing well his nephew Laenor's sexual orientation, he had always been hostile to Jacaerys and his brothers.

Although this matter was a semi-open secret among the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms, with King Viserys fiercely protective of his own, no one dared to gossip.

Two years after the original series, Lord Corys fell into a coma due to a fever from his wounds.

Vaemond sought to become the Lord of Driftmark, openly claiming before the Iron Throne that the three Velaryon brothers were bastards and that Rhaenyra was a whore.

Daemon, in response, used his sword, Dark Sister, to remove the head that had spoken such insults.

Jacaerys wasn't angered by Vaemond's words but instead smiled softly and said, "It's normal for my uncle to question me.

Grandfather, can you tell me the general situation of the Stepstones?

If there's no result in two months—no, within one month—then I will return to Dragonstone immediately."

"Well…"

Upon hearing this, Lord Corys hesitated.

What Vaemond said was true. War was not a game for a thirteen-year-old child.

No one believed that a boy who had never seen battle could be a military .

Seeing this, Baela, who had grown quite fond of Jacaerys over the years, immediately came to his defense, saying, "Grandfather, Jacaerys is truly remarkable.

And he brought Vermax with him!"

"Hula, hula!"

Vermax flew low in the sky as Baela said this.

Although its nearly fourteen-meter-long body was less than one-fifth the size of the Sea Snake's ship, it was still imposing to ordinary people.

In the height of House Velaryon, there had been three great dragons.

But Vhagar had been claimed by Aemond, and Seasmoke had gone wild after Laenor's supposed death.

The only capable dragon left, the 'Red Queen' Meleys, had to remain with Lady Rhaenys on Driftmark.

Yes, no matter how talented Jacaerys was in warfare, having another dragon always helped!

Lord Corys changed his mind, intending to keep Jacaerys as far from danger as possible while using him for dragon-related tasks.

"Alright! I agree!

However, the situation in the Stepstones is complicated.

This isn't the place to discuss it—let's go inside and talk."

With that, Lord Corys turned and headed toward the cabin.

Hehe!

With an annoyed look, Vaemond glanced at Jacaerys, sneered, and followed his brother.

Jacaerys, still smiling, didn't mind.

After all, he wouldn't be dealing with a dead man for much longer.

He silently crossed off the last two years of Vaemond's life in his mind!

The cabin of the Sea Snake was absurdly luxurious.

Lord Corys poured four glasses of Arbor wine.

After some casual pleasantries, he sipped his drink and began, "There are four main factions in the Stepstones now.

House Velaryon, the Kingdom of the Three Daughters, Dorne, and the Pirate Alliance.

Naturally, we are the strongest force.

But the Kingdom of the Three Daughters and Dorne have formed an alliance against us, while the pirates, like hyenas, plunder our spoils after every battle."

"Dorne?

They're openly intervening in the Stepstones War?"

"The Iron Throne may claim to rule over the Seven Kingdoms, but in reality, it only controls six.

The four wars in the past century failed to conquer Dorne, and Aegon the Conqueror's perpetual peace treaty remains in place.

When Daemon and I fought the Crabfeeder, Prince Qoren Martell of Dorne secretly sent troops to aid him.

But Viserys was too... uh, too concerned with keeping peace in the Seven Kingdoms.

So after the war, there was neither warning nor punishment for Dorne.

It's no surprise the Stepstones are in the state they are now."

From this, it was clear that Lord Corys held some grudges against King Viserys.

Jacaerys swiftly changed the subject: "Grandfather, what about the pirates?

Daemon told me that when he was crowned 'King of the Narrow Sea and the Stepstones,' he wiped out all the pirates here!"

He was clever not to refer to Daemon as "father" in front of Lord Corys.

Indeed, Lord Corys softened at this and replied, "Foolish boy, you can never kill all the pirates!

Many members of the pirate alliance are criminals from the Kingdom of the Three Daughters, but even more are privateers from the Free Cities.

The largest of them is from Volantis."

"Volantis?

I remember reading that the Kingdom of the Three Daughters took control of the disputed lands from Volantis! Could our enemy's enemy become our friend?"

Jacaerys's question gave Vaemond an opportunity to mock him.

"How ignorant!

The Kingdom of the Three Daughters, after gaining control of the disputed lands, has grown stronger in the past twenty years.

The dozen or so warships they sent to the Stepstones are less than a tenth of their fleet.

The main fleet remains on alert for Volantis!

You want to convince Volantis to join the war?

Then destroy the main fleet of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters!

If you could do that, we wouldn't need Volantis—the entire Stepstones and Disputed Lands would fly the silver seahorse banner of House Velaryon!"

Vaemond's words made Baela angry, and she waved her fist. "Uncle, I think Jacaerys can do it!"

Jacaerys scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit sheepish.

Baela idolized him so much that she believed he could accomplish anything.

But Jacaerys knew his limits.

While he might one day be capable of this, thanks to his knowledge and skills, for now, he would need a proper strategy and military support.

"Grandfather, what's the enemy's strength and how are we positioned?"

Hearing Jacaerys's question, Lord Corys pointed to a map on the table and began his explanation.

The Stepstones consisted of dozens of islands, varying in size.

The three largest formed a triangle around the smaller islands.

Corys, recalling how he and Daemon had suffered when their supplies were cut off, had stationed ten large warships, twenty medium ones, and thirty smaller ships, along with 5,500 soldiers, on the northernmost island, Myr.

The Kingdom of the Three Daughters had twelve large warships and at least forty or fifty small ones, with a force of around 3,600 stationed on Bloodstone Island, near the disputed lands.

Dorne occupied Grey Gallows, an island to the southwest near the Broken Arm, with seven medium-sized warships and 1,200 men.

The Pirate Alliance, meanwhile, hid among the Stepstones, and though their exact numbers were unclear, they had no fewer than thirty or forty ships, ready to plunder.

After years of investment and effort, the Stepstones had become a hotbed of conflict, with power enough to rival a significant war force.

The Kingdom of the Three Daughters and the Kingdom of Dorne supported each other. The many uninhabited islands south of the Mysterious Island likely concealed small enemy reconnaissance ships. As soon as the Velaryon fleet launched a large-scale attack on one side, the other side would immediately provide reinforcement.

This placed the Velaryon fleet in a precarious situation, where it faced attacks from both fronts. No wonder the conflict in the Stepstones had been deadlocked for so many years.

The daily supply demands for these seven or eight thousand troops had become a pure contest of each side's resources. After learning the situation of the Stepstones in detail, Jacaerys sincerely admired Lord Corlys's courage to stand against two kingdoms with the power of a single family. But he had his reasons for joining this war.

The wealth of the Velaryon family, now the richest noble house in Westeros, was entirely due to Lord Corlys. He was the first Westerosi to reach Asshai near the Shadow Lands. Lord Corlys had exchanged his fleet's cargo for an immense amount of gold and gems in the mineral-rich lands of Asshai. He then used part of this wealth to buy twenty new ships in Qarth, along with local spices, elephants, and the finest silks. Although some of the spoils were lost on the return voyage due to storms, pirates, and other dangers, they returned with treasures from Essos, including gold and gems.

This windfall directly elevated House Velaryon's wealth beyond that of Houses Lannister and Hightower. Armed with the experience of his nine great voyages, Lord Corlys devised several trade routes for his family. Through these sea trade routes, the Velaryons secured their position as the wealthiest family in the Seven Kingdoms.

The Stepstones were the vital points controlling these sea routes in and out of Westeros.

"Hey! Didn't you just boast that you could change the situation in a month? Why so quiet now? Is it because the realities of war are different from what's written in the books, and you don't know what to do? Hahaha!"

Jacaerys ignored the taunts of a dead man. His mind was racing as he turned to Lord Corlys and said, "The power of Dorne is far weaker than that of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters. Grandpa, we should focus our efforts on them."

"Yes, I thought so too," Corlys replied. "But it's not that simple. Unless we attack Bloodstone Island with all our strength, they won't abandon Grey Gallows Island. And fighting on the island would be stepping into their trap. We've suffered for that before. Even with your dragon in the battle, the situation would remain much the same. The Dornish have extensive experience fighting dragons. Grey Gallows is equipped with many anti-air defenses. Even the crab feeder's tactics of digging rat holes were learned from the Dornish!"

Lord Corlys shook his head at Jacaerys's suggestion, believing he was oversimplifying the war.

"Grandpa, I've thought of a way to deal with them. I just need your and my uncle's full cooperation," Jacaerys said confidently.

At this, Lord Corlys and Valmond exchanged glances. The former was skeptical, while the latter looked disbelieving.

Jacaerys smiled confidently and slowly explained his plan.

...

Three medium-sized flat-bottomed ships sailed from the Sea of Dorne, cutting through the wind and waves toward Grey Gallows Island. A strong tailwind helped the ships reach the harbor at the southwest corner of the island faster than usual.

Years ago, Grey Gallows Island had been a supply stop and a place of debauchery for pirates in the Narrow Sea. There had been thriving towns and ports. But during the Stepstones War, to sever the Crabfeeder's supply lines, Daemon and Laenor had taken turns scorching the land with dragonfire. The island's towns and ports had long since been reduced to charred ruins.

The survivors who fled early on had since built a new supply town on a medium-sized island in the Stepstones.

The town and port were reopened by Dorne after they occupied Grey Gallows Island, seemingly intending to turn it into a strategic stronghold in the Narrow Sea.

Amidst the charred ruins of the once-bustling town, a Dornish soldier, clad in a turban and bright yellow armor, hid atop a half-melted tower near the port. Upon spotting the golden spear flags of the approaching flat-bottomed ships, he blew the horn hanging from his waist.

Rustle!

The camouflage covering the ground in the ruins was lifted as Dornish soldiers emerged, alerted by the horn. Simultaneously, a large group of Dornish soldiers appeared from the surrounding mountains.

In a matter of moments, the previously dead-silent ruins became lively with activity. The reason for their excitement was simple: the three ships were supply vessels. Grey Gallows Island had no natural food sources aside from a small amount of sea fish and underground freshwater. They relied on the monthly supply ships to improve their diet.

The moment the supply ships docked, the Dornish soldiers eagerly swarmed aboard, unloading the goods.

Suddenly, the soldier standing guard at the abandoned tower heard a faint whistling sound. Looking up, he spotted something unusual in the sky.

"Woo, woo!"

The horn blared again, this time signaling an enemy attack. Thousands of Dornish soldiers, unable to find any enemies on the sea, instinctively looked skyward.

Above them, a dragon with a majestic head and horns, covered in green scales, descended from the clouds, diving at high speed toward the supply ships.

Whoosh!

The dragon unleashed scorching orange flames from its mouth, incinerating several Dornish soldiers before they could react. But the power of the dragon's fire went beyond that.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The dragon's fiery breath, not only extremely hot but also immensely powerful, cut a trench several meters wide through the ranks of the Dornish soldiers, heading straight for the supply ships on the beach.

Flaming gravel and mud scattered in all directions, further adding to the panic and chaos among the soldiers.

Screams, cries for help, and frantic shouts filled the air.

Boom!

A huge explosion erupted, drowning out all other sounds. Soldiers who had been fleeing towards the caves turned to see one of the flat-bottomed ships split in two, explosions reverberating through the air. Those quick to react realized that the ship had been carrying sealed barrels of alcohol, which had ignited in the flames.

With the alcohol fueling the fire, the other two supply ships were quickly set ablaze as well.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Jacaerys, riding atop Vermax, saw that his first dive had achieved his tactical goal. He communicated with Vermax through their bond, directing the dragon to change course.

In the face of dragonfire, human bodies were as fragile as wax figures melting in lava. The sight of Dornish soldiers vaporizing below brought Jacaerys a dark satisfaction, reminiscent of dispatching monsters in an online game.

This, he thought, was the right way to wage war.

Just as he prepared for a third dive, a barrage of arrows came shooting from the surrounding mountains. He quickly urged Vermax to turn, shielding himself with the dragon's body.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Ordinary arrows bounced harmlessly off Vermax's thick green scales. However, Jacaerys noticed several large ballistas being brought out, specifically designed to bring down dragons. Groups of Dornish soldiers were already loading the weapons.

"Today's just an appetizer. We'll save the feast for later," Jacaerys thought, glancing at the chaos below before guiding Vermax back into the clouds.

As dragon and rider vanished from sight, they left behind charred corpses and three supply ships engulfed in flames. The terrifying power of dragonfire, coupled with the dragon's unrivaled mobility and defense, left no doubt as to why dragons were the ultimate force on the battlefield.

Bang!

With a heavy thud, Vermax landed in front of the Velaryon stronghold on the Stepstones.

"Welcome back, Jace!"

As soon as he jumped off the dragon, Baela rushed forward and hugged Jacaerys warmly.

Smiling and touching her soft silver hair, Jacaerys looked up and said to Lord Corys behind him, "Grandfather, the intelligence we obtained from the reconnaissance fleet is very accurate.

The three supply ships from Dorne were burned by Vermax as soon as they landed at Grey Gallows Island.

Have them continue their reconnaissance and report immediately if they spot any ships heading toward Dorne. Then I will ride Vermax and attack again."

"Go again? Jace, this time it worked because it was a surprise attack. Next time, the Dornishmen will surely be better prepared. No, it's too dangerous! I won't allow you to ride your dragon near Grey Gallows Island again!"

Upon hearing this, Lord Corys immediately rejected Jacaerys' proposal with a serious face.

"Don't worry, Grandfather.

Next time I'll take out Dorne's supply ships in the Narrow Sea. This attack was very effective.

I rode Vermax and burned 126 Dornishmen to death, directly weakening the Dornish army by a tenth!"

"Heh, Your Highness has quite the keen eye!

Even while flying a dragon in the sky, you can accurately count the number of enemies you've killed. Next time you lie about your military exploits, remember to be a bit more vague!"

Valmond's sarcasm was inevitable at times like this.

Lord Corys didn't know how Jacaerys counted his kills, but he believed his grandson wouldn't lie—perhaps just exaggerate slightly. After a brief consideration, he said in a deep voice, "If you're only attacking supply ships in the Narrow Sea, there isn't much risk.

But if you want to cut off the supply to Grey Gallows Island, you should do it thoroughly. I'll personally lead two large warships, three medium warships, and all the small reconnaissance ships to block the route to Dorne.

Valmond, I'll give you five large warships and ten medium-sized ones to keep a close eye on Bloodstone Island. Report any unusual movement immediately.

If the enemy launches a sudden attack, you must hold them back for at least two or three days.

Jace, you will command the remaining three large warships and seven medium-sized ones. In addition to riding Vermax to attack Dorne's supply ships, your mission is to protect the Stepstones and prevent pirates from attacking our base!"

"Yes, my lord!"

"Alright, Grandfather!"

When Jacaerys heard this, he was delighted.

He had originally planned to slowly gain control of the Velaryon fleet. He didn't expect Lord Corys to so straightforwardly allocate one third of the troops to him.

Of course, Lord Corys clearly wanted him to remain stationed on the Stepstones. But once the Sea Snake left, Jacaerys, with his military power and Vermax, would have free rein.

Lord Corys, who hadn't seen him for many years, didn't fully understand Jacaerys' nature, but Baela, in his arms, knew it very well.

She merely rolled her eyes but didn't say anything.

Part of it was because she greatly admired Jacaerys and had never disobeyed her fiancé over the years. The other part was that this silver-haired princess, having been enthralled by various knightly tales, had an even greater desire for combat than Jacaerys.

Lord Corys was a man of swift action. The Velaryon fleet and troops were quickly organized, and after replenishing weapons and supplies, they set sail for the waters west of the Stepstones.

The main task of his fleet, which was mostly small reconnaissance ships, was to blockade the shipping routes, with a total strength of about 2,000 men. As the main fleet, Valmond followed closely behind, heading towards Bloodstone Island with 2,200 men under his command.

Jacaerys, however, had only 1,300 men under his command.

But Lord Corys had been operating on the Stepstones for several years.

With the various fortifications and equipment on the island, there was little fear of any attacking force.

Now the highest commander of the Stepstones, Jacaerys first summoned the middle-level officers under his command. He instructed them to remain on guard and prepare for battle according to his orders.

The number of entry points on Jacaerys' tally had now reached 3,758, an increase of 1,260 points. By reviewing the points he had earned, he could accurately estimate how many enemies he had killed.

In fact, during the previous air raid on Grey Gallows Island, the number of Dornishmen directly hit by Vermax's dracarys was at most thirty or forty. Most of the attribute points came from the explosion of the supply ships caused by dragonfire.

It seemed that in the future, the most effective way to harvest entry points would still be through Vermax's dragonfire.

After handling the affairs on the Stepstones, Jacaerys turned to Baela, "Baela, stay on the Stepstones. If you need anything, tell Stone and Rudy."

Hearing Jacaerys' words, Baela immediately pouted her pink lips in displeasure. "Jace, you just came back, and now you're leaving again? Why can't you take me with you?"

"I'm going to meet a friend this time. If it were a battle, I would definitely take you along."

"Hmm? Aren't the Stepstones full of enemies? What friend could you possibly find? And how?"

Jacaerys glanced at the Velaryon fleet disappearing over the horizon and replied calmly, "Such a large fleet will surely attract the attention of those who are interested. Follow them, and you'll naturally find friends."

...

Crash! Crash!

In the center of the Stepstones, a small rowing warship was sailing swiftly toward an unnamed island. If someone looked down from the sky, they'd be surprised to see the ship seemingly sink into the island and disappear without a trace as it approached the northwest side.

The rock wall on the northwest side of the unnamed island extended outward like a giant mushroom cap. Beneath this rock formation was a sheltered port and a small, bustling town.

At the outermost edge of the port were over ten medium-sized warships flying skull-and-tiger-head flags. The small rowing warship was allowed to dock only after passing multiple layers of inspection.

This pirate town, home to thousands, had only three types of buildings: taverns, brothels, and shops that dealt in stolen goods and resupplies.

On the town's streets, groups of drunken pirates made noise or fought. The captain of the small rowing ship cleverly avoided them and hurried toward the most luxurious building.

After being informed by the guard at the door, he was led inside. The building was filled with naked men and women, engaged in some sort of carnal game.

Clearly, this was no ordinary establishment, but a lavish den of vice.

At the top of the building, in a rooftop garden guarded heavily, a large, one-eyed man with scars was wrestling with three exotic dancers. As the captain entered, he knelt and reported, "Lord Beoro, three days ago, two Velaryon fleets left the Stepstones. The fleet numbers are..."

Boom! Crash!

Suddenly, a loud noise echoed from the mushroom-capped rock wall above. Small stones, accompanied by dust, began to fall toward the town below.

The disturbance caught the attention of everyone in the pirate town.

Ang!!!

A dragon's roar filled the air.

"Seize this fool and cut off his limbs. Throw him into the sea to feed the fish."

With a dark expression, Beoro barked the order to his guards, pushing the three naked dancers away and muttering, "What an interesting way to knock. Let's meet our distinguished guest."