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Due to the slow dissemination of information across the world of Game of Thrones , the news of Jacaerys's destruction of Tyrosh had yet to reach the Seven Kingdoms.
As for the town Rhaenyra mentioned, she was referring to the village of Pyr, which had been reduced to ashes during the pursuit of a Faceless Man.
"Mother, everything I have done, every choice I have made, was for one purpose. I wanted to become stronger. Only by gaining strength can I protect myself. And only then can I protect all of you."
Jacaerys did not deny the rumors that had spread about him. Instead, he voiced the feelings buried deep within his heart.
Haa…
Rhaenyra closed her eyes and took a deep breath upon hearing his words.
Only after steadying the storm in her heart did she reopen her eyes and speak in a calm, deliberate voice.
"My father, King Viserys the First, was a gentle man, deeply loved by both nobles and commoners. My mother, Queen Aemma, was a kind and tender soul who showered me with affection while she lived. Together, they raised me with the teachings of mercy, courage, and goodness."
She paused for a moment, her gaze softening.
"Jace… you are drifting farther and farther away from us. Abandon the throne of the Stepstones and return to Dragonstone, where you belong."
Among the people, Rhaenyra was known as the Realm's Delight. This title was not merely given because she had inherited the ethereal beauty of House Targaryen. It was also a reflection of her charm, warmth, and the promise she once symbolized for the realm.
In the original story, before Lucerys was slain by Aemond, she had done everything in her power to suppress the war-hungry urges of Daemon and the other members of the Black faction, so as to prevent the Seven Kingdoms from descending into ruin.
Had King Viserys the First not taken Alicent Hightower as his wife, perhaps Rhaenyra truly would have become a queen cherished by her people.
But Jacaerys shook his head, his expression grave and unwavering as he replied, "Mother, I will never give up the throne. And I have not drifted away. On the contrary, I am getting closer and closer to my goal."
He paused for a moment, then continued in a voice both gentle and resolute.
"That is all I have to say. I shall not disturb your rest any longer."
Rhaenyra watched her son turn away and walk off. For the first time, she felt as though the boy she had raised had become a stranger to her.
If the previous assassination attempt within the Red Keep had built a wall between them, then today's conversation had turned that wall into a chasm.
After leaving the lord's chambers, Jacaerys went to see Lucerys, Joffrey, and his other younger brothers.
He spent the better part of half a day playing with them in the Stone Drum Tower.
Later, a member of the Dragonkeepers came to inform him that Vermax's saddle had been reinstalled.
At the news, Jacaerys could not contain his eagerness. He immediately rushed off to conduct a flight test.
The craftsmanship of the Dragonkeepers was indeed exceptional. The new saddle no longer had that uncomfortable awkwardness the previous one did.
Once the test flight was complete, Jacaerys did not return to the dragonpit. Instead, he mounted his dragon and flew off straight away.
After all, if he intended to set a trap and hunt a dragon, he would need the proper bait.
Controlling Vermax, Jacaerys soared toward Dragon Claw Village. As he neared the village, he dove suddenly, sweeping up a pair of bleating sheep in a single motion.
The villagers who had been herding the flock didn't dare to lift a finger in resistance. Instead, they dropped to their knees, bowing and kowtowing in fear.
Naturally, Jacaerys had no intention of simply taking their livestock without offering compensation. Later, he would ensure that a silver stag was sent to make amends for the sheep.
…
The Stone Drum Tower and the dragonpit were both built on the gentler slopes at the front of Dragonstone Island.
Dragonmount, however, lay at the rear of the island, its terrain rugged and wild, riddled with countless black caves of varying sizes.
From above, one could see many of these caves constantly releasing steam—some pale white, others a smoky grey.
Beneath these steaming openings were the island's active volcanic vents.
It was in these fiery caverns that the dragons of House Targaryen laid their eggs.
Hovering low in the air, Vermax first released the pair of sheep before a steaming volcanic cave, then slowly descended to land nearby.
Jacaerys leapt down from his dragon's back and immediately approached the cave to inspect it.
He had once heard Daemon say that when the Dragonkeepers scoured this area for dragon eggs, it was one thing if the eggs were found near the cave entrance. But if they had to venture deep inside to retrieve them, they had to wear special heatproof garments to avoid being burned.
Ahh… how comfortable.
The moment Jacaerys stepped into the cave, a wave of warm, comforting air swept over him.
It felt just like a sauna back in his previous life.
Of course, only someone like Jacaerys, blessed with the trait [Fire and Blood], could feel such comfort here.
For an ordinary person, entering this cave unprotected would result in severe burns in seconds, followed by being boiled alive in the suffocating heat.
The inside of the volcanic cave was filled with countless black rocks that glimmered with a faint obsidian sheen.
These were Dragonglass, also known as obsidian — the bane of the White Walkers.
Jacaerys, however, held little interest in the dragonglass. After all, it was only useful against the White Walkers and the Night King.
As for those threats… that would be the concern of Jon Snow and Daenerys more than a century from now.
THUD!!
Just as Jacaerys entered the cave, Vermax collapsed heavily to the ground outside, lying still and unmoving.
The two sheep, now under the oppressive presence of the dragon, could do nothing but tremble and huddle together in place, too afraid to run.
Using the two sheep and his dragon's feigned death to lure out the Cannibal, Jacaerys's trap was as simple as that.
From the stories Daemon had shared, it was clear that the Cannibal was an exceptionally cunning creature.
No matter how well the trap was laid, the Cannibal would flee at the slightest sign of danger, especially if it sensed another powerful dragon it could not defeat.
This was precisely why Jacaerys had chosen not to involve Daemon in the hunt.
If Caraxes were lurking nearby, the clever beast would certainly never dare approach.
But with Vermax feigning death and appearing much smaller than the Cannibal, he seemed like easy prey—something perfectly suited to the predator's appetite.
However, Jacaerys had somewhat overestimated the effectiveness of his trap.
For three consecutive days, he changed locations multiple times and carefully set new traps, but not once did the Cannibal appear.
On the third day, a different wild dragon descended upon the bait. This dragon, its entire body covered in thick, mud-brown scales that appeared crude and misshapen, swooped in and snatched away the two sheep.
This particular beast was also native to Dragonstone and had long been infamous among the Dragon Claw Villagers for its habit of sneaking off with their sheep. They had given it a rather fitting name: Sheepstealer.
Wild dragons were considered an essential part of Dragonstone's strength. More than that, Jacaerys himself harbored a secret desire—one perhaps inspired by Daenerys Targaryen of a future age—to one day control three dragons through his own power. For this reason, he had no intention of ordering Vermax to attack the Sheepstealer.
After carefully reflecting on the failures of the past four days, Jacaerys made a strategic change on the fifth day. He decided to set the trap at night.
This choice proved to be the right one, for the Cannibal, shrewd and ever wary, was indeed a nocturnal hunter.
The air stirred in the stillness of the night.
Before a steaming volcanic cave on Dragonmount, Vermax, now well-practiced in the art of deception, lay sprawled on the ground, playing dead with calculated stillness.
Roughly twenty meters above, the air shifted slightly as a massive shadow slowly descended. It blended seamlessly into the night sky, its pitch-black scales glimmering faintly like coal beneath the moonlight.
Jacaerys, concealed within the dark mouth of the cave, watched with bated breath. When the enormous shadow finally drifted into striking distance, he seized the moment and issued a command through the link between mind and dragon.
"Dracarys."
In an instant, Vermax reared up, no longer feigning death. With a fierce lurch of his head, he unleashed a torrent of searing orange-red flame straight toward the dark shape above.
A sharp, pained roar tore through the silence.
Caught completely off guard, the Cannibal took the blast full on across its chest and underbelly. Unlike Vhagar, whose ancient scales could resist even the hottest fire, this dragon lacked such resilience. Its black scales did not hold up well under the blaze.
Vermax had grown much since their time in King's Landing, and his [Dragonslayer] trait had already evolved to a blue-tier ability, significantly boosting his combat power. The effect was immediate.
The sound of scales cracking and curling filled the air. The Cannibal's charred belly glowed with an ugly yellow as its scorched scales began to shrink, curl inward, and then shatter apart, pieces falling like blackened leaves.
But the Cannibal did not hesitate. It was sly and knew when to flee. Rather than engage in battle, it beat its massive wings forcefully, pushing against the firestorm as it soared upward into the night sky.
You want to escape? Not a chance.
..
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[IMAGE]
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[Chapter End's]
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