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A loud crack shattered the night air!
Vermax's massive jaws clamped down fiercely, crushing Vhagar's well-worn dragon saddle to splinters.
"Vhagar! Tear it apart!"
Aemond, who had leaped from his saddle just in time, clung to the rope ladder at Vhagar's side, his voice ringing out in High Valyrian with a commanding roar.
Vermax was merely a fraction of Vhagar's size—barely one-tenth of its immense form. If Vhagar's colossal fangs landed a solid bite, even if it didn't tear him apart like Arrax in the original story, Vermax would still be grievously wounded, losing the ability to continue fighting.
However, from the very beginning, Jacaerys had seized the initiative in this battle.
With a thud!, just as Vhagar's enormous, slack-jawed maw lunged forward to snap at him, Vermax powerfully kicked off with his hind legs. Using the force of the leap, he narrowly avoided the deadly bite.
The impact sent Vhagar's massive frame reeling, its body shuddering from the force of Vermax's kick. Aemond, still hanging onto the ropes, was swung violently from side to side, nearly thrown off.
By the time Vhagar steadied itself, Aemond was already scrambling back onto its back, using both hands and feet. His legs clamped tightly around the shattered remnants of the dragon saddle, and he seized the thick reins with a firm grip.
Regaining control, Aemond's gaze snapped to his left, where Jacaerys had already seized the chance to mount Vermax.
Without hesitation, Jacaerys spurred his dragon forward, surging toward the River Gate at full speed.
Trying to escape?
Aemond's single eye burned with fury.
"Dracarys!"
If his rationality had been a measured 50 points before, then Vermax's sudden ambush had slashed it down to a mere 10.
Without a moment's thought, Aemond ordered Vhagar to unleash its lethal fire.
A deafening whoosh! filled the air.
A torrent of brilliant golden flames erupted from Vhagar's massive jaws, surging forth like an erupting volcano, searing everything in its path.
Jacaerys, ever vigilant, immediately controlled Vermax's to evade, reacting just in time.
Thanks to its smaller frame and naturally superior agility, Vermax executed a sudden stop mid-flight, then veered sharply to the side, barely dodging the monstrous stream of dragonfire.
Compared to Vhagar, Vermax's flames were not only smaller in range but also significantly lower in temperature. Even at a distance of two meters, Jacaerys could feel the intense heat burning against his exposed skin.
*BOOOOM!!!*
The unleashed golden flames crashed into the River Gate with catastrophic force.
The ancient gate—reinforced with iron plates and made of sturdy oak—exploded instantly under the assault of dragonfire.
The metal plating around the gate, subjected to the searing flames, melted almost instantaneously, dripping down in molten rivulets.
Unbelievable!
Borrowing a phrase from his past life's novels, the sheer destructive power was truly terrifying!
---
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Realizing that Vhagar had inadvertently done him a favor by obliterating the gate, Jacaerys wasted no time. He urged Vermax to climb swiftly, soaring high into the skies above King's Landing.
He understood the reality of the situation—his earlier success against Vhagar had only been possible due to the element of surprise and Aemond's need to protect himself.
If this battle devolved into a direct confrontation on the ground, even if neither dragon breathed fire, Vermax would stand no chance against the ancient behemoth that was Vhagar.
Jacaerys wasn't the only one astounded by the sheer might of Vhagar's dragonfire.
Aemond, too, was left speechless.
A dragon of such size, capable of uncontrolled precision attacks, with frightening speed and agility—Vermax's unique abilities made Aemond cast aside all underestimations.
He tightened his grip on the reins.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
With powerful wingbeats, Aemond directed Vhagar to take flight, pursuing Vermax with unwavering determination.
Yet, the wound at the center of Vhagar's left wing membrane hindered its speed. By the time Vhagar ascended past the thick clouds blanketing King's Landing, the only thing Aemond could see was the boundless sky, glittering with countless stars.
Vermax was nowhere in sight.
A split second later—WHOOSH!
Beneath Vhagar, the clouds suddenly blazed with fiery light.
A burst of vivid orange flames roared upward, slamming into Vhagar's underbelly.
Yet, it was utterly useless.
Vhagar's ancient, bronze-green dragon scales, hardened over centuries, possessed an absurd level of resistance.
Even with the Dragon Slayer trait boosting Vermax's firepower, it barely left a few scorch marks.
Vhagar snarled in irritation.
Twisting its massive form, it retaliated—WHOOSH!
A torrent of golden flames descended, reducing the cloud cover below to steam and smoke in mere moments.
But there was no trace of Vermax.
Jacaerys had already repositioned his dragon before the attack could land.
Had there been thicker cloud cover tonight, he would have seized the opportunity to launch an attack from above, targeting Aemond directly.
---
Below, at the River Gate and the Fishmonger's Square, the citizens of King's Landing stood frozen, heads craned skyward.
Two massive dragons roared and battled among the stars, their orange and golden flames flashing across the skies, illuminating the city in an eerie, fiery glow.
Not far from the River Gate, Daemon Targaryen had silently arrived under the cover of shadows.
With the help of a Gold Cloak captain, he walked straight through the still-smoldering gate without hindrance.
This was no act of cowardice—he had fully understood the meaning behind Jacaerys' earlier maneuver toward the River Gate.
The aerial clash between the two dragons had raged on for quite some time, yet neither had managed to gain the upper hand.
Vermax's fire was incapable of piercing Vhagar's defenses.
And every time Jacaerys attempted to attack from above, Aemond countered with bursts of golden dragonfire, blocking his path.
Without the cover of clouds, approaching from above was suicidal—Vermax would be an easy target.
Jacaerys knew he could retreat to Dragonstone at this moment.
But with his blood boiling in the heat of battle, he was driven by a burning desire to eliminate Aemond once and for all.
He gritted his teeth.
Once more, he commanded Vermax to vanish into the clouds.
Sensing the shift in strategy, Aemond made a bold decision—Vhagar ceased all movement, hovering motionless in the sky.
Since his dragon's left wing was injured, he would let his enemy come to him.
WHOOSH!
A streak of emerald green burst forth from the clouds—Vermax was diving straight for Vhagar's wounded wing at breathtaking speed!
This time, Vermax showed no intention of pausing to unleash dragonfire.
Like an arrow loosened from a bowstring, he swiftly closed in on Vhagar's flank.
WHOOSH!
Vhagar's colossal tail, as thick as an ancient tree, lashed out with terrifying force, seeking to force Vermax into evasive maneuvers.
BANG!
The tail and dragon collided with a resounding thud.
"Hm?"
Aemond's face revealed a flicker of surprise—he had not expected his strike to land.
This sudden turn of events disrupted the battle plan he had envisioned in his mind.
ROOOAAR!!!
Vermax let out a piercing dragon cry, his body surging forward once more, using the momentum from Vhagar's tail strike to propel himself ahead. In the blink of an eye, he ascended to a position just slightly above Vhagar.
It was only then that Aemond realized—Vermax had not been struck by accident.
No, the smaller dragon had deliberately allowed himself to be hit, using his powerful hind legs to clamp down tightly onto Vhagar's tail.
WHOOSH!
A small, dark figure suddenly leaped from Vermax's back, plummeting downward toward Vhagar's massive form.
What audacity!
Aemond's eye narrowed as he watched Jacaerys roll midair to absorb the impact of his landing before swiftly rising to his feet and charging toward him.
A surge of admiration flickered in his heart despite himself.
As had been made clear, Jacaerys knew only one approach to swordplay: attack, attack, and attack again!
To treat dragons as mere warships, to attempt a high-altitude boarding maneuver amidst the storm and chaos of battle—surely, only Jacaerys Velaryon would dare such madness.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
On the vast expanse of Vhagar's back, the sharp clash of swords rang out continuously.
Aemond, a swordsman skilled enough to best Ser Criston Cole, was not one to be easily overwhelmed.
After just a few brief exchanges, he swiftly gauged Jacaerys' strength.
With a calculated twist of his blade, he forced Jacaerys into an opening.
A smirk played on Aemond's lips—the smirk of a victor.
Seizing the moment, he swung his sword in a swift arc toward Jacaerys' neck.
CLANG!
Something was wrong!
The sensation that traveled up Aemond's blade was not the yielding resistance of flesh and bone.
His triumphant smile froze, replaced by a deep and sudden sense of unease.
Jacaerys had baited him into the trap.
With his opponent finally falling for the ruse, Jacaerys' right hand flicked his sword upward, aiming straight for Aemond's unguarded left cheek.
SLASH!
Aemond reacted with lightning speed, jerking his head to the side.
He barely avoided the lethal strike—but in doing so, his left ear, now exposed, was severed clean off.
CRUNCH!
Pain shot through him like a bolt of lightning, but Aemond gritted his teeth and endured it.
With a swift movement, he loosened his grip on the dragon saddle, then kicked forward.
The shattered remains of his dragon saddle, crushed by Vermax's jaws earlier, hurtled toward Jacaerys.
Caught off guard, Jacaerys had no time to react.
The debris struck him squarely, sending him tumbling off Vhagar's back.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Meanwhile, Vermax, who had been gripping Vhagar's tail all this time, suddenly released his hold.
With a powerful beat of his wings, he dove downward.
WHOOOSH!
The howling wind roared in Jacaerys' ears as he plummeted through the skies.
For a fleeting moment, it almost felt like he was skydiving back in his past life.
Then, in a flash of green, Vermax descended past him, matching his fall.
Jacaerys reached out without hesitation, grabbing onto the dragon's saddle handle just as it was presented before him.
With a mighty flap of his wings, Vermax adjusted his trajectory, pulling Jacaerys safely back onto his back.
"Good brother, I owe you one!"
Jacaerys patted the emerald scales of his loyal dragon, a smile tugging at his lips as he voiced his gratitude.
ROOOAAAR!!!
A thunderous dragon cry suddenly echoed from below.
Jacaerys turned his head, catching sight of a massive golden dragon rapidly closing in from beneath them.
His brows furrowed deeply.
This was bad!
..
..
[IMAGE]
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[Chapter End's]
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