Outside the dragon's lair, a torrential rain poured down.
The three dragon cubs and the riders on their backs were completely exposed to the field of vision and range of the tower defenders.
On the tower, after a short chaos, the trained guards showed their skills.
"Ballista! Aim for the rider on the back of the dragon!"
"Bow and arrow ready! Interfere with them!"
"The spearmen block them quickly, don't let them get close to the tower!"
The commands sounded intermittent in the wind and rain, but the execution was impressive.
Three heavy crossbow bolts were fired almost simultaneously from different heights of the three watchtowers, targeting the three dragon cubs that had just rushed out and had not yet fully taken to the air.
"Lean over!" Jacaerys roared, moving forward along Vermax's neck.
Arrows flew over his head and sides, and one even grazed his shoulder armor, scattering sparks. Vermax roared angrily, and the clanging of arrows hitting his scales echoed.
Lucerys and Joffrey also ducked quickly. Arrax twisted his body skillfully to avoid most of the arrows.
But the young Tyraxes seemed nervous, and a huge crossbow bolt flew past the edge of his right wing, knocking off a few scales and making him roar in pain.
Immediately after, a dense volley was fired. Though less accurate, it was especially noticeable in the dark, stormy night, hindering the vision of the young dragon and rider.
The initial panic subsided, and Jacaris' desire for destruction surged again.
Looking at the swaying figures on the tower and listening to the piercing alarm bells, he slapped Vermax's side and shouted: "Attack! Destroy those towers!"
He rode Vermax into a rapid climbing turn, avoiding another wave of bolts, then swooped toward the nearest sentry tower.
"Vermax! Burn them all! Dracarys!"
In response to his master's fury, Vermax's throat glowed red, and a thicker, fiercer dragon flame erupted, striking the upper platform and wooden structure of the sentry tower like a fiery whip.
"Boom!"
Although the storm was fierce, the heat and intensity of the dragon's breath made the flames burn fiercely and spread rapidly.
The tower defenders screamed; some fell into the fireball, while others panicked, trying to extinguish the flames or flee.
"Hahaha! Burn it! Burn it!" Jacaerys laughed wildly in the air.
"This is just for fun!"
"Aemond! Come on! Try and stop me!"
His roar mixed with the wind and rain, flames, alarm bells, and the thrill of chaos and madness.
Luthris saw his brother's madness, saw the tower burn, saw the defenders fall.
He also turned and unleashed dragonfire at another sentry tower.
The flames struck the center of the tower, and though it did not ignite immediately, the heat and impact panicked the defenders above, halting their attack.
Ten-year-old Joffrey gritted his teeth, wanting to order Tyraxes to attack, but the injury to the young dragon's leg slowed him down slightly.
"Bang!"
A dull sound far louder than a crossbow bolt below!
It was the heavy scorpion crossbow!
These massive weapons, originally used to defend against external attacks, were turned by the commander of the defenders and aimed at the young dragons raging in the air.
The heavy bolt, as thick as a thigh and tipped with iron, tore through the rain at terrifying speed, heading straight for Vermax!
Jacaris reveled in the thrill of destruction, hearing the sound just a moment too late.
Vermax's instinct reacted, rolling right to dodge.
The scorpion bolt grazed Vermax's left abdomen, scraping off some scales and flesh, leaving a bloody but non-fatal wound.
However, another scorpion bolt, fired from different angles, struck Tyraxes as he slowed due to his injury.
"Poof!"
The sharp, piercing weapon sank into the flesh! The bolt pierced the connection between Tyraxes' left hind leg and his body, where the scales were relatively weak!
"Ugh! Roar!!" Tyraxes let out a terrible, agonizing scream.
The little dragon's body tilted mid-air, nearly losing balance.
Blood gushed from the wound like a fountain, and the rain dispersed a shocking red mist into the air.
"Joffrey!" Lucerys' eyes widened, and he shouted.
Joffrey felt only a massive shock beneath him, almost being thrown off.
He clutched Tyraxes' neck desperately, and when he looked back and saw the terrible wound on Tyraxes' hind leg and the blood gushing, his face went instantly pale: "Tyraxes! No!"
The pain and blood loss forced Tyraxes to falter, destabilizing his flight stance.
This arrow, like a basin of cold water, poured over Jacaris' mind, inflamed with hatred.
He saw his brother Jacaerys take a heavy blow and Joffrey's frightened expression.
He also noticed, in the distance, the light of countless torches rushing toward Rhaenys' Hills like a torrent from King's Landing and the Red Keep!
The entire army of King's Landing was alarmed, gathering, and approaching.
If they delayed any longer, even the injured Tyraxes and Luthris with their little dragons could not face the growing army.
"Xiang Dong!" Jacaris suppressed the violence boiling in his heart.
"Let's return to Dragonstone! Quick!"
He cast one last look at the flames rising from the dragon's lair and the chaotic sentry tower, spurred Vermax suddenly, forcibly turned, and flew with all his might toward the dark, stormy sea east of Blackwater Bay.
Lucerys urged Arrax to keep up.
Meanwhile, he tried to get close to the injured Tyraxes, shielding him from any possible attack from behind: "Joffrey! Follow us!"
Three dragons, scarred and smelling of blood, fled east in the rainstorm.
Behind them, the dragon's lair burned, the alarm bell rang, and the entire city of King's Landing was fully awakened.
At the same time, to the north of King's Landing under the clouds, two dragons had already changed course.
With each flap of Vhagar's wings, the rain shattered her slate-gray scales, creating waves of white air.
Vhagar was not easily affected by weather like young dragons, having grown accustomed to the skies over nearly two centuries.
On her back, Aemond Targaryen let the storm tear at his black leather coat and silver hair.
His eyes passed through the rain, focused on the clear fire toward Rhaenys' Hills, and on a few small dots fleeing from the fire.
Aemond remained calm, with an almost inhuman composure.
Helena rode Dreamfire, trying to stay a little behind Vhagar, sensing Aemond's rage beneath his calm.
"Aemond…" she tried to call, but the storm tore her voice apart.
Vhagar felt the suppressed killing intent in Aemond's heart and let out a tremendous roar, shaking all of King's Landing in that rainy night.