Chapter 116: Target! The Ruins of Gorgai
Sothoryos, Basilisk Isles, Tear Island
Tear Island is an extremely ancient island. During the era of the Old Empire of Ghis, the ancient Ghiscari people who worshipped the Harpy established a colony here.
After the rise of the Valyrian Freehold, the Dragonlords of Valyria transformed this place into a hub for the slave trade, detaining the docile Naathi people and the natives of Sothoryos here before sending them to regions that demanded slaves.
After the Doom of Valyria, pirates became the masters of this island. However, they only dared to occupy the peripheral areas. There were places deeper within that they feared too much even to speak of.
That place was known in High Valyrian as Gorgai, meaning "the Place of Redemption for Exiles."
The Dragonlords of Valyria had once imprisoned heinous criminals within the slave tunnels there. It was said that the blood mages guarding these prisoners constantly used them for terrifying experiments.
Because the bloodline of the natives of Sothoryos is extremely peculiar, their women, when violated by outsiders, would only give birth to deformed stillbirths or monstrous offspring.
The reason pirates dared not approach the ruins of Gorgai was that some had witnessed horrifying creatures within. Some claimed they were strange humanoid beings—half-man, half-beast—while others believed them to be demons created by blood magic.
After Jon Snow obtained the legacy of blood magic from Queen Visenya Targaryen's hidden chamber, he learned of this place. Aside from the ruins of Valyria itself, this was likely one of the few remaining magical ruins in the known world, and Jon naturally could not ignore it.
According to scrolls left behind by Visenya, the mages of Valyria had long conducted biological experiments. Although their power was immense, their supply of slaves was never sufficient.
Furthermore, the time required to tame slaves and conquer new lands was considerable. Thus, a magical project known as "Human-Beast Hybridization" was proposed.
The blood mages of Valyria were masters of manipulating both soul and bloodline. In their view, if they experimented on the strong yet unintelligent natives of Sothoryos and combined them with docile animals like cattle and horses, they could create an entirely new and useful slave race.
At that time, the Dragonlords of Valyria had already defeated the dominant powers of the plains. The Sarnori kingdoms were collapsing, and the Tall Men—who once ruled vast northern lands of Essos—had lost most of their territory.
In some of the blood mages' scrolls, there were even visions of Dragonlords herding orc-like creatures.
However, in the seventy-seventh year after the Doom of Valyria, a terrible plague known as the Red Death swept through all of Gorgai. Since then, the place was abandoned, eventually falling into the hands of pirates.
"This place is truly filthy and revolting. These pirates will die of plague sooner or later."
Jon frowned as he stepped onto the dock of the pirate haven known as Blood Bay. Waves of foul stench—mixed with rot, feces, and urine—assaulted his senses immediately.
"Cough, cough… Lord Aegon, I don't like it here either. But this is the largest dock on Tear Island. Our fleet has nowhere else to anchor."
After hearing Jon's complaint, Salladhor Saan spoke helplessly.
His trade route passed through Sunspear in Dorne, the Summer Isles, Naath, and finally Tear Island.
Normally, ships avoided the Smoking Sea due to its deadly dangers. Most vessels traveling between Volantis and Slaver's Bay would instead skirt its outer edges.
Although Jon was deeply interested in the ruins of Valyria, he had no intention of rushing into unknown dangers. After all, even Balerion the Black Dread had once been injured there.
"Forget it. Since this is the best option, we'll use this place as a temporary base."
Jon had no intention of blaming Salladhor Saan. The pirate always chose the most practical solution.
"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Aegon! The pirates here are disorganized, making them easy targets. Their so-called Pirate King is a man named Kars the Head—he enjoys turning the skulls of his enemies into drinking cups."
"Oh? Interesting. I wonder if he'll cry when he becomes one of them."
Jon's lips curled slightly. In his eyes, such a man was already dead.
"Buzz—"
As his voice faded, a grotesque staff appeared in Jon's hand. He began chanting a spell in a low voice.
During his expedition through Pterodactyl Point, Jon had gathered numerous necromantic materials, allowing him to craft several additional necromancer staffs.
In the absence of troops, this was his most efficient method of warfare.
As the spell completed, space beside him began to distort violently.
Under the influence of that strange power, the boundary between the living world and another realm seemed to tear open.
One by one, undead figures began stepping out from the rift.
The zombies appeared slow—but their presence was utterly terrifying.
The pirates, who had been arrogant moments earlier, froze in shock.
"Roar…"
Low, guttural growls echoed across the docks—the prelude to slaughter.
"Help me!"
One pirate finally broke, screaming as he tried to flee.
"Monsters!"
Another pointed in terror, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
In an instant, panic spread like wildfire. The pirates' morale collapsed completely. They scattered in all directions, desperately seeking refuge.
Meanwhile, Jon's summoning continued.
More and more undead emerged.
These were no ordinary corpses—their claws carried lethal toxins. Even a scratch would render a man helpless.
Jon's plan was simple.
Capture every pirate in one sweep.
"Alright, Salladhor. Have your men bind them. Release the Naathi slaves. As for the natives of Sothoryos—detain them for now, and release them when we depart."
After issuing his command, Jon took out a magical crystal and summoned three massive cyclopes.
The pirate stronghold was built from timber. With proper weapons, these giants could easily tear it apart.
However, Jon's goal was not destruction—but breaching the main fortress.
Blood Bay consisted of three sections: the docks, the living quarters, and the main fortress.
Jon and his men were currently positioned between the first two.
The main fortress stood behind a tall wooden wall.
At Jon's command, the cyclopes grabbed the pirates' own flagpoles and used them as weapons.
Meanwhile, the pirates inside the fortress quickly raised the drawbridge.
"By the Goddess of Love… what… what are those things?!"
Kars the Head stood atop the fortress, lowering his Myrish lens in shock.
Around forty years old, with silver hair and dark skin, he was a mixed-blood from Myr.
Lacking the beauty of Lyseni blood, he had been sold into slavery as a child—only to be freed when pirates attacked his transport ship.
From there, he had clawed his way to power.
Now, he ruled as the so-called Pirate King of Blood Bay.
But Pirate Kings in the Basilisk Isles were worthless titles. Any man with a few thousand followers could claim it.
Once proud of his numbers—
Kars now regretted it.
Because those very numbers made perfect targets.
The cyclopes swept through the battlefield like living siege engines.
With a single swing of their makeshift weapons, dozens of pirates were sent flying.
The untrained pirates stood no chance.
If the cyclopes were plows tearing through the field—
Then the undead were the blades cutting everything down.
Under this combined assault, resistance was impossible.
The pirates could only watch in despair as their comrades fell one after another.
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