Rain fell over King's Landing like ash.
Cold.
Relentless.
The streets below the Red Keep glistened beneath torchlight while thunder rolled above the city.
Most people hid indoors.
But killers preferred nights like this.
Aeryn stood silently near the open window of his chamber, watching the storm.
Waiting.
The system still hovered faintly in his vision.
[CRITICAL ALERT ACTIVE]
Hostile Agents Approaching
Threat Estimate:
4–6 Assassins
Objective:
Survive
A slow smile crossed his face.
"Finally."
The First Blade
The attack came without warning.
A faint sound behind him—
Aeryn moved instantly.
A dagger sliced through the space where his throat had been.
He twisted.
Hidden blade extended.
Shhk.
The first assassin gasped as steel pierced beneath his ribs.
The body collapsed silently.
But there was no time to breathe.
Another attacker burst from the shadows.
Then another.
Three total.
Professional.
Fast.
Coordinated.
Not ordinary sellswords.
Aeryn's eyes sharpened.
"These are trained."
One assassin lunged low while another attacked high.
Good teamwork.
But predictable.
Aeryn vaulted over a table instead of retreating.
The attackers hesitated for half a second.
That was enough.
He threw a knife.
One assassin screamed as it buried itself in his shoulder.
Then Aeryn disappeared into darkness.
The Ghost Strikes
The chamber went silent.
Rain hammered against the windows.
The assassins looked around carefully.
"Where did he go?"
"Spread out."
Mistake.
Edward Kenway had hunted men in jungles, cities, and fortresses.
Splitting up against a stealth fighter was suicide.
Aeryn moved silently above them across the rafters.
Invisible.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
Drop.
Shhk.
One assassin died before he could scream.
The second spun around—
Too late.
Aeryn struck hard, driving the hidden blade into the man's throat.
The final assassin backed away slowly.
Fear glowing bright red under Eagle Vision.
"You're a monster," the man whispered.
Aeryn tilted his head slightly.
"No."
Lightning flashed behind him.
"I'm what you were sent to kill."
More Enemies
Then the door exploded open.
More men rushed in.
Armed guards this time.
Not assassins.
Aeryn frowned slightly.
"That's new."
The lead guard pointed his sword.
"By order of the crown—!"
Aeryn jumped through the window.
Fall of the Ghost Prince
The world vanished into rain and wind.
The Red Keep tower rushed past him as he fell toward the streets below.
People screamed.
Guards shouted.
Aeryn spread his arms slightly.
Not fear.
Timing.
He whistled sharply.
A distant roar answered instantly.
The sky exploded.
Nyxarion descended through the storm like a living nightmare.
Massive black wings tore through clouds above the city.
The dragon caught Aeryn mid-fall.
Gasps and screams erupted across King's Landing.
"DRAGON!"
"Gods save us!"
"It's the black beast!"
Aeryn landed smoothly on Nyxarion's back.
Then he smiled.
"Missed me?"
Nyxarion roared.
Fire Over King's Landing
Chaos spread instantly.
Guards panicked.
Citizens fled through the streets.
Bells rang across the city.
The system flickered rapidly.
[EVENT]
Public Dragon Display
Reputation Increased Dramatically
Fear Factor: Rising
Aeryn guided Nyxarion across the city skies.
Not attacking.
Not yet.
But the message was clear.
You cannot cage me.
You cannot kill me quietly.
And now…
Everyone knew it.
The Greens Panic
Inside the Red Keep,
Alicent Hightower watched the dragon circling above the city.
Her expression had finally lost its calm.
"This is madness."
Beside her,
Otto Hightower looked grim.
"No," Otto said quietly.
"This is power."
Nyxarion's roar shook the castle windows.
Alicent turned sharply.
"He cannot be controlled."
Otto's eyes darkened.
"Which is why he must eventually be removed."
Daemon Laughs
Meanwhile, far below in the courtyard,
Daemon Targaryen stood in the rain watching the black dragon dominate the sky.
Then—
He started laughing.
Loudly.
Openly.
"Gods…"
His grin widened as Nyxarion flew overhead.
"…the boy really is becoming a monster."
A Declaration Without Words
Aeryn guided Nyxarion toward the highest tower of the Red Keep.
They landed hard atop the stone battlements.
Wind and rain whipped around them violently.
Guards froze.
None dared approach.
Aeryn stood slowly from the dragon's back.
Silver hair blowing in the storm.
Hidden blade stained with blood.
Eyes cold.
Dangerous.
He looked down toward the castle below.
Toward the Greens.
Toward the entire court.
Then he spoke only four words.
"Send more assassins."
Silence followed.
Pure silence.
Then Nyxarion roared so loudly the city itself seemed to tremble.
The Beginning of Open War
Later that night, after returning to his chamber, the system appeared again.
[LEVEL UP]
Level: 8
Skills Increased:
- Stealth Lv.5
- Blade Handling Lv.5
- Dragon Combat Lv.3
New Ability Available:
- Fear Aura
Aeryn leaned back in his chair.
Outside, thunder still rolled across King's Landing.
War was no longer distant.
No longer hidden.
The Greens feared him now.
Which meant they would become desperate.
And desperate people made mistakes.
Aeryn smiled slightly in the darkness.
"Good."
Because he intended to make them regret everything.