Chapter 236: The Battle of King's Landing

In her dream, Cersei wore a crown, becoming the supreme Queen of Westeros.

The severed heads of her mortal enemies, the Wolf King Eddard and the True Dragon Queen Daenerys, hung dripping with blood upon the Skull Throne, while the pelts of direwolves hung in the Throne Room.

All of the Wolf King Eddard's children were dead; the corpses of Robb, Sansa, Arya, Rickon, Bran, and the bastard Jon Snow were laid out before the Iron Throne.

Everyone knelt before Cersei; Robert and Renly had replaced Moon Boy as court fools, and all the men who had once been Cersei's enemies—Jon Arryn, Stannis, and Duke Tywin—all knelt at Cersei's feet, kissing her toes and trembling incessantly.

The necromancer Ogbeta wore a brilliant smile on his face as he presented Tyrion's deformed and ugly head.

Jaime, clad in golden armor, and the silver-haired, purple-eyed Prince Rhaegar presented the skull of a magic dragon; the two of them announced they would marry Cersei together, and Cersei smiled.

Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen, holding fresh flowers and wearing crimson and gold brocade coats, watched their mother marry with smiles.

Tens of thousands of commoners and nobles came together to attend Cersei's wedding; all the flowers, applause, and cheers revolved around Cersei, and Cersei wore a happy smile.

Suddenly, a cold wind rose; the commoners and nobles all vanished, and the corpses of the Stark children before the Iron Throne disappeared, replaced by the corpses of Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella, their bodies wrapped in golden shrouds.

The witch Maggy the Frog appeared before Cersei.

"Your children shall have crowns of gold and shrouds of gold!"

"In days to come, you shall be the mother of the realm, until another woman comes, younger and more beautiful than you, who will cast you down and take everything you hold dear."

Cersei screamed as she woke from her dream, covered in cold sweat.

"A nightmare, it was only a nightmare," Cersei comforted herself.

Once the necromancer Ogbeta, leading the Frost Dragon Legion, conquered Harrenhal and killed the Wolf King Eddard, the True Dragon Queen Daenerys, and wiped out the magic dragons, the undead would achieve a decisive victory.

However, the next day, when Cersei sat upon the Skull Throne in the Throne Room, the news that arrived was of the undead's defeat at Harrenhal.

"What is going on? Ogbeta, did you not say that with the frost dragons Balerion the Black Dread and Meraxes, and by resurrecting Vhagar from the bottom of the Gods Eye, plus the Dragon of Bronze, Silverwing, Dreamfyre, the Red Queen Meleys, and other magic dragons, the undead would be invincible?"

The necromancer Ogbeta gripped his Skull Scepter, his face weary.

"Your Grace, the Wolf King Eddard has mastered powerful elemental forces; he used the powers of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth to control the frost dragons, and in coordination with giant eagles, magic dragons, and griffins, he killed many of my frost dragons and Death Knights. And there is also that damned Bloodraven Brynden Rivers; he is the last Green Seer. The Bloodraven descended from the sky with his crow soldiers and caught me off guard."

Grand Maester Pycelle, who had been sleepy-eyed, instantly widened his eyes until they were as large as boiled eggs.

"Bloodraven Brynden Rivers? He is the noble bastard of Aegon IV, who once served as Hand of the King during the reigns of Aerys I and Maekar I, and later served as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Is he still alive?"

Tywin said calmly, "Bloodraven's nemesis Bittersteel has been resurrected, sea monsters rule the oceans, fire demons dance in the Stormlands, and even the Black Dread, Vhagar, and Meraxes have been reborn. What is so strange about Bloodraven still being alive?"

"Grand Maester Pycelle, this is the age of the resurgence of spiritual energy; your old mind must learn to accept the fact that magic rules the world."

Cersei sat upright on the Skull Throne, feeling uneasy; she remembered the terrifying dream from last night.

Jaime said, "If the Wolf King Eddard killed so many frost dragons and Death Knights, wouldn't we be in great danger if he attacked King's Landing?"

The necromancer Ogbeta revealed an evil smile.

"Rest assured, the True Dragon Queen, the Wolf King Eddard, and the Three-Eyed Crow spent a great deal of effort to kill our frost dragons and Death Knights; I can resurrect them from the Dark Altar."

Cersei let out a long sigh of relief, "Then what are you waiting for? Go and resurrect them at once."

The necromancer Ogbeta led everyone to the Dark Altar in the Red Keep, where the skulls and dragon remains on the altar flickered with an eerie blue light.

"Your Grace, resurrecting Death Knights and frost dragons consumes dark magic and also requires time."

"My bats have brought news that Stannis's army of fire slaves and fire demons are ravaging the Kingswood; Robert the Death Storm and the frost dragon Blue Queen Tyraxes and Seasmoke have been defeated repeatedly before the fire demons. I must personally take Balerion the Black Dread, Vhagar, and Meraxes to engage the fire demons."

Cersei was somewhat dissatisfied.

"That waste Robert, even after becoming a Death Storm, cannot help me defeat the fire demons."

Jaime stroked his sword hilt, "Ogbeta, if I recall correctly, Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes are the largest of the frost dragons. If you take them all away, who will protect King's Landing?"

"The Wolf King Eddard defeated the undead at Harrenhal; he could send troops south to threaten King's Landing at any time."

The necromancer said, "Kingslayer, rest assured, I will leave the frost dragons Syrax, Vermax, Arrax, and Tyraxes to guard King's Landing. These frost dragons once belonged to Rhaenyra Targaryen and her sons; they were the main force of Rhaenyra's side during the Dance of the Dragons."

Subsequently, the necromancer pointed his finger at the Dark Altar.

"Moreover, the Dark Altar will continuously resurrect frost dragons and Death Knights. The Dragon of Bronze Vermithor, Silverwing, Dreamfyre, the Red Queen Meleys, Sunfyre, and others who died at Harrenhal will all be reborn from the Dark Altar."

Afterward, the necromancer mounted Balerion the Black Dread and flew into the sky, with Meraxes and Vhagar following alongside.

The necromancer Ogbeta disappeared into the horizon, and Gillian walked to Cersei's side with a smile.

"Your Grace, back then Aegon the Conqueror rode Balerion the Black Dread and conquered Westeros. How could such a powerful frost dragon be left for the necromancer Ogbeta to enjoy? You should be the one riding Balerion the Black Dread."

Cersei shrugged.

"The necromancer Ogbeta has always been loyal to me; him riding Balerion the Black Dread can just be considered a small reward from me to him."

Jaime, standing to the side, laughed in spite of himself.

"Sister, you are clearly a puppet of the necromancer Ogbeta. Ogbeta controls every Death Knight, every frost dragon, every Dark Acolyte, and even every soldier of the Black Robe Army and every Follower of the Great Other."

Cersei was very angry, "Jaime, stop trying to sow discord in front of me."

However, Cersei suddenly realized that what Jaime said was the truth; all the Death Knights and frost dragons were resurrected by Ogbeta. Prince Rhaegar, Robert the Death Storm, the Dragon Prince Viserys, the Horse Lord Drogo, Bittersteel, and the Commander of the Black Robe Army Janos Slynt were all Ogbeta's men.

The ocean witch Grace, wearing a crystal dress that wrapped around her snow-white skin, walked over, her every step full of temptation.

"Your Grace, it was understandable that you needed to rely on the necromancer Ogbeta to resist your enemies and that you trusted him. However, the current Ogbeta has become too powerful to control; you should immediately cultivate your own forces."

Tywin said, "Indeed, Cersei. Grace is the wife of your uncle Gillian and is one of our own Lannisters; you should make more use of the Lannisters themselves."

"The necromancer Ogbeta took away the three largest frost dragons—Vhagar, Meraxes, and Balerion the Black Dread—and left you with these few dragons, all of which belonged to Rhaenyra and her short-lived sons."

"Back then, Rhaenyra was trapped in King's Landing with a few magic dragons, eventually lost the war, fled in a panic to Dragonstone, and died at the hands of Aegon II."

After Duke Tywin's persuasion, Cersei felt more and more that she was too dependent on the necromancer Ogbeta, and she truly needed to make a change.

The ocean witch Grace was met and married by Gillian during his voyage on the galleon Laughing Lion while searching for the ancestral Lannister Valyrian steel sword Oathkeeper; this ocean witch was very mysterious.

Cersei eyed Grace.

"I want to make use of you, but what kind of magic do you know?"

The ocean witch Grace said, "Your Grace, I can also perform the resurrection tricks of the necromancer Ogbeta. However, the necromancy of the undead draws upon the power of the abyss, while our ocean witch resurrection draws upon the power of the ocean."

Cersei raised an eyebrow.

"The power of the ocean? Could it be that you are a follower of the Drowned God?"

The ocean witch Grace shook her head.

"No, I grew up on the island of Leng in the Far East. My master was a dragon lady who served the Dragonlord of the Crystal Palace in Yi Ti. That Crystal Palace is located on the seabed, and she taught me powerful magic, including resurrection."

"Just like the rising and falling of the tides, I can use the power of the ocean to resurrect the servants Sea Snake and Oakfist to serve His Majesty."

Jaime, standing to the side, felt a wave of nausea. Damn it, don't start with this resurrecting the dead trick again!

Cersei's eyes widened, clearly very happy.

"Are you talking about the legendary Admiral Sea Snake Corlys Velaryon and Oakfist Alyn Velaryon?"

The ocean witch Grace revealed a sweet smile.

"Yes, Sea Snake Corlys Velaryon and Oakfist Alyn Velaryon were both great navigators. Once resurrected, they can build a powerful fleet for Her Majesty."

"Nowadays, the Eagle Eye is ravaging the Reach, and Stannis's Royal Fleet controls Dragonstone, Driftmark, Sharp Point, and other places. With the fleets of the Sea Snake and Oakfist, we can easily defeat the enemy."

Jaime said, "I remember, this Oakfist Alyn, isn't he the grandson of the Sea Snake?"

Gillian said, "During my voyages, I met some sailors from Driftmark. They said the Sea Snake claimed Alyn was the bastard son of his son Laenor, who had married the whore Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and was a famous homosexual."

"Laenor certainly wouldn't have produced any bastards, so Oakfist was actually the Sea Snake's bastard son, who later obtained a legal identity and inherited the lands and castle of House Velaryon."

Possessing the Sea Snake and Oakfist was a huge temptation. Cersei urged, "Quickly resurrect the Sea Snake and Oakfist for me."

Subsequently, the ocean witch Grace channeled her spell. A crane brought over a basket of clear water, and on the lotus flowers in the water lay ashes.

Grace began to chant.

"Sea Snake Corlys Velaryon, Oakfist Alyn Velaryon, please resurrect and be reborn, and fight for Queen Cersei!"

A white light flashed, and Sea Snake Corlys and Oakfist Alyn appeared before everyone.

Sea Snake Corlys had silver hair, fair skin, sharp features, and was full of vigor; Oakfist was tall and handsome with broad shoulders. Both had the seahorse crest of House Velaryon on their breastplates.

The Sea Snake and Oakfist knelt before Cersei.

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother, we are willing to serve you!"

Cersei giggled, "Rise! From today on, you are my Admirals, and you shall build a fleet for me."

"As long as I have an invincible fleet, I can retake Dragonstone and Driftmark, attack Storm's End from the sea, and even threaten Gulltown, Maidenpool, Saltpans, White Harbor, and other places."

Jaime shook his head helplessly.

"Cersei, you are simply indulging in wishful thinking. The Wolf King Eddard could threaten King's Landing at any moment, and you are still plotting to counterattack the enemy."

Cersei gave a light snort.

"Jaime, where has your courage gone? The Dark Altar has been resurrecting the undead. Soon, the Death Knight and frost dragons will be resurrected and reborn. Even if the Wolf King Eddard arrives with a great army, I am not afraid."

Joffrey Baratheon said, "Uncle Kingslayer, you only know how to contradict my mother. Once we destroy the Wolf King Eddard, I will strip you of your white cloak and drive you out of the Kingsguard."

Cersei and Joffrey, escorted by a group of lackeys, walked toward the Throne Room.

Jaime turned to Tywin.

"Father, Cersei's foolish actions are one after another. The necromancer resurrects the dead, and the ocean witch is also resurrecting the dead; what is the difference? If this continues, the Lannisters will lose the war sooner or later."

"Wrong, the Lannisters already lost the war in the Westerlands," Tywin said coldly. "Stark's side has magic dragons, direwolves, skinchangers, giants, and even Children of the Forest, Green Seers, and Wood Dancers. Unless we use magic, the Lannisters can only face total destruction."

"Look at what the Wolf King Eddard did after conquering the Westerlands. He relocated all the Lannisters from Casterly Rock and Lannisport to the North, including many relatives like your Aunt Genna, who have all become Stark's prisoners. Stark is trying to cut the weeds and pull up the roots."

"Eddard is following the example of 'The Rains of Castamere'. Facing such a cold and ruthless enemy, we can only endure all kinds of dark magic. If the ocean witch Grace can help the Lannisters strengthen their power, we will have a chance to take back the Westerlands."

Suddenly, the Dark Temple on Visenya's Hill rang with loud bells, and the sound of horns rose from all sides.

Jaime frowned, "Is it the Wolf King Eddard, or Stannis?"

The frost dragons Syrax and Vermax flew toward the north.

Tywin and Jaime rode their horses to the northern wall of King's Landing. Night had already shrouded King's Landing and the land. Tywin and Jaime looked toward the north. In the northern sky, magic dragons, giant eagles, and griffins flew in. On the ground, giants rode mammoths like a moving castle. The warhorses from the Riverlands, the North, the Vale, and even the Westerlands, along with torches, stretched to the end of the horizon.

Tywin said gloomily, "The Wolf King Eddard truly did not waste any time. Facing such an army, we have no chance of winning."

"Pass the order down. Command Ser Gregor the Mountain and his men, and Vargo Hoat of the Brave Companions to charge out of the Old Gate and the Gate of the Gods to meet the enemy!"

Vargo Hoat's Brave Companions were cruel and bloodthirsty; they were untrustworthy mercenaries. If the situation in King's Landing turned unfavorable, the loyalty of the mercenaries would be a major problem. Tywin would rather let them die on the battlefield.

Tywin and Jaime returned to the Red Keep's Throne Room, where Cersei was sitting on the Skull Throne.

Jaime said, "The Wolf King is attacking with a great army. Cersei, you had better take the children and hide."

Cersei said disdainfully, "The Great Other protects me. King's Landing is a city of the undead; I am not afraid of the Wolf King Eddard and Daenerys."

The Starks and Targaryens were the enemies of the Lannisters. If it were normal times, Jaime would mount his warhorse to face the enemy. However, today Jaime decided to stay in the Red Keep. After all, the enemy was fighting for humanity, while the Lannisters were fighting for the undead. Jaime would rather the Lannisters lose the war so that the hundreds of thousands of people in King's Landing would be saved.

Jaime went to the Maidenvault and ordered Lancel Lannister to take the Red Cloaks to close the gates of the Maidenvault and protect Myrcella Baratheon and Tommen Baratheon inside. The Black Robe Army pulled up the drawbridge of Maegor's Holdfast, cutting off traffic between Maegor's Holdfast and the Red Keep, and the gates of the Red Keep were also closed and bolted.

The Wolf King Eddard rode on the back of the magic dragon Flying Wolf. He used his mind to control the magic dragons Drogon, Rhaegal, Viserion, Flying Wolf, Eagle Eye, and Koi, as well as dozens of giant eagles and griffins.

Daenerys rode on the back of Drogon, and Jon rode on the back of Rhaegal.

The frost dragon Syrax, once the mount of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, was massive and powerful. Vermax was young and strong, the mount of Rhaenyra's eldest son, Prince Jacaerys.

Legend had it that the dragon egg in Winterfell was laid by Vermax.

Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Viserys, the Horse Lord Drogo, and the Sword of the Morning Arthur Dayne led two frost dragons and tens of thousands of the undead out of the city to meet the enemy.

The human army brandished their burning swords and fought with the undead. Skinchangers controlled bears, direwolves, wild boars, saber-toothed cats, shadowcats, terrorbirds, and other fierce beasts, charging through the undead. Frost dragons fought with magic dragons in the air; ice and flames blotted out the sky and sun.

The Wolf King Eddard stroked the weirwood bracelet on his wrist. As the element power condensed, the water element surged, and he unleashed a blast of ice, instantly freezing Vermax and Syrax.

Vermax and Syrax struggled violently. Cracks appeared in the ice, and it shattered, but the speed of the frost dragons was significantly slowed. Giant eagles and griffins used their talons to tear at the wings of the frost dragons. The frost dragons bled thick green demon blood. Subsequently, Eddard used his mind to command the giant eagles and griffins to pull back.

The magic dragons Eagle Eye, Koi, Flying Wolf, Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion together used dragonfire to ignite the frost dragons Vermax and Syrax. The frost dragons fell to the ground, burned, and died.

After the frost dragons died, the undead wights on the ground lost their support from the air. The magic dragons bathed the undead on the ground with dragonfire. The Death Knight Prince Rhaegar, the Horse Lord Drogo, the Sword of the Morning, and the sleeping dragons could only ride their death horses and flee back to King's Landing.

The artillery on the backs of the giant mammoths fired shells, collapsing the Old Gate, the Dragon Gate, and the Gate of the Gods. Barristan led the army to charge in from the Dragon Gate, and the Knight of Flowers appeared at the Gate of the Gods.

Vargo Hoat of the Brave Companions charged out of the Old Gate to meet the enemy and encountered the beauty Brienne. Brienne slashed and wounded Vargo Hoat's arm with her sword. The Goat Girl Gisela, riding a goat taller than a warhorse, arrived, and the goat's sharp horns pierced through Vargo Hoat's breastplate.

Vargo Hoat of Qohor thus died at the hands of the Goat Girl Gisela from beyond the Wall and her goat.

Once Vargo Hoat died, the Brave Companions immediately collapsed. The jester Shagwell and the septon Urswyck were killed by the Lightning Lord, the Red Priest Thoros of Myr. Shagwell, Luoerjie, and others all died in the chaotic battle.

The Mountain Gregor encountered his nemesis, the Red Viper Oberyn, near the Old Gate. Back then, it was in King's Landing that the Mountain Gregor had brutally murdered Oberyn's sister, Princess Elia Martell of Dorne.

Prince Oberyn used a poison-tipped spear to wound the Mountain Gregor. The Mountain Gregor was in agony and was knocked off his horse by Prince Oberyn.

"The Mountain, I am going to torture you well and make you taste every bit of human suffering!" Oberyn said.

At this moment, Sandor arrived wearing The Hound helmet and slashed the Mountain's neck with a sword; blood splattered everywhere from the Mountain, and he let out bursts of miserable howls.

The Magic Dragon flew toward the Mountain and sprayed Dragonfire; the Mountain was burned by the Dragonfire and let out a horrific scream, causing Sandor's charred face to twitch in disgust.

Sandor collected the Mountain's charred head and said triumphantly, "Red Viper, the revenge belongs to me!"

Oberyn said gloomily, "The Hound, the Mountain was struck by my poison; it was a Manticore, combined with dozens of different venoms. Had the Mountain been poisoned, he would have had to linger in agony from the deadly poison for a long time; letting him die by Dragonfire was letting him off too easily."

The Hound Sandor spat, "What do you know? Flames are the true purgatory on earth."

Cersei and Joffrey Baratheon only panicked when they heard that the Wolf King Eddard's army had broken into the city districts of King's Landing; Cersei finally stepped down from the Skull Throne and, in the Throne Room, discussed countermeasures with Tywin, Grand Maester Pycelle, Jaime, Gillian, and others.

Cersei said in terror, "The walls of King's Landing are so high, and we have frost dragons and Death Knights; why could the enemy break through the walls so quickly?"

Jaime said calmly, "Your Death Knights and frost dragons were defeated by the Wolf King at Harrenhal; they can do even less against the Wolf King at King's Landing."

"The enemy possesses Cannon, which can blast open the city gates with a single shot, not to mention the Wolf King also has giants, Magic Dragon, giant eagles, and Griffin."

Joffrey Baratheon's scalp was oozing pus and emitting a foul odor.

"Where is the necromancer Ogbeta? Why hasn't he rushed back to King's Landing to provide reinforcements?"

Gillian said, "Your Majesty, are you still obsessed with that treacherous villain? The necromancer Ogbeta must have fled with the frost dragons Vhagar, Meraxes, and Balerion."

Joffrey Baratheon said hatefully, "The necromancer actually betrayed me; if the necromancer ever falls into my hands, I will surely make him wish he were dead."

Cersei said, "That cannot be; I still trust Ogbeta. If he wanted to flee, he could have easily taken all the Death Knights and frost dragons with him."

Gillian exchanged a look with the ocean sorceress Grace, and Gillian said, "Your Majesty, please dispatch the Black Robe Army of the Red Keep to intercept the enemy."

Cersei said, "The Black Robe Army needs to protect the Red Keep; if I send them out, who will protect the Red Keep?"

The ocean sorceress Grace said, "If we sit trapped in the Red Keep, the enemy will destroy the Dark Altar, and we will be unable to resurrect the Death Knights and the Magic Dragon."

Cersei felt this made sense and immediately summoned the Lord Commander of the Black Robe Army, Janos Slynt; this fellow had originally died in the King's Landing riots, but was later resurrected by the necromancer and became a Wight commander.

"Janos Slynt, I order you to take the Black Robe Army and go outside the Red Keep to engage the enemy."

Janos Slynt said lazily, "Queen Mother, only the necromancer Ogbeta can command the Black Robe Army; I must decline."

Cersei widened her eyes.

"You actually dare to defy my orders?"

Jaime suppressed his laughter.

"Lord Janos is a Wight; you can certainly execute him, but the necromancer Ogbeta can just resurrect him anyway."

Cersei was furious and ordered Jaime to execute Janos, but Janos swaggered away; only then did Cersei realize the fact that she was a puppet.

The ocean sorceress Grace stroked the Crystal Scepter.

"Fortunately, the Red Keep is next to the sea; I will use the power of the sea to summon a mermaid army for Your Majesty!"

Grace chanted a spell, and baskets of shrimp, crabs, and fish appeared before everyone; then, a blue light flashed, and these crabs, shrimp, and fish transformed into shrimp soldiers and crab generals, as well as mermaids, each clad in armor and holding swords and Long Lance.

Jaime recalled the aquaculture Grace had been doing in King's Landing; it turned out that all of this was part of Magic.

Cersei smiled, "With this army, I no longer need the Black Robe Army. Grace, let your Mermaid Army protect the Red Keep for me!"

Janos Slynt led the Black Robe Army and charged into the Throne Room.

Janos said angrily, "Ocean witch, the necromancer Ogbeta ordered that once you perform sorcery in the Red Keep, you are to be eliminated; you truly harbor evil intentions."

The ocean witch Grace said disdainfully, "You are merely a puppet of the necromancer; you dare to block me?"

Grace summoned seawater, which instantly tore Janos apart; subsequently, the mermaid soldiers and shrimp soldiers and crab generals killed every Black Robe Army soldier in sight and seized control of the Red Keep.

Cersei smiled.

"Grace, your Mermaid Army is much stronger than the Black Robe Army; I order you to go protect the Dark Altar immediately and engage the Stark Army."

Grace said, "Your Majesty the Queen Mother, rest assured, everything is left to me."

Cersei, Jaime, Tywin, Joffrey Baratheon, and others followed Grace and Gillian out of the Throne Room and arrived before the Dark Altar; Grace suddenly darkened her expression and chanted a spell.

The seawater tore apart the Dark Altar, and the resurrection of the Death Knights and frost dragons was completely interrupted.

Cersei and Joffrey Baratheon were stunned. Cersei said tremblingly, "Why did you do this?"

Grace said apologetically, "I only fight for justice!"

Thanks to Dote MR Little Rocket Always Happy and "Every Day I'm Book-Starved" for the monthly tickets; thank you for your support!

(End of chapter)