Chapter 237: Crowned King

At night, the True Dragon Queen Daenerys, riding on the back of the magic dragon Drogon, soared over King's Landing for the first time.

This was the city belonging to her ancestor the Conqueror, the city belonging to Westeros, and the "land of ours" in the words of the sleeping dragon Viserys.

However, everything had changed; Viserys had become a Death Knight, the Baelor's Sept atop Visenya's Hill had become a Dark Altar, and King's Landing had been reduced to a city of the undead.

Fortunately, Daenerys, along with an army tens of thousands strong, followed the Wolf King Eddard and fought their way into King's Landing, where they were currently purifying this city cursed and polluted by the undead.

In Flea Bottom, the Street of Sisters, Silk Street, and at the Mud Gate, fire blazed everywhere; human soldiers fought with torches and burning swords in their hands, while the Red Priest Thoros, the Red Lacquer Mask-wearing Quaithe, and the Black Flame Moqorro chanted incessantly, keeping the flames on the longswords of the human warriors from extinguishing.

Previously, the Wolf King Eddard had manipulated magic dragons to capture Sow's Horn, Harrenhal, Rosby, and Stokeworth in the Crownlands with overwhelming force; when the Stark Army reached the gates of King's Landing, relying on magic dragons and cannons, the human army breached the Gate of the Gods in the northwest, the Old Gate in the north, and the Dragon Gate in the northeast, as a torrent of steel flooded the streets of King's Landing.

The Wolf King's army included soldiers from the North, the Westerlands, The Vale, the Riverlands, and other regions, as well as Golden Company soldiers, Unsullied, the Viper Group led by the Red Viper of Dorne, Dothraki cavalry, and more.

The Wolf King Eddard manipulated giant eagles, griffins, and magic dragons to control the skies, and the Stark Army quickly slaughtered their way into every district and street of King's Landing.

In the Red Keep, mermaid warriors and shrimp soldiers and crab generals killed every Black Robe Army soldier in the castle, having completely seized control of the Red Keep, Maegor's Holdfast, and the Throne Room; they destroyed the Dark Altar, thoroughly severing the resurrection of the Death Knight and the frost dragons.

The ocean witch Grace ordered the shrimp soldiers, crab generals, and mermaid warriors nearby, "Queen Regent Cersei and Joffrey are cruel and heartless; they have persecuted the followers of the Seven in King's Landing. Put them in shackles and await the Wolf King Eddard's judgment."

Joffrey's scalp exuded the stench of pustules as he wore a crown of crimson and gold and drew his sword.

"I am your King, who dares to touch me?"

A mermaid warrior with full hips and waist struck Joffrey's sword away with a single blow, causing Joffrey's palm to bleed as he collapsed to the ground sobbing.

"Mother!"

Cersei shielded Joffrey, glaring at the ocean witch Grace.

"When the Great Other sends down divine punishment, you will all pay the price for offending me!"

The ocean witch Grace said, "What a pity, you are merely a puppet of the necromancer Ogbeta; you are a Dark Servant, and the Great Other will not send down divine punishment for you."

Cersei immediately sought help from Jaime nearby.

"Jaime, hurry and save me and Joffrey! You swore to protect our mother and son!"

Jaime stroked his longsword, "Cersei, when you began to slaughter the innocent and rule King's Landing with blood and terror, it was destined that I could only oppose you."

"The living can only oppose the undead."

Cersei then appealed to Tywin, "Father, I am your most beloved daughter! I have always been the apple of your eye; save me and your grandson!"

Tywin said coldly, "Regarding today's events, even if the Seven descended, they could not save you. Cersei, if not for your slaughter of the followers of the Seven, the Lannisters would not have fallen to such a state."

Cersei was furious and cursed, "You all call yourselves the Lion of Lannister, but deep down you are all cowards and liars! You all claimed to love me, yet at the critical moment, you all abandoned me. Hmph! The necromancer and my loyal subordinate the Night King will kill every one of you, every single one!"

The shrimp soldiers and crab generals nearby put golden shackles on Cersei and Joffrey and dragged the cursing mother and son away.

Tywin, Kevan, Jaime, and the others looked at Gillian.

Duke Tywin said indifferently, "Gillian, why did your wife, the ocean witch Grace, stage a backstab at the moment the Wolf King's army arrived at the city walls? Could it be that you have long been colluding with the Starks? You are my own brother; do you intend to be a traitor to the Lannisters?"

Gillian said helplessly, "Brother, I went to the Valyrian Ruins to explore and brought back Oathkeeper, but on the return journey, my ship encountered a storm, and I fell into the sea and drowned; it was Grace who resurrected me."

"Opposing the undead is the command of the Crystal Palace of the Eastern Dragon race and the will of the gods; mortals cannot defy it."

Back when Duke Tywin, Jaime, Kevan, and the others reunited with Gillian at sea, they soon noticed that the ever-smiling Gillian had no body temperature; the group once suspected that Gillian was a wight resurrected by the Great Other, yet Gillian was not like ordinary wights who neither ate nor drank and feared fire.

Now, the truth was clear: Gillian had been resurrected by the ocean witch Grace.

The sounds of battle outside the Red Keep gradually drew closer, and Gillian lowered his voice.

"Tywin, Kevan, I will always be your brother, and I am definitely not a traitor. Outside the Red Keep, the Lion is prepared, filled with gold and jewels; you must flee! Flee to the Free Cities, become a wealthy man, stay far away from the game of thrones, and live a life of ease."

Tywin laughed dryly, "Daenerys lived in exile overseas for many years, and now she has joined forces with the Wolf King to strike back at King's Landing; it is my turn to go into exile. This is the fate of the loser."

Jaime said, "Father, as long as we kneel and submit, the Wolf King Eddard and Daenerys might spare our lives."

Tywin said angrily, "Jaime, where has your fighting spirit gone? The Starks have seized the Westerlands and relocated the Lannister clansmen to the Wall; we have an irreconcilable hatred with the Wolf King Eddard."

"As for Daenerys, do you think she will forget the hatred of those years? Don't forget, it was you who used a Gilded Sword to slay Daenerys's father Aerys, and I led the Westerlands Army to trick the Mad King Aerys into opening the gates, bloodied King's Landing, and my subordinates Amory Lorch and the Mountain slaughtered Rhaegar's wife and children."

"If we kneel and surrender, Daenerys will surely feed us to her dragons, and the Wolf King Eddard will feed us to his wolves."

Tywin turned to Gillian, "I demand to take Cersei, Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella."

By taking Cersei's children, Tywin could later use their names to recruit troops across the Narrow Sea and wait for an opportunity to counterattack Westeros, just as the exiles like Blackfyre, Bittersteel, Daenerys, and the Griffin Hand Clinton had done in the past.

Grace walked over and sighed.

"Alas! Gillian, you are truly muddled! If Tywin escapes across the Narrow Sea, countless people will once again be buried in the game of thrones."

Subsequently, Grace turned to Tywin and the others.

"Duke Tywin, you must all stay; innocent children like Myrcella and Tommen cannot become tools to wreak havoc on Westeros."

"If you stay, I will try my best to plead for you; the Wolf King Eddard and Daenerys will be willing to listen to my opinion. After all, the Night King's army is stirring Beyond the Wall, and they need my mermaid army to fight the White Walkers."

"Duke Tywin, compared to the crimes you committed against Rhaegar's wife and children back then, and thinking of that famous song 'The Rains of Castamere', letting you and Cersei's children live is already a form of mercy."

Tywin remained silent.

The necromancer Ogbeta, riding on the back of Balerion the Black Dread, soared over the south bank of the Blackwater River, with Vhagar and Meraxes at his side.

Ogbeta was currently on the south bank of the Blackwater River, fighting the Balrog; at this time, the fire slaves resurrected by the Balrog were more numerous than the undead.

Stannis rode on a warhorse, wearing simple wool clothing and a crown of red gold, with the Onion Knight and the Red Priestess Melisandre at his side.

The frost dragons Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes cast massive shadows that blotted out the sky.

Stannis said, "King's Landing is right before us. The Balrog promised me that he could defeat the frost dragons; does this mean I will enter King's Landing and seize the Iron Throne?"

Melisandre said gently, "Your Grace, I saw in the holy fire that the Wolf King Eddard and the True Dragon Queen Daenerys, leading their army and magic dragons, have breached King's Landing; they will seize the Iron Throne."

Stannis began to grind his teeth, "So the Wolf King Eddard has beaten me to it."

Melisandre said, "Your Grace, the decisive battle against the undead at the Wall is the true battle of destiny for humanity."

"After the Long Summer, when the stars bleed, it is destined that you are Azor Ahai reborn; when you hold the Burning Sword and save all of humanity, the Wolf King Eddard and Daenerys will all have to make way for you, and you will become the undisputed King of Westeros."

The necromancer Ogbeta manipulated Meraxes, Vhagar, and Balerion to spew frost, freezing the earth; tens of miles of the Kingswood were completely covered in ice, and the Balrog was frozen solid.

The necromancer Ogbeta revealed a ferocious smile.

"Balrog Gros, you are no match for me at all!"

No sooner had he spoken than the temperature of the Balrog inside the ice rose, flames flared brilliantly, the ice shattered, and the frozen forest for tens of miles around instantly turned into scorched earth.

Ogbeta, on the back of Balerion the Black Dread, said in shock: "How could you possibly withstand the ice attacks of Vhagar, Meraxes, and Balerion?"

The Balrog Gros sneered.

"Undead wizard Ogbeta, my flames are growing hotter and hotter, more scorching than volcanic magma. The power of the Great Other here is fading. Even if you resurrect the three magic dragons of the Conqueror, you cannot resist my flames!"

The frost dragon let out a roar. The Balrog and the frost dragon clashed, ice and flames churning in the air. The sky appeared half snow-white and half fiery red, a bizarre sight—a world of ice and fire.

The Balrog's body churned with yellow, orange, and red flames. The flame slave Prince Duncan drew his bow and arrow, firing a burning arrow that struck Meraxes.

Immediately after, the Dragonfly Prince threw a burning javelin, hitting Meraxes once more. Meraxes screamed and began to fall from high altitude.

The Balrog chanted a spell, casting a rope of flame that bound Meraxes. After only a heartbeat, Meraxes was smoking all over, torn apart by magma and flames.

Ogbeta felt a chill. At this moment, the Dark Temple and the Dark Altar in King's Landing had both been destroyed, and the power of the Great Other in this place was greatly diminished. The powers of ice and fire were waxing and waning; the ice could not withstand the Balrog's flames. The undead wizard Ogbeta could only drive Balerion the Black Dread and Vhagar to slaughter their way toward King's Landing in the north.

When the Dark Temple was destroyed, the Death Knights also vanished into thin air along with it. The undead wizard Ogbeta collected their souls, preparing to resurrect them in the future.

King's Landing was ablaze. The Wolf King Eddard rode on the back of the magic dragon flying wolf. He relied on birds, beasts, flowers, and trees to scout. The undead wizard Ogbeta, riding the frost dragon, had just entered the airspace above the Blackwater River when his position was locked onto by Eddard.

"Undead wizard Ogbeta, today is the day you die!" The Wolf King Eddard used his mind to control the Magic Dragon Koi, the flying wolf, Eagle Eye, Drogon, Rhaegal, Viserion, and dozens of giant eagles and griffins to surround and attack the undead wizard Ogbeta on the back of Balerion the Black Dread.

Eddard, on the back of the magic dragon flying wolf, drew the ancestral Valyrian Steel sword of the Stark family, Ice, and unleashed a blast of ice, directly freezing the frost dragon Vhagar.

The elemental power of the Wolf King Eddard grew increasingly strong. The ice unleashed by the sword Ice belonged to the water element; it was the power drawn from the Blue Fork, the Green Fork, the Red Fork, the White Knife, the Mander River, the Wendel River, the Gods Eye, Red Lake, Long Lake, the Sunset Sea, the Summer Sea, the Narrow Sea, the Shivering Sea, and countless nameless springs, brooks, rivers, and lakes.

Valyrian Steel was also the bane of the undead. Coupled with the fact that the Dark Altar and Dark Temple in King's Landing had been destroyed, the power of the Great Other was declining. Vhagar was tightly trapped by the ice, and then Eddard's six magic dragons breathed dragonfire, shattering the ice crystals, and Vhagar inside the ice was dismembered along with them.

The undead wizard Ogbeta was deeply depressed.

The Wolf King Eddard rode the magic dragon flying wolf and killed his way to the front of the undead wizard Ogbeta.

"Elemental power!"

In the air appeared the elemental powers of gold, the Weirwood Forest, the vast ocean, the flaming volcano, and the boundless earth; the elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth surged.

The undead wizard Ogbeta, riding on the back of the Black Dread, gripped the Skull Scepter in his right hand, attempting to resist the elemental power. The Skull Scepter shattered at the sound, and Balerion the Black Dread had its wings torn by the elemental power, spilling thick green demon blood. Balerion screamed and began to fall.

Before Balerion the Black Dread could hit the ground, it was swallowed by the dragonfire of the magic dragons. The undead wizard Ogbeta had no choice but to jump from mid-air, falling into the Blackwater River near the Fish Market of the Mud Gate.

Brienne of Tarth was chasing wights at the Mud Gate. Seeing Ogbeta fall into the water, Brienne dismounted and jumped into the Blackwater River.

Brienne had grown up on the island of Tarth and was well-versed in swimming. As soon as Ogbeta surfaced, Brienne dragged him into the water. The undead wizard Ogbeta was nearly drowned by Brienne, his lungs filled with water, and he had no choice but to surrender.

Tormund Giantsbane, seeing Brienne capture the undead wizard, raised his fist and shouted, "Beauty Brienne! Beauty Brienne!"

When the Wolf King Eddard landed on the ground riding the magic dragon flying wolf, the undead wizard Ogbeta had already been put in shackles.

Eddard said: "Ogbeta, now you can do no more evil."

The undead wizard Ogbeta revealed a bloody, terrifying smile.

"I have never done evil; I am merely completing a mission that mortals cannot understand."

Eddard drew the greatsword Ice.

"If you have any last words, speak them quickly!"

The undead wizard Ogbeta said lightly: "Do not be smug, Wolf King Eddard. Death is only a part of the Great Other's plan. After I die, I will be reborn beyond the Wall in the Night King's Dark Temple, along with all the frost dragons, Rhaegar Targaryen, the death storms, the Khal, and the Death Knight Bittersteel."

"Winter is Coming, and death will descend upon every head."

Eddard drew Ice and with a clean strike, severed the undead wizard's head. The undead wizard's blood turned into a stream of black smoke and shot into the sky.

When the Stark Army controlled every district of King's Landing, they began to attack the Red Keep.

The strong Mag the King of Giants, Leilei, Xixi, Dodo, and others brandished giant war hammers larger than a Battering Ram. Tyrion led a cannon detachment, preparing to attack the gates of the Red Keep.

The gates, however, opened automatically. Mermaid warriors and shrimp and crab soldiers appeared on the ramparts of the Red Keep, raising white flags symbolizing surrender.

The ocean witch Grace appeared before the gate.

"I have already captured every Lannister in the Red Keep. The Red Keep surrenders to the Wolf King Eddard!"

Tyrion lecherously sized up the beautiful, dignified ocean witch in her crystal dress.

"Who are you?"

Grace said: "Tyrion, I am your aunt. Your uncle Gillian is my husband."

Tyrion had always been close to Gillian. Gillian had gone missing at sea for many years, and he had always dreamed of his uncle's return. Tyrion stared with his mismatched eyes: "Are you trying to trick me?"

Gillian appeared by Grace's side and reached out his hands.

"Tyrion, don't you recognize your uncle?"

Tyrion said excitedly: "Uncle Gillian."

Tyrion and Gillian embraced. Gillian said: "Tyrion, it's been many years. You've grown taller."

Tyrion smirked: "Uncle, I haven't grown taller, but you have turned cold. Are you also a wight?"

Gillian said: "I am not a wight; it is the ocean that has reborn me."

The Wolf King's warriors Brienne, the Knight of Flowers Loras, the Hound Sandor, Prince Oberyn of Dorne, the "Bold" Barristan, Tormund Giantsbane, the black and white bears, Eagle King McCain, Sixskins Varamyr, the Lightning Lord, the Red Priest Thoros, Grey Worm, Daario Naharis, and others led the Stark Army into the Red Keep.

The Wolf King Eddard rode the magic dragon flying wolf, Daenerys rode on the back of the magic dragon Drogon, and Jon Snow rode on the back of the magic dragon Rhaegal, landing outside the Throne Room of the Red Keep.

In the Throne Room, the terrifying bone throne that Cersei had made was nowhere to be seen; the Iron Throne stood tall in the Throne Room.

The nobles of the North, Roose Bolton, Greatjon Umber, Lord Rickard Karstark, Lady Maege Mormont, Lysa Arryn of the Vale, Robin Arryn, Lyn Corbray, Robar Royce, and others; from the Riverlands, Lord Jonos Bracken, Lord Raymund Darry, the heir to The Twins Lyman Frey, Lord Tytos Blackwood of Raventree Hall, and others; the Red Viper of Dorne; and from the Westerlands, Lord Roland Crakehall, Lord Brax, and others, were all present.

In addition, there were Grey Worm, Missandei, the Griffin Hand Jon Connington, Golden Company commander Harry Strickland, Stormcrows commander Daario Naharis, Second Sons commander Ben Plumm, Lord Jorah Mormont, Varys, Prince Aegon, and others who had followed Daenerys back from across the Narrow Sea.

The Wolf King Eddard and Daenerys came before the Iron Throne.

Daenerys said loudly: "Wolf King, you possess elemental power and are the key to humanity's victory over the undead. The Iron Throne should be yours to sit upon."

The Wolf King Eddard said: "Daenerys, the Iron Throne is the pinnacle of power, but it is also a responsibility. I will not fail the expectations of the people."

Greatjon Umber, Rickard Karstark, Tormund Giantsbane, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, Harma the Dogshead, Eagle King McCain, Bear King Byars, the strong Mag the King of Giants, and others roared together for the Father of Life.

In fact, Daenerys had long ago reached a private agreement with Eddard: the Iron Throne of Westeros would be taken by the Starks, and the Wolf King would send troops for Daenerys to liberate the slaves across the Narrow Sea and build a new empire together with Daenerys on the continent of Essos.

The Targaryens and the Starks would form an alliance, a covenant cemented by the marriage between Jon Snow and Daenerys. Daenerys and Jon Snow would receive vast fiefdoms across the Narrow Sea.

Daenerys had already informed her subordinates in advance. Upon learning that Daenerys would receive wealth and land across the Narrow Sea, none of them objected.

Prince Aegon, young and impetuous, pushed through the crowd and said angrily: "The Iron Throne was forged by Aegon the Conqueror and should be inherited by someone of the House Targaryen. If my aunt Daenerys will not sit on the Iron Throne, then I must. I am, after all, the son of Rhaegar Targaryen."

"Wolf King, for you to sit upon the Iron Throne, I fear there is no justification."

As soon as these words were spoken, the nobles and warriors of the North, the Riverlands, the Vale, and even the Westerlands unleashed a torrent of curses at Prince Aegon.

"This imposter deserves to die!"

"This Young Griff should be killed!"

"This brat is nothing but a fraud concocted by a cheese-monger from Pentos and a dead eunuch; how dare he harbor delusions of laying hands on the Iron Throne?"

Varys was startled and hurriedly said, "Prince Aegon, Wolf King Eddard is the man closest to the gods; even Queen Daenerys has submitted to him, let alone you."

A three-eyed Crow landed in the hall and transformed into the Bloodraven Duke, Brynden Rivers.

Brynden Rivers said, "I am the last Green Seer, able to see the events of the past through the trees. You are not Rhaegar's son at all; the true Prince Aegon was killed by the Mountain in the Red Keep years ago."

Prince Aegon flushed with shame, "You are spouting nonsense; I am, of course, the son of Rhaegar Targaryen."

Varys covered Prince Aegon's mouth with his hand and smiled apologetically at the three-eyed Crow and Wolf King Eddard, saying, "I can verify that this child is indeed Prince Aegon. Actually, regardless of whether he is Prince Aegon or not, it is not his turn to sit on the Iron Throne."

The three-eyed Crow Brynden Rivers said, "Eddard, it is time for you to be crowned King. You control the Westerlands, the North, the Riverlands, and the Vale, and now you occupy the Crownlands; your territory is the largest, so you should rightfully be crowned King."

"Only by being crowned King can you unite the people of Westeros, defeat the Night King and the Undead, and win the war of the Long Night."

Greatjon Umber, Lord Rickard, Tormund, Eagle King McCain, and others shouted at the top of their lungs, "Crowned King! Crowned King!"

The Red Viper of Dorne said, "Dorne supports the Wolf King and House Stark!"

Margaery said, "House Tyrell is willing to follow the Wolf King and House Stark!"

Only Stannis of the Stormlands might not be pleased; at this moment, Stannis's army had already arrived at the south bank of the Blackwater River, one step away from King's Landing, though it seemed Stannis always wore a gloomy expression regardless, and whether he could suppress the Balrog remained a question.

Under the gaze of his wife, children, and nobles from all regions, Eddard walked up to the Iron Throne and raised his fist high.

"Very well, I shall comply with the will of the people and be crowned King of the Seven Kingdoms, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm!"

Subsequently, Greatjon Umber presented the crown that had long been prepared for Eddard, upon which were carved the Direwolf of House Stark in pearl, the Trout of Tully in ruby, the Falcon of Arryn in sapphire, the Lion of Lannister forged in gold, the Magic Dragon of Targaryen carved in red and black gold, the Crown of the Stag carved in Amber, the Spear of Martell piercing the sun carved in opal and Cat's Eye, and the Sea Monster crafted in purple gold.

The nobles were in an uproar.

"King in the North!"

"King of the Vale!"

"King of the Trident!"

"King of the Rock!"

"Supreme King of the Seven Kingdoms!"

Thanks to Flying Baby for the monthly ticket, thank you for the support!

(End of this chapter)