Chapter 35: Magical Beasts
12 hours Before the Destruction of Volantis
The castle of Pentos lay quiet under the blanket of night, the city silent as its inhabitants slumbered. The stars above shone brightly, their light failing to reach the two shadowy figures that moved with unnatural grace through the darkened streets.
These were no ordinary assassins. Their forms were insubstantial, like living shadows, and their glowing red eyes were filled with malevolence. Sent forth by the High Priestess of Volantis before her demise, these magical shadow beasts had only one purpose: to kill the King and Queen of Pentos.
The creatures passed through walls and doors as if they weren't there, evading the guards who patrolled the castle. Their presence warped the air around them, a subtle, chilling disturbance that went unnoticed by most.
But in the castle's backyard, Ancalagon stirred.
The mighty black dragon, now towering at over 25 feet in length, felt the disturbance. The air itself seemed to ripple with dark energy, a sensation that sent a shiver through his powerful body.
He lifted his massive head, his glowing yellow eyes narrowing. And then, with a thunderous roar that shook the castle, he alerted everyone to the danger. He couldn't pinpoint the location of this magical disturbances in the air but he knew something was wrong.
The roar jolted Alex and Daenerys from their sleep. The sound of rushing footsteps and clanging armor echoed through the halls as guards scrambled to their positions.
But the shadow beasts were already there.
The door to the King and Queen's chambers burst open as the creatures lunged forward, their clawed hands reaching for Alex and Daenerys. Their attacks were swift and lethal, aimed directly at their hearts. Alex went for his pistol but there was not much time.
What they didn't expect was the transparent, shimmering barrier that appeared the moment they struck. The shield rebounded their attacks, and the energy of their own dark magic surged back at them.
The beasts shrieked in agony as the rebounded energy consumed them, their forms disintegrating into nothingness.
Two Days Earlier
Alex sat alone in his study, the system interface glowing faintly before him. He had been preparing for days, anticipating that his enemies would resort to more than just conventional means.
"System," he said, scrolling through the list of items. "Show me defensive measures against magic."
A list of options appeared, but one item caught his eye: Magic Protection Ring (Three Uses):Any Magical attacks will be Rebounded to where or whoever they come from with 10 times of its original powers, But it's useless against Physical attacks.
"This will do," he muttered, reading the description. The rings provided a powerful shield against magical attacks but were limited to three uses each.
"10,000 credits per ring…" he hesitated for only a moment before purchasing two. One for himself and the other for Dani.
flashback end.
As the morning light crept into the castle, Alex and Daenerys stood in the yard with Ancalagon. Guards surrounded them, their faces pale with fear and confusion.
"That wasn't a normal attack," Daenerys said, her voice steady despite the shock.
Alex nodded, his expression grim. "Those were shadow beasts. Sent by magic. Most likely the High Priestess of Volantis, who sent them. They follow the lord of light and do this kind of magic. What a fucking Joke."
"They got into the castle…" Leon said, his face pale. "They bypassed every guard."
"They didn't account for one thing," Alex said, holding up his hand to reveal the ring. "If they can do magic, so can i".
Ancalagon rumbled low, his massive head lowering to Alex and Daenerys. The dragon's instincts had saved them all.
"You sensed them," Alex said, stroking the dragon's obsidian scales. "You woke us before they could finish the job."
Ancalagon huffed, smoke curling from his nostrils. "Protect… you," he growled, his deep voice resonating through the yard.
Daenerys smiled, placing her hand on his snout. "You're our guardian, Ancalagon."
As the guards dispersed and the castle returned to a semblance of calm, Alex stood on the balcony, looking out over Pentos.
"They're getting desperate," he said quietly.
Daenerys joined him, her gaze steely. "Let them be desperate. They'll see what happens when they come for us."
Alex smirked. "Oh, they will. Volantis won't be the last to feel our wrath. They'll all learn that this is just the beginning."
In the distance, Ancalagon spread his massive wings and roared. Still reminding people of his presence in Pentos.
The day after
The morning sunlight filtered through the grand windows of the castle's council chamber as Alex sat at the head of the table. Daenerys sat beside him, her calm presence contrasting with the quiet anticipation in the room.
Mannul entered, holding a sealed letter. "Your Majesty," he said with a bow, "a raven from Volantis has arrived. It bears news from Victor."
Alex took the letter and broke the seal, his eyes scanning the contents quickly. A small smile played on his lips as he looked at Daenerys.
"It's done," he said simply.
Daenerys tilted her head. "Volantis is ours?"
Alex nodded. "Victor and his squads executed the plan perfectly. The triarchs are dead, their armies defeated, and the Red Temple has been destroyed. Volantis is under our control. But there were some losses."
"Losses??"
"Doesn't matter, people die in wars".
A collective sigh of relief filled the room, though Alex's expression remained serious.
"This victory sends a message, Now they know, someone who can takeover one of the most ancient free cities, not to be taken lightly." Alex continued.
"Maybe now some free cities will surrender after knowing what happened to volantis." Daenerys said, her voice steady.
"Maybe or maybe not. People can surprise you Dani, from how foolish they can be.....I know someone who tried to kill a dragon with a spear riding on horse".
"Okay, Can I suggest that to other cities we approach them with the offer, if they surrender themselves and follow our rules, under us. Than there's no need for war".
"Sure, we can. We will see how that works out. But don't expect too much".
WESTROS, KING'S LANDING
Meanwhile, in King's Landing, Arya Stark was chasing a stray cat through the Red Keep's labyrinthine corridors. The feline darted through narrow passages and hidden doors, leading Arya deeper into parts of the castle she had never explored before.
"Come back here, you stupid cat!" Arya hissed, squeezing through a gap in the wall.
The cat slipped through a final opening, and Arya found herself in a dark, cavernous space. She looked around, her eyes adjusting to the dim light, and froze.
She was standing inside the massive skull of a dragon. Its jagged teeth loomed above her, and its hollow eye sockets seemed to stare right through her.
Before she could take another step, Arya heard voices.
"Someone's coming," she whispered to herself, quickly ducking inside the skull.
Two figures entered the room. One was unmistakably Varys, his silk robes rustling as he walked. The other was a man you couldn't recognize, dressed in plain clothes that marked him as a messenger.
"Speak," Varys commanded softly, his tone sharp despite its quietness.
The messenger nodded. "My Lord, I bring urgent news from Essos."
"Go on," Varys said, his expression unreadable.
"The free cities have formed an alliance," the man began. "They have declared war on the rulers of Pentos."
Varys nodded, unsurprised. "It was only a matter of time. Their fear for new weapons and 3 growing dragons everyday. And after he dared to claim 3 free cities beside Pentos. I am not surprised that they formed alliance. Hopefully, they can get rid of this Alex soon".
The messenger explained. "But there is something else…"
Varys arched a brow. "Something else?"
The messenger hesitated, then leaned closer. "One of their dragons… It is growing at an unnatural rate. Reports say it is already over 20 feet long, possibly closer to 30."
For the first time, Varys's calm façade cracked, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "A dragon that size… so soon?"
"Yes, my Lord," the messenger confirmed. "It is said to be black as night, with scales like obsidian and 2 large sharp, strong horns on his head. The reports call it Ancalagon."
Varys's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "A dragon of that size and power changes things. If true, it makes their position far more dangerous."
"What should we do, my Lord?" the messenger asked.
"Continue gathering intelligence," Varys instructed. "We must know everything about these dragons and the rulers of Pentos. Their strength, their weaknesses, and their plans."
As the two men left, their footsteps fading into the distance, Arya finally exhaled the breath she had been holding.
"A dragon… Ancalagon…" she whispered to herself. Her mind raced as she recalled the stories Maester Luwin had told her about dragons. This one sounded more terrifying than any she had imagined.
Crawling out from behind the skull, Arya made her way back to her chambers, careful to avoid being seen. She wasn't sure what she would do with this information, but she knew one thing: she couldn't forget it.
As Alex sat in his study that evening, reading reports from Volantis, a nagging feeling tugged at the back of his mind. The victories they had achieved were monumental, but the war ahead would be unlike anything he had faced before.
He glanced at the system interface, wondering if the rewards it offered would be enough to secure their future.