Game of Thrones: The Black Dragon King

In the realm of partnerships, a zero-sum game is not the way to go. A balanced and reasonable distribution of risk and return is essential to ensure the long-term stability of the partnership. Of course, an even more ideal scenario is one where the gains and losses are reversed without a falling out. Therefore, it's time for the wandering prince to bear some of the risk. On the Sea Serpent, the Valerian officers watched the beached flatboat go.

At the start of the war, Daemon gathered a group of followers in King's Landing. These men were a diverse group, including young noble sons eager for war, former Gold Robe followers of his old commander, mercenaries struggling to make a living from the streets, and even some fallen knights who had been stripped of their titles and were trying to use the war to rebuild their lives. They lacked the rigorous training of a regular army, and their equipment was inconsistent, with many carrying old weapons they had brought from home.

Damon, however, saw this group as the perfect tool to realize his ambitions. He valued their "fearlessness"—or rather, their recklessness—believing they were best suited to be the vanguard charging into enemy lines, tearing through the Three Marks Alliance pirates' defenses with their flesh and blood. At this moment, this hastily assembled force was crammed into a flat-bottomed ship flying the Valerian flag, tossing and turning with the waves. Every face was etched with a mixture of tension and excitement, completely unaware of the hellish battle that awaited them.

Just then, a rapid alarm bell rang from a distant sentry ship, and the lookout's shout pierced the tense atmosphere on deck: "Southeast! The Three Bitch Kingdom's galleys are approaching at full speed!"

The officers rushed to the ship's side, raised their monoculars, and looked out, only to see a dense array of sails floating on the sea.

"F**k! This couldn't be any worse than this!" Corliss cursed, the flat-bottomed boat that had just hit the beach was too late to adjust.

The captain strode towards the helm and asked in a deep voice, "Sir, shall we raise the battle flag?"

"No, turn, cut through the wind! Retreat to the open sea!" Corliss turned and scanned the officers and Valerian relatives: "You too, return to your ships!"

The captain faithfully carried out the order, and signal flags were raised on the Sea Serpent, causing the massive convoy to quickly turn in response.

The clanging of metal against metal suddenly echoed on the deck as sailors swiftly climbed the rope ladders up the masts. Colorful flags fluttered in the wind, and the once calm sea was instantly shrouded in the shadow of war.

"But then the transport ships will lose their cover and be slaughtered at will by the pirates of the Three Bitch Kingdom, Father."

"I know!" The Sea Serpent's voice carried an undeniable authority. His sharp gaze swept across the chaotic deck, finally settling on the flat-bottomed ships struggling to break ground in the distance. "The enemy is upwind. At full speed, their warships' rams could even break our ships in half, while we, facing the wind, can't even pierce their planks. We can't allow the entire fleet to be put on the defensive. We must seize the wind first."

"But that's over four thousand soldiers, are we just going to give up like that?"

"This is naval warfare, Lannino. On the high seas, ships are more important than men." Corliss was heartbroken, but he still said firmly, "And you should take to the skies on your dragon."

"Yes, Father! My sea smoke will make them taste the dragon's flames!"

"No! Contact Damon and Reid, tell them to burn the ships!" The Sea Serpent's expression was grave. Even with his extensive naval experience, being at a disadvantage was still the last thing he wanted to face. The sea breeze, carrying the salty smell, poured into the cabin, ruffling the silver hair on his forehead. "As long as we can leave the Three Bitch Kingdom's fleet behind, even if all those transport ships and soldiers are lost, we'll still win!"

The Valerian warships began to retreat to the open sea. Limited by the level of technology, the naval warfare tactics at this time were still in the primitive stage of relying on wind power and the impact force of the ship. However, the Sea Serpent's decision was calm and ruthless, but it accurately grasped the core contradiction of the battlefield - the initiative of wind direction and formation.

Reed gripped the reins on the dragon saddle tightly. The dragon beneath him let out a deep roar, and thick smoke billowed from the pirate camp beneath its claws. Most of the catapults and scorpion crossbows that were originally used to suppress the landing forces had now been destroyed by the dragon's flames.

The Three Cities Alliance fleet in the distance split into two groups. The main force pursued the Valerian fleet, constantly changing direction, while the other fleet, consisting of more than twenty small warships, headed straight for the transport ship. Reid had to admit that one should not underestimate anyone's wisdom. Despite the blessing of the sky's overlord, the dragon, and their superior forces and fleet, they still couldn't win the decisive battle everyone craved. These cunning opponents always managed to find a way to provoke them.

For example, in the current situation: if the Dragon Riders attack the enemy fleet, the landing force will suffer heavy losses, and the allied forces will lose their ability to continue fighting; if they continue to protect the landing force, the enemy fleet will have the upper hand and engage in a decisive naval battle with the Valerian navy. Even if the Sea Serpents' experience can ensure that the naval battle is not too disastrous, the landing force's subsequent supply of materials and troop transport will face great obstacles for at least half a month, leaving them an isolated force trapped on the beach. This is a trap set by the enemy using terrain and wind direction, forcing them to make a difficult choice between protecting the landing force and attacking the enemy fleet. Regardless of which side they choose, the enemy can achieve a favorable exchange ratio, inflicting a painful price on the allied forces.

"Is the sea serpent trying to escape?" Damon's shout was accompanied by the wind noise brought by the dragon wings high in the sky.

"You have to trust that he's a professional," Reed shouted back.

"Prince Damon! Lord Reed! The fleet needs your cover!" Sea Smoke flapped its wings rapidly, carrying Lannino to the height at which Reed was circling.

Kolachuh growled unfriendly, but Damon did not restrain him. This caused the little dragon Haiyan, which had just entered its sub-adult stage, to unconsciously move closer to Night Fury. It instinctively trusted the big guy who had fed it before.

"Do I need his cover?" Damon snapped.

"Lannino, do you see the small warships down there?"

"I saw it."

"That's your first battle. Remember to attack from the stern, where there are no giant crossbows. Good luck, lad. Your uncle and I will cover you from both flanks!" Reed encouraged.

"And my father?"

"Those soldiers on the shore belong to your family. Send the transport ship ashore first, and that will allow these unlucky bastards to hold out a little longer."

Before Lannino could argue, Corakhue had already received the order. His massive dragon wings drew a swift arc in the air as he swooped down towards the enemy squadron that was heading towards the transport ship.

Night Fury followed closely behind, Reid's gaze sharp as an eagle's, fixed on the small warships chasing the troop transports below. Lannino took a deep breath, patted Sea Smoke's neck, and the young dragon seemed to sense its rider's determination, letting out a clear dragon roar, clumsily but firmly adjusting its posture, aiming at the stern of a lone enemy ship in the distance.

On the sea, the soldiers in the flat-bottomed boats saw the giant dragon circling in the sky. Their morale, which had sunk to the bottom due to the fleet's withdrawal, was instantly ignited. They waved their weapons and shouted in a mix of fear and fervor, as if those sky-covering dragon wings were their only salvation.

Meanwhile, the pirates of the Three Cities Alliance ran frantically on the deck. Some futilely fired crossbows and small scorpion crossbows into the air, while others simply abandoned ship and jumped into the sea before the dragon flames descended. Still others clung tightly to the ship's railing, gazing up at the shadows of death descending from the clouds, their faces filled with despair.

Although the three dragon riders were preoccupied with the more dangerous battle, it did not affect their overwhelming aerial slaughter. The three dragons swooped and circled wildly, spewing out raging flames. Ships were engulfed in flames one after another. Broken masts crackled in the thick smoke, and the sails were burned into charred fragments by the flames, like black butterflies circling on the scorching sea.

Seeing that the transport fleet had already rushed into the mudflats, the three of them unanimously abandoned the pursuit of the few surviving pirate ships and instead controlled their dragon companions to begin ascending, flying towards the direction in which the main Valerian fleet was retreating.

Fewer than 1,500 men had safely reached the beach. Together with the exhausted Valerian remnants, they watched the dragon gradually disappear into the distance, all falling into silence. Their throats felt as if they were blocked by scalding ash, and they could only let the salty sea wind, carrying the smell of gunpowder, fill their lungs.

The fervor and courage ignited by the sheer horror of the dragon's flames burning the ship were slowly fading as the dragon took flight. They were left stranded on this muddy beach, the burning wreckage behind them, an unknown battlefield ahead, and the damp chill of the receding sea still clinging to the ground. Each face bore the dazed look of someone who had survived a catastrophe, and a heavy, uneasy premonition.

At the cave entrance in the cliff face, Krajas's face showed a bitter look of disappointment. That cunning and shrewd sea serpent had still made the most advantageous choice. The Alliance had risked most of its maritime assets, only to exchange them for four or five thousand cannon fodder fighter jets.

"The dragon has flown far away, no need to hide anymore." Krajas patted his sand-covered armor, turned to look at the people emerging from behind the reefs and crevices in the rock walls: "Have the catapults and scorpions destroy the transport ships with all their might, send all the troops out, and use those hundred Dorn cavalry too. I want to drive all these scum who have come ashore back into the sea!"

"Remember, we have at most one day. A swift victory is crucial! Anyone who backs down will be tied to a stake and fed to crabs before the tide comes in!"

With Krajas's order, Bloodstone Island was like a hornet's nest that had been poked open. All sorts of mercenaries, sailors, and pirates emerged from every hidden crevice and pounced on the Allied soldiers abandoned on the beach.

The heavy catapult stones roared as they crashed into the transport ships on the sea. Arrows from the scorpion crossbows rained down, scattering wood chips and water droplets with each impact. Screams and the clash of weapons mingled together, echoing along the shore.