Spellcasting Gods

But before he could retreat to the second floor, an arrow glowing red light pierced the air and fell to the ground with a thud, igniting the oil that was flowing everywhere.

moment!

More than thirty elite soldiers, including the knight, were engulfed by the scorching flames!

Their sturdy armor became the most terrifying noose, and in less than half a minute, their inner clothing was completely burned away. The red-hot steel clung to their skin, making a hissing sound, followed by the smell of burnt meat spreading with the sea breeze.

No matter how much he struggled or rolled around, he couldn't extinguish the flames on his body.

Ultimately, under extreme pain, they gradually curled up into a ball, transforming from living people into charred corpses with their entire bodies blackened. Even when touched by something, these corpses would react violently by twitching or shaking.

Admiring the horrific scene before him, Victalion curled the corners of his mouth slightly and said to a young prisoner beside him, "See? This is what happens when you resist! I'm letting you go back now. Go tell Layton Hightoar that if he knows what's good for him, he should surrender immediately, otherwise I'll burn him layer by layer. At that time, Hightoar will be a thing of the past."

"Hmph! Dream on! The Hightoar family will never submit to a bandit like you! Besides, do you even know how many floors the Tower of Heights has? Do you know how many great secrets are hidden inside? No, you fool, you know absolutely nothing." The young man puffed out his chest, mocking his enemy with unbridled arrogance.

It goes without saying that he had long since disregarded life and death, and from the moment he was captured, he had no hope of surviving.

"Is that so? Then let's see! Can we burn down the towering tower by collecting all the oil in the old town? Oh, I almost forgot, you probably won't get to see that." Enraged, Victarion brought his axe down and chopped off the prisoner's head.

puff!

Crimson blood gushed out, and the young man's head rolled off his neck, falling down the slope into the sea.

Thud, thud, thud...

As blood dripped from the axe blade, the grim-faced Victarion immediately turned around and roared at his men, "Don't stand there like idiots! Attack! Attack! Attack! Kill every single soldier loyal to the Hightoar family! I want to see how long their loyalty can last in the face of death!"

"Kill them!"

"Charge! Charge! Charge!"

Under the terrifying gaze of the fleet commander, the Ironborn took up their weapons and surged into the Tower of Heights, engaging in a bloody battle with the Hightower family guarding the entrance on the third floor.

However, everyone knew very well that in such an extremely narrow environment, the chance of successfully breaching a heavily guarded military fortress was almost zero. So, despite the apparent fierce fighting, the actual casualties were very limited, and they couldn't advance even a single step in half a day.

While the Ironborn were ravaging the old town, Zhang Cheng, after flying for several hours, had quietly returned to Brightwater City and ordered his top vassal, Blanco, to begin assembling an army.

In just one morning, an army of over 8,000 men was formed, with 5,000 being regular troops stationed in Liangshui City and the other 3,000 coming from the surrounding minor nobles.

Upon receiving news of the fall of the old town, they immediately banded together in an attempt to protect themselves. Now, hearing that someone was willing to lead an expedition to quell the rebellion, they immediately defected, hoping to seize the opportunity to gain some political capital...

Chapter 0202 Sending Troops

"Sir, the soldiers have all assembled. May we depart?" Blanco cautiously glanced at the enormous creature so close at hand and asked in a low voice.

Although it wasn't the first time he had seen Kuro Kerba, he still couldn't understand why there were such unimaginable creatures in the world, which were only a few months old and were already almost as big as whales in the ocean.

What's even more terrifying is that dragons don't seem to be as ferocious and brutal as the legends portray them; instead, they possess extremely high intelligence.

Whenever Kuro Kerba's contemptuous and amused gaze swept over him, he would immediately tremble involuntarily all over.

After all, the world of A Song of Ice and Fire is not Azeroth, nor is it the Forgotten Realms. The latter two have a large number of non-human intelligent races, especially the dragons, who are all highly intelligent. This is a world dominated by humanoids, and even the once glorious Children of the Forest are on the verge of extinction. Therefore, people simply cannot accept that there are other life forms capable of independent thought besides themselves.

Zhang Cheng ignored his subordinates' reactions, squinting at his own army lined up neatly outside. After a full minute, he nodded slightly: "Alright! Take three days' worth of food and water and head towards the old town immediately. Remember, be quick; I don't want the enemy to escape."

“Understood! I don’t want to miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a fortune either.” Blanco’s face revealed a wicked smile.

Clearly, he already knew that the purpose of this trip was not to rescue the old town at all, but to uproot the Hightoar family and seize their wealth and territory. In particular, the gold, silver and jewels and goods looted by the Iron People would eventually end up in the pocket of the Earl of Brightwater, and he would also get a share.

“Very good! Keep an eye on those restless fellows for me, and if necessary…” At this point, Zhang Cheng deliberately dragged out the word and raised his arm in a decapitation gesture.

Blanco understood immediately and assured him without hesitation, “Rest assured, if any of those nobles who have come here have even the slightest ulterior motive, I will deal with them and then frame the Ironborn. Also, you should visit your wife before you leave; she seems very worried about your great-grandfather’s safety, after all, Morin Tyrell is the garrison commander of Oldtown.”

"Ignore Elo; she's merely a tool for a political marriage, serving no other purpose. After taking Oldtown, slaughter every member of the Hightoar family, as well as Morin Tyrell and his sons and grandsons. Remember, the Ironborn invasion is a perfect cover; whatever we do, we can pin the blame on them without arousing suspicion." Zhang Cheng coldly issued the massacre order.

"As you wish..." The old mercenary bowed deeply, his eyes revealing a hint of awe and fear.

He could hardly believe it. Just minutes before, the young man in front of him had been intimate with his newlywed wife, but in the blink of an eye, he had changed his attitude and even wanted to kill his wife's family.

Of course, he wouldn't be foolish enough to question why, nor would he be so clever as to show mercy.

For nouveau riche like Blanco, who has climbed up from the bottom of society with great difficulty, nothing is more important than keeping his current title and status. So he will obey any order, no matter how outrageous, without hesitation. The same is true for the new nobles who are mercenaries.

The army, numbering over eight thousand, quickly boarded ships under Blanco's leadership and set off south in a grand procession.

Because Brightwater City and Old Town are very close together and connected by the Mead River, the huge physical exertion of walking is avoided. It takes about three hours to reach the outskirts of Old Town by going straight down the river.

This is why, despite not wanting anyone to steal the limelight from House Tyrell, "Queen of Thorns" Olenna Redwyn did not stop Zhang Cheng from sending troops.

If troops were to be dispatched from Highgarden, they would have to make a long detour through the Shield Islands and Whispering Bay, wasting several times more time than if they were to be dispatched from Brightwater. By the time Highgarden's reinforcements arrived, the entire Hightoar family might already be dead.

Watching the fleet gradually disappear from sight, Zhang Cheng suddenly turned around and asked the shadowy figure hiding in a corner not far away, "Beth, is the plan going smoothly? What's the situation in Old Town right now?"

"Very smoothly, sir. Thanks to this little gadget, I took control of all the pirate leaders with little effort. As for Old Town, it has basically fallen entirely. The Ironborn are robbing, raping, and killing people all over the city. When I left, Victalion was leading his cronies to besiege the Tower of Babel." With that, a young woman stepped out of the shadows, knelt on one knee, and presented the ticking pocket watch with both hands.

"Hehe, well done. I think it won't be long before you can personally cut off Moroya Hightower's head." Zhang Cheng put away the alluring pocket watch, pinched the other's delicate chin, and admired this beautiful face full of exotic charm.

Beth, whose full name is Beth Tarot, is the daughter of a merchant from a free city-state.

Her father was arrested by "Madwoman" Morroia Hightower on charges of smuggling, publicly sentenced to death and had all his property confiscated. Therefore, she hates the Hightower family to the core and has been engaged in illegal activities in the Old Town black market, looking for an opportunity to take revenge.

After a brief investigation and test, Zhang Cheng recruited him into his intelligence organization to carry out secret activities targeting the old town.

It must be said that although hatred can blind a person, it is indeed a powerful inner force that can unleash all potential and achieve astonishing accomplishments.

The entire Seven Kingdoms would probably not believe that the hellish state of Old Town was largely due to the young woman before them.

She was the one who proactively contacted over a dozen pirate groups, and she was also the one who bribed the guards to open the city gates, allowing the Ironborn to storm the city effortlessly. Although the Enchanting Pocket Watch played a crucial role, she was the real culprit.

“Oh—my dear Earl, your promise has thrilled me. I heard that you and your wife spent your wedding night on the back of a dragon. I wonder if I will have the honor of experiencing it myself?” As she spoke, Beth took Zhang Cheng’s hand and slowly moved it down, slipping it inside his collar.

Feeling the softness and delicacy in his palm, Zhang Cheng bent down and whispered a warning close to the other's earlobe: "If I were you, I wouldn't use such a despicable method to protect myself. You know, when a woman starts using her beauty and body as a tool, men will also see her as a tool, whether it's a tool to vent their desires or a tool to achieve their goals. Stop this pointless seduction now, or you'll regret it soon."

Having said that, he withdrew his hand, still faintly warm, without any lingering attachment. His eyes remained clear and indifferent, showing no sign whatsoever of being corrupted by desire.

Beth undoubtedly sensed this, and taking a deep breath to appear calm, she murmured to herself, "You are truly the most rational man I have ever met. Perhaps you don't like women..."

Chapter 0203 The Dragon Above the Old Town (Part 1)

In the old town, on the top floor of the towering tower, an elderly man with gray hair stood at the window, looking down at the chaotic old town.

He was none other than Layton Hightower, who possessed a series of titles and honors, including "Old Man of Oldtown," "Voice of Oldtown," "Lord of the Harbor," "Earl of the Towering Tower," "Guardian of the Citadel," and "Lighthouse of the South."

As the owner of this city, he was filled with anger and murderous intent, wishing he could immediately wipe out all the bandits running rampant in the city.

Ever since he became obsessed with studying the mysteries of magic, he had spent almost every day hiding in the tower making all sorts of attempts, leaving all the trivial matters of managing the territory to his sons. It wasn't until someone burst into his study and loudly told him that the Ironborn had captured Oldtown that he finally woke up and began to reflect on whether his behavior over the years had been wrong.

Of course, compared to the panicked women and servants, Layton Hightower was much calmer, because he knew that the Iron Islands were simply not strong enough to penetrate the upper levels of the Tower of Heights.

The reason is simple: this tallest known man-made structure in the world is not a military fortress built with huge stones in the ordinary sense.

Its structure and shape are very similar to the castle on Dragonstone. It uses a special magical technique to melt dragon crystals and then cast them directly into shape. Its strength even surpasses that of steel. Nothing can destroy it except for the scorching flames breathed by dragons.

According to a scholar's research and conjecture, the Tower of Triumph was likely built by a mysterious creature called the "Deep Divers." They were hybrids born from the union of human women and marine life, the mermaids often mentioned by sailors. They were later completely wiped out by deep-sea creatures, leaving behind only a mysterious tower that cannot be explained.

Layton Hightower didn't know if this unfounded speculation was correct, but he did know one thing: ever since the Hightower family took control of the Tower of the Sky, it had never been captured by any military force.

Perhaps Aegon the Conqueror and his dragons were the only force that could potentially threaten Sky Tower, but at the time, Lord Manfred, the leader of House Hightower, wisely chose to ally rather than confront it, so it cannot be proven whether dragonfire could actually melt the tower.

As for the fire attack that Victalion is currently using, it's not even a tickle to this tower. Once the passage is completely blocked, even if he has an army of 100,000, he won't be able to advance any further.

“Father, you haven’t slept for a day and a night. You should lie down and rest for a while. Don’t worry, Baelor has sent letters to King’s Landing and Highgarden for help. It won’t be long before those bastards pay for what they’ve done,” Moroya Hightower comforted her softly.

Unlike most of her siblings who were either indulging in pleasure or busy vying for power, she always stayed by her father's side, helping him decipher those profound and difficult magical knowledge. She had no intention of getting married and rarely participated in family management, which is why she earned the nickname "madwoman".

“Wait for rescue? When did House Hightower fall to the point of needing others to rescue us? Don’t you understand? If we cannot drive out the Ironborn by our own strength, those potential enemies will think we have declined. Then they will try all sorts of methods to probe us, and then wait for the right moment to attack. Look at the Starks, the Tullys, and the Baratheons, what has become of those once glorious houses? I will not allow my family to decline and perish in my hands.” Layton clenched his fists and roared angrily.

There was no way he couldn't be angry. After all, when he handed over his power to his eldest son, Baelor, the Hightoar family was one of the most prestigious noble families in Westeros, and even Tyrell, the lord of the Reach, had to treat them with respect.

But what about now?

The bloodthirsty Ironborn are now running rampant in the old town, while the Hightower family can only hide in the tower and wait for outside help.

The enormous psychological gap made it impossible for the elderly man to accept the reality before him.

Looking at her father's bloodshot eyes, Morroia sighed helplessly. Just as she was about to say a few more words of comfort, a loud roar suddenly resounded over the city.

At the top of the azure sky, a colossal beast swooped down at incredible speed, spewing a ball of scorching flame at a warship from the Iron Islands docked in the harbor.

The terrifying heat instantly engulfed the ship, swallowing both the sailors inside and the vessel itself, all consumed by the bright flames.

With piercing screams, the warship slowly sank into the sea as it burned fiercely.

The whole process happened so quickly that many people didn't even have time to react.

However, when the sunlight shone on the giant beast's scales, reflecting a dreamlike violet light, Moroya finally snapped out of her shock and murmured to herself, "A dragon...it's a dragon! A living dragon!"

"What on earth is going on?! Could it be that the descendants of House Targaryen have returned to the Seven Kingdoms?" Layton turned around and loudly questioned his youngest son, Gunzor, who was guarding the door.

The latter quickly shook his head with a wry smile: "No, Father, that dragon doesn't belong to the Targaryens, but to a man named Mason Aspen. It is said that he not only knows how to hatch and tame dragons, but also possesses some kind of powerful magical power."

“Asspring? I’ve never heard of such a family before?” Layton frowned subconsciously.

Knowing that his father had been confined to the inner chambers of the tower for too long and was completely unaware of the changes that had taken place in the outside world over the past six months, Gunther lowered his voice and explained, "Aspruin is not a noble or prestigious family; it has only been passed down for three generations."

The founder, Manta, was a mercenary knight who was officially registered and granted a small, barren territory due to his outstanding military achievements. However, he later incurred huge debts due to mismanagement, and by Mason's generation, he was unable to repay them and had to mortgage the territory to pay off his debts.

But for some reason, this previously unknown Mason suddenly seemed like a different person. The first time he appeared in front of everyone, he won the First Tournament with an overwhelming advantage. Later, he even allied with the Lannister family and used terrible hail magic in the Battle of Blackwater to successfully crush Stannis's cavalry charge.

Afterwards, the Florentine family, who participated in the rebellion, were stripped of all their lands and titles and given to him. Moreover, he recently married Elo, thus completing a marriage alliance with the Tyrell family.

I believe that the appearance of his dragon in the old town means that reinforcements from Brightwater City have arrived…

The words had barely left his mouth!

A fully armed army poured in directly from the north gate and began a merciless massacre of the pirates.

The iron-clad people, who were busy looting and raping, never expected any reinforcements. They were stunned and, in their frenzy of looting, had lost all formation and were scattered throughout the streets and alleys. As a result, they were unable to organize an effective resistance. In just over ten minutes, hundreds of people died. The remaining people, not caring about the gold, silver and women they had taken, turned around and retreated towards the port.

Chapter 0204 The Dragon Above the Old Town (Part 2)

"Sir, as you predicted, the enemy did not expect us to arrive so quickly. They almost collapsed at the first touch. Should we clear them out of the city immediately?" Blanco asked in a low voice.

Despite his attempts to conceal his greed, the way his eyes kept drifting toward the spoils betrayed his true thoughts.

You should know that Oldtown is the richest and most prosperous city in Westeros. Countless pirates, mercenaries, and even nobles all yearn to have a good fight here one day.

Right now, the old town is like a drugged and naked girl, showing her most alluring side. If you make a move now, you can not only make a fortune, but also have a perfect scapegoat afterward. So many people in the group are starting to get restless, including the minor nobles who joined temporarily.

After all, they did not directly plunder local merchants and civilians, but obtained spoils of war from the Iron People. According to established custom, even if the owner wanted to take it back, they would have to pay at least 60% of the original price as ransom. The Hightar family could not change this.

Driven by the immense profits at hand, very few people could truly remain calm and rational. If it weren't for the intimidating presence of the giant dragon soaring through the sky, spewing scorching flames, the soldiers would have already swarmed into the streets and alleys to chase after the enemies carrying large amounts of wealth.