"You... what do you want to cooperate on?"
The bald eunuch, Varys, asked with a hint of fear. He had genuinely been frightened when Marco had suspected him of stealing the Dragon Egg. He was worried that Marco, in a fit of displeasure, would use the crystal around his neck to strangle him.
"All this gold, silver, and jewelry is yours. I only want the books. You must find a way to move all of them. I don't want to waste time moving books here."
Marco looked at Varys with amusement. He had initially considered using magic to intimidate him. However, after thinking it over, he decided that a combination of threats and incentives would be better. If this fellow were to tamper with the books later, Marco's efforts would be in vain.
"Alright... alright! I agree. So, should they be moved to where you are staying?"
Varys stammered his agreement, seemingly unable to believe it. He had thought Marco would threaten him with magic!
But now that things had turned out this way, Varys was happy to comply with Marco's request. It was a win-win situation. Varys wasn't a fool; the Golden Dragon could help him achieve many things. Why wouldn't he accept?
After that, Marco had Varys lead him to the Dungeon. It housed the skulls of the dragons that had died throughout the Targaryen family's history. These skulls had originally been in the Iron Throne hall, but after Robert Baratheon came to power, he had ordered them removed.
From the "Founding Dragons" to the "Last Dragon," the rise and fall of House Targaryen could be seen in these dragon skulls. Now, they could only lie here quietly, devoid of their former glory.
The descendants of the last Targaryen, like the deformed dragon, had lost the ability to soar through the sky, forced to eke out an existence, awaiting an unknown fate.
"Varys! Do you know? These dragons are priceless treasures. They could have been the cornerstone of a magical renaissance, but they were almost wiped out by a ridiculous civil war!"
Marco looked at the giant dragon skulls and said to Varys beside him.
"My Lord Marco! Those are all in the past. The dragons are extinct, and House Targaryen has lost its ultimate weapon. They've also lost control of the Iron Throne."
Varys also looked at the dragon skulls with a forlorn expression. His mother was a woman from House Blackfyre, married to a powerful figure in Lys. But the man died in a political struggle, and Varys, his mother, and his sister were sold into the slave market in Lys, beginning his miserable life.
Although Varys didn't remember much from that time, he unconsciously considered himself a part of the Targaryen dynasty after he learned his identity.
Although he came to King's Landing with ulterior motives initially, his sense of belonging to the Seven Kingdoms grew stronger with time.
Varys once thought Prince Rhaegar would be a great king, but he ruined his own dynasty because of some vague prophecies.
Later, Varys also thought that Robert Baratheon would become a great king, but a life of luxury eroded his valor and martial spirit, leading him to become self-destructive and just like a "mediocre king."
Recalling these past events, Varys unknowingly fell into a reverie, standing still in place.
Marco didn't pay him any mind, instead activating his perception, trying to gain something from these dragon skulls. Sure enough, in his vision, a wisp of fiery red energy appeared on the dragon skulls, while the energy on the Founding Dragons' skulls was already dwindling.
What surprised Marco the most was the Deformed Dragon, as big as a Tibetan Mastiff. Its half-grown body was radiating endless pain and resentment. It should have been soaring through the sky, spreading its wings, but it had died here in humiliation. This endless resentment surged under the stimulation of Marco's magic, with a tendency to manifest.
So, out of curiosity, Marco directly used a "Summoning Spell" on this Deformed Dragon. Then, the giant dragon seemed to be stimulated, its body quickly absorbing the energy from the surrounding dragon skulls, like a sponge.
The soul of this dragon also began to grow slowly. The dragon's soul, sensing its own changes, roared with excitement, and then a faint Dragon Roar suddenly echoed in this space, startling Varys, who was still lost in thought. He shifted his feet slightly, unconsciously moving closer to Marco.
"Come on! Let me see your resentment!"
Marco watched the dragon's soul take shape, and he shouted in excitement. He seemed to sense its desire to soar through the heavens, so he decided to add fuel to the fire of that will.
He poured all his perception into the dragon's soul, linking with it and adding a trace of blood-red battle cry magic energy. The dragon soul's absorption rate accelerated, and the dragon roar grew louder and louder.
Meanwhile, outside the Red Keep, a mass of black clouds began to gather in the sky. The wind picked up, and the air became stifling. The black clouds continued to compress and gather, seemingly accumulating some terrifying energy.
"Roar..."
With each dragon roar, the dragon soul gradually formed a body above the Red Keep. Its excited roar carried far, but it was soon drowned out by a more violent thunderclap.
Immediately after, a terrible thunderstorm appeared above King's Landing. Raindrops the size of beans hammered down from the sky, instantly shrouding the city in a mist.
People ran into their homes, hoping to escape the sudden downpour. But many failed to notice that a giant dragon, like transparent glass, had appeared in the sky.
Faint traces of blood-red energy flickered within its body, appearing like veins. At this moment, the dragon seemed to sense something and suddenly transmitted a message to Marco.
It indicated that it wanted to go to the Dragonpit. Marco, using the "Far Sight Spell," saw the gathering storm clouds in the sky. Just as he was about to warn the dragon soul, "BOOM!" A bright yellow lightning bolt struck it.
"Roar…"
A painful roar echoed from the dragon soul. More thunder followed, cascading from the clouds with unstoppable force. Their target was the dragon soul. Marco immediately ordered it to fly towards the Dragonpit. Despite its best efforts to dodge, several bolts still struck it.
Each time lightning hit the dragon soul, its body shrunk slightly. Fortunately, it managed to fly into the Dragonpit just in time. A large mass of black energy rose within the Dragonpit, staunchly blocking the descending thunder.
The Dragonpit was located atop Rhaenys's Hill. It was a massive, nest-like structure where the Targaryen family once kept their dragons. They had poured a vast amount of manpower and resources into it. The Dragonpit's bronze doors were wide enough for thirty knights to ride in abreast.
However, its massive dome had collapsed from the inside. During the "Great Spring Sickness," it was used to burn bodies, and a terrible wildfire had completely destroyed it. After that, the bronze doors had been closed for over a century.
Filled with death and ill omen, black energy continuously surged out of the Dragonpit. It took the forms of humans, monsters, and even dragons, all twisted and terrifying. This black energy desperately fought against the lightning's assault.
With no other target, the lightning turned its attention to Marco, the controller of the dragon soul. The massive electrical energy directly struck Marco's consciousness as he was gazing from afar.
That terrifying power was fast and strong, giving Marco no time to react. Then, a wave of pain washed over him, and in that lightning, he saw seven tall, shadowy figures.
"The Seven? Aren't they supposed to be false gods, without any divine signs? How can they be so strong?"
Marco muttered to himself, and a sharp pain spread throughout his body. Before Marco could react, the pain grew more intense, eventually blurring his consciousness.
"Guilty! Guilty... Death... Atonement... Body... Strong..."
Broken voices echoed in Marco's mind, some male, some female, some old, some young. They didn't seem to have individual consciousness, yet they seemed like a whole.
This power, following the link of Marco's consciousness, burrowed into his mental world. Then, a rainbow-colored figure with a constantly changing form appeared in Marco's mind.
Seven-colored light spread outward from its feet, slowly consuming Marco's mental world. Marco, being unconscious, couldn't directly enter his mental world.
"Roar!"
A fierce and violent Dragon Roar echoed in Marco's mind. Then, a bizarre dragon appeared in his mental space. Flames burned on its blood-soaked wings, and its once-golden scales had turned dark red, with streaks of gold shimmering across them.
"Guilty... Heretic... Kill..."
Various voices emanated from the rainbow-colored figure, which then transformed into a giant warrior. The warrior was clad in golden armor, wielding a greatsword and a shield emblazoned with a large seven-pointed star.
The warrior raised his greatsword and shield, attacking the blood-red dragon. However, before he could reach the dragon, a beam of blood-red light engulfed him.
"Aaaah..."
All sorts of shrill cries burst from the warrior's mouth. Then, his form shifted, becoming a young maiden crowned with flowers. Green vines swayed around her, flying toward the blood-red dragon like spirit snakes.
The dragon shot out a beam of blood-red light, burning away the attacking vines. But a few vines still managed to latch onto the dragon's body, sinking deep into its flesh.
Eerie green energy began to corrode the blood-red dragon's body, causing it to roar in fury. Then, flames erupted on its body, as it charged toward the maiden.
After pouncing on the girl, the crimson dragon, enduring the excruciating pain, bit down on her neck. Then, the colorful energy within the girl began to surge, ultimately exploding and blasting a hole in Marco's consciousness.
This energy seized the opportunity, rushing towards the opening and quickly escaping into the sky. The dark clouds in the sky instantly dispersed, leaving behind only a brilliant rainbow.
At the same time, in the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing, the High Septon, leading 77 monks and nuns in silent prayer before the statues of the Seven, suddenly felt something. He then looked up at the statues and saw a terrifying scene.
Two wounds, each as large as a fist, had appeared on the necks of the seven statues. A golden substance, resembling blood, was flowing out of them.
"Ah..."
A piercing scream instantly echoed throughout the hall, throwing the Great Sept of Baelor into chaos. Cries, screams, and curses filled the hall.
Varys looked at Marco with a look of terror. At this moment, Marco was radiating a colorful light, with streaks of golden light intermittently flashing within the crimson glow.
Ding! Unknown energy detected! Analyzing...
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a powerful Soul Core!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Godly Power Crystal!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a broken Divine Body!"
A series of system notifications jolted Marco awake from his daze. He immediately checked his body and consciousness space. Finding everything in order, he slowly exhaled a breath of relief.
He was more concerned about the state of the giant dragon's soul. He quickly called for Varys to take him to the attic of the Tower of the Hand.
"My Lord Marco! How are you planning to leave? Perhaps I could escort you out..."
Before Varys could finish speaking, he stared in disbelief as Marco jumped out of the attic window. Startled, Varys hurried to the window and witnessed a truly shocking sight.
Marco was now riding on the back of a monster. The creature wore an iron mask with an eagle's head, its body resembling a lion's, but with a pair of enormous wings sprouting from its back.
"Remember our deal. I'll be waiting for you at the inn. I'm not a patient man, so don't keep me waiting!"
Marco said, then urged his griffin, Swan, towards the Dragonpit. The sky was gradually clearing, though the sudden shift in light made it appear even brighter.
Varys watched the griffin and its rider in the sky, his expression complicated. To be honest, he didn't want to make an enemy of such a mysterious individual. However, based on appearances, this person seemed to have ties to the Targaryen family.
"Oh well! We'll take it one step at a time. At least he's not my enemy for now. What does the future hold for the dynasty? Sigh..."
Varys muttered to himself, then straightened his collar and tidied up a bit before entering the secret passage.
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