The headless body twitched a few times in the snow, then stopped moving.
Warm blood gushed from the severed neck, staining the surrounding white snow a shocking, vivid red.
A deathly silence filled the courtyard.
Only the head, rolled on the ground, silently recounted everything that had just happened.
All the Night's Watch held their breath.
They looked at the figure standing with a sword, their eyes filled with complex emotions that words could not describe.
Alliser Thorne.
The drillmaster who lorded over Castle Black, the harsh knight whom countless new recruits hated to their core.
He... died just like that.
Died at the hands of the person he despised the most.
And, he died clearly and deservedly.
Lynn slowly sheathed his sword.
Not a drop of blood stained the blade of longclaw.
valyrian steel seemed to inherently detest filth.
He glanced at the unseeing head on the ground, his face devoid of any expression.
[Killed Alliser Thorne, Experience +10]
Damn it, only 10 experience points?
This bastard, even after death, he's still so stingy.
Lynn cursed inwardly.
But he knew.
The significance of killing Thorne wasn't in that pitiful amount of experience.
It was in using this most direct, most Northern way to declare his authority to everyone.
From today onwards, there would be no more dissenting voices against him in Castle Black.
"Clean this up."
Lynn's voice broke the suffocating silence.
Two Night's Watchmen immediately stepped forward, quickly dragging away Thorne's body and head.
Soon, a steward used snow to cover the bloodstains on the ground.
As if nothing had happened.
But everyone knew that everything had changed.
Jeor Mormont walked over to Lynn's side.
He looked at Lynn, a relieved smile appearing on his old face.
"Well done, Lynn."
He patted Lynn's shoulder, a heavy force behind it.
"You are more suited to be a leader than I imagined."
Lynn bowed slightly:
"You gave me this opportunity, Lord Commander."
"No."
Mormont shook his head.
"You seized this opportunity yourself."
He looked at longclaw, with its wolf-head carving, at Lynn's waist, his gaze becoming somewhat distant.
"I'm old."
"The Night's Watch needs a new leader."
"A younger leader."
Mormont's gaze returned to Lynn.
His eyes were full of trust and expectation.
"Lynn, I hope you can be that person."
Lynn's heart skipped a beat.
He knew what Mormont's words meant.
This was practically naming him as the successor for the next Lord Commander!
"Lord, I..."
"You don't have to answer me now."
Mormont waved his hand.
"You still have a long way to go."
"First, go to King's Landing and complete your expedition."
"This old man can still hold on."
"Go help Ned Stark stabilize the situation in the South."
"Then go find allies who can fight against the Others together!"
Lynn took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.
Unite all forces that can be united, he understood.
"Yes, Lord Commander."
...Thorne's death quickly spread to every corner of Castle Black.
Those Night's Watchmen who used to follow Thorne and cheer him on all became cowards.
They stayed in their barracks all day, not even daring to step out.
As for the new recruits around Jon Snow, Gelan and Pypar.
After witnessing all of this, their attitude towards Lynn was fervent.
They sweated profusely on the training ground, working harder than ever before.
Lynn used the most direct method to make them understand that in this place, only absolute strength could earn respect.
And Lynn was the best example.
Jon watched all of this, his heart a mix of emotions.
He had personally witnessed Lynn, in just a few months, go from a prisoner burdened with the stigma of a "deserter" to his current position, step by step.
With his wisdom and strength, he had earned everyone's respect and even controlled the power of the entire Castle Black!
And what about himself?
He was still "Lord Snow," who needed guidance and protection.
This huge gap made Jon feel a sense of powerlessness, but it also ignited a stronger fighting spirit in his heart.
He wanted to become stronger too!
He wanted to become a strong person like Lynn, capable of standing on his own and protecting those he wanted to protect!
That night.
In Lynn's room, the fireplace was burning brightly.
He carefully placed the ice-blue dragon egg in the warmest spot in front of the fireplace.
He could clearly feel that the vitality inside the dragon egg was growing stronger and stronger, and its heartbeat became more steady and powerful.
It was greedily absorbing the heat from the flames, growing vigorously.
Lynn sat cross-legged on the bed and opened his attribute panel.
Name: Lynn
Strength: 6 (99%)
Agility: 5 (53%)
Constitution: 5 (25%)
[Single Handed Sword (Expert) 0/1000]
[Light Sword (Mastery) 160/500]
[Riding (Proficient) 1/100]
[Unarmed Combat (Mastery) 0/500]
[Archery (Proficient) 0/100]
[Herbalism (Proficient) 0/100]
[Ice Magic (Beginner) 1/10]
Remaining Experience: 301
Toren's squad had gone out again to clear several waves of wildlings.
Coupled with the experience gained from slaying Others, wights, and Thorne, plus the previous remaining 64 experience points, the current experience had reached 301 points.
Moreover, through continuous training in his leisure time over the past few days, Lynn's Strength attribute was also about to break through to 7 points, and Agility and Constitution had also improved accordingly.
Once Strength reached 7 points, it would be a good time to return to Winterfell to visit Bran.
He could also ask Ser Rodrik for advice on the techniques of using a two-handed greatsword, adding another means of combat.
However, the biggest gain at the moment was the brand new [Ice Magic] skill on the panel!
Thinking of this, Lynn's heart burned with excitement.
This was magic!
Mastering magic meant mastering extraordinary power!
Although it was only at the beginner level now, as long as there were enough experience points, it was only a matter of time before it reached the top level.
"System, add all experience points to Ice Magic."
[Experience -301]
[Ice Magic (Mastery) 192/500]
A cold and pure energy instantly surged into Lynn's limbs and bones.
His perception and control over ice elements instantly increased by several levels.
He could even clearly feel that the free-floating moisture in the air was slightly condensing according to his will.
Lynn stretched out his palm.
With a thought.
A rose made of ice crystals quietly bloomed in his palm.
The petals were crystal clear, reflecting a dreamlike brilliance under the firelight.
This was just the most basic shaping, easily mastered with practice.
Lynn's eyes narrowed, and the rose in his palm instantly transformed into three slender ice needles, suspended at his fingertips.
"Go!"
The ice needles broke through the air, silently embedding themselves into the wooden wall opposite.
With three muffled thuds, only three almost invisible tiny holes were left, surrounded by a thin layer of white frost.
The power was good, perfect for ambushing people.
Lynn had a new idea; he mobilized the cold power within his body and gathered it in his left arm.
"Crack..."
A layer of ice crystals, as thin as a cicada's wing, quickly emerged from beneath his skin, covering his entire arm, shimmering with a diamond-like luster under the firelight.
He clenched his right hand into a fist and forcefully slammed it onto his left arm.
"Bang!"
A dull thud.
His arm was as hard as steel, and his fist, instead, was shaken with pain.
Such strong defense!
If this could cover his whole body, wouldn't it be a mobile ice crystal armor?
The more Lynn thought about it, the more excited he became.
An even bolder idea emerged.
The Night King could turn people into wights; now that he had mastered Ice Magic, could he do the same?
He used the excuse of studying wights to get Thorne's body from Mormont.
At this moment, Thorne's headless body lay in the corner of the room.
Lynn walked to the body, took a deep breath, and placed his hand on its cold chest.
He slowly injected the power of Ice Magic.
Thorne stiffly crawled up from the ground.
Then... he stood still, motionless, like an obedient puppet.
Lynn tried to give a few simple commands.
Despite losing his head.
He could walk, turn, and punch meticulously.
It worked!
Lynn rejoiced, but then frowned.
This wight seemed foolish; its combat effectiveness was probably worrying.
More importantly... could it really grant experience?
Lynn drew longclaw and, without hesitation, swung his sword down.
Thorne was unresponsive to the attack; as his body crashed down, Lynn looked at the system panel.
The experience points had not changed at all.
"It seems wights are considered allies, and killing them does not grant experience."
Lynn couldn't help but curse under his breath.
This path was a dead end.
The system wouldn't let him exploit a bug.
However, using these untraceable "servants" to do some shady things was a good option.
After casting several spells consecutively, a deep sense of fatigue washed over Lynn.
It felt like he had pulled several all-nighters.
It seemed that while magic was powerful, it also consumed a lot of energy.
For now, it could only be used as a trump card.
Lynn stood up and opened the window.
The cold night wind blew in, making him feel much more awake.
He looked at The Wall in the distance, like a silver giant dragon under the moonlight, and then at the dragon egg in front of the fireplace, emitting a faint warmth.
He possessed the most extreme and most powerful forces in this world.
Who else in this world could stop him?
An unprecedented flame burned in Lynn's eyes.
Lord Commander of the Night's Watch?
King of the North?
No.
What he wanted was that supreme Iron Throne, forged from a thousand swords!
He wanted to become the sole ruler of this continent!
"Lord."
Toren's voice came from outside the door, interrupting Lynn's thoughts.
"The gear is ready."
"We can head south anytime."
Lynn withdrew his gaze, casually crushing the ice crystal rose, which turned into specks of ice and dissipated into the air.
"Good."
"Toren, help me issue a notice: during the days I am away from The Wall, ask the Night's Watch brothers to collect blessed items for me."
"I only need one of each kind; the rest are for them to improve their strength."
Soon after Toren left, Maester Aemon, who was blind, gently knocked on Lynn's door.
Lynn opened the door and helped Aemon inside.
He didn't have other Night's Watchmen assisting him, clearly having come alone.
"Lynn..."
"I've come for that dragon egg."
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