"Shocking, isn't it?"
Barristan, standing by the field, shook his head. Looking at Renly, whose blue eyes were wide with shock, he sighed softly:
"To be honest, although it's not the first time I've seen such a scene—even if the last time I was the one on the field personally..."
"I am still quite shocked."
"But... but..."
Renly looked at the field in a daze. That domineering figure astride the white horse simply couldn't be reconciled with the gentle, humble blonde youth from before.
"I know what you want to say."
One was the King's brother, the other was the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard by the King's side; he and Renly were quite familiar with each other.
This young man of the Baratheon Family, just like Robert in his prime, possessed extraordinary charisma and unique social skills.
Compared to his other brother—Stannis Baratheon, the duke of dragonstone and Master of Ships—he was undoubtedly much more personable.
But he lacked a certain mettle.
"Usually, he's as gentle as any ordinary fourteen-year-old boy, but once he steps onto the battlefield, he reveals the sharp claws of a lion, intimidating all beasts into prostrating themselves at his feet."
Looking at Arthas on horseback, whose Aura was even more powerful than before, Barristan shook his head somewhat helplessly:
"Tywin is truly lucky to have sired such a remarkable son."
"The... lion king?"
Renly's gaze was vacant as he murmured to himself.
By the time he snapped out of it, he realized Barristan had already sheathed his longsword and was walking off the field.
His tall back revealed a hint of desolation. With every step, his pace seemed to grow heavier, like an aging tiger gradually growing old.
" Ser Barristan ."
Renly called out loudly in confusion:
"Are you not going to watch this brilliant duel?"
The aging tiger stopped in his tracks, as if no longer able to contend with the great power of time:
"A contest with a predetermined outcome has no meaning to watch."
"A few little Lannister cubs... even these old bones of mine might not be easily chewed by them."
"If I could turn back twenty years, perhaps I could summon the courage once more to draw my sword and challenge this nearly Invincible young man."
"But now..."
The sound of heavy footsteps rang out again. Barristan's figure gradually disappeared from the place where this newly ascended lion king was about to subdue a pride of lions... "Arthas, don't be too arrogant!"
Among the knights clad in the standard armor of the Gold Cloaks, only Davon and Arthas were the most eye-catching.
The deep red Lannister armor formed a sharp contrast with the silver-white Death Knight armor that shimmered with an eerie blue light.
As the leader of the ten knights, although he was enveloped by Arthas's invisible Aura and felt an inexplicable sense of dread in his heart...
Davon, a veteran of many battles, suppressed his unease and let out a challenging roar at the young lion king:
"I, Davon Lannister, will not cower beneath your great fame."
"If you want our loyalty, then defeat us head-on and prove your strength!"
Davon's roar seemed to have an effect. The nine knights who had been immersed in fear immediately rallied, drawing their swords and shouting to the heavens.
Since he is a lion, he has claws!
Ever since the rains of castamere echoed throughout the Seven Kingdoms, the Lannisters have never feared any challenge!
"Very good, quite spirited."
Arthas praised them with satisfaction. For the wealthy Lannisters, the quality of their elite knights had always been very high.
He reached out with his leather-gloved left hand and gently rubbed the white mane of Invincible beneath him. Invincible gave a cheerful snort, as if he too was looking forward to the coming battle.
"Only untamed horses provide pleasure when broken."
With a smile in his eyes, Arthas suddenly yanked the reins. The white horse reared its front hooves high, and with a loud neigh and blood-red light in its eyes, it charged toward the fully armed Lannister knights!
"Believe me, Davon."
Raising frostmourne high while galloping on horseback, its sharp blade pointing forward, Arthas let out a heavy roar:
"I am like a lion before a flock of sheep. I know you do not fear me, and you dare not fear me!"
Facing Arthas, who exuded an Aura like that of ten thousand horses with just one person, Davon and the other knights snapped their visors shut, not daring to be the slightest bit careless.
"Yo-ho~ Lannisters!"
He also raised his longsword high, his steed's hooves constantly pawing at the ground, and shouted:
"Prepare for battle! Don't let anyone look down on us!"
"Hear Me Roar!"
"Hear Me Roar!"
With Davon's roar, the battle formation formed by the ten knights was like a massive beast, charging forward amidst the thundering sound of hooves.
"They're close, they're close!"
Renly, on the sidelines, felt as if every cell in his body was trembling. Born a Baratheon, he had seen battles, and had even participated in them himself.
But a battle with such a disparity in numbers, yet seemingly between equals, left his mind completely blank.
Looking at the figure charging forward, Loras, the Knight of Flowers whom Renly had always loved, seemed utterly insignificant in comparison!
"You must win, Arthas!"
For some reason, Renly couldn't help but pray for him in his heart.
"Rumble~"
With the violent collision of the two sides, Arthas was instantly submerged among the knights. Renly's heart jumped into his throat with tension.
Just as Renly fell into deep worry, the figure on the white horse pierced through the knights' formation like a sharp arrow.
His long golden hair fluttered, like vast sunlight breaking through layers of dark clouds, once again casting warmth upon the world!
"Fantastic!"
Standing by the field, Renly stood up and clapped wildly with all his heart, even letting out a whistle.
The two sides had collided and separated quickly, as if by unspoken agreement, swapping positions on the field.
In the center of the tilting ground, only three fallen Lannister knights remained.
Arthas calmly wheeled his horse around, his eyes looking at the opposition with tranquility, as if the intense clash just now had merely been an appetizer.
"How about it, Davon? Shall we continue?"
Gently soothing the extremely excited Invincible beneath him, Arthas asked with a smile, as if he were out on a spring outing:
During the clash just now, he had relied on superior horsemanship... and a tiny bit of magical enhancement to avoid all the knights' attacks. He had even gone out of his way to avoid attacking Davon while knocking down three other knights.
Looking at the three knights wailing on the ground, Davon's heart grew increasingly heavy.
Too strong!
Their tight offensive formation was like a stroll in a garden to Arthas.
Under such dense hacking and slashing, he had even held back, using only the flat of his blade to knock the three knights off their horses!
"Continue, Lannisters!"
Taking a light breath, Davon once again gave the order to attack.
Although they charged again under Davon's leadership without hesitation, there were no loud roars this time. The remaining seven knights were silent, as if marching toward death.
"Excellent!"
Seeing them charge at him without fear, Arthas was even more satisfied with the quality of the Lannister knights.
Only such an excellent army was worthy of being led by him!
Squeezing the horse's flanks hard, the prince of lordaeron seemed to have found the feeling of fighting bloodily on the battlefield again.
The two sides collided and separated quickly once more, as if the previous scene had repeated itself.
But this time, only two men remained behind Davon.
Turning his horse, Davon looked at Arthas, who was still relaxed and at ease, his armor pristine without a single sword mark. Only utter, unshakeable despair remained in Davon's mind.
"Shall we continue?"
Same question, same flat tone. Davon gripped his longsword tightly, raised his head proudly, and gave the same answer:
"Continue, Lannisters!"
Another silent charge. Only the sound of hooves trampling the earth rang out in the field. Arthas couldn't help but feel a hint of admiration and nostalgia for this unit.
When he had joined the Order of the Silver Hand, he had been just as fearless.
The familiar scene played out again. Once the dust settled, only Davon was left this time.
"Shall we continue?"
Putting away his playful attitude, Arthas questioned Davon with the utmost solemnity:
"Davon Lannister."
"This time, I will no longer use the flat of my blade."
"The result of defeat is death!"
As the cold and solemn voice rang out, Davon felt a chill wash over him, freezing both his Soul and his flesh.
"Just surrender..."
Even Renly on the sidelines could hardly bear to watch this near-suicidal charge. He had thought that even if Arthas won, it would be a pyrrhic victory, but he never expected the side with the absolute numerical advantage to be pushed to such a state!
Only an emotional fellow like Renly would worry about the lives of Lannister knights.
If Stannis were here, he would only be more wary of a knightly order possessing such a fearless spirit.
Davon's body swayed on his horse. He licked his pale lips, glanced at the golden lion still shining on his breastplate, and roared with almost all the strength in his body:
"Continue, Lannisters!"
Under Renly's incredulous gaze, this lone remaining Lannister knight charged toward death once more!
Arthas bowed his head silently, as if mourning for this fearless warrior. Invincible's heavy hooves met the opponent's charge.
In the moment they crossed, frostmourne's sharp blade pierced straight through Davon's chest, lifting him high off his horse.
At this moment, suspended in mid-air, Davon clearly saw Arthas's pure white eyes. It was an impartial gaze, devoid of any emotion.
Like a deity in charge of death, looking upon everyone equally.
Davon closed his eyes, feeling his strength drain away rapidly. His heart was exceptionally peaceful at this moment, quietly waiting for death to arrive.
Holding his sword with one hand, Arthas paraded Davon's body around the field in a victor's pose before slowly coming to a stop in front of Lancel, who had not participated in the battle.
"Take him to the Maester quickly."
Under Lancel's incredulous gaze, Arthas placed the seemingly dead Davon on the ground:
"Although I avoided all his vital organs, if you delay, he might still die from blood loss."
With that, his horse's hooves leapt high, and Arthas's figure, like a sovereign over all, galloped toward the exit.
"Oh, right."
Just as he was about to step out of the gates of the tilting ground, the white horse's pace was once again checked by its master.
Lancel looked toward the light, seeing the piercing sunlight spill over the silver-white armor; those golden locks were so dazzling:
"When he wakes up, bring him to me."
"Your lion king is still waiting to receive your fealty!"
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