Chapter 62: Hunting the Cannibal
Syrax flapped her wings vigorously, quickly pulling away from the dragonflame behind her. Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen clung tightly to the saddle, knowing her own capabilities and those of Syrax. Although she had loved flying in her youth and once yearned to become a warrior like Visenya Targaryen, time changed everything, and the sky was no longer her battlefield.
An ugly, charcoal-black dragon emerged from behind Dragonmont, its emerald eyes flickering with fury. Just moments ago, Syrax had unceremoniously destroyed its nest with a blast of dragonflame—provocation enough to enrage even the most cautious and cunning beast.
Then the Cannibal saw the three dragons in the sky.
Its head, covered in jagged spines and horned scales, paused for a moment before it immediately turned and beat its vast, tattered wings.
It was going to flee.
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen pulled hard on the reins, letting out a fierce cry. Meleys, the Red Queen, roared in response and surged forward, her crimson wings cutting through the air as she charged toward the fleeing Cannibal. In mere breaths, she overtook Caraxes and Silverwing.
"Meleys, attack," Rhaenys commanded in High Valyrian.
The Red Queen roared as she closed the distance. Within moments, she had reached the Cannibal's rear flank, moving with terrifying speed.
The Cannibal hissed, beating its wings frantically, attempting to shake her off. But it quickly realized—this red dragon was far faster than it.
"ROAR!"
Realizing escape was impossible, the Cannibal suddenly dove toward Dragonmont, Meleys pursuing closely. She folded her wings and plunged after it. But just as it seemed cornered, the Cannibal abruptly spread its wings, halted mid-air, and shot upward.
Rhaenys reacted instantly, hauling back on the saddle. Meleys began to climb—
Too late.
From above, the Cannibal had already repositioned.
From that angle, Rhaenys was fully exposed.
A pale green glow ignited deep in the beast's throat.
"Caraxes! Silverwing! Dracarys!"
Two commands rang out in High Valyrian.
Twin torrents of dragonflame slammed into the Cannibal's chest and belly. The wild dragon folded its wings to shield itself as fire engulfed its body. Yet when it burst forth from the flames, largely unharmed, it became clear—
Dragonfire alone would not bring it down.
Meleys roared in fury and surged forward again.
Now Caraxes, ridden by Prince Daemon Targaryen, and Silverwing, ridden by Prince Valarr, joined the battle in earnest. Both dragons unleashed streams of flame—Caraxes's long and continuous, Silverwing's shorter but far more intense.
The Cannibal was caught between them.
Its wing membranes began to tear under the relentless assault. Several times it tried to break free, only to be blasted back off course.
Its escape route had been sealed.
The Cannibal retaliated, spewing its own sickly green fire, but it was overwhelmed by the combined assault.
Then—
Meleys struck.
The Red Queen surged upward from below like a crimson spear, slashing her talons across the Cannibal's underside. Deep wounds tore open its flesh.
The beast howled in agony, snapping its jaws and blasting flame toward Meleys. Rhaenys flattened herself against the saddle as the inferno washed past.
The two dragons clashed mid-air, tearing and biting at each other's necks.
"Caraxes, attack!"
Daemon's command rang out.
Caraxes dove, his long, serpentine neck twisting as he lunged. The Cannibal twisted violently, avoiding a killing bite, but Caraxes still seized one of its horns. Flame erupted from his jaws, engulfing the Cannibal's head.
The wild dragon screamed, thrashing wildly as green fire spilled uncontrollably into the sky, painting twisted patterns in the air.
From the royal ship below, King Viserys I Targaryen watched in awe.
Nearby, Prince Aemond Targaryen stared intently, his expression cold and focused.
Prince Aegon II Targaryen, mounted on Sunfyre, stood ready to take flight if needed, guarding the ship from any sudden attack.
At Dragonstone, Vermax and Arrax circled around Syrax, roaring toward the sky.
Rhaenyra watched the battle tensely. Though not a warrior, she would not hesitate to defend her children and the castle if the Cannibal broke through.
After all—
Syrax was still a mature dragon.
From the flank, Silverwing struck again.
She bit into the Cannibal's wing, tearing a massive hole through the fragile membrane. Her claws ripped across its scales, drawing blood.
Scalding dragon's blood rained into the sea below.
The Cannibal went mad.
It tore free violently, sacrificing flesh and scale to escape the grip of Meleys and Silverwing. It blasted Caraxes with green fire, then battered its broken wings, forcing its way out of the encirclement.
"Dragonzel!" Daemon shouted. "Now!"
The Cannibal had just broken free—
When suddenly—
A familiar, overwhelming presence filled the air.
The beast froze.
Instinct screamed at it to flee.
The clouds above split apart.
From the heavens descended a colossal shadow.
Vermithor, the Bronze Fury.
With a thunderous roar, the ancient dragon plunged downward, jaws wide.
He struck.
His fangs sank deep into the Cannibal's neck, piercing scale and flesh alike. His claws crushed the beast's spine as his immense weight drove it downward.
They fell from the sky together.
Dragonfire followed.
Blazing heat melted scale and bone.
The Cannibal struggled desperately—but it could not even reach Vermithor.
Its strength faded.
Its green eyes dimmed.
With a sickening crack—
Vermithor tore its head clean off.
The corpse crashed onto the beach below, sending up a massive cloud of dust.
Vermithor landed heavily beside it, dropping the severed head with disdain.
Meleys, Caraxes, and Silverwing descended soon after, surrounding the corpse.
"Who claimed this beast rivaled Balerion the Black Dread?" Daemon scoffed, measuring the carcass. "It's barely larger than Caraxes."
"It is still close in size," Rhaenys said, exhausted. "Likely one of the hatchlings from our grandsire's era."
She sneered.
"Fishermen claim it lived here before Aenar Targaryen came to Dragonstone. Hah."
"Then it would be larger than the island itself," Dragonzel replied with a faint smile. "Still… it was ferocious. Even three dragons struggled to contain it."
Daemon frowned. "How did you hide Vermithor from it?"
Dragonzel only smiled, offering no answer.
"Princess, our agreement?"
Rhaenys nodded. "It will be honored."
Daemon sighed. "Nine dragon eggs. Three are petrified—but they are yours."
"Even in our darkest days, my House would sooner destroy dragon eggs than let them fall into foreign hands," Dragonzel replied calmly.
Rhaenys approached with a smile.
"The King will hold a grand feast on Dragonstone," she said. Then, lowering her voice slightly—
"One of Prince Valarr's potential brides will be present."
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