Game of Thrones: The Red Dragon Lord

From a distance, the dock of Gray Knuckle Island lay in ruins, with no sign of a ship in sight. The scene was desolate, almost haunting in its stillness.

Despite its bleak appearance, Gray Knuckle Island was second only to Bloodstone Island in size within the entire Stone Steps Archipelago. It housed a sizable population and boasted the most formidable defenses in the region. Sheer cliffs encircled the island, leaving only a single, narrow entrance for access.

Perched on the cliffs near the entrance, massive catapults and crossbows stood like silent sentinels, their intimidating presence a stark warning to any would-be invaders. These colossal machines were positioned to strike devastating blows, sinking enemy ships long before they could reach the dock. It was these impenetrable defenses that had thwarted even the infamous Black Shark "Earl" in his attempts to claim the island.

At the bow of the Belleris, Gavin stood with both hands gripping the rail, his piercing gaze fixed on Gray Knuckle Island. The sea breeze tousled his hair, but the gravity in his expression remained unshaken.

"This bone is going to be hard to chew," he muttered to himself. His eyes narrowed as he contemplated the challenge ahead. "A direct assault is out of the question. Even with the range of our newly upgraded three-bow crossbows, exchanging fire with those cliff-mounted catapults would be suicide. The fleet would never get close."

He sighed and shifted his weight, lost in thought. Slowly, an idea began to form in his mind. "A night operation..." he mused. "We could use small boats to land unnoticed. With just thirty Blood Dragon Guards, we could take control of—or destroy—their siege engines. If we succeed, their defenses would crumble, and the fleet could land with ease."

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he visualized the victory.

Turning away from the bow, Gavin descended to the second deck, his expression hardened with determination. He gestured to a nearby soldier.

"Order the fleet to return to Bloodstone Island," he commanded.

The massive fleet responded with swift precision, altering its course northwest toward Bloodstone Island.

Back at Bloodstone Island

After a day of sailing, Gavin finally set foot on the familiar dock of Bloodstone Island. No sooner had he disembarked than he was informed of a visitor awaiting him at the city lord's mansion—a messenger from Dorne.

In the reception hall, Gavin met the envoy, who greeted him with a formal bow and handed over a letter bearing Prince Doran's seal. Gavin broke the seal and read the letter with careful attention. A satisfied expression spread across his face as he absorbed its contents.

The message confirmed that Dorne was prepared to reach a preliminary agreement to restore the trade route. It also thanked Gavin for eliminating the Black Shark "Earl" and mentioned that a diplomatic envoy would soon arrive to finalize negotiations.

Smiling, Gavin addressed the messenger. "Please inform Prince Doran that I greatly value this partnership. Bloodstone Island will be ready to receive the envoy and discuss the trade route's revival."

The messenger bowed once more, pledging to convey the message, and Gavin ordered that the envoy be treated with the utmost hospitality.

In the Treasure Vault

Later, Gavin descended into the treasure vault beneath the city lord's mansion. Flanked by two Blood Dragon Guards, he stepped through the heavy door into a chamber filled with wealth.

Piles of gold coins glittered in the corner, while shelves overflowed with gems, pearls, and spices. The bounty was staggering—300,000 gold dragons, not including the priceless jewelry and crafted artifacts displayed alongside.

However, Gavin's attention wasn't on the gold. His gaze was drawn to the vault's depths, where a massive dragon bone lay, perfectly preserved. Beside it were three crates filled with fragmented dragon bone artifacts, some salvaged during the conquest of Bloodstone Island, others acquired through trade.

He approached the dragon bone, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. Though his collection was impressive, it was far from complete. Many of the bones lacked the magical properties he sought. Even so, he calculated that the remaining pieces might yield two more points of energy at best.

His thoughts turned briefly to Valyrian steel, a material still elusive despite his efforts. "No matter," he muttered to himself. "As the master of this trade route, it's only a matter of time before I gather what I need."

Seated on a stone throne nearby, Gavin placed his hand on the dragon bone and began absorbing its magic. A familiar warmth coursed through him as the energy flowed into his body. When the process was complete, he opened his panel to assess his progress.

Gavin Belleris' Panel

Host: Gavin Belleris

Age: 15

Bloodline:

Bloodfire Dragonborn (Development: 51%): The bloodline of the Valyrian Dragon King, with dragon control and flame manipulation.

Domination:

33/33 (Subordinates can be upgraded through the panel)32 Primary Blood Dragon Guards (Blood Witch Puppets infused with Dragonborn bloodline, capable of two advancements)1 Intermediate Blood Dragon Guard (Advanced once, capable of further enhancement)

Skills:

Flame Control: Master Swordsmanship: MasterFlame Blade: Master Archery: MasterSpear Combat: Master

Energy Points: 24 (obtained by automatically absorbing the magic power floating around, or actively absorbing magic power)

The increase in his bloodline's development was noticeable. As it climbed past 50%, he felt a surge in his physical strength and an enhanced mastery over flames. Yet, he noted the steep cost of further development—each percentage now required two energy points instead of one.

He used his remaining energy to upgrade a portion of the Blood Dragon Guards, eager to test their newfound abilities in the coming battles.

With his bloodline stronger than ever and his forces growing steadily, Gavin felt ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

"The road to power is long," he murmured. "But I will carve my name into history, one victory at a time."