hotmtlnovel Chapter 179: Runes: Bronze and Bridled Serpent
Chapter 179: Runes: Bronze and Bridled Serpent
Chapter 179: Runes: Bronze and Bridled Serpent
"Roar..."
Cannibal couldn't hear Rhaegar's voice, but their minds were as one, and the dragon immediately responded to his command.
With a final blast of Dragonfire incinerating a group of fleeing Mountain Clansmen, Cannibal turned and soared towards Runestone.
Syrax, however, did not take the command and continued to pursue the Mountain Clansmen as far as the eye could see.
As a almost adult dragon, it was impervious to ordinary bows and arrows, except for the deadly scorpion crossbow. Rhaenyra was relieved to know that Syrax could handle himself.
Cannibal flew over Runestone and landed in the clearing of the front yard. On the city walls, Gerold had dispatched all the Mountain Clansmen who had breached the defenses, his eyes now fixed on the two dragons.
Everyone in Westeros knew that dragons were synonymous with power, but few had actually witnessed their might. Seeing the two dragons incinerate thousands of Mountain Clansmen left Gerold in stunned awe. It was as if he had witnessed the power of the gods.
"Quickly! The prince is hurt, get the Maester!" Jeyne's voice broke through Gerold's daze, her urgent cry snapping him back to reality.
...
Night fell.
In a dimly lit bedroom, Rhaegar lay unconscious on a bed, his body stripped bare. Herbs and bandages covered his shoulders and abdomen, treating his injuries from the recent bloody battle.
Despite the severity of the fight, his injuries were limited to two major wounds and several bruises.
The Runestone Maester had assessed his condition and determined that neither wound was critical. The arrow hadn't hit any bones, and the stab wound in his abdomen hadn't damaged his intestines. With proper care and prevention of infection, he would recover.
Creak...
The door to the room opened slightly and Rhaenyra entered, carrying a bundle in her arms.
"Rhaegar," she called softly, hoping to wake him.
Seeing no response, Rhaenyra walked silently to his bed. In her arms were two precious items: a sheathed half-sword and an ancient bronze breastplate.
She drew the sword halfway, revealing the undulating pattern on the Valyrian steel blade. This sword, called Lamentation, was a treasured heirloom of House Royce of Runestone.
She placed the sword beside Rhaegar and placed his left hand on the hilt. Then she placed the bronze breastplate at his feet, making sure one foot touched it.
The breastplate, aged and green with patina, bore faint runic carvings around its heart and edges.
The Royce House, founded in the Heroic Era, was known as the "Bronze Kings". They specialized in bronze casting and still used bronze armor and weapons, a tradition reflected in the nickname Daemon once used for his ex-wife, "Bronze Bitch".
The Royce House worshipped the Old Gods and believed in the power of runes, which they inscribed on their bronze armor to increase its strength and protective properties. The breastplate Rhaenyra brought was the oldest surviving piece, rumored to be thousands of years old.
"Rhaegar, you must wake quickly," Rhaenyra whispered, planting a soft kiss on his forehead.
Rhaegar realized immediately that Rhaenyra had retrieved the items he had requested. He called up the system interface to check the status of the exploration quest.
[Lamentation]
Exploration Progress: 100%
[Runic Armor]
Exploration Progress: 100%
Turning his head, he saw the half-sheathed Valyrian steel sword in his left hand. Beside the scabbard, another purple glow emanated from the ancient bronze breastplate. With effort, Rhaegar moved his fingers to touch the purple halo and nudged the other glow with his foot.
Two fireworks-like bursts of purple light erupted, and the system beeped.
"Relic picked up successfully, detection in progress..."
"Detection successful. Judged to be epic relics: Runic Greatsword and Watcher's Armor."
Rhaegar's heart leaped with joy at acquiring two epic-level relics. Before he could investigate further, the system provided more details.
"Congratulations, the Rune Greatsword has been activated. You have obtained..."
[Rune: Bridled Serpent]
Grade: Excellent (Blue)
Function: Activates the power of the snake, quickly recovers from injuries.
Evaluation: "One of the advanced runes, rare and precious in the age of disappearing runes."
"Congratulations, the Guardian Armor has been activated. You have won..."
[Rune: Bronze].
Grade: Good (Green)
Function: Provides protection.
Evaluation: "One of the basic runes, a good way to save your life."
As the knowledge of the runes flooded his mind, Rhaegar felt a rush of pleasure that seemed to come from his very soul, causing him to roll his eyes in ecstasy.
"Ah!!"
A sudden, mournful cry pierced the morning air and echoed through Runestone. The voice was young and filled with terror.