Chapter 524: War Elephants

"Seven Hells!"

"What in the name of the Old Gods is that creature?"

Stannis, mounted on his steed, watched as Targaryen cavalry surged from both sides. Yet his gaze was fixed upon the massive beasts among them.

Swearing under his breath, a sight unfamiliar to him caught his eye. Creatures with rough grey skin, immense in size, bearing two massive tusks, and flailing a long trunk.

Their sheer size was daunting. One of these beasts could rival ten warhorses. Clad in armor, they seemed impervious to blades and spears. Charging with the Targaryen cavalry, they tore through the Stormlands' formation like it was nothing.

Screams of horror echoed.

The creature let out a deep bellow, its powerful trunk flinging armored Stormland soldiers as if swatting away chicks. Some were even trampled into the ground.

"It's a war elephant, Lord Stannis!"

Ser Davos, riding alongside Stannis, spoke, shedding light on the mystery. The Onion Knight, having traveled the world with his smuggling crew, was worldly and eloquent.

"These are different from the smaller elephants of Volantis. War elephants are larger, with tougher skin and fiercer temperaments. They usually roam near the lands of the Long Summer."

Davos quickly added, "Volantis also has a war elephant unit, but..."

"Enough! Davos, how do we counter them?" Stannis, ever the military strategist, interrupted as the battle raged on. The initial clash of infantry had been manageable, but the Targaryen cavalry and war elephants disrupted the Stormlands' defense.

Facing these unfamiliar giants, the soldiers were terrified. Many dropped their weapons and fled, with some even being trampled or crushed.

"The... solution to war elephants?"

Davos thought hard. A memory surfaced: he once smuggled elephant tusks and learned that smaller elephant tusks were more valuable due to their delicate texture. To hunt the elephants, hunters would use loud noises like horns and drums to scatter them, then strike.

"My Lord, I recall a method." Davos recounted the tale to Stannis.

"Quick! Summon all horn-blowers!" Without hesitation, Stannis ordered every horn-blower to play loudly, hoping to scare the elephants.

However, as the Golden Company's elephants and cavalry made significant gains, a deep roar echoed from above.

"Roar—"

A massive shadow loomed overhead, casting darkness upon the battlefield.

"What's that?"

Soldiers gazed up to witness a terrifying sight: a dragon.

"A dragon... Is this a true dragon?"

The dragon's appearance spread panic. But behind the Stormland lines, countless large crossbows awaited their moment.

"Dragon!"

"Here comes the dragon!"

"That damned beast!"

The sight of Balerion did not instill fear, but excitement. Stannis had prepared these crossbows for this very moment, promising riches and lands to whoever could bring down the dragon.

"All archers, fire!" A Stormland knight shouted.

Thrum, thrum, thrum—

Arrows tore through the air, one grazing Balerion's wing. Alarmed, the dragon ascended.

"Roar—"

Balerion, recalling past injuries from such weapons, roared in fury. Instead of retreating, he descended, wings flapping mightily, targeting the crossbows below. Opening his maw, a fiery glow emanated from within.