Chapter 40: Old Valyria: Smoking Sea

(1,200 words)

- Percvial Bolton POV -

- Smoking Sea - Old Valyria - Essos - 280 A.D -

We were arriving at Smoking Sea, and I couldn't help but flash a smile at how well everything was going. I had four Free Cities in my control, and two colonies of these, which were Morosh and Saath, small cities north of Essos and Dothraki Sea.

I had plans to take Myr, Tyrosh and Lys before the rebellion, and then I would focus more on Westeros. Then there would only be Volantis and Qohor. The latter being the most problematic, as it is the main target of the Dothraki. But nothing that a few poisoned rivers could not solve. Vaes Dothraki would cease to exist. Who knows if I might be lucky enough to blame it on another power and have the wildlings defeat it for me.

"We finally arrived" I whisper as I see the ruins in front of me as well as the entrance to the Smoking Sea.

The water has a gray hue, polluted by ash. While there are areas with gurgling bubbles. Due to the high temperature probably. Our boat as well as the wood was reinforced for this kind of thing. But the long exposure was not good.

Although we were not the only boat, but three. But the other two were just cannon fodder.

The sailors were afraid, very afraid. But not enough to let all their families die in horrible ways. That's why the easiest men to use are the ones who have something to lose. Which also means that the one who has nothing to lose is very dangerous.

Let's talk for example about my old world, the modern world. And the thing is, no matter how safe a city is, no matter how many cameras there are or whatever. If a person really wants you dead, no matter what the consequences, they will have no problem.

It's as easy as carrying a kitchen knife under a coat, and sticking it in your target's throat in the middle of the street. Sure... You'll go to jail, maybe even indefinitely. But... So what? You had nothing to lose and you've already accomplished your goal. Humans are fragile. Fortunately, I am becoming less and less human.

The thing is that they could do nothing with the fear they had but give the best of themselves. The best for me of course.

"Morghot Maeledicite Protectoris" I whispered while enchanting the area where I was with Davos. I didn't want the guy to die from some weird curse. The cost of this spell was considerable, but it was worth it for him. The rest was not so important.

But as we sailed through the sea, with bits of land on either side that were nothing but forlorn fields with ashes and lava faces, the waters began to move strangely, and one of the ships in the convoy, the one farthest back to be precise, began to slow down, as if something was grabbing it.

"Ready the bows and the black powder cannon" I said to the people on my ship, and they did what I wanted.

"With those weapons, you could defeat any fleet" Davos said to me, and I nodded. But my grip on my bow tightened a little. This might be my first real combat, and I was nervous.

I drew my bow with black made of modern materials like polymers, along with Valyrian Steel to properly conduct magic. This Valyrian Steel courtesy of the bracelet Cersei Lannister gave me for telling her about her future.

The incantations were simple, and improved the hardness of the arrow as well as the power at which it exited my bow. All while aiming at the ship that slowly came to a stop, and as if it was a joke of the gods, three giant tentacles came out of the sea and struck the ship.

"Kraken!" shouted the sailors as they became nervous. But I, trying to muster all the calm in the world, fired three arrows at the same time, each at a tentacle, which caused the creature to shriek in pain. The incantations plus the base power of my bow were no joke.

More tentacles came out of the sea, and they were from the same creature. It was large by normal standards, but my ships were anything but normal, so despite the initial impacts it withstood it without much trouble.

"There will be no fire as they will hit the ship!" I shouted to a group of sailors who were about to fire the gunpowder cannon at the ship.

The beast's head began to become visible as it had its arms around the ship, with soldiers and sailors burying their weapons in the Kraken's tentacles.

I had to take advantage of the opportunity, so quickly climbing to the top of the ship, where the person who classically shouted "land in sight!" stood, I once again loaded my bow, but now I had five arrows.

"My lord! Look out!" shouted Davos to me, as the ship was moving erratically, and my position was dangerous. But I was confident in my abilities. So I fired all five arrows directly at the monster's head.

Three were directed to where his brain should be while the other two to his eyes. I'm not a marine biologist, so I don't know the exact anatomy of squid. Even less so of the fucking Kraken. But I was confident that a good arrow to the brain would kill it. Even zombies died with that, and a Kraken is no more special than a zombie.

"Long live our Lord!" shouted the sailors in celebration of my accurate shots. They seem to have forgotten that I am holding their family hostage, or perhaps they want to distract themselves and look for a figure to lean on emotionally and mentally. An idol to follow and a leader to trust.

"Who would have thought... They say that in the south of Dorne, in Summer Sea there are Krakens, but no one has ever seen one so they are considered fake. It was quite an experience to see him in this area" commented Davos still a bit surprised after he came down. "Very good shots by the way"

"I do what I can" I said with a thoughtful face. For if we had encountered a Kraken just at the entrance to the Smoking Sea.

Does that mean that in the deep seas we will encounter Leviathans? Or even worse... Nagas? Who are called the sea dragons. There is only record of one, which was defeated by the Grey King, who bore the title of High King of the Iron Islands, from the Age of Heroes. A guy who was supposed to have ruled for over 1,000 years. He was succeeded by the kings of House Greyiron. Then I think House Hoare came, and finally now House Greyjoy. Only the latter are not kings, only Lords.

"But who would think that the Kraken really existed."

"Just like Aegon's dragons. Many of these fantasy creatures could be real. Including the White Walkers" I told him with a smile.

"Whatever you say My Lord, I'm just a servant, hehehe" he replied with a laugh.

"But well... Where shall we dock?" I asked.

"In Tyrio, then we'll have to go on foot to Valyria."