Chapter 132: Fallen

In truth, widespread illiteracy was not unique to Andaros; it was prevalent in many other places as well.

Deciphering the mysteries of the sun, moon, and stars was still premature for this era.

Followers of the Lord of Light would light bonfires at sunset every day, giving thanks to R'hllor for the day that had just passed and asking him to bring back the sun the following day to dispel the darkness.

The Qartheen, on the other hand, believed the moon was an egg. They claimed there were originally two moons in the sky, but one flew too close to the sun and exploded due to the intense heat.

From that explosion, thousands upon thousands of dragons emerged, absorbing the sun's flames. That, they said, was why dragons could breathe fire. One day, the remaining moon would also kiss the sun and explode, and dragons would return to the world.

The Dothraki believed the moon was a goddess and the sun was her husband, and so on...

Soldiers were engaged in animated discussions about these matters.

Viserys walked alone to a quiet, secluded area nearby. Under the night sky, the young boy's silvery-gold hair fluttered in the breeze.

He needed some time to himself.

There were various reasons for this.

Perhaps it was the aftereffects of leading a major battle for the first time. After experiencing significant moments in life, people often find themselves in need of a moment of reflection.

The young king sat down on a patch of ground free from dirt and bloodstains.

Clang...

He then drew the dagger he always carried from his waist.

With the bright moonlight and the glow of the red comet above, the dagger's smooth blade reflected a faint shimmer.

Three seconds later.

Whoosh.

A cloud of black mist appeared before Viserys as expected.

The true nature of the black mist remained a mystery to Viserys even now.

However, one thing was certain: if he wanted power, he needed to keep killing other humans.

Then, he would draw the black mist from their lifeless bodies to strengthen himself.

Killing others... to increase his power?

It seemed like he was engaging in a sinister and terrifying deal with the devil.

It was tempting Viserys to become a demon.

At his lowest and most helpless moment, when he had been betrayed and had consumed a large amount of hallucinogens, the young king had been tempted to burn Dragonstone to the ground.

Would he have ascended to godhood then?

However, Viserys had managed to control his wildly growing inner desires at the time.

Massacring cities...

Hellish scenes would suddenly appear before his eyes.

Razing villages...

The iron hooves of the Andaros army could easily trample towns and villages, and the innocent captives could be executed one by one by Viserys himself.

He did not know what he would become if he were to maximize his growth by acting so brutally.

Would he become the greatest tyrant in Essos, including Westeros?

Or would he become a monstrous creature, neither human nor ghost?

Yet, as Viserys' power grew, his twisted ambitions also grew alongside him.

He had always been extremely restrained, even somewhat resistant.

He never hid his distrust of the black mist and always maintained a cautious attitude.

The reason, of course, was this deal with the devil. Yet, he could not bear to completely sever the connection between them.

.

From that moment on, he vowed never to kill another person.

But clearly, he couldn't keep that promise.

It was a struggle against his own conscience.

Although he was selfish, conquering Loyna villages one by one, he was not a thorough demon.

"Will I eventually... become a demon?"

Huh.

Viserys sat still, watching the familiar black mist reappear before his eyes, his beautiful lilac eyes narrowing slightly before he let out a long breath.

Then, his gaze suddenly sharpened; it seemed as if the reflection of the fast-flying red comet in his dagger was gradually magnifying.

"Hmm?"

"What's going on?"

Viserys noticed the abnormalities a bit late, but his instincts warned him, and he abruptly turned his head.

Then, he witnessed the most spectacular sight of his life thus far.

Boom.

A massive roar erupted from the sky, like the loudest thunder in summer.

The red comet, trailing its long tail, finally broke through the atmosphere.

Then, it suddenly burst into intense light, transforming into a massive, blazing fireball.

The irregular sphere violently rubbed against the air, producing intense light and heat, continuously breaking through the clouds. It seemed as if the sky had been torn open, leaving a scar, and the shockwaves relentlessly spread in all directions, with the long tail reaching across the heavens.

Unchanged since ancient times.

Like a dagger falling from the sky, held tightly in an invisible giant hand, it mercilessly stabbed the earth.

Everyone was dumbfounded by the scene before them.

Viserys, gripping the dagger, clumsily rose from the ground, his mouth gaping wide enough to swallow an apple, as he gazed at the sky in shock.

The world became as bright as day in the instant the comet broke through the atmosphere.

Including Viserys, Oberyn, Ser Evin, the charred corpses lying in the woodpile prepared for cremation, and all the soldiers of Andalos, stared blankly at the sky, their cheeks illuminated by the intense light.

Then, in just a matter of seconds, the red light that pierced the heavens and earth finally slammed into the ground with a vengeance.

Boom.

The tremendous noise left everyone's minds blank, and then the entire world went silent.

"Get down!"

Viserys shouted for the soldiers to lie down, but no one could hear his voice anymore.

Even he couldn't hear his own voice, his desperate cries seemed like a silent performance.

Then, Viserys alone clumsily lay on the ground.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

A few seconds?

Or perhaps ten seconds, or even a minute?

But at that moment, everyone's minds were blank, in a daze.

Then, they faintly felt the overwhelming shockwave approaching, carrying dust, weeds, and branches, like a gaping maw, swallowing the entire Andalos army.

Everything was shrouded in dust, the howling wind raging in their ears. Viserys, having been the first to lie down, escaped any harm.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Hum...

His ears finally began to hear sounds again, though his brain still buzzed.

Then, Viserys struggled to his feet, brushing off the thick layer of dust accumulated on his body.

He stood up and looked around at the surrounding landscape.

Everything seemed to have passed, leaving nothing but wreckage.

The wind was calm, and the clouds were light.

Except for the gaping hole in the sky.

...