The Mad King Appears

"That insolent little bastard who doesn't know his place!"

Tywin's face turned livid.

Seated high upon the Iron Throne, he nevertheless felt utterly powerless, as though he had been pinned down.

"Do you know what a Trial by Combat represents?"

Tywin had a breath caught in his throat that he had to let out.

Daeren met his eyes. "Someone taught me history. I learned it well."

The moment he heard that, Tywin's thoughts grew complicated.

Who had painstakingly taught him history day and night, all so he could learn from its lessons?

And who had devoted himself to teaching, finding a pride and pleasure in his student's moments of enlightenment that he had never experienced while teaching his own children?

Now, it seemed the other party had truly grasped its essence, sparing no effort in striking back against provocation.

Tywin said in a low voice, "I'll ask you one last time. Do you truly wish to request a Trial by Combat?"

"That's right!"

Daeren showed no fear. Under the gaze of the masses, the heavy aura brought by his abundant Life Force gradually spread outward.

At that moment, he was like a giant dragon with extraordinary potential for life, indiscriminately oppressing everyone around him.

"Life Force?"

Barristan's eyes lit up, showing his keen sensitivity to Life Force.

Ser Gerold said, "An extremely high concentration of Life Force, though he apparently hasn't fully mastered it."

At their level, judging a person's strength was as easy as eating and drinking.

The two could see that Daeren's Life Force was remarkably rich and rare.

However, it was also one of the reasons he could not quickly master how to wield it.

After all, everyone possessed a different amount of Life Force.

The stronger one's Life Force, the harder it was to control freely.

"The last person with such Life Force was Prince Rhaegar."

Barristan felt a sense of gratified pride.

The Kingsguard was deeply bound to House Targaryen, so naturally, he hoped they would be as strong as possible.

Ser Gerold watched him appraisingly. He seemed to want to say something, yet habitually remained silent.

Unlike the two well-traveled Kingsguard, the noble lords present could no longer hold themselves back.

"It's Life Force..."

"And he's still so young..."

Other than the noble lords in the front row, who were being oppressed by his aura, everyone else seemed to have been fed stimulants. They looked at the silver-haired figure at the center of attention with barely concealed excitement.

Special Crops and animals capable of producing special livestock products might be scarce, but they could at least still be found across the continent.

Yet warriors who had mastered their own Life Force could be counted on one's fingers.

Anyone who mastered Life Force was a powerhouse ahead of their time.

If any knight who had mastered Life Force chose to serve a lord, he would surely be treated as an honored guest and receive extremely generous treatment.

"No wonder Prince Daeren dared to demand a Trial by Combat."

"Exactly, exactly..."

The noble lords chattered among themselves. Quite a few noble girls who had attended with their parents stared at Daeren with shining eyes, almost wishing they could shout that the prince had been wronged.

They could judge right from wrong for themselves.

"So this is the confidence you rely on?"

While Tywin found the matter troublesome, true anger rose within him as well. "Since you want a Trial by Combat, I'll grant it to you."

"Who beneath the Iron Throne wishes to apply to fight!?"

The Lannister soldiers and the knights of the Westerlands all broke out in sweat, lowering their heads in perfect unspoken agreement.

Me, facing off against a prince who has mastered Life Force? What kind of joke is that!

"Brother, let me do it!"

"My lord, I am willing to fight!"

There were still those who supported him. Two men with curly golden hair spoke in unison.

One was powerfully built and wore golden armor in the Lannister style. His long, luxuriant golden curls and heavy features gave off a savage air.

Tywin's third brother, Tygett Lannister.

The other was slightly shorter. He wore fine clothes embroidered with golden thread, appeared somewhat older, and had less hair.

The only striking thing about him was his pair of deep eyes, which gave him an air of steady wisdom.

Tywin's second brother, Kevon Lannister.

The two brothers pushed out from the crowd, rushing to volunteer for the fight.

"Brother, let me go. Let me smash him flat."

Tygett was tall and burly, and his temperament was equally violent.

Tywin ignored him and instead looked toward his second brother Kevon, whom he had always trusted.

"My lord, if I fight, I will surely seek justice for Gillian and let the world know that Lannisters always repay their debts."

Kevon stepped past his third brother and knelt directly before the Iron Throne.

Tywin nodded lightly. "Good. You will represent the Iron Throne in battle."

"Brother..."

Tygett grew anxious.

"Shut up!"

Tywin's cold shout cut him off.

Daeren watched with interest until Kevon rose, then said flatly, "Chosen your man?"

Kevon did not enter the fight immediately, instead sending someone to fetch his armor.

"Kid, I'll give you the same amount of time to put on your gear."

Tywin sat back down, adopting a confident posture.

He had to admit that none of the Lannister brothers of his generation, himself included, possessed the talent to become top-tier knights.

His third brother Tygett might have been somewhat better, but his impatient nature meant he was incapable of accomplishing great things.

Thus, a portion of the family's primary resources had been directed toward his second brother Kevon. After years of training, Kevon had finally sensed his own Life Force and gained combat power far beyond that of ordinary men.

Yes, in Tywin's eyes, warriors who had mastered Life Force were no longer ordinary men.

Perhaps they were people closer to gods, like Savon of the Mirror Shield, Garth of the Greenhand, and Brynden the Builder from the legends.

Daeren glanced at Kevon as retainers helped him don his armor, then calmly looked away.

This was not a battlefield. His fighting style did not favor the clumsiness of armor.

After roughly a quarter of an hour, Kevon finally finished putting on his bronze-colored armor, which was more practical but equally splendid.

"Come. Let me collect the debt from you."

Kevon wore a solemn expression as he drew his longsword and took his stance.

"Prince..."

"Ser Barristan, lend me your sword..."

Daeren and Barristan spoke at the same time.

Rumble!

Suddenly, the doors to the great hall slowly opened, and an announcement rang out.

"King Aerys II of House Targaryen, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm..."

It was Ser Jon.

He pushed open the great hall doors, loudly announcing the King while escorting him inside.

Daeren turned back in astonishment.

He saw his father Aerys, his face ashen, supporting his gaunt body as he entered the hall. He looked so depleted and weak that even a gust of wind seemed capable of knocking him over.

Aerys was unwell and had come in great haste. He had not even changed out of his purple sleeping robe, merely placing a crown atop his head.

"Your Majesty..."

"It's the King. The King has finally come..."

As though the King were some monstrous flood beast, the noble lords instantly fell silent and collectively shrank farther back.

They had previously been glad that the King was absent, that the situation remained within controllable bounds.

Now that the King had arrived, no one could say what would happen.

"Father?"

Daeren was filled with confusion as he looked toward Ser Jon.

Ser Jon looked somewhat guilty and lowered his head as he followed behind the King.

"I had no idea that while I was asleep, someone was brazenly bullying my son."

Aerys's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was low and hoarse.

This time, Tywin truly could not remain seated.