Fame in the Seven Kingdoms

"Arrogant!"

Kevon roared, seizing an opportunity to attack.

Daeren's gaze sharpened. The instant Kevon charged, Daeren raised his left hand to block with his sword. His feet shifted, circling around to Kevon's right flank, near his ribs.

Slish!

His right hand swept his longsword across, the blade cutting through the weak point where the armor met at the waist, leaving a bloody gash.

Kevon's inner alarm bells blared. He spun around, hacking wildly.

Unarmored against armored, the speed difference was vast.

The moment Kevon turned, Daeren raised his sword to block, smoothly creating distance.

"Too slow," Daeren scoffed.

Kevon's face flushed red. He charged again.

The opponent was looking down on him.

He clearly had the ability to press the attack, yet he insisted on backing away.

"Hah!"

Kevon roared, choosing a horizontal slash at the waist.

Daeren repeated his maneuver, raising his left sword to block and thrusting his right directly at the weak point between Kevon's chest and shoulder armor.

A bloom of blood spurted out.

"Hahaha, well fought!"

Ilis was ecstatic, clapping his hands vigorously.

Tywin frowned slightly, seeing his second brother Kevon at a disadvantage, yet maintaining his composure.

"Big brother, is that kid that strong?"

Tygett grumbled inwardly. He should have been the one to fight.

Tywin glanced at him, his expression dismissive.

Kevon, who had only just begun to grasp Vitality, couldn't even match that kid. You going up there would just be asking for a beating.

Clang! Clang!

Daeren pressed his attack, giving Kevon several opportunities for head-on clashes. Sparks flew as their three longswords collided.

"Your Vitality is unstable."

Finally, Daeren flicked Kevon's sword away with one hand, kicked him in the chest, and then pressed both swords against Kevon's brow and two inches from his throat.

Kevon froze, daring not to move with the sword tips inches from his eyes.

"Again."

Daeren didn't end it there. He took a step back, giving Kevon another chance to start over.

Too few exchanges, how could it be exciting enough?

"Don't look down on me!"

Faced with the enemy's "charity," Kevon was truly enraged. He swung his longsword with all his might, seeking only to land a single blow amidst the chaos.

Daeren's expression grew serious. He channeled his Vitality, thick and flowing like mercury, slowly augmenting his arms and waist.

Immediately, his body entered a special state, akin to overclocking. His footwork gradually quickened, and the blades of his swords began to overlap and swing in a straight, ascending arc.

The true meaning of Vitality lay in unlocking the body's potential.

When one could unleash their potential one hundred percent, entering a state of transcendence, they became a temporary god among mortals.

The most basic aspect was using one's own strong Vitality aura to influence those with lower Vitality in all aspects.

This was suppression on the level of life itself!

The probing was over; the real battle had just begun.

Swish!

Kevon only saw a flash of sword light. The weak points where his armor connected were sliced open, drawing blood that splattered outwards.

He tried to raise his sword to block, but he couldn't even tell where to defend.

He could only passively endure, feeling the sword light circling his body, continuously flaying his flesh.

"How is this possible, so fast!?"

Kevon panted heavily, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

In a moment, seven or eight new wounds appeared on his body. Blood soaked his undergarments, flowing from his armor to the ground.

"Surrender."

Daeren spun nimbly. While Kevon's sword was raised above his head, Daeren's twin swords again pressed against his brow and throat.

"Hear my roar!"

Kevon fiercely charged forward, intending to continue the duel.

Daeren, seeing through his opponent's intentions, infused his right hand with Vitality and sharply parried the downward-slashing longsword. The immense force, like a charging dragon, shattered all obstacles in its path.

"Ah!"

Kevon cried out in pain, feeling as if his upper body was being crushed by a heavy weight. His grip instantly ruptured, and the longsword flew from his grasp.

Clang!

The longsword snapped in two, spinning in the air before its tip embedded itself in the black stone floor, utterly shattering Kevon's resolve.

"You..."

Kevon stood dumbfounded, unable to believe the gap in their abilities was so vast.

He too had awakened Vitality to some extent, able to briefly channel it through his body. Yet, in their brief exchange, he couldn't utilize it at all, being completely suppressed.

The next second, Daeren gazed at him calmly, one longsword planted on the ground, the other resting lightly on Kevon's shoulder, an image of effortless grace.

"You lost."

The soft words whispered in his ear were the most cutting.

Kevon drooped his head and dejectedly said, "I concede."

With that, he collapsed, utterly drained.

The difference between them was too great. Under Daeren's relentless assault, he couldn't even focus on channeling his Vitality.

"Good!"

"Well fought..."

The dramatic duel finally concluded, and the noble lords erupted in thunderous cheers, thrilled to have witnessed a duel between two prominent families.

Kevon closed his eyes in pain.

"Get up."

Suddenly, he seemed to hear his opponent's voice.

Then, he felt a hand on his shoulder, attempting to help him up from the ground.

"Why?"

Kevon opened his eyes, his mind filled with confusion.

Daeren dropped both swords and placed his hands on Kevon's shoulders, his usual gentle smile returning. "Someone once taught me that when someone challenges me, I should meet them with unwavering steel and fire. But when they kneel in defeat, I should personally help them rise."

Kevon was taken aback and instinctively glanced back at his older brother.

Tywin, hearing Daeren's words, felt a complex mix of emotions.

To prevent his younger brother Kevon from being stubborn, he gave a barely perceptible nod.

Kevon reacted swiftly, enduring the pain to kneel again. "Your Highness Daeren, please accept my highest respect. Your martial prowess is exceptional, but your character fills me with shame."

"Don't make me help you up a second time, Ser."

Daeren smiled brightly, grasping Kevon's arm and pulling him to his feet.

Boom!

This action was like a thunderclap, instantly exploding through the crowd and elevating the duel's significance to another level.

The young Prince proving his innocence through the trial by combat was already a good story.

But if the Prince, after winning, were to help his opponent up, earning his heartfelt respect, then this story would be sung for generations.

The next moment.

The Throne Room erupted in cheers exceeding 200 decibels. The noble lords, flushed with excitement, loudly chanted the name Daeren Targaryen.

"Hahaha."

Daeren beamed, gripping Kevon's wrist and raising both their arms together.

I won't hog this honor alone.

Kevon: ...

His arms and abdomen bore wounds of varying severity. The sudden violent movement almost made him gasp for air from the pain.

"Good! Good!"

Aerys's eyes were alight with excitement. He applauded and laughed boisterously, believing the cheers of the noble lords were for him.

After a long while, everyone dispersed.

The effects of Aerys's calming medicine had worn off, and he had long since fallen asleep, needing to be helped back to his chambers by Barristan and Ser Gerold.

Only a few people remained in the hall.

Daeren had not yet left.

His goal of gaining renown throughout the Seven Kingdoms had been achieved, but some individuals had yet to receive the lesson they deserved.

He turned his head, fixing his gaze on the Lannister soldier and Gillian on the stretcher.

The latter couldn't move, but the former...

"Your Highness, spare me!"

The accusing soldier panicked, looking around for an escape route.

Thwack!

Daeren, expressionless, drew the Valyrian Steel dagger from his waist and plunged it directly into the soldier's left eye socket.

He twisted the dagger slightly, and the terror in the soldier's right eye faded.

When Daeren withdrew his hand, the body thudded to the ground.

"Take Gillian back, and drag this corpse out to feed the dogs."

Tywin waved his hand dismissively.

The soldier had failed to protect Gillian and failed in his accusation. Keeping him alive would be a waste of food.

The other soldiers began to clear the scene.

Daeren and Tywin met gazes across the space. Tywin spoke first, "Boy, you've learned well."

With that, he turned to leave.

Daeren replied, "My lord, you taught me too well."

Tywin's retreating footsteps paused, then he quickened his pace.

"In the short term, no one will bother me again."

Daeren mused to himself.

Today had been a bit perilous, but thankfully, the outcome was good.

Kevon wasn't a powerhouse fighter, and his Vitality had only just awakened.

His swordsmanship was already good, and he had suppressed Kevon from the start with his abundant Vitality, naturally leading to a one-sided victory in the duel.

Strong Vitality suppressing weak Vitality was the most basic application.

Of course, the most dangerous moment was when his father, Aerys, appeared, nearly ruining his planned strategy.

If Ser Barristan had fought instead and accidentally injured Kevon, it would have been a disaster.