Lion of the Westlands

The silent woods held only the three of them.

"Sandor, magic is real. I have already gained this kind of power. Now it's your turn."

Joffrey was straightforward, making the best choice for The Hound.

After claiming the Solid Rune represented by Blacklight the day before yesterday, the speed at which Rune Energy accumulated had become four times what it had been at the start.

Though it was still not quite enough, King's Landing was close, and he needed to start preparing.

The Runes on the Glass Candle were probably all supportive in nature and would be of little help in the current situation. He decided to use the Rune Energy on his trusted followers first.

Hannah also spoke up to persuade him. "Thanks to Your Highness's gift, I have gained the power of magic as well. Look."

Hannah pressed her right hand against the tree trunk beside her and activated Fire Magic Energy. Within a few breaths, the thriving tree began to show scorched black marks, and then tongues of flame clawed toward the three of them.

The Hound's hairs stood on end instantly, and he could not help taking several steps back.

Flames—his inescapable nightmare.

Joffrey was determined to eliminate this fatal weakness of The Hound's.

"Sandor, there's nothing to fear from flames! Magic will make flames embrace you, like swords and armor protecting your body."

The Crown Prince pressed hard on The Hound's shoulders. "Don't move. This is my order. You are not allowed to disobey. Accept the power of fire. You'll like it."

The Hound ultimately did not move again.

A searing energy enveloped him, a sensation both familiar and strange, bizarre and mysterious, as though even his soul trembled beneath it.

Then came another kind of energy. It had no distinct sensation, yet it seemed somewhat warm and gentle.

Joffrey was very satisfied with his new creation.

The Hound wielding flames as a weapon—just imagining it was interesting. He wondered whether the Recovery Rune could heal burn scars.

The Fire Rune Mirror Image and Recovery Rune Mirror Image had each consumed three units of Rune Energy. He had also given Hannah a Fire Rune Mirror Image yesterday, leaving Joffrey with less than one unit of Rune Energy.

The Hound gradually came to his senses.

His body was growing hotter and hotter, as though he had been thrown into boiling lava, yet he felt no pain at all.

Fire!

He remembered the brazier Gregor had forced him into as a child. Bright-red coals had roasted his skin and flesh. Amid the sizzling sounds, he had smelled flames and roasting meat. Hell could not have been any worse.

The Crown Prince patted his shoulder.

"Flames are no longer your enemy. Master this power as quickly as possible."

"When we return to King's Landing, you will accompany me north to Winterfell. Do not expose the existence of magic during that time."

Joffrey added meaningfully, "After we return to King's Landing from The North, there will be a time for you to use this power."

The Hound silently nodded.

The changes over the past few days had been too great. He still preferred their old way of getting along: the Crown Prince gave the word, and he carried out the order. Everything was clean and simple.

When you were a dog, you should not think too much. It was bad for everyone.

Roar—

A deep, imposing beastly cry suddenly rang through the entire forest.

The Hound immediately became alert.

He fixed his gaze on the direction the sound had come from, gripping his sword with both hands in readiness.

"Your Highness, be careful."

Joffrey placed his right hand on Dragonflame at his waist, not particularly nervous.

What kind of beast would appear in a place like this?

He only found it strange.

The Goldroad connected the prosperous Westlands with King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. People traveled it every day without end. What wild beast would be foolish enough to settle here?

He soon saw the answer.

It truly was a beast.

Hannah drew in a sharp breath, while the pink cracks across the burned left side of The Hound's face tightened as if they might split apart.

Its head stood as high as a person, and its body was as long as two men laid end to end. Its whole body was tawny brown, its fur sleek and glossy, and its sharply defined muscles seemed to radiate heat. The gaze from its golden eyes was sharp as needles.

What Joffrey saw was a beautiful, majestic Mountain Giant Lion that brooked no provocation.

His expression grew grave.

A lion larger than a polar bear, roaming the heart of the Seven Kingdoms without ever being discovered—was that even scientific?

Perhaps it was not, but Joffrey knew that this world possessed mysterious powers. Giant Lions had indeed once existed among the mountains of the Westlands.

The Giant Lion looked at them, then took a step forward.

All three of them were startled at once.

Joffrey hurriedly drew Dragonflame while connecting with the Fire Rune and Solid Rune within his body.

The magical energy he had accumulated over the past few days was already considerable, but as he looked at the Giant Lion before him, he did not know whether he could successfully strike that agile big cat in battle.

He suddenly realized how fragile he was.

The power of magic was still only a sprout, and he had not yet grown into a Warrior. In his current state, he was no more likely to survive than anyone else.

I've gotten too full of myself.

The smooth progress of his magical research over the past few days had made him forget the cruelty of this world. After today's lesson, he likely would not forget it again.

"Sandor, try to control that power. Flames will help us survive."

"Hannah, ignite the trees around us."

"I'll keep watch on it."

Could flames frighten a beast like this?

Joffrey stared fixedly at the Giant Lion as he poured Fire Magic Energy into Dragonflame in his hand. The blade gradually glowed red.

The Giant Lion did not approach any farther.

In an encounter like this, the defending side had fewer openings and more time to react.

The two sides fell into a standoff.

Hannah took the opportunity to activate Fire Magic Energy with all her strength.

The flames around them gradually intensified. The air grew hotter and hotter, until even the light and shadows began to warp faintly.

The Giant Lion shook its head, its thick mane swaying with the motion.

From those golden beast eyes, Joffrey seemed to see contentment, even enjoyment.

Flames ignited along The Hound's sword.

Faced with enormous danger, he had finally cast aside his fear of fire.

The Hound stepped forward and shielded the Crown Prince behind him.

"Your Highness, in the name of House Clegane, I will fight to the death."

He recalled the stories his grandfather had told over and over again.

As Casterly Rock's dog trainer, his grandfather had luckily saved Lord Tytos Lannister from a Lion one autumn, losing a leg and three hounds in the process.

Thus House Clegane, whose sigil bore three dogs, was born.

The Hound grinned.

This Lion should be bigger than the one from back then, and this time there aren't any dogs.

No, I'm The Hound.

He raised his Flame Sword, calculating the direction and angle of his charge.

The Crown Prince's hand stopped him.

"No, wait a little longer. Time favors us more."

Westeros's abnormal climate had given rise to unique vegetation.

Summer could last for years, and winter was just as long. The trees had long learned to regulate their cycles according to years rather than seasons.

The summer of the Seven Kingdoms had already lasted nine years, and the forest floor was carpeted with dry leaves.

Once the fire spread, no one could stop it.

Yet they possessed Fire Runes and could use Fire Magic Energy to resist the damage caused by flames, giving them an undeniable advantage.

Fire snakes crept slowly through the fallen leaves toward the Giant Lion.

Let's see if you still won't move this time.

Joffrey waited expectantly.

But when the flames reached the Giant Lion's feet, he saw a familiar red glow envelop its body.

How is that possible?!

He saw the glow of Fire Magic Energy, along with the unique perception he had for magical energy.

A magical creature?

The curiosity and desire in his heart were beginning to outweigh his fear of death.

Not only did this Lion possess a Fire Rune, it could even conceal its magical aura, revealing the slightest clue only when it used magical energy.

Could it perceive the existence and function of Runes?

Could it control Rune Energy?

Would it actively seek the power of new Runes? No, it probably could not see Patterns, so it could not do that.

A thought suddenly arose in Joffrey's mind: perhaps this Giant Lion had appeared because it sensed the aura of fire magic from him and came from its hidden, unknown territory to investigate? Was it looking for its own kind?

The violent flames devoured everything in sight.

The scorching, thin air, mixed with flakes of ash, displayed equal hostility toward every living creature.

The Mountain Giant Lion shook itself, turned around, and trotted away leisurely.

The moment they watched the Giant Lion disappear from sight, they immediately fled this deadly place in the opposite direction.

Several hundred meters away, the three of them stopped.

The Lannister soldiers arrived late. Leading the scouts investigating the situation was none other than Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer.

"Joffrey, what happened? How did a fire suddenly break out?"

Joffrey glanced at his nominal uncle, then turned to gaze in the direction the Giant Lion had gone.

"A wonderful accident."

Meeting is fate. It seems you are destined to become my mount.

He was very curious.

How many Direwolves could a Mountain Giant Lion that breathed fire defeat?

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