A lion has claws

"Shocked, aren't you?"

Standing at the edge of the field, Barristan shook his head and sighed softly as he watched Renly stare with wide blue eyes.

"To be honest, this isn't the first time I've seen something like this. Last time, I was even the one facing him."

"And I'm still quite shocked."

"But... but..."

Renly stared dumbfounded at the commanding figure astride the white horse in the field, unable to reconcile him with the gentle, modest blond boy from before.

"I know what you're trying to say."

One was the king's brother, the other the commander of the Kingsguard at the king's side; he and Renly could be called very well acquainted.

This young man of House Baratheon possessed extraordinary charm and a unique gift for socializing, just as Robert had in his youth.

Compared with his other brother, Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone and Master of Ships, he was undoubtedly far more personable.

But he lacked a certain fire in his blood.

"Normally, he's as gentle as any ordinary fourteen-year-old boy, but once he steps onto a battlefield, he bares a lion's sharp claws and fangs, cowing every beast into prostrating itself at his feet."

Watching Arthas on horseback, his presence even more imposing than before, Barristan shook his head somewhat helplessly.

"That fellow Tywin really struck lucky, fathering such an extraordinary son."

"The... king of lions?"

Renly stared blankly, murmuring to himself.

By the time he came to his senses, he found that Barristan had already sheathed his sword and was walking away from the field.

His tall back carried a trace of desolation. With every step, his footfalls seemed heavier, like an aged tiger gradually growing old.

"Ser Barristan!"

Puzzled, Renly called loudly after him.

"Aren't you going to watch this splendid contest?"

The aging tiger stopped, as though he could no longer contend with the mighty power of time.

"There's no point watching a contest whose outcome is already decided."

"Those Lannister cubs might not even manage to chew through these old bones of mine."

"Twenty years ago, I might have mustered the courage to draw my sword and challenge this nearly invincible young man."

"But now..."

The heavy footsteps sounded again, and Barristan gradually vanished from the place where the newly crowned lion king was about to subdue a pride of lions.

"Arthas, don't get too arrogant!"

Among the knights wearing standard Gold Cloak armor, only Daven and Arthas truly stood out.

Crimson Lannister armor contrasted starkly with the silvery-white Death Knight armor shimmering with an eerie blue light.

As the leader of the ten knights, he was enveloped by Arthas's intangible aura, and an inexplicable fear rose in his heart.

But the battle-hardened Daven forced down his unease and roared a challenge at the young lion king.

"I, Daven Lannister, won't cower before your great reputation!"

"If you want our allegiance, defeat us head-on and prove your strength!"

Daven's roar seemed to have some effect. The nine knights who had been lost in fear immediately rallied, drawing the swords at their sides and howling toward the sky.

A lion had claws!

Ever since The Rains of Castamere had resounded across the Seven Kingdoms, Lannisters had never feared any challenge!

"Good. Plenty of spirit."

Arthas praised them approvingly. For the Lannisters, who never lacked money, the quality of their elite knights had always been very high.

He reached out with his leather-gloved left hand and gently rubbed Invincible's white mane beneath him. Invincible snorted happily, seemingly looking forward to the battle as well.

"Only a wild, unruly horse is satisfying to tame."

With a smile in his eyes, Arthas abruptly pulled the reins. The white horse reared high and, with a piercing neigh, charged toward the fully armed Lannister knights, blood-red light in his eyes!

"Trust me, Daven."

Raising Frostmourne high on his galloping mount, its keen blade pointing forward, Arthas let out a deep roar.

"I am a lion before a flock of sheep. I know you do not fear me, nor dare to fear me!"

Facing Arthas, whose presence alone erupted with the force of thousands of soldiers and horses, Daven and the other knights snapped their visors down, not daring to take him lightly.

"Ho there, Lannisters!"

He likewise raised his sword high, the horse beneath him pawing incessantly at the ground, and shouted,

"Prepare to engage! Don't let anyone look down on us!"

"Hear Me Roar!"

"Hear Me Roar!"

With Daven's bellow, the formation of ten knights charged forward like an enormous beast amid thunderous hoofbeats.

Closer, closer!

At the edge of the field, Renly felt as though every cell in his body was trembling. Born a Baratheon, he had seen combat before, and had even fought himself.

But this battle, so unequal in numbers yet seemingly evenly matched, left his mind utterly blank.

Watching that figure charging fearlessly forward, Renly felt that even Loras, the Knight of Flowers he had always loved so deeply, was scarcely worth mentioning beside him!

You have to win, Arthas!

For some reason, Renly found himself silently praying for him.

Rumble!

As the two sides collided violently, Arthas was instantly swallowed by the knights, and Renly grew so nervous that his heart nearly leaped out of his chest.

Just as Renly sank into deep worry, the figure on the white horse shot through the knights' formation like an arrow.

His long golden hair streamed behind him, like boundless sunlight breaking through layers of dark clouds to shower its heat upon the world once more!

"Wonderful!"

At the edge of the field, Renly rose to his feet and applauded wildly with heartfelt enthusiasm, even whistling.

The two sides collided swiftly, then swiftly separated, exchanging sides as though by mutual agreement.

Only three fallen Lannister knights remained in the center of the tourney field.

Arthas calmly wheeled his horse around and looked at his opponents with tranquil eyes, as though that fierce exchange had been nothing more than an appetizer.

"Well, Daven? Shall we continue?"

Gently soothing the intensely excited Invincible beneath him, Arthas asked with a smile, as though he were out on a spring outing.

In that exchange, he had relied on superb horsemanship... and a little magical assistance to evade every attack from the knights. He had even deliberately refrained from attacking Daven while knocking three knights down.

Watching the three knights lying on the ground, groaning incessantly, Daven's heart grew heavier.

He's too strong!

Their tight attack formation had been no more challenging to Arthas than a leisurely stroll.

Amid such a dense flurry of slashes, he had even held back, using only the flat of his blade to knock three knights from their horses!

"Onward, Lannisters!"

Taking a light breath, Daven loudly gave the order to attack again.

Though they charged again without hesitation under Daven's leadership, there were no loud roars this time. The seven remaining knights rode in silence, as though advancing toward death.

"Excellent!"

Watching them charge fearlessly toward him, Arthas was even more satisfied with the quality of the Lannister knights.

Only such an outstanding force deserved to be led by him!

Squeezing his horse's flanks hard, the prince of Lordaeron seemed to rediscover the feeling of fighting bloody battles on the battlefield all those years ago.

The two sides swiftly collided again, then swiftly parted, as though the earlier scene had played out once more.

This time, however, only two men remained behind Daven.

Turning his horse around and looking at Arthas, still relaxed and at ease, his armor gleaming like new without a single sword mark, Daven's mind held nothing but despair at an opponent he could not resist.

"Shall we continue?"

The same question, in the same even tone. Daven gripped his sword tightly, raised his head proudly, and gave the same answer.

"Onward, Lannisters!"

The same silent charge followed, with only the sound of hooves ceaselessly pounding the earth echoing across the field. Arthas could not help feeling a trace of admiration for this force, along with a trace of nostalgia.

When he had joined the Silver Knights, he too had been just as fearless.

The familiar scene played out once more. When the dust settled, only Daven remained.

"Shall we continue?"

Setting aside his flippant attitude, Arthas put the question to Daven with the utmost solemnity.

"Daven Lannister."

"This time, I won't use the flat of my blade."

"Defeat will mean death!"

As that cold, solemn voice rang out, Daven felt a chill sweep over him, freezing both his soul and his flesh.

"Just surrender..."

Even Renly, outside the field, could scarcely bear to watch this almost suicidal charge. He had thought that even if Arthas won, it would be a Pyrrhic victory, never imagining that the side with an overwhelming numerical advantage would be driven to such a point!

Only someone as sentimental as Renly would worry about the lives of Lannister knights.

Had Stannis been here instead, he would only have grown more wary of a company of knights with such a fearless spirit.

Daven swayed precariously in the saddle. He licked his pale lips, glanced at the golden lion still gleaming on his chest, and roared with almost every ounce of strength in his body.

"Onward, Lannisters!"

Under Renly's incredulous gaze, the lone remaining Lannister knight charged toward death once more!

Arthas silently lowered his head, as though mourning this fearless warrior, while Invincible's heavy hooves carried him charging toward the man.

The instant they met, Frostmourne's keen blade pierced straight through Daven's chest and lifted him high from the saddle.

Only then, suspended in the air, did Daven clearly see Arthas's pure white eyes, a fair gaze devoid of any emotion.

Like a god who governed death, regarding every person equally.

Daven closed his eyes, feeling his strength rapidly draining away. Yet his heart was utterly peaceful as he quietly awaited death.

Holding his sword in one hand, Arthas carried Daven's body aloft and circled the field in the posture of a victor before slowly approaching Lancel, who had not taken part in the fighting.

"Get him to a maester quickly."

Under Lancel's incredulous gaze, Arthas laid the seemingly dead Daven on the ground.

"Although I avoided all his vital spots, he could still die from blood loss if you delay too long."

With that, the horse's hooves rose high, and Arthas galloped out of the field, his figure like a sovereign ruling over the world.

"Oh, one more thing."

Just as he was about to pass through the gates of the tourney field, the white horse was reined in by his master once again.

Lancel looked toward him against the sunlight. Dazzling sunshine spilled over the silvery-white armor, and those golden strands of hair were so brilliant.

"Once he wakes up, bring him to me."

"Your lion king is still waiting to receive your allegiance!"