Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 174 "The Cripple" Velas Tyrell

Today's martial arts tournament is destined to be anything but peaceful.

Prince Rhaegar Targaryen continued to display unparalleled martial prowess and style as he faced Brandon Stark, heir to the North, in a jousting contest. After eight rounds of fierce combat, Prince Rhaegar ultimately unhorsed the wolf-like Brandon with a precise and elegant thrust, once again proving his strength as the "Dragon King's Heir."

However, in the stands, young Benjen Stark wasn't entirely absorbed in the thrilling duel. His gaze was constantly, almost imperceptibly, following his sister Lyanna. When he saw his older brother Brandon fall to the ground in defeat, he keenly noticed—Lyanna showed no sign of worry or frustration over her brother's loss; instead, she subconsciously let out a long sigh of relief, and her tense shoulders relaxed.

A wave of astonishment and confusion washed over Banyan; he could hardly believe his eyes.

"Are you kidding me?" he silently screamed in his heart. "That's our big brother! You're not worried about whether he's hurt, but instead—you're worried about Prince Rhaegar who defeated him?!"

A strange and unsettling feeling, like a cold stream, quietly washed over Banyan's heart.

Euron's third jousting match is about to begin. As the master of ceremonies loudly introduces him, emphasizing his age and already impressive record: "Next up is Euron Greyjoy from the Iron Islands! Only eleven years old, yet already two victories! And his opponent today is Lord Randle Tarly, head of House Tarly, whose motto is 'I take pride in martial prowess, I am the vanguard!' Can the young Greyjoy create another miracle? Let us wait and see!"

Fully armed Euron rode on Faruru's back, his lips twitching slightly beneath his visor as he muttered to himself, "I really have to thank you. If Count Tali hadn't used all his strength to knock me off his horse after that shout, where would his reputation as 'Horned Vanguard' be?"

Indeed, Lord Randyll Tarly was the most formidable opponent Euron had ever encountered.

The count, known for his bravery and sternness, launched a fierce attack, showing no mercy despite his opponent's youth. For ten rounds, Euron was repeatedly struck in the shoulder armor and shield by the heavy, powerful spear, the impact numbing his arms.

【Skill: Pegasus Dash Iv1】Origin: Gan Fall, the sixth god of the Sky Island "Kingdom of Gods". Description: Uses a knight's lance on a mount to perform a super armor attack. Super armor effect: While mounted, one cannot be easily knocked off.

Euron was kept firmly in his saddle thanks to the stable super armor effect provided by [Pegasus Dash Iv1], which prevented him from being knocked off. This strange skill, originating from the Sky Island Kingdom, became his greatest reliance at this moment.

In the eleventh round, in the split second of their renewed charge, Euron's senses suddenly sharpened. The surrounding clamor seemed to vanish instantly, his vision strangely focused and magnified, allowing him to clearly see the subtle twitching of the muscles beneath Earl Randall's armored wrists, and to almost hear the steady, powerful heartbeat of his opponent. In his eyes, his opponent's previously swift thrusting movements seemed to have become slow and predictable, as if mired in viscous amber.

In that instant when time seemed to stand still, Euron's spear seemed to come alive, striking with perfect accuracy against Count Randyll Tarly's wrist!

A crisp "clang" rang out!

Earl Landau winced in pain, letting out a muffled groan. His fingers involuntarily loosened, and his massive body lost its balance due to the precise strike and the momentum of the charge, causing him to tumble and fall from his horse with a crash!

In an instant, after an absolute silence, the entire stadium erupted in an astonishing roar of cheers!

After several fierce battles, the atmosphere in the arena reached a new climax as the next character to appear attracted much attention.

On one side is Oberyn Martell, the Prince of Dorne, known for his agility and ruthlessness, nicknamed "The Red Viper."

He moved with a light step and wore a nonchalant smile, as if what was about to happen was not a duel, but a game.

On the other side was Velas Tyrell, the heir to Highgarden, young yet renowned for his wisdom and bravery. His expression was composed, and the golden rose, representing the highest glory of the Reach, shone on his chest.

The bugle sounded, and the duel began. In the first two rounds, the two were evenly matched, their spears clashing with deafening roars, drawing cheers from the audience.

In the third round, a sudden change occurred! Oberyn seized a fleeting opening, his spear striking Velas's shield with deadly precision, like a venomous snake striking its prey. The blow was so powerful that Prince Velas lost his balance and was thrown from his horse!

However, a terrible accident occurred—one of his feet unfortunately got tightly tangled in the stirrup strap, and he was dragged along by the frightened warhorse for a long distance on the rough sand and gravel!

"Ah—!" A series of terrified screams and uproar erupted from the stands.

Chaos erupted in the stands of Highgarden. Lady Olenna Tyrell, Queen of Thorns, abruptly stood up, her face deathly pale. Several Tyrell knights and squires rushed down from the stands like madmen, heading towards the field, eager to check on their heir's injuries.

Oberyn Martell was clearly not expecting such an unexpected turn of events. He threw down his lance, the playful smile on his face vanished, replaced by concern and annoyance. He spurred his horse forward to investigate, but was rudely blocked by several stern-faced Highgarden guards wielding weapons, their eyes filled with vigilance and hostility.

From the highest stand, King Iris II witnessed the chaos. Twisting his tangled beard, he showed no concern whatsoever, but instead let out a low, unsettling "heh heh heh" laugh, as if he were enjoying a wonderful drama.

In the center of the arena, Velas Tyrell lay unconscious, surrounded by Highgarden guards and physicians who had rushed to the scene. The physicians anxiously examined his injuries, trying to free his trapped foot from the stirrups; chaos and panic reigned. Lady Olenna Tyrell, Queen of Thorns, gripped the armrests tightly, her knuckles white, her once astute eyes now only reflecting a grandmother's worry.

The great wheel of the martial arts tournament will not stop turning for anyone.

Amidst the noise, the emcee's voice rang out again, forcefully drawing everyone's attention back to the competition.

Next up was the duel between "The Mountain" Gregor Clegane and Orton Mariveth. The battle was a foregone conclusion; Gregor, with his terrifying strength and brutal offensive, crushed his opponent, shield and all, almost in the very first exchange, winning easily. His victory was savage and direct, seemingly solely for the purpose of venting his destructive urges.

Next up were Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, and Levin Martell of Dorne. This duel showcased another extreme of martial skill—precise, elegant, and efficient. Sir Arthur's spearmanship was as superb as his swordsmanship; after several brilliant exchanges, he unhorsed Levin Martell with an impeccable thrust, earning the heartfelt admiration and cheers of all the knights and nobles in the arena.

The competition continued relentlessly, as if the earlier incident was merely a trivial interlude.

Euron's gaze swept across the bustling arena, fixed on the chaotic rescue scene at the Highgarden heirs' side. He saw the healers finally, carefully, almost forcefully, free Velas Tyrell's foot, which had been firmly stuck in the twisted stirrup.

The sight was chilling—the entire ankle was a bloody mess, the expensive leather boots and socks worn through and mixed with the torn flesh. Even more horrifying, amidst the crimson, one could vaguely see dislocated bone fragments and crushed soft tissue debris.

Euron stared expressionlessly at the carnage, already making his judgment: "Veras Tyrell—the heir to Highgarden—is likely to become a tumor from now on."