Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 350 The Eldest Son Defends the Territory—The Second Son Expands the Frontier

Upon returning to the Iron Islands, Euron clearly felt the estrangement that had result from months of being bogged down in political affairs at Harrenhal.

It's not a loss of skill, but rather a sluggishness in the body's tactile sensation of the knife handle and in the subtle control of muscles when exerting force.

Euron then traveled to Ironsmoke Island and met with Atticus Whitney, the island's supervisor. Instead of requesting the forging of sharp killing weapons, he commissioned several special practice knives. These knives were of standard form, their only distinguishing feature being their astonishing weight; the blades were forged from a mixture of repeatedly forged coarse iron, making them several times heavier than ordinary battle knives.

The inspiration comes from the scene in the One Piece world where Zoro practices his sword with heavy weights on the deck every day.

Euron's goal was pure and extreme: to hone every inch of his muscles under absolute pressure.

The control of force by each bone.

The first step in cultivation has a clear goal: to make heavy tasks seem effortless.

Every morning, before the sea mist had completely dissipated, Euron's figure would appear on the rocky beach where the waves crashed against the shore. He was shirtless, the sea breeze and splashing waves wetting his bronze skin, his muscles taut and bulging like steel. He gripped the heavy practice knife, so heavy that even an ordinary strong man would have difficulty lifting it, and again and again, with the purest and most basic movements, he practiced chopping, slashing, cutting, and sweeping.

There were no fancy moves, only the most primal clash of weight and strength. Each swing was accompanied by a heavy whooshing sound, and sweat poured down like rain onto the black reefs, only to be swallowed by the waves. In this almost self-torturous ascetic training, he forced his body to adapt to, to conquer, and to transcend this heavy constraint, until he could wield this terrifying weight with ease, thus completing the first lesson on his path back to power.

As the expedition drew near, Ironborn warriors selected from various islands began to flock to Pike City.

They settled into a makeshift camp outside the city, where deafening shouts of battle and the clash of weapons echoed from dawn till dusk, the air thick with the smell of sweat and the atmosphere of preparing for war.

Arriving on the same ship as these elite warriors were the second sons of the island lords' families. They harbored dreams of achieving great deeds, their eyes burning with a desire for the unknown seas and endless glory.

"The second son went to sea, the eldest son guarded the land!"

These ambitious second sons were able to join the army on the expedition, while the eldest sons of each family had to stay on the island to inherit the family business and guard the ancestral halls and salt fields.

Ironically, the staunch defenders of this rule—their fathers, who were the island's owners—were now mostly boarding the longship with high spirits, ready to personally embark on this unprecedented path of conquest.

This situation caused great resentment and discontent among the eldest sons who remained on the islands. They gathered in taverns or their own halls, drinking in silence, their words filled with bitterness.

"Why should we? Father can go to the Summer Islands to plunder gems and hardwoods, while we have to stay here counting seagulls and managing a bunch of slaves who make salt?"

"Exactly! What future is there in staying here with these cold rocks and salty winds? True glory lies at sea, in the distance!"

"If only I had been born a few years later, I would have been more comfortable being the second son!"

Suddenly, the status of the eldest son, which was seen as the hope and future of the family in other parts of Westeros, became something to be despised in the Iron Islands.

A peculiar trend quietly spread: the younger generation of Tiemin began to envy the second son's freedom, believing that guarding the land was a shackle, while expanding the territory was the true nature of a man.

"Who would want to be the eldest son if they could be the second son?" This statement became an unspoken consensus among many young nobles of the Iron Islands.

In this land where plunder and conquest were the prevailing beliefs, the eldest son, who clung to the family business, was for the first time completely overshadowed by the second son, who was able to set sail and explore new territories. This situation was something Euron, who had first proposed this prudent idea, had never anticipated.

Before the morning mist had been completely dispelled by the sea breeze, Euron had already completed his solitary weight training on the secluded beach. As the sun fully rose above the horizon, casting its golden light across the training grounds of Pike City, he turned to another, more intense form of training, engaging in combat sparring with Ironborn warriors from various islands.

The atmosphere on the training field was both enthusiastic and solemn.

Every Iron Warrior who dares to step forward and take on the challenge becomes a living "point." Defeating them not only allows you to accumulate these "points" little by little, but also provides an excellent opportunity to hone your reaction time, swordsmanship, and adaptability.

For those Iron Warriors, this was also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They could personally spar with the legendary "Lord of the Sea Monsters" and experience his precise and ruthless swordsmanship firsthand. Even if they were quickly defeated, they could still learn practical combat skills and the pressure of life and death that were difficult to achieve in their usual training.

Euron's figure weaved through the crowd, his twin swords (now replaced with ordinary training swords) following him like a shadow. He would parry and counterattack, dodge and advance, each move concise and effective, full of wisdom honed in real combat. He was not only fighting, but also observing, occasionally pointing out the weaknesses or areas for improvement of his opponents after defeating them.

This is undoubtedly a brilliant method that achieves three goals at once: Euron himself accumulates "points" and enriches his combat experience; the Ironborn warriors receive valuable guidance and practical experience; and the overall combat capability of the entire Iron Islands Expeditionary Force is also quietly improved through this high-intensity training.

On the training field, a tall figure with an exotic air stood out; it was none other than Prince Jalaba Sor of Red Flower Valley.

This expedition to the Summer Islands was ostensibly to help the exiled prince reclaim his right to the throne, so it was only natural that he should be present on the battlefield and appear at the front lines.

Jalabar's fighting style is distinctly characteristic of the Summer Isles: he grips a large hardwood shield tightly in his left hand and a sturdy spear in his right. In addition, he carries a finely crafted longbow on his back, and he is also a highly skilled archer with exceptional accuracy.

Euron and the prince also sparred several times.

Jalabar Thal's spearmanship was strikingly different from Prince Oberyn of Dorne's serpentine, elusive, and deceptive style. Jalabar's moves were more grounded, emphasizing foundation and explosive power. Each thrust was heavy and powerful, like a giant log striking; each parry relied on the shield and the core strength of his waist and abdomen, making him as steady as a rock. His fighting style was intensely sunny, powerful, and carried a primal and direct sense of oppression.

Initially, Jalabar Sol was merely a useful piece in Euron's game, a piece from the Iron Islands used to legitimize his intervention in the Summer Islands.

As time went by, through their long-term interactions, Euron gradually began to appreciate this dark-skinned, rough-around-the-edges, yet exceptionally optimistic prince.

Jalabar Zor possessed the warmth and cheerfulness of the summer islands, acting without concern for details and displaying a straightforward and generous nature, as if no gloom could linger in his heart for long. Even more remarkable was that beneath this rugged exterior, he consistently maintained impeccable manners and etiquette, exuding an undeniable integrity. He also showed genuine care and concern for his wife, Tessia, in a political marriage arranged by the Greyjoy family.

Euron remained rational throughout, and these admirable qualities might simply be a carefully crafted facade by Jalabar Zol for survival and the restoration of his kingdom. After all, his only remaining option was the military might of the Iron Islands.

But Euron remembered that in the original story, the prince eventually became a popular figure in King's Landing court, known for his friendliness and integrity for over a decade, and never committed any evil deeds.

After careful consideration, Euron has made his decision: to fully support Jalabah Thal in becoming the true king of the Summer Isles.

Euron was not particularly worried that the prince would betray the Iron Islands after taking power.

The Iron Islands' invincible fleet and deep-sea behemoths are the most solid foundation of all these promises and friendships.

Faced with absolute power, the price of any betrayal will be unbearably high.

The resounding impacts and heavy breathing on the training field heralded a stirring prelude to the expedition.