Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 425 The Golden Sea Monster Flag Flies High

Euron kept his promise and accepted the submission of the entire Elephant Island, thus ending the slaughter under the blade.

When Jenna Maxwell was about to fulfill her promise and offer herself to him, Euron raised his hand and refused her offer.

His gaze passed over the beautiful princess and landed on one of the island lords who was accompanying him.

"Jenna Maxwell," Euron's voice echoed in the hall, praising, "your loyalty and courage are better suited for a more fitting purpose. I betroth you to Barrett Oakwood, son of the Oakwood family patriarch of Oakwood Island, who will soon rule this place as governor."

This was not out of pity for the woman, but a far-reaching political arrangement: combining the bloodline of the previous royal family with the new ruler would be the quickest way to stabilize public sentiment and bind Elephant Island more firmly to the Iron Islands' war machine.

"The wedding," Euron gave the final order, deciding, "will be held in three days."

Euron entered the most sacred place on Elephant Island—the Temple of Elephant God.

The hall was deep and secluded, filled with the rich scent of sandalwood.

A statue of Ganesha, carved from flawless white jade and standing tens of meters tall, stands in the center of the temple, exuding holiness and majesty.

The statue's massive elephant-like body was draped in a magnificent robe meticulously carved from a single piece of red jade, shimmering with light. Its enormous tusks, inlaid with countless dazzling gemstones, gleamed with a blinding divine radiance under the eternal lamplight.

The altar in front of the statue was piled high with seasonal fruits and beautiful flowers, and the air was filled with the wafting smoke of incense.

Just like before, when Euron touched the cold white jade statue, his instinct to devour was once again triggered.

Divine power devoured!

A torrent of power, far more powerful and intensely hotter than the Pharos Stone Bull, was forcibly ripped from the statue and surged wildly into his body.

A few lines of cold text then appeared starkly in his mind:

You have absorbed a portion of the supreme Ganesha's divine power, gaining +2 to Strength and +1 to Stamina.

What captivated Euron even more was this line:

[From this point onward, you will continuously receive one-fifth of the power of faith derived from this elephant god.]

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the grand wedding was held as scheduled at the Elephant Field.

Jenna Masterwell, dressed in a plain white wedding gown, stands side by side with Barrett Oakwood, who is dressed in Iron Islands attire.

Amidst the chanting of prayers by the black-robed priest of the drowning god and the colorful-robed priest of the elephant god, and under the complex gaze of all the islanders, the two entered into a marriage symbolizing union and submission.

After the ceremony, Jenna Masterwell held the crown of kings, a piece of ivory carved from a single piece and passed down through generations, with both hands. She walked solemnly to Euron, respectfully raised it above her head, and presented it to him. This was the most thorough transfer of power from the old dynasty to the conqueror.

Euron reached out and took the heavy crown, feeling the cool touch of ivory. He looked down at it, a smile playing on his lips.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he did not put the crown away, but turned around and personally placed it firmly on the head of the groom, Barrett Oakwood.

"From this day forward," Euron's voice echoed clearly throughout the silent Elephant Field, "there will no longer be an independent King of Elephant Island, only a Governor of Elephant Island as part of the Iron Islands."

Euron patted Barrett on the shoulder, his words carrying both an appointment and a heavy responsibility: "This place is now in your hands."

Barrett Oakwood's face flushed instantly, a burning mix of excitement and responsibility gleaming in his young eyes. He took a deep breath, grasped the hand of his bride Jenna Masterwell tightly, and raised their clasped hands high, as if raising a new flag.

This action instantly ignited the long-suppressed emotions in the audience. A complex and loud cheer erupted from the crowd—a cheer that contained blessings for the newlyweds, gratitude for their continued survival, and anticipation for the future.

Among the islands that have submitted, Elephant Island is particularly unique—they did not submit immediately, but rather went through a war, and now a large number of indigenous people still remain on the island.

To guard against potential unrest and hidden resistance forces, Euron left Barrett Oakwood's original fleet and three hundred elite Ironborn warriors there as the cornerstone of the new governor's authority and an iron fist to deter all sides.

With its deployment finalized, the massive Iron Islands fleet once again hoisted its black sails, cleaving through the azure waves, and continued its advance into the unknown waters to the east. The Iron Islands fleet's next target for conquest was clear—the island marked "Thunder Island" on the nautical charts.

On Elephant Island, the golden sea monster flag and the yellow flag with green pine (the Okwood family crest) fly over the former royal palace, now the governor's residence.

After four days of tedious sailing, the outline of an island, Mora Island, came into view on the distant horizon.

This solitary island, standing in the middle of the Jade Sea, presents a peculiar crescent shape, like a goddess's lost armband. In the depths of its embracing bay, two smaller volcanic islands nestle, their craters shrouded in wisps of white smoke.

As rumored, volcanic activity in this area is extremely frequent. Looking around, the entire island is almost entirely covered by a thick layer of volcanic ash, presenting a lifeless blackish-gray landscape, where virtually no vegetation grows.

A strong smell of sulfur permeated the air; this place was clearly uninhabited, a desolate wasteland abandoned by life.

Although there was no need for conquest, the fleet decided to dock and rest briefly.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Many Iron Warriors, who had been cooped up on the ship for days, were filled with curiosity about the strange volcanic landscape. They cheered and jumped off the ship to play and explore on the scorching land, leaving messy footprints on the desolate ashes.

The following morning, as the first rays of dawn illuminated the scorched coastline of Mora Island, the Iron Islands fleet once again set sail and departed from this desolate land.

But at that desolate, volcanic ash-covered summit, a golden sea monster flag has been firmly planted in the hard rock, fluttering in the sea breeze.

It is like a silent declaration, proclaiming to this boundless jade sea: even a deserted island that no one cares about, as long as it is within the sight of the Iron Islands, is the territory of the Iron Islands.

This has almost become a routine, an instinct ingrained in our bones.

Since embarking on this grand expedition to the east, the Ironborn have learned from Euron and developed an almost obsessive passion: whether their land is a bustling port, a fertile land, or a barren island of death, they are eager to plant their flags on that land.

This is not only a symbol of conquest, but also a sowing of a belief, as if wherever that ferocious sea monster flag goes, the sea and land are given new names and a new sense of belonging.