The ice-blue dragon egg lay still on the crystal platform.
The cracks on its surface seemed deeper. More numerous.
But the faint pulse of life—gone.
Did that brutal clash drain its last spark?
Lynn's heart sank.
No way.
I nearly died for this thing.
And now you're telling me it's done?
No. You can hold on a little longer.
Lynn refused to accept it. He reached out again, carefully touching the stone egg.
Cold. Hard.
But this time—something different.
Beneath the deathly chill, a trace of warmth. Almost imperceptible.
Like a stubborn ember buried beneath ten thousand years of ice.
Lynn channeled his ice magic into his palm.
Let's see if there's a reaction.
Nothing.
The egg remained inert. Stubborn as stone.
"Damn it."
Lynn cursed under his breath.
Is it really over?
He replayed the earlier moment.
The dragonfire and magic from the Valyrian steel sword saved me.
An idea struck him.
Lynn pressed Longclaw against the egg.
This time, he channeled not just ice magic—but the dragonfire essence as well.
Ice and fire.
Two opposing forces, flowing into the petrified egg simultaneously.
Then—
It happened.
The ice-blue egg trembled!
The dragon-scale patterns erupted with blinding light!
Not the faint, flickering glow from before.
This was brilliant. Scorching. Golden-red light that filled the entire cavern!
BOOM!
A powerful life force exploded from within the egg!
Majestic. Unstoppable.
The temperature in the cavern skyrocketed.
The ice crystal platform began to melt.
Frost on the walls turned to droplets, dripping onto the ground.
Torren, Jason, and the others stumbled backward, terrified.
They stared at the glowing egg as if facing an erupting volcano.
Only Lynn stood still.
His face—pure, wild joy.
I can feel it!
Inside the egg—
A life that had slept for millennia—
Was waking.
He'd done it.
He'd activated the petrified dragon egg.
By sheer accident, he'd recreated the legendary conditions needed to awaken a dragon egg: ice and fire.
The egg hadn't fully hatched yet. But it was no longer dead stone.
It was alive.
And if it lived—one day, it would break free.
Still—Lynn's head ached with a new problem.
Hatching a true dragon requires blood. And not just any blood.
He recalled the legends. The rituals of old Valyria. The price of awakening dragons.
Who do I use?
Should I seek out Daenerys?
Good idea. But she's too far away.
Blood of wisdom? Any learned maester might suffice.
Blood of power? Robert would be ideal. But that's... difficult. His son Joffrey might work too.
Blood of the dragon?
Lynn's first thought: Jon.
The only ones left with Old Valyrian blood were Maester Aemon, Jon, Daenerys, and Viserys.
But will it work? The ritual demands specific conditions.
I'll have to figure it out later.
The light faded.
The egg returned to its ice-blue hue.
But it was no longer cold.
Lynn felt it clearly through his palm—a steady, powerful heartbeat.
And a warm, affectionate consciousness. Trusting. Dependent.
It thinks I'm its parent?
Hatchlings imprint on the first thing they sense.
That's... actually possible.
Lynn's expression turned strange.
I don't have Targaryen blood. Will I even be able to control it once it hatches?
Whatever. One step at a time.
The thought eased his anxiety.
Arya, having calmed down, gazed curiously at the egg.
She didn't notice Nymeria's tail tucked between her legs...
"Lord..."
Torren's trembling voice pulled Lynn back.
"Is that... a dragon egg?"
Lynn carefully lifted the now-warm egg from the platform.
He looked at Torren and the others—faces filled with shock.
He knew this secret couldn't be hidden anymore.
And he needed these men to keep it.
"Yes."
"It's alive."
Lynn raised the egg.
"This is the ultimate weapon we'll use to fight the Long Night. To burn away all darkness."
Everyone gasped.
A fossilized egg—capable of birthing a dragon?!
Their expressions were more shocked than when they'd seen wights.
A dragon!
The mythical creature exclusive to House Targaryen!
The Targaryens descended from Valyria. Valyrians wielded fire magic and commanded dragons!
And their commander had found a fossilized dragon egg?
And could hatch it?
This is insane!
The way they looked at Lynn changed completely.
Before, it was respect. Trust.
Now—fanaticism.
A man who could receive guidance from the Old Gods. Who could awaken a legendary dragon egg.
He's no mortal.
He's a divine messenger sent by the Old Gods to save the North.
"Lord!"
Torren dropped to one knee, sword across his chest.
"I, Torren, swear by the Old Gods—I will follow you until death!"
"We swear to follow you, Lord!"
The Northern guards knelt in unison.
The Night's Watch rangers exchanged glances.
"We swear by the Seven—we will follow you, Lord!"
Their voices rang with fervent loyalty.
Arya stared, stunned.
A strange pride swelled in her chest.
Lynn looked at them, heart surging.
From this moment on, this force is mine.
Not just subordinates.
Believers.
"Rise."
Lynn helped Torren up.
He wrapped the egg carefully in soft animal hide and held it close.
"We're leaving."
His gaze swept over the murals depicting the Long Night.
"But first—one more thing."
He looked at Torren.
"Burn this place. All of it."
"Burn it?"
Torren blinked.
"Yes."
Lynn's eyes flashed cold.
He was still furious about being ambushed.
Even though he'd gained immensely from it.
Without the system's protection, I'd be dead.
And if I died, Arya would marry someone else.
The thought made his fury burn hotter.
"I don't care who this altar worships."
"I don't care what secrets it hides."
"I want it erased from this world."
"Yes, Lord!"
Torren obeyed without question.
They hauled half their oil into the cavern.
Lit a fuse at the entrance.
Oil covered everything.
Flames roared to life.
Lynn stood at a distance, holding the egg, watching the inferno with cold eyes.
No expression.
But inside—he sneered.
You wanted to use this egg as a trap?
Now the egg's mine.
And your altar's gone.
Let's see what you do next.
As Lynn turned to leave—
A presence locked onto him.
Filled with infinite malice.
Invisible eyes in the darkness, staring at him.
And the egg in his arms.
Lynn paused.
Didn't look back.
Just smirked.
The Night King's far away. Try reaching me if you dare.
At most, you'll send some grunts to harass me.
I've got Valyrian steel.
Want the egg?
Come and take it.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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