The second wave of crossbow bolts was fired, with the exact same result. This time, Ghidorah used its left head, spewing not golden rays but an intensely cold ice breath. The crossbow bolts froze in mid-air, then shattered into ice crystals and fell. The ice breath continued forward, freezing a section of the city wall and the defenders on it into ice sculptures.
The temperature plummeted, and the frozen soldiers remained in their last living poses, their faces contorted with fear.
"Monster... This is a monster..." A slave soldier threw down his weapon and turned to run.
Panic began to spread. Officers tried to kill the fleeing soldiers, but more joined the escape. Some of them weren't afraid of death, but this power beyond comprehension completely shattered their will to fight.
Just then, Viserys controlled Ghidorah to fly directly above the city gate, and with a blast of golden ray, only a large hole remained where the city gate once stood.
He did not continue his attack but amplified his voice with magic so that everyone in the city could hear.
"People of Yunkai, I am Viserys Targaryen, Dragon King of Valyria, breaker of chains."
His voice echoed through the city.
"Look at the chains on your bodies, and then look at the Wise Masters in their Tokar Robes. They pile up Pyramids with your flesh and blood, exchanging your suffering for gold. Now, they make you die for them, using your lives to protect their wealth."
The slave soldiers on the city wall stopped. Some Freemen also lowered their bows.
"In Astapor, I have proven my promise." Viserys continued to shout, "The Unsullied are now free men, and the slaves have burned their chains. Everyone can live with dignity. I do not ask you to fight for me; I only ask you to fight for yourselves. Lay down your weapons, and you will gain your freedom."
These words were like drops of water thrown into a pot of oil, stirring up a violent reaction within Yunkai.
Inside the city walls, the Freemen troops responsible for the second line of defense also began to stir. Many of them were originally slaves or children of slaves. Although the freedom and bounty promised by the Wise Masters were tempting, they were, after all, just promises, and it was uncertain whether they would be fulfilled.
However, the Dragon King outside the city had indeed proven his promise with actions before.
"Is what he says true?" a young slave soldier asked the veteran beside him.
The veteran whispered, "Yesterday, merchants from Astapor brought news that all the Good Masters there are dead, and the slaves are truly free."
"Then why are we still fighting for the Wise Masters?"
This news quickly spread among the slave troops. The officers tried to suppress it, but it was already too late.
Ghidorah's three previous attacks on the city wall had already destroyed the soldiers' morale. Therefore, a mutiny broke out inside the city wall.
The slave troops turned their spears, attacking the Wise Masters' private soldiers and officers who were trying to suppress them, as well as the Freemen army that was still resisting.
Soon, ten thousand Unsullied marched in neat formation through the open city gate. They did not charge but maintained a tight formation, spears leveled, advancing slowly. This steady, unyielding method was more despair-inducing than a charge, demonstrating an unstoppable momentum.
The rebels inside the city gate made way for the Unsullied. Some of the Wise Masters' private soldiers still tried to block them, but facing the Unsullied phalanx, their resistance was like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Viserys circled above the city on Ghidorah, monitoring the entire battle. He saw that the Unsullied had controlled the South Gate and were advancing into the city, and the Mercenaries were gaining the upper hand at the East and North Gates.
"To the Pyramid," Viserys patted Ghidorah's neck.
The giant dragon flew towards the city center. There stood Yunkai's largest Pyramid, and he had already seen that most of the Wise Masters were gathered there.
Top floor of the Pyramid
Good Master Kraznys stood by the window, watching the spreading fires in the city. He was still fiddling with his ring, but his fingers had turned white from gripping it tightly.
"It's over, all over." A young Wise Master slumped in his chair. "The city gates have been breached, and the slave soldiers have defected."
"What about Meereen's reinforcements?" another Wise Master grabbed the messenger's collar. "Why haven't Meereen's reinforcements arrived yet?"
"Meereen's army will take at least three days to arrive," the messenger stammered. "We didn't expect Astapor to launch an offensive."
The entire council chamber fell silent. The Wise Masters looked at each other, seeing despair in each other's eyes.
Just then, a dragon's roar came from outside the window.
A huge shadow enveloped the Pyramid, and three dragon heads appeared outside the window, six golden eyes staring at the people inside the hall.
One of Ghidorah's heads stretched inside. The Wise Masters screamed and retreated, some collapsing to the ground, others trying to hide under tables.
Viserys leaped down from the dragon's head, landing steadily in the center of the hall. He wore black and red armor, with "Blackfyre" and "Blood Shadow" hanging at his waist.
"Good Master Kraznys." Viserys's gaze locked on the chief Wise Master, who was said to control nearly a third of the city's slave trade. "You know why I'm here."
A hint of cunning suddenly flashed in Kraznys's eyes. "Respected King Viserys, we can discuss terms. Yunkai's wealth far exceeds your imagination; the gold in the treasury is enough to fill three large ships, and there are those beautiful bed slaves. As long as you spare us and our families, everything can be yours."
Viserys smiled. "Kraznys, do you think I care about that gold? Valyria's treasures are far richer than your entire Slavers Bay combined. As for those bed slaves, they are now Freemen. In the Valyrian Empire, no one will be oppressed."
Kraznys tried to maintain his dignity, but his trembling hand betrayed him. "Do you know what you're doing? The slave trade in Slavers Bay..."
"The slave trade ends today," Viserys interrupted him.
"Do you think the other city-states will stand by and do nothing?" Grazdan roared. "Lys, Tyrosh, Volantis... they all need slaves. And the Dothraki, they need places to sell slaves. You will become the enemy of all Essos."
"Then let them come," Viserys said calmly. "I will let them know the consequences of making an enemy of a dragon."
He drew "Blackfyre," pointing the sword tip at Kraznys. "Now, you have two choices. Surrender and face judgment. Or die here now."
"No!" Kraznys collapsed. "You can't do this. We are nobles. We have power..."
Viserys did not let him finish.
He directly ordered the guards of several Wise Masters in the hall, "Soldiers, kill him."
Those soldiers looked at Kraznys, then at Viserys and Ghidorah behind him, and very consciously stepped forward to grab Kraznys.
"Release him, then step back three paces and turn around," Viserys commanded again. The soldiers still obeyed.
Then Viserys approached Kraznys and uttered a classic line, "Power is power."
These were originally Cersei's words to Petyr, meaning "Power is power." But here, it could mean "Strength is power."
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