CHAPTER 155
"Hup!"
Euron desperately lashed his horse with the whip, trying to leave the slaughter and screams behind him as quickly as possible. Galloping at full speed, he stared at Pyke Castle rising atop the sea cliffs, his heart filled with unbearable anxiety.
"There are still two hundred men inside the castle, along with the servants. I still have a chance. As long as I make it back into Pyke, with Garon Glover's limited forces, they will never be able to storm the castle. Once I send ravens and summons to the captains of the surrounding islands, I can wipe them all out. I still have... the power hidden beneath my eyepatch..."
The succession of crushing defeats had completely driven away any thought of confronting Garon head-on. Countless schemes and desperate tricks churned endlessly through Euron's mind. At this moment, he could no longer remain calm. He only wanted to kill Garon by the fastest means possible. He struck his exhausted horse with several more savage lashes, forcing the terrified animal to run even faster.
But just as Pyke Castle drew nearer, several sharp whistles suddenly sounded behind him.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Euron instinctively looked over his shoulder and saw Garon clamping tightly onto his warhorse while calmly drawing and releasing arrow after arrow in rapid succession.
"That damned wolf!"
Euron cursed beneath his breath, lowered his body against the saddle, and urged his horse forward with all his strength.
Garon's eyes remained cold and focused as he relentlessly pursued him with his guards.
As they climbed higher toward Pyke Castle, the road became increasingly narrow and treacherous. One side bordered steep rocky slopes while the other overlooked sheer cliffs plunging into the crashing sea below. The wind howled through their ears, carrying the scent of saltwater and the urgency of the chase.
"Garon!"
"Be careful!"
"The road ahead only gets more dangerous!"
Seeing that Garon had no intention of slowing down, Asha couldn't help shouting a warning.
But Garon paid no attention.
If Euron escaped into Pyke Castle, everything they had accomplished today would become meaningless.
"Faster!"
"Aim for their horses!"
Garon roared as he dug his heels into his mount.
The horse burst forward with renewed speed.
Drawing his bow once more, Garon loosed another arrow.
This time it struck Euron squarely.
Unfortunately, the arrow glanced harmlessly off the black Valyrian scale armor covering Euron's body, leaving him completely unharmed.
Several of Garon's personal guards were skilled hunters accustomed to firing accurately from horseback.
Following Garon's command, they immediately shifted their aim toward the horses protecting Euron.
Whoosh!
Several arrows streaked through the air.
Accompanied by miserable screams, Euron's guards tumbled from their saddles one after another, crushed beneath galloping horses or slain where they fell.
"Faster!"
"Ride faster!"
Euron heard the desperate cries behind him but never once looked back.
He simply continued mercilessly whipping his horse, making one final desperate gamble.
Unfortunately, Garon's riders pursued him like relentless wolves.
Finally, less than a hundred yards from the closed gates of Pyke Castle, where the mountain path briefly widened into a relatively level stretch of ground, Garon steadied his breathing once again.
He drew his bow to its fullest.
Whoosh!
The arrow flew straight into the fleeing horse.
The animal let out a miserable neigh before collapsing violently.
Caught completely off guard, Euron was thrown from the saddle.
Bang!
He crashed heavily onto the rocky grass.
The tremendous impact forced a mouthful of blood from his lips as he struggled to breathe while leaning against the dying horse.
Fortunately, his full suit of priceless Valyrian scale armor absorbed much of the impact, preventing fatal injuries.
Unfortunately for him...
His luck ended there.
Before Euron could fully regain his footing, Garon and his riders had already surrounded him from every direction.
The frightened horses neighed loudly.
At the same time, sentries atop Pyke Castle's towers finally noticed the pursuit.
Dong!
Dong!
Dong!
Warning bells immediately rang throughout the fortress.
The entire castle erupted into chaos.
"Asha!"
"Take my guards and block the castle reinforcements."
"Do your best to persuade them to surrender."
"Euron is mine."
Never taking his eyes off the battered Euron, Garon calmly issued his orders.
Asha first cast a hateful glare toward Euron before looking back at Garon.
She silently nodded before leading Garon's guards toward the castle gates.
Once they departed, Garon slowly dismounted.
Greatsword dripping with blood, he walked steadily toward the isolated Euron.
"Crow's Eye."
Garon's voice was colder than winter ice.
"Your voyage ends here."
"Bastard!"
Madness and venom burned within Euron's remaining eye as he burst into twisted laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"You think you can kill me with that ordinary lump of steel?"
"My Valyrian scale armor can withstand dragonfire."
"What can your sword possibly do?"
Garon narrowed his eyes.
His footsteps never stopped.
"Then let's find out."
Without warning, he burst forward.
His greatsword thrust directly toward Euron's chest.
Clang!
As expected, the blade slid harmlessly across the scales, leaving not even the slightest scratch.
Euron instantly counterattacked.
His curved Valyrian steel blade sliced viciously toward Garon's throat with astonishing speed.
Garon shifted sideways.
The blade narrowly missed his neck, only grazing his leather armor and cutting several strands of hair.
Retreating a few steps, Garon gripped his sword with both hands while carefully observing the gleaming Valyrian scale armor.
"My sword can't pierce Valyrian armor."
"I'll have to defeat him another way."
Every inch of Euron's body was protected.
His helmet, visor, mail, and armor left almost no opening.
Garon's gaze flickered.
His fighting style immediately changed.
Instead of trying to pierce the armor, he began wielding his massive greatsword like a relentless battering ram.
Crash!
Crash!
Crash!
Every strike landed upon Euron's helmet, shoulders, arms, and breastplate with overwhelming force.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The deafening impacts echoed endlessly across the mountain road.
Although Euron's swordsmanship remained cunning and unpredictable, and although his armor prevented fatal wounds, he was completely overwhelmed by Garon's superior strength and solid technique.
He could only desperately defend himself.
"Monster..."
"That damned wolf is truly a monster..."
Euron struggled frantically.
No matter how desperately he attacked, he simply couldn't land a clean hit.
Meanwhile, every blow from Garon's greatsword numbed his arms and shook his internal organs.
The Valyrian armor prevented blades from cutting through.
It could not absorb the terrifying force behind every strike.
"No..."
"I have to remove the eyepatch..."
Gripping his teeth, Euron retreated two hurried steps.
His left hand instinctively reached toward the eyepatch hidden beneath his visor.
But Garon had been watching him closely.
The instant Euron moved, Garon reacted even faster.
With a powerful diagonal slash, he smashed directly into Euron's raised arm.
Crack!
The sickening sound of broken bone echoed through the mountain pass.
"Argh!"
Euron screamed.
His left arm instantly hung limp at his side.
"A chance."
Cold light flashed across Garon's eyes.
He stepped forward without hesitation.
Bang!
The flat of his greatsword smashed brutally into the side of Euron's helmet.
The tremendous impact struck like a charging bull.
Stars exploded before Euron's eyes.
He staggered backward several steps before completely losing consciousness.
His body crashed heavily onto the ground.
To eliminate every possibility of surprise, Garon stepped forward once more.
Bang!
Another crushing blow landed across Euron's helmet.
Only after confirming that Euron was completely unconscious did Garon finally lift his gaze toward the defenders still confronting Asha atop Pyke's gatehouse.
He bent down.
With one hand alone, he grabbed the unconscious Euron by the armor and dragged him toward the castle gates.
As he approached, Garon nodded slightly toward the smiling Asha before tossing Euron heavily onto the ground.
He then shouted loudly enough for everyone atop the walls to hear.
"Euron Greyjoy murdered his own brother and stole the Seastone Chair."
"His crimes are unforgivable."
"Now Euron has been defeated and captured."
"Lady Asha Greyjoy, King Balon's rightful heir, has returned to Pyke."
"If you will not open the gates now..."
"When will you?"
The Ironborn guarding the walls exchanged uncertain glances.
Although they clearly saw the unconscious Euron lying before them, none dared surrender first.
Just then...
The thunder of marching soldiers echoed from behind Garon.
Turning around, he immediately spotted House Glover's blood-red banner bearing its silver mailed fist advancing over the road.
His heart finally relaxed.
Facing the walls once more, he shouted.
"The army has arrived!"
"Open the gates and welcome Lady Asha!"
At almost the same moment, Asha stepped forward.
She raised her voice with complete authority.
"I swear in the name of House Greyjoy."
"Anyone who served the kinslayer before today shall be forgiven."
The defenders looked toward the approaching Northern army.
They looked at the unconscious Euron.
Then they looked back toward Asha.
Realizing the battle had already been decided, they quickly threw open the gates.
"We swear loyalty to House Greyjoy until death!"
The moment the gates opened, the defenders rushed forward and knelt before Asha, pledging their allegiance.
Garon spared the opportunistic Ironborn only a brief glance.
He ordered his soldiers to secure the entrance before turning his attention back toward the unconscious Euron.
Raising his greatsword, he aimed the blade toward Euron's exposed neck.
He intended to end everything once and for all.
"Wait!"
Asha's voice suddenly rang out.
She hurried forward and instinctively stood between Garon and Euron.
Several Ironborn who had only moments ago sworn loyalty to her also stepped forward.
Garon's eyes immediately darkened.
"What are you doing?"
Completely focused on the unconscious Euron, Asha failed to notice the subtle change in Garon's expression.
Her chest rose and fell with excitement.
"We can't simply kill him like this."
"That's far too merciful for a kinslayer."
She lifted her head to meet Garon's gaze.
"I want every captain of the Iron Islands gathered here at Pyke."
"I want Euron publicly judged before the Drowned God's hall."
"I want every Ironborn to witness the fate of a usurper."
Garon remained silent for a long moment.
"As expected."
"After victory, she's already beginning to establish her own authority."
"It seems it's time for the next step."
"Before she begins thinking of separating herself from me..."
"I'll sever those thoughts completely."
The thought flashed through Garon's mind.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Very well."
"As you wish."
"Men."
"Bind him."
"Let him perform one final act before all the Iron Islands."
With a wave of his hand, two guards stepped forward, bypassed the Ironborn surrounding Euron, and tightly bound Crow's Eye with heavy ropes.
Not long afterward, Ron, Mihawk, and Sparta arrived with the main army.
"Enter the castle!"
Garon waved his hand.
The disciplined Northern army immediately marched into Pyke in orderly ranks, swiftly taking complete control of every corner of the ancient Greyjoy stronghold.
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