Chapitre 407: Chapter 407: The Micro-Controlling Night King
The Ice Spear, hurled from one of the ten surrounding Icebone Towers, shot toward Viserys with a sound like the breaking of leather. The spear gleamed with a deadly, frosty aura as it tore through the air. Acting swiftly, Viserys commanded his dragon to climb higher, ascending to 500 feet to escape the Night King's range.
The maneuver succeeded, but it came at a cost: the altitude reduced the accuracy of his explosive charges. To compensate, Viserys resorted to sheer volume. Basket after basket of explosives rained down, blanketing the area in destruction. The White Walkers and wights standing rigidly below were annihilated in significant numbers. These creatures, devoid of self-preservation instincts, still didn't know to duck.
Far to the south, atop the Wall, the Night's Watch could faintly hear the distant explosions emanating from the Fist of the First Men. The muffled booms carried faintly on the cold wind, but without seeing the destruction firsthand, skepticism lingered.
Suddenly, one of the sentries shouted, "My Lord, look!"
The men crowded to the edge of the Wall and peered down. The undead army below, previously a dense, stationary horde, was beginning to move. But this was no chaotic retreat. The wights were spreading out methodically in all directions, creating a loose and scattered formation. Their movements were eerily precise, like soldiers responding to silent commands.
Viserys, flying back from his bombing run, noticed the same unsettling development. As he had now passed beyond the range of the Icebone Towers and depleted much of his ammunition, he was able to observe the undead's new formation more closely. The scattered arrangement drastically reduced the effectiveness of his explosives, minimizing the potential for mass casualties.
This realization struck him like a blow: The Night King can manipulate them!
The precision of the undead army's movements suggested that the Night King's orders were transmitted with uncanny accuracy. These commands cascaded down through the ranks, from the White Walkers to the countless wights under their control. Viserys now understood that the Night King was more than a powerful adversary; he was an intelligent strategist with unparalleled control over his forces.
This revelation spelled trouble. For all the advantages Viserys believed he held—dragons, explosives, and firepower—they would be less effective against an enemy capable of adaptive, strategic countermeasures.
The Night King has to be monitored in real-time, Viserys thought grimly. Otherwise, he'll keep outmaneuvering us.
As the Wall came into view, Viserys decided to make his final move. He dropped the last two baskets of explosives over the scattered undead. The bright orange flashes of detonation rippled below, followed by a series of thunderous booms that echoed through the frozen wilderness.
The Night's Watch and gathered nobles on the Wall recoiled at the spectacle. The explosions lit up the night, the accompanying shockwaves reverberating across the icy expanse.
"Boom, boom, boom," the thunder-like sound echoed, causing many of the Night's Watchmen to instinctively drop to the ground, hands over their heads.
For those unaccustomed to such weapons, the explosions were indistinguishable from the wrath of the gods. But as the dust settled and the flames died down, the results became clear. Through binoculars, Ned Stark observed several massive charred craters where the explosive packs had struck. Among the smoldering remains, wights had been reduced to scorched fragments.
"That is the power of the new weapons His Grace mentioned," Daenerys explained calmly, her voice carrying authority. "We can launch them with catapults or bury them in the ground to detonate when the White Walkers pass over. Viserys and I call these 'explosive packs,' and those buried in advance, 'mines.'"
"Mines," Ned repeated, letting the unfamiliar word roll off his tongue. As he surveyed the destruction below, he found the term apt. The realization of their potential sank in like a blade. If deployed strategically, these weapons could decimate entire waves of undead, even after the Wall itself was breached.
The gathered nobles exchanged uneasy glances. For the first time, they grasped the full implications of Viserys and Daenerys's new arsenal. Castles and fortresses, once symbols of power and safety, would be rendered obsolete. These "explosive packs" and "mines" could level even the mightiest stronghold.
It suddenly became clear why Viserys had ordered so many pits dug in the North. If the White Walkers broke through the Wall—and it was increasingly clear that they would—it wouldn't be the end. These mines would serve as the North's final line of defense, tearing massive holes through the undead army and slowing their advance.
The respect for Viserys continued to grow. Even those who once doubted him now acknowledged his leadership. It was hard for anyone to imagine the chaos that might still engulf the realm if Robert Baratheon were in power. The devastating winters of the past two years had ravaged the North, claiming countless lives and leaving deep scars. On top of that, the powerful explosive weapons introduced under Viserys's reign served as a grim reminder of his capacity to protect—or destroy.
Even the nobles who had initially harbored resentment against Viserys for his denouncements found their anger dissolving in the face of fear. The Targaryen dynasty now wielded an undeniable edge, making the throne appear more secure than it had been in years.
When Viserys returned astride his dragon, Dany, wrapped in her cloak, was the first to approach him. Her concern was evident as she hurried to greet her brother. The others followed, their movements both reverent and eager.
"Brother, what's the situation?" Dany asked.
The gathered group turned their eyes to Viserys, anticipation etched on their faces. Their hopes were bolstered by the knowledge of the formidable weaponry at their disposal. Surely, they could now take the offensive and obliterate the White Walkers.
Viserys, however, tempered their expectations. "The Icebone Towers possess abilities we do not yet fully understand. We cannot rush into action."
The group's faces fell slightly at his words, the initial burst of hope dimming.
"What do you mean, Your Grace?" one of the men ventured cautiously. "Are the explosive charges ineffective against the Icebone Towers?"
Viserys's expression was grave. "It's not that they're ineffective. There are simply too many of those towers, and they can launch ice spears with an estimated range of over 600 feet. Engaging them directly would put us at a severe disadvantage."
He went on to explain his observations. At an altitude of 500 feet, the ice spears had been unable to harm him. However, Viserys, ever cautious, had calculated a broader effective range due to their trajectory, arriving at a sobering conclusion: the Icebone Towers' weaponry posed a significant threat.
"600 feet!" someone murmured in astonishment. The comparison was stark—ordinary bows and arrows had an effective range of just 100 meters, and even ballistas rarely exceeded 200 meters. A range of nearly 300 meters was daunting.
It was clear that relying on dragons alone for bombardment would not suffice, especially when the frozen wasteland Beyond the Wall stretched endlessly. Even with 70 dragons, let alone the 7 they had, it would be an impossible task.
"Your Grace, what is our next move?" Brynden Tully asked, his voice steady but expectant.
Viserys took a moment to assess the situation. Standing atop the Great Wall, which still stood firm despite the harsh conditions, he calculated that it could hold for another six months. That gave them precious time to prepare.
"First, we must prioritize the safety of the North's civilians," Viserys declared. "Have them evacuate southward to the Riverlands, past The Neck. I've already instructed Lord Robb to mobilize his forces to support us. The people of the North must come first."
His proposal was met with unanimous agreement. It was a reminder of the Night's Watch's founding purpose: to protect the realm from the dangers beyond the Wall.
"Commander Ned," Viserys addressed him directly.
"Your Grace," Ned Stark replied with a firm nod.
"Within ten days, more explosives will arrive. In half a month, Robb will bring a large army to reinforce us. Your mission is to hold the Wall for three months, ensuring that every civilian in the North has time to evacuate."
Ned's expression was resolute. "Yes, Your Grace. We will not fail."
Despite the pressing situation, Viserys knew he needed additional expertise. Melisandre had offered no viable solutions, so his thoughts turned to Volantis. Benerro, with his vast knowledge of the R'hllor Temple and its millennia-old connection to Valyrian lore, might hold the key to countering the Icebone Towers.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone