Novel Lived
Chapter 273: The Great Wall is Just a Big Battery
Chapter 273: The Great Wall is Just a Big Battery
Viserys had seen structures like the Wall before—the towering Giant of Braavos and the Topless Tower of Sunspear came to mind. But nothing compared to the sheer scale and weight of the Wall, stretching hundreds of miles across the landscape. It resembled a colossal, gleaming sword, dividing Westeros from the wild lands beyond. Even from miles away, Viserys felt dwarfed by its immensity.
'Let’s see if touching the Wall has any effect on the panel', Viserys mused, wondering about the mysteries of its construction. Perhaps the Wall had been built atop a mountain range by the legendary Brandon the Builder, but the scale of such an undertaking suggested the use of some ancient and powerful magic.
Using his "dragon's eye," Viserys spotted the Night's Watch gathered at the harbor to receive him. They had noticed his three dragons as well, and he could see them pointing and gesturing in amazement. Though he couldn’t hear their words, he could easily imagine their astonishment.
As the fleet drew closer, the Wall loomed larger, blocking out the daylight and casting the ships into its vast shadow. It was a stark contrast to the more welcoming atmosphere he had encountered at Crackclaw Point. Here, there was no House Pyne to greet him with open arms. But Viserys was undeterred. He had a mission—to address the wildling threat and, if all went well, take Maester Aemon with him.
As in the original timeline, Viserys is worried that the Red Woman might exploit Aemon’s “king’s blood,” so he wanted to arranged for Aemon to be sent to Braavos. Unfortunately, Aemon was far too old by then—102 years, the oldest living person in Westeros—and in fragile health.
Now, however, Viserys’s blood magic had advanced to the level of a Paragon, allowing him to transfer or extract vitality without bloodletting. Though the latter method had dangerous side effects that could drive the recipient to madness, Viserys, with his system’s assistance, had no need for such risks.
When the Old Bear and his officers saw the supplies being unloaded from Viserys’s ships, they began to grasp the extent of his wealth. The sheer volume of goods he delivered in a single shipment was equivalent to fifty shipments from Winterfell. Whatever his true intentions, the magnitude of these supplies alone was enough to earn him the most sincere smiles from the Night's Watch. Furthermore, Chief Ranger Benjen Stark, who had recently returned from a mission Beyond the Wall, also showed Viserys full respect.
"Your Grace Viserys," the Old Bear greeted, leading the group in acknowledging Viserys’s arrival as the commander-in-chief. The others, particularly Ser Alliser Thorne, studied the Targaryen prince with quiet curiosity. Alliser had met Viserys as a child, but the man before him now bore little resemblance to the boy he remembered. Viserys’s commanding presence and regal bearing made it impossible for Alliser to approach him with the same dismissive attitude he had shown when questioning Jorah.
"My lords, you have waited long enough. Let us proceed to Castle Black," Viserys said, gesturing for the group to move. Led by the Old Bear, they made their way to the 'crane' that would carry them to the top of the Wall.
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