Game of Thrones: Killing to the top

"Why be angry when people act according to their nature? If you know their nature and expect something else, you are a fool. After all, you expect a rat to act like a rat, don't you?"

 Aegon Targaryen to **************

The wind howled and rain poured in torrents, the ship's deck slick and treacherous underfoot. Aegon stood calm at the center of the storm, his sword gleaming under flashes of lightning.

Aegon's instincts flared to life as the men tried to surround him completely but couldn't as the deck was filled with cargo leaving limited space, but they closed in as quickly and uniformly as possible.

The first man arrived seconds before the rest, a foolish mistake. The first man lunged forward his movements slow and wild, Aegon quickly sidestepped letting the blade whistle harmlessly past him. His sword moved in a blur slicing up and cutting off the man's extended arm and then across removing his head from his body. Blood spilled as the sailor's headless body stumbled back, before collapsing.

(Ding!!! One merchant crew killed + 8 points)

The second and third arrived together, hoping to overwhelm him with sheer numbers. Aegon ducked under the first swing, his sword slicing upward to sever the man's wrist. The sailor screamed as his weapon clattered to the deck. Aegon didn't hesitate, spinning to block the second man's strike and driving his blade into his throat. The man gurgled, blood spilling from his mouth as he fell lifelessly.

(Ding!!! Two merchant crew killed + 16 points)

Aegon stepped forward to grab his sword. A fourth attacker tried to take advantage of the moment, swinging an axe at Aegon's back. Sensing the danger, Aegon pivoted, the axe narrowly missing his side. Aegon pulled two daggers from his waist, throwing them with deadly precision deep into the attacker's eyes, causing him to release his axe and drop to his knees, screaming.

(Ding!!! One merchant crew killed + 8 points)

Aegon's swift and ruthless kills had begun to have an effect as The fifth and sixth hesitated, their earlier bravado faltering. Giving Aegon the time needed to grab his sword and launch an attack, he didn't give them a chance to recover. He surged forward, his blade slicing cleanly through the fifth man's knee. As the man toppled, screaming in agony, Aegon spun and plunged his sword into the sixth man's chest, driving him backward into the ship's railing.

(Ding!!! Two merchant crew killed + 16 points)

The seventh man, desperate and enraged, charged with a spear. Aegon sidestepped, catching the shaft of the spear with his free hand. His strength was far greater than his attacker Aegon swung the spear as the man held on slamming him into the railing of the ship, releasing his grip on the spear as he dropped to the ground, Aegon swiftly drove the shaft of the spear into the man's chest as screamed in pain.

(Ding!!! One merchant crew killed + 8 points)

The eighth and ninth tried to flank him, attacking from either side. Aegon deflected one blade with his own and caught the other's arm with his bare hand. Twisting sharply, he disarmed the ninth man and slit his throat with a precise slash. Turning to the eighth, Aegon delivered a swift kick to his chest, knocking him to the ground. The man tried to crawl away, but Aegon drove his blade through his back, ending his struggle.

(Ding!!! Two merchant crew killed + 16 points)

The tenth man, now visibly trembling, swung his weapon in a wide, desperate arc. Aegon ducked, closing the distance between them in an instant. He grabbed the man by the collar and drove his sword into his heart, holding his gaze as the life drained from his eyes.

(Ding!!! One merchant crew killed + 8 points)

Aegon dropped the man as he pulled his sword from his heart, he took a quick look around noticing only one man was still coming at him as the rest stood frozen trembling some even crying as they looked at him.

The eleventh and final attacker paused, the fight wavering in his eyes. But fear turned to reckless aggression as he screamed and charged. Aegon sidestepped, his blade flashing in the rain. The man froze mid-charge, blood blooming from a deep gash across his chest. He fell to his knees, his eyes wide with shock before he collapsed lifelessly onto the deck.

(Ding!!! One merchant crew killed + 8 points)

Aegon stood amidst the bodies of the dead, his sword dripping with blood. The remaining sailors began to back away. Their weapons clattered to the deck as they raised their hands in surrender, their faces pale with terror.

The captain, who had moved away from the fighting, stood frozen. His lips quivered, and his hand trembled on the hilt of his sword.

Aegon turned his gaze toward him, his expression cold and unyielding. "Do you want to join them?"

The captain shook his head frantically, his face ashen.

"Good," Aegon said, lowering his sword but not sheathing it. "You'll sail this ship to Essos, and you'll do so without another foolish attempt like this. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes… yes, my lord," the captain stammered, his voice barely audible over the storm.

Aegon turned his back on the trembling captain, stepping over the lifeless bodies on his way back to his cabin. Each step echoed his dominance, a reminder to the survivors that their lives were his to spare or take.