Viserys had gone bald, but he had also grown stronger. Emerging from that charred shell, he found that his abilities had undergone significant changes:
First, his Magic value had skyrocketed, surpassing four digits. If he were to return to Drogo's camp now and sound the Dragon Horn, it wouldn't just cause chaos among 2,000 or 3,000 people—it would likely affect over 10,000.
In addition, contact with a living young dragon had earned him a substantial 4,000 attribute points. Even more impressive, his skills in "Fire Magic," "Water Magic," and "Blood Magic" had all advanced to a new level: Paragon.
Viserys had once thought that Master was the highest rank, but he now realized there was an even greater realm beyond it. He had a vague sense that these three types of magic could merge, though he hadn't yet found the time to explore it. If he could successfully combine Blood Magic and Water Magic, he might even discover a cure for grayscale.
Another significant change was in his Skinchanger skills. They had evolved from Skinchanger to Soul Binder, and now to "Dragon's Soul." This new ability allowed him to enter the consciousness of any young dragon and "collaboratively control" the dragon's body alongside the dragon itself.
This wasn't like his previous power, where he directly invaded a golden eagle's consciousness to control its body. The seven young dragons, infused with Viserys's blood, felt a special bond with him—one that was almost like the relationship between a son and his father. Along with this closeness, there was also a deep sense of awe. However, while the dragons felt awe, Dany experienced only a strong sense of connection. Among the dragons, the bright yellow one seemed particularly close to him.
Viserys noticed that this yellow dragon had two black lines, one thick and one thin, resembling lightning bolts on each eye. As the "Father of Dragons," he guessed these were remnants of cracks from the egg, but instead of diminishing the dragon's majesty, they made it look even more formidable.
Viserys had already discussed with Dany that they would each name one of the young dragons. He chose the bright yellow one but hadn't settled on a name yet. Given its "rich and prosperous" appearance, he temporarily called it Wealthbringer.
In the spacious carriage, the two of them played with the seven young dragons. Dany had decided on a name for the silver dragon. "Brother, I want to name it Rhaelarion," she said, cradling the silver dragon in her arms. She was honoring their mother, Queen Rhaella. In this timeline, she hadn't conceived Rhaego, Drogo had been defeated, and Viserys was still alive, so Dany chose that name.
After Viserys nodded in agreement, Dany glanced at Wealthbringer perched on his shoulder and remarked, "Brother, he will become a dragon that soars through the skies. Wealthbringer isn't a fitting name."
"It's just a nickname," Viserys replied. "I haven't thought of a proper name yet." In truth, he had considered naming the bright yellow dragon "Regalus," imagining it would grow into a "Great Golden Dragon Emperor."
With Unsullied soldiers and cavalry leading the way, Viserys and the other nobles involved in the auction arrived at the port.
Everyone present was searched and forbidden from carrying any weapons. The dragons wouldn't be truly safe until they could soar through the skies. Viserys remembered a dark chapter from Targaryen history when a riot in King's Landing led to the storming of the Dragonpit and the deaths of many dragons, which were then hanged in a gruesome display.
Now, with seven young dragons in their care, Viserys was determined to protect them. He had decided that none of the dragons would be sent into battle until they were as large as a train carriage. Even then, they would only fight at night, using ambushes and fire-raising tactics.
"The Prince is here! The Prince is here!" The excited shouts rippled through the crowd as Viserys and Dany approached. Some of the wealthier citizens, eager to catch a glimpse of the dragons, had come prepared with "binoculars" called far-eyes.
These weren't just any common folk, but people with substantial family fortunes. Most, however, had to content themselves with standing on tiptoes and craning their necks for a better view. Despite their efforts, the carriage carrying Viserys and Dany had been reinforced and was completely shielded from view.
Connington had set up a temporary platform for the auction, repurposing one that had been stored in a warehouse since Kambron's preparations for war against Lys. Knowing he would be appearing before the public, Viserys had opted for a wig. He vividly remembered that in the original story, after Daenerys hatched her dragons, she lost all her body hair. Curious, he had asked her how she managed it to not lose her hair.
Dany's response had left him feeling a bit sheepish—the secret was fire magic. She had used it to protect her hair from being burned.
Accompanied by Young Connington and Regis, Viserys stepped onto the platform. Each pair of Unsullied soldiers carried a stick on their shoulders, with a young dragon perched atop it. The dragons either stood proudly with their heads held high, looked around nervously, or spread their wings to show off, while others remained on guard.
"Look! It's a dragon! A true dragon!" the crowd murmured excitedly.
"I heard these dragons can grow as big as a carriage—why are they so small?" someone asked, puzzled.
"You don't know anything—that's why they're mythical dragons!" another explained, as if sharing a great secret.
The nobles present had seen the young dragons before and remained composed, but the lowborn, seeing these mythical creatures for the first time, couldn't stop talking.
Standing on the elevated platform, Viserys addressed the crowd, "My lords, serfs, and people of Tyrosh, I have decided to auction off the naming rights to the green dragon, the blue dragon, the red dragon, and the black dragon…"
"Huh? Why are there only four dragons?" The crowd buzzed with surprise, noticing that Viserys had brought a woman with him onto the platform. She looked a little worn and tired.
"Isn't that Lara? From the Pleasure Garden…" someone whispered, recognizing her.
The crowd was puzzled—how could a prostitute be standing alongside Viserys? For her part, Lara was visibly uncomfortable under the weight of so many stares.
Viserys continued, "Virgil was a warrior who once was from a Pleasure Garden. He was a good captain, and he fought bravely for me, giving his life at sea. I have decided to name the blue dragon after him."
As if sensing the significance of the moment, the blue dragon flapped its wings and glided forward, landing gracefully on Viserys's outstretched arm.
Viserys's decision took many by surprise. "How could he? This is absurd!" some whispered among themselves. "Naming a magic dragon after a slave from the pleasure garden? What has he done to deserve this?"
But while some were shocked, others quickly grasped Viserys's intentions. He was cementing the loyalty of his army. If a soldier who died in his service could receive such an honor, it was clear that others would be inspired to fight with all their might. When the blue dragon grew into its full power, it would become a symbol of the strength of Viserys's forces— and the dragon name Vyrgion would stand as a testament to the honor of his warriors.
Roth's eyes gleamed with understanding. "I knew you weren't doing this for the gold dragons," he muttered to himself.
Unfazed by the murmurs of doubt from the crowd, Viserys continued, "The right to name this blue dragon was earned by my good captain Virgil through his unwavering loyalty. Now, it's time for me to repay that loyalty."
He then gestured for Lara to join him. "This is Lady Lara, Virgil's widow. Before Virgil went to war with me, Lara was pregnant with his child. If it's a boy, when he comes of age, he will become my personal bodyguard. If it's a girl, I will ensure she is married well, just as her father would have wished."
At this point, even the most skeptical in the crowd understood what Viserys was doing. Lara, overcome with emotion, wept openly as she knelt at Viserys's feet.
The soldiers present—whether those maintaining order, those from other Free Cities, or the new recruits in the Golden Company—looked at Viserys with newfound admiration. Their loyalty deepened, becoming almost fanatical. Viserys had not only won their hearts but had also forged an unbreakable bond between his leadership and the men who fought for him.