In the months that followed, the New Valyrian Empire entered a relatively stable period of 'peaceful development.' All regions were continuously expanding and training their armies, preparing to launch a war at any moment.
Under the effective management of Duke Arthur, the Free Bay Province gradually digested the gains from the previous war. The training of the Unsullied Legion and the Free Folk Militia continued day after day, with new recruits being constantly enlisted.
The incorporated Dothraki cavalry, after an initial period of adaptation, also began to integrate into a new tactical system. Their horse archery skills gradually revealed terrifying potential.
Free Bay did not just train troops; it also vigorously restored and developed production, cleared trade routes, and allowed wealth to truly flow, becoming a solid financial and material base for the Empire.
Duke William's naval construction progressed by leaps and bounds. Relying on the ships captured from the three cities of the former Slavers Bay, as well as a batch of fast ships 'contributed' by Salladhor Saan, the framework of the Imperial Navy was rapidly established.
Salladhor himself and his group of experienced pirates were reorganized by Willem using forceful methods into the 'Naval Auxiliary Quick Response Force,' though their current targets remained merchant ships from Westeros.
The sounds of hammering echoed day and night from the newly built shipyards, and new warships were constantly being launched; everything was developing prosperously.
In Valyria itself, the construction of Dragonwing Fortress and its surrounding areas was further perfected. More immigrants were properly settled, reclaiming land and establishing villages and towns.
Earl Jon was responsible for homeland defense and internal security, ensuring the stability of the rear.
As for Viserys himself, he devoted a significant portion of his energy to researching the hatching of dragon eggs.
This was the core of his future power, a weapon that transcended mundane armies and possessed truly decisive strength.
He no longer wanted to wait passively for several years for the magic tide brought by the 'Red Comet'; he wanted to take the initiative to knock open the shells of the dragon eggs.
The three dragon eggs from the Shadow Lands previously 'offered' by Clinton had already been handed over to Ghidorah for inspection by Viserys; after all, he couldn't see anything himself, and to him, they were just dragon egg fossils.
'These three dragon eggs are completely dead things,' Ghidorah's intent came through at that moment, confirming, 'The life imprint has completely dissipated, and the energy structure has completely solidified. Compared to ordinary Valyrian stones, they only possess their former appearance. To bring them back to life requires "creation" from nothing, which requires a massive sacrifice of life, unless a miracle happens.'
"'A miracle...'" Viserys murmured to himself, his gaze drifting out the window.
In the garden, Daenerys was playing with a small cat, her silver hair shining brightly in the sunlight.
As one of the original female protagonists, she seemed to have had several dragon dreams after obtaining these three dragon eggs, even before she performed the sacrifice of blood and fire. Did that mean she possessed something that could revive these three dragon eggs—the miracle Ghidorah spoke of?
He took the three fossilized dragon eggs to find Daenerys. The little girl was instantly attracted by their beautiful appearance. "Brother, what are these? They're so pretty."
"They are dragon eggs, Dany."
"dragon eggs? Will they hatch into little dragons?" Daenerys asked eagerly, her small hands wanting to touch them but not quite daring to.
Viserys took his sister's hand and guided her to feel the cold shell. "They once could, but after many years, the life inside has faded away, and they've become like this—like beautiful stones. Many people believe they can never be hatched."
Daenerys's little face immediately fell, her purple eyes filled with pity. "Oh, they're so pitiful."
"But," Viserys changed his tone, gently placing an egg in her arms, "Brother wants you to try. You are very special, Dany. Spend time with them every day, talk to them, and maybe a miracle will happen. They are yours now; you can name them."
"Okay, I will definitely hatch them."
Daenerys never refused her brother's requests.
She hugged the three dragon eggs tightly, and after playing with them for a while, she couldn't bear to let them go. She even gave each of them a name: the deep green one with bronze spots was named 'Vormax,' the cream-colored one with golden-yellow streaks was 'Viserion,' and the pitch-black one with scarlet spiral patterns was 'Akmot.'
She spent a long time every day holding them, talking to them, and telling them stories she had newly learned; she even often slept clutching them at night, as if they were her most precious treasures.
When Rhaenys saw this, she initially felt some envy and a faint sense of loss. She was already fourteen, and her teenage heart was more delicate and sensitive. She knew these were just'stones' and not anything valuable, but seeing her uncle's special 'gift' to Dany made her feel a bit uneasy.
Viserys keenly noticed her emotions. He stepped forward and put his arm around her shoulder, whispering, "Rhaenys, those three are special; they are fossils that are almost impossible to hatch. Giving them to Dany is just placing a slim hope."
He paused, looking into Rhaenys's purple eyes. "We still have nine dragon eggs, and those are all alive. I am looking for a way to hatch them as soon as possible. I promise you, once we succeed in hatching them, you will have the first choice. This promise belongs only to you."
Rhaenys's eyes lit up instantly, and her previous slight loss was replaced by immense surprise and anticipation. Having the first choice meant she could become the Empire's first Dragonrider besides Viserys. Then, when Viserys rode his dragon out in the future, she could accompany him.
"I am willing to wait for you, Brother. I will definitely study hard and become a Dragonrider worthy of a dragon," she said with a firm tone.
After comforting Rhaenys, Viserys went to spend some time with Ashara, and their private time inevitably involved some intimacy. After all, for the next period, Viserys planned to take the nine dragon eggs and Ghidorah to the volcano where they first met. He planned to go into seclusion there to research a method for rapidly hatching the dragon eggs.
He and Ghidorah first attempted 'Bloodline Resonance and Mana Guidance.' Viserys smeared blood containing the Targaryen dragon king bloodline onto the dragon eggs while simultaneously exerting his full Psychic power to sense the magic elements in the air, attempting to use himself as a medium to guide them into the dragon eggs.
The blood seeped into the shells, and mana slowly flowed in.
The luster on the surface of several dragon eggs clearly became warmer, and the internal energy pulsations accelerated, as if the sleeping life was being gently awakened. In particular, one deep red dragon egg had the golden veins on its shell faintly glowing. However, after several hours, the pulsations gradually stabilized, and the shell showed no signs of cracking at all.
While this method could effectively enhance the activity of the dragon eggs, it was very slow. At this rate, hatching might still take several years, which was no more practical than simply waiting for the magic tide. Viserys directly rejected this method.
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