345 Chapter 345: Escape  

Ever since the Doom of Valyria, hundreds of years of evolution have led to the Valyrian language in each Free City becoming distinct from one another. As Viserys skimmed through the book, he found many words he didn't recognize. Perhaps some words in the Valyrian language passed down through the Targaryen lineage had become assimilated into the Common Tongue.

"I'll study it when we get back."

He carefully stored the book, its material unique and still in pristine condition despite the passage of hundreds of years. He felt that the man's last gesture before his death was not malicious, perhaps intentionally hinting at something to his descendant. The book he left behind must be extremely important to Viserys.

Perhaps he had a premonition of the impending Doom and prepared himself fully, donning his armor and clutching this crucial book. However, this was certainly not the place to study ancient texts.

Viserys quietly apologized to the remains of the ancient noble, then stripped the Valyrian steel armor from his body and retrieved the Valyrian steel sword. These were valuable items, and Viserys would not waste them.

Balerion, with a huff, expressed his dissatisfaction, his breath rumbling like thunder. He had waited so long to make his appearance, only to do nothing upon arrival. Viserys, however, ignored him, causing Balerion to grumble, a low sound emanating from his monstrous head.

His enormous eyes then fell on Mia, who was nearly scared out of her wits. The red-haired girl swore she had never seen such a colossal creature in her life...

When she first learned of Viserys's identity, she was somewhat excited about the prospect of seeing a legendary dragon. However, when the dragon truly descended from the sky, Mia felt her mind go blank, her body seemingly not under her control. She could only stare wide-eyed at the behemoth before her.

But when Balerion turned his head and locked his gaze on her, her awe turned into intense fear. The more afraid she was, the more immobilized she became, her legs feeling as if they were filled with lead.

In the girl's eyes, the dragon slowly extended its head under the night sky, bringing its face close to hers. The hot breath that Balerion exhaled, like standing in front of a volcanic vent, made the girl's hair flutter wildly, and she could barely open her eyes.

"Will it... eat me in one bite?"

A strange thought suddenly crossed Mia's mind. Logically, Viserys's dragon wouldn't harm her, but a dragon is ultimately an animal. What if it suddenly went berserk...

"Dragons are highly intelligent."

"They might even be smarter than some humans."

At this moment, Viserys's voice suddenly rang out. His words were like a refreshing spring in the heat of summer, instantly relieving Mia's anxiety.

The dragon slowly lifted its head, and the girl let out a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead. She found that she could move again.

She had truly been terrified just now.

Although she had been ready to face death not long ago, that was when she had been reborn from a desperate situation. Now, having just overcome a crisis, if she were to be bitten to death by Viserys's dragon, where would she go to seek justice?

"So it was..."

Mia wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, then turned to look at Viserys.

The silver-haired youth had already gathered the items he wanted to take from here: the ancient books he had moved from the bedroom, that very important book, a set of Valyrian steel armor, and

a longsword.

He was currently loading these items onto Balerion's back. Before setting off, Viserys had added a set of equipment to Balerion's back that could hold these items.

Hearing Mia's question, Viserys, who was sitting on the dragon's back, shrugged and then gestured towards her chest.

"It wasn't looking at you, but at the dragon eggs in your arms."

"Those... are some of its few remaining kin."

Viserys's voice was calm, but it revealed a brutal reality. They were the last dragons in this world, and Balerion's mood seemed to have become much more somber.

"Perhaps Balerion now thinks you're more important than I am. Of course, it won't hurt you."

"Alright, come on up."

Then Viserys patted the seat behind the dragon.

Normally, Balerion didn't like others riding on his back, but Mia was an exception.

She was currently holding five dragon eggs, and Balerion was being very careful, of course, not to harm her.

"Can I ride the dragon too?"

Hearing Viserys's words, Mia immediately became excited.

The girl was lively by nature and quickly forgot the scene that had just scared her silly.

And since she had Viserys's assurance, she shouldn't encounter any danger.

The girl first asked tentatively, then received a positive response, and then asked again.

"So how... do I get on?"

Mia looked at Balerion's huge body and was a bit perplexed. She hadn't seen how Viserys had climbed up.

"Climb up from Balerion's wings..."

Viserys, sitting on the dragon's back, began to instruct.

However, before Viserys could finish his sentence, a terrifying dragon roar suddenly came from the distance.

The sound waves swept across like a break in the clouds, pushing away the dark mist in the sky. The sky over Valyria had never been so clear.

At the same time, a figure larger than Balerion appeared on the horizon, flapping its wings and flying towards them.

Behind it, Viserys could vaguely see billowing black smoke rising into the sky, like a pillar reaching the heavens.

"What is that?"

"A bigger dragon?"

Mia, who was preparing to climb onto the dragon's back, was slightly panicked, and Balerion also seemed to sense danger and became a bit restless.

"That is—"

However, Viserys's gaze passed over the terrifying dragon and landed on the black smoke behind it that was faintly reaching the sky. His pupils contracted slightly.

"That's probably where the secret of the Doom of Valyria is hidden."

For some reason, Viserys suddenly had this feeling, followed by a deep sense of unease.

"Get on quickly!"

Viserys pulled Mia onto the dragon's back.

Without needing his urging, Balerion let out a low roar, flapped his wings, and flew straight into the sky, heading towards the smoke sea on the outskirts of Valyria.

On the ground below, the members of the exploration team hiding in the dark saw the figures on the dragon's back and their eyes widened in shock.

"It's them!"

"They can actually ride a dragon?"

Driven by a strong desire to survive, they plucked up their courage and ran out, shouting for help towards the sky.

"Help!"

"Save me!"

However, Viserys and Mia in the sky, with the wind filling their ears, couldn't hear the voices from the ground.

Their cries only attracted two black-haired monsters, which promptly tore them to shreds.