The Fall of Volantis
Smoke curled into the sky as the fires of rebellion spread through Volantis. From her vantage point atop a nearby hill, Daenerys watched as chaos unfolded. The great city, proud and ancient, was unraveling before her eyes.
The slaves had risen. The Red Priests were fueling the flames. The Triarchs were losing control.
And she had orchestrated it all without a single battle cry.
"It begins," Tyrion murmured beside her, sipping from a goblet of wine. "The city is devouring itself."
Drogon let out a low growl, sensing his mother's anticipation. Rhaegal and Viserion circled above, their shadows streaking across the city below.
Now was the time to strike.
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The Uprising Spreads
Inside the city, the rebellion raged.
The slave markets, once filled with the suffering of thousands, were now drowned in the screams of slavers and nobles alike. The chains that had bound men and women for centuries had become weapons—whips, manacles, and iron collars now turned against their former masters.
The Red Priests, robed in crimson and gold, fanned the flames. "Azor Ahai has come! The Breaker of Chains is here! Rise, and take your freedom!"
The slaves listened. The lower districts fell. The nobility, who had once ruled from their golden towers, now cowered behind locked doors, praying to gods that would not save them.
But the Tigers and Elephants—the great military factions of Volantis—would not go down without a fight.
From the Old Bridge, legions of armored soldiers poured into the streets, swords drawn, shields raised. They did not fight for freedom, nor for the gods. They fought for gold.
And they were ready to drown the rebellion in blood.
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Daenerys Moves
Daenerys had seen enough.
She turned to her commanders. "Grey Worm, have the Unsullied form ranks. Ser Barristan, you will lead the cavalry. I want the freedmen to take the main gates—let the city see that this is their battle, too."
Tyrion arched an eyebrow. "So, we are officially joining the rebellion, then?"
Daenerys smirked. "I prefer to think of it as guiding it."
With a swift command, the army moved.
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Battle for the Black Walls
The Tigers and Elephants fought with brutal discipline, cutting down the rebels in the streets. But they were not prepared for Daenerys Stormborn.
The first sign of their doom came not from the streets, but from the sky.
A deafening roar split the night as Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion descended. The black and red of Drogon's wings stretched over the city like a storm. The soldiers barely had time to scream before flames engulfed them.
Daenerys rode into battle on horseback, her silver hair streaming behind her. The Unsullied moved like a tide of steel, their spears cutting through the enemy ranks with deadly precision.
Grey Worm led the charge, his face a mask of focus as he drove his sword into the enemy lines. Beside him, Ser Barristan carved his way through the chaos, a legend in motion.
The Elephants, the noble warriors of Volantis, tried to hold their ground. But the moment they saw the Mother of Dragons riding into battle, their courage wavered.
Then, the gates of Volantis burst open, and the freedmen stormed in.
The battle was over before it truly began.
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Judgment
By dawn, Volantis belonged to Daenerys.
The Triarchs, once rulers of the city, now knelt before her in chains.
One of them, a trembling old man, looked up at her with wide, fearful eyes. "Please, Your Grace—spare us."
Daenerys stared down at them, her expression unreadable. These were the men who had built their wealth on the suffering of slaves, who had ordered the execution of rebels, who had sent gold to Yunkai and the Sons of the Harpy.
They were not worthy of mercy.
"Dracarys."
Drogon roared, and the rulers of Volantis burned.
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A New Order
That evening, Daenerys stood atop the Black Walls, looking down at the city she had conquered.
Volantis had not fallen to war. It had fallen to rebellion, fire, and fear.
Tyrion approached her, his gaze thoughtful. "You have done what no one thought possible. Volantis, the oldest of the Free Cities, is yours. But the question remains—what will you do with it?"
Daenerys exhaled slowly.
She would not rule as the Triarchs had. She would not replace one tyranny with another.
The time had come to reshape Essos.
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End of Chapter 31