The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 408: Capturing Red Smoke with Bare Hands (Seeking Subscriptions with 10,000+ Words)

(Early update for the 6 AM chapter, seeking subscriptions, rewards, and all sorts of support)

*

The Demon Mountain had the Ice Sword on his back but didn't draw it.

Red Smoke needed to be captured alive; it was the best mount on land, bar none.

The Demon Mountain roared and slammed the huge oak shield forward with both hands.

Pfft!

A crisp sound rang out as a horn, sharp as a knife, pierced the oak shield. Even the reinforced iron plates on both sides couldn't stop it.

The sharp angle penetrated the shield, grazing the Demon Mountain's arm. The horn sparked against the armor, leaving a shocking scratch. The good armor would need to be re-polished and repaired.

The horn went through the shield, leaving the shield hanging on the horn.

Man and beast exerted force simultaneously.

Bang!

The opposing forces shattered the oak shield into pieces.

The Demon Mountain staggered backward, while Red Smoke landed heavily, rolled, and stood up.

The Demon Mountain's forceful slam with both hands holding the shield made Red Smoke uncomfortable as well.

This was the first time Red Smoke had been directly resisted by human power, and evenly matched at that.

The Demon Mountain's heavy, iron-clad oak shield disintegrated and shattered, while Red Smoke was also knocked down by the force of the impact.

The Demon Mountain no longer had a shield in his hands. He clenched his two huge iron-gloved fists. His full plate armor made him as steady as a mountain, his presence imposing.

His warhorse had already fled far away. It stopped, looking back at the battle. Elin finally controlled his warhorse and circled back, but the warhorse refused to come forward to fight, stubbornly resisting its master, craning its neck and refusing to advance.

Red Smoke neighed like a horse, shaking its long red mane, its hooves pawing the ground, signaling another attack.

The Demon Mountain roared, clapped his fists together, and strode towards Red Smoke.

The Demon Mountain could shatter rocks with a single punch. It might be fast, but could it be harder than stone?

Although Red Smoke's head was as hard as iron and its bones like steel, the Demon Mountain believed it was just a matter of throwing a few more punches. As long as this idiot didn't run, he was confident he could beat Red Smoke down.

*

In the distance, a group of tribal chiefs, guards, cavalry, and Clegane's men watched with bated breath.

They had originally designed a trap, with a large net and a shield wall, waiting for the Red Smoke beast to go towards the sound. Who knew that things would change midway, rendering the designed trap and manpower useless.

Although they watched Red Smoke kill Ser Gladden, they couldn't step forward.

As soon as there were too many people, and the warhorses moved, the dense sound of hooves would make Red Smoke run away. Once it ran, they wouldn't know when they could lure the startled Red Smoke beast out of the Bile Bog again.

Red Smoke was smart. It wouldn't fall for the same trick twice! It would also become suspicious and alert. This magical beast was extremely intelligent and had a strong learning ability.

"Elin and Ser Gladden, I told them not to follow," Jeyne said softly. She knew that with the ferocity of the unicorn, someone could die if they weren't careful.

But Elin and Ser Gladden were the Demon Mountain's captain of the guard. Duke Demon Mountain had gone up, and alone at that. As his personal guards, they couldn't stand behind and watch.

Ser Gladden and Elin had the courage to go up because they simply didn't know how powerful Red Smoke was.

When the other tribal chiefs and warriors heard that they could only send a few people to rescue him, so as not to startle the Red Smoke beast and make it enter the depths of the swamp, no one dared to go out.

To capture Red Smoke, the chiefs and warriors relied on a large number of people and horses, traps and nets, shield walls, and spear shafts without spearheads to surround, suppress, chase, and beat it. Lone soldiers and trackers targeted by Red Smoke couldn't escape with their lives.

Red Smoke had a weakness: an astonishing appetite. So, as long as they surrounded it with a large force, starved it for a few days, and waited it out, it would run out of strength after half a month. It would be best to cut off its water source, in which case they could capture it in just ten days.

Launching an attack like this in the middle of the night, with only a few people going out, in order to avoid startling Red Smoke and causing it to flee and hide, was tantamount to suicide.

Moreover, they couldn't use swords and bows. Red Smoke was a divine beast and couldn't be injured. If the two sides encountered each other, they had no choice but to let people die, not the beast.

Who dared to attack?

Of course, the Demon Mountain!

*

Red Smoke felt a little surprised for the first time. The challenger opposite it was very tall and strong, exceeding its understanding of humans. But the Demon Mountain's roar and the arrogant clashing of his fists stimulated it.

Beasts had brutal and savage bestial natures, let alone the top magical creatures on land.

Red Smoke growled and charged forward, lowering its head and aiming its sharp horn at the Demon Mountain's abdomen.

Even from a distance, the chiefs and soldiers exclaimed in alarm.

Jeyne's palms were instantly covered in cold sweat.

If he wasn't careful, the Demon Mountain's plate armor might block the first stab, but not the second. And once he fell to the ground, with Red Smoke's speed, it would be difficult for the Demon Mountain to find a chance to stand up.

The Demon Mountain suddenly took a step to the left, twisting his body to avoid the charge of the horn. With a loud bang, Red Smoke's head hit the Demon Mountain's right rib, crashing into his plate armor. The sound of metal rang through the night sky.

The huge, mountain-like Demon Mountain was lifted up by Red Smoke's head. Although he avoided the charge of the horn, he still couldn't avoid being hit by Red Smoke's head.

The Demon Mountain's speed was actually very fast. He took large strides, and only took one step to the left before Red Smoke arrived.

Red Smoke's speed was too fast!

Amidst Elin's exclamation, Jeyne's undignified step forward, the chiefs' various expressions, and the soldiers' breathless and stunned gazes...

The Demon Mountain's right elbow clamped Red Smoke's long horn, and his left hand clenched into a fist, using all his strength to smash down, striking Red Smoke's neck.

Bang!

The muffled sound traveled far in the night sky, and the small insects near and far stopped chirping at that moment.

The iron fist with the iron glove smashed down with all its strength, and even rocks would shatter.

But Red Smoke's muscles and bones were not hard rocks, and had the instinctive attribute of unloading force and cushioning. Soft and tough muscles would absorb and digest a considerable part of the force. The most obvious example was that hitting cotton and hitting rock were different.

The furious and violent Red Smoke couldn't see!

The Demon Mountain's right arm held its long horn, and the arm armor blocked its sight. Its rapid speed gave the Demon Mountain a great advantage, instantly lifting the Demon Mountain up. The weight of the Demon Mountain's whole body pressed down on its head.

The Demon Mountain's weight, plus the three sets of armor on his body, was not light: the outermost plate armor; the second layer of soft armor (chainmail); and the third layer of leather. But this did not make Red Smoke feel any pressure. It howled forward, moving extremely fast. The Demon Mountain firmly locked its long horn with his right arm, and Red Smoke's fast forward speed allowed the Demon Mountain to hang on its head effortlessly. His left fist was raised again, and this punch hit the vital point behind Red Smoke's ear.

Bang!

A muffled sound, like hitting a stretched leather drum.

Red Smoke felt pain, its bestial nature erupting, its ferocity erupting. It desperately lowered its head while charging forward, trying to throw the Demon Mountain off.

The Demon Mountain roared and pressed down with all his strength, almost knocking Red Smoke down. But it quickly regained its footing in its stagger, wanting to open its mouth and bite the Demon Mountain, but the position was wrong. Its front legs lifted and kicked the Demon Mountain, but it was difficult to exert force with its head pressed down, barely hitting the Demon Mountain's leg, but it was clangorous and sparks flew.

The Demon Mountain was covered in heavy armor, and the leg armor was also very thick. Despite the unparalleled defense, the Demon Mountain's leg bones still throbbed faintly.

"Heh!" The Demon Mountain roared, pressing down on Red Smoke's head with his right arm, and pounding Red Smoke's ear with his left iron fist, bang, bang, bang, quickly and desperately hitting it. After three consecutive punches, Red Smoke suddenly jumped forward and charged forward, throwing the Demon Mountain to the ground. Everyone was shocked. Elin abandoned his horse and drew his long sword with a clang. No matter what kind of divine beast it was, saving his master was the priority.

Jeyne let out an exclamation. The distance was too far, and she was powerless. None of the two thousand warriors and many chiefs and generals could help the Demon Mountain.

Among the nine chiefs, at least half of them were praying in their hearts that Red Smoke would kill the Demon Mountain! Kill the Demon Mountain! Kill the Demon Mountain!

After Red Smoke threw off the Demon Mountain, it staggered a few steps and stood firm. It looked like it was going to launch a fatal attack on the kneeling Demon Mountain. Its mouth, head, legs, horn, and body could all injure the Demon Mountain with every impact.

It did move, running forward, but not to attack the Demon Mountain who was kneeling on one knee, but to run to the side, bypassing the Demon Mountain, and escaping.

The Demon Mountain was shocked. This unicorn had taken at least five punches from him, but it could still leap away. The Demon Mountain's iron fist could blow up a horse's head with a direct hit. Although his body was hanging on Red Smoke's head and he couldn't exert all his strength, how could it be okay after several punches hit the vital point behind the ear?

"Stop it!" The Demon Mountain shouted anxiously.

Elin came from the front, holding his sword with both hands, ready to slash.

"Don't!" The chiefs and tribal warriors shouted together in the distance.

The Demon Mountain and his guards and knights could die, but not Red Smoke.

If Red Smoke died, none of the Demon Mountain and others would be able to leave the Crab Claw Peninsula alive. Everything that Jeyne had carefully prepared and planned would be in vain.

Red Smoke and Elin were getting closer and closer. Suddenly, Red Smoke seemed to have kicked something protruding on the ground while running too fast, and knelt down with a bang, followed by a roll and a fall.

It was as if it was a 'horse tripping over its own feet'!

'Horse tripping over its own feet' - this was absolutely impossible for the Red Smoke beast!

Unless its physical strength was severely damaged and its body suffered heavy damage.

The Demon Mountain had already stood up and was running forward in large strides. This frantic run in a moment of desperation was like a galloping horse. He instantly caught up with the Red Smoke beast. The Red Smoke beast had just stood up and was still a little wobbly. The Demon Mountain was overjoyed. The effect of the fist blows on this strange beast had appeared. He must not let it escape. Once he let go, the Red Smoke beast, which had suffered greatly, would not be captured again without half a year or a year of slow enticement.

The Demon Mountain pounced on it. The Red Smoke beast kicked its hind legs, hitting the Demon Mountain's chest armor twice. If it were an ordinary person, these two kicks would have hit the head, blowing the head apart; even if there was a helmet, the helmet would be dented and the head crushed.

The Demon Mountain was very tall. In the case of Red Smoke being injured and its physical strength severely declined, it could only hit the Demon Mountain's chest armor with all its strength.

The Demon Mountain's chest armor was dented but not cracked. The chest bones were in great pain, injured by the indentation of the armor!

The Demon Mountain was hit by two kicks, but it didn't stop his charge. It was just a pause. He took a big step to the side of the Red Smoke beast. The Red Smoke beast's reaction was obviously becoming slow. It seemed that the last two kicks were already its last strength. It ran a few meters forward and was caught up by the Demon Mountain. His big hand pressed on its back, and he kicked the Red Smoke's abdomen with his war boots.

Bang!

A cruel fleshy sound.

Red Smoke felt pain and turned its head to bite the Demon Mountain.

The Demon Mountain clenched his right fist and punched out, hitting the Red Smoke's eye.

Red Smoke screamed like a warhorse, standing upright and raising its front hooves to step on the Demon Mountain. Relying on his armor and his mountain-like figure, the Demon Mountain crashed into Red Smoke's body, bang, knocking Red Smoke to the ground.

Red Smoke had just struggled to get up halfway when the Demon Mountain flipped over and rode on its back. He twisted its long horn with both hands, roared like a thunderclap, pressed down hard, and Red Smoke wailed. Its head was forcibly pressed down.

Elin ran over and helped hold down Red Smoke's long horn.

Red Smoke's head, including its long horn, was held down, and its four hooves kicked wildly, splashing stones and dirt. The Demon Mountain and Elin just pressed down hard. The two joined forces and pressed down on Red Smoke's head.

In the distance, the tribal chiefs and soldiers were all stunned!

The Demon Mountain captured the Red Smoke beast with his own strength, without the aid of traps, nets, or shield walls?!

Two thousand tribal warriors were all dumbfounded!

The chiefs were also shocked and dumbfounded!

Capturing Red Smoke with bare hands! - This had never happened in the past thousand years of the Crab Claw Peninsula's history.

*

Warner Territory: A basin surrounding a solitary mountain rising from the ground.

At the foot of the mountain, there was a circular rattan shield wall surrounded by thousands of tribal warriors. Behind the rattan shield, there were densely deployed tribal warriors, with people from all nine powerful tribal warriors. The warriors had long wooden sticks woven with thorny strips in their hands.

The Red Smoke beast captured by the Demon Mountain was in the center of the circle. If Red Smoke tried to break through the rattan shield wall and escape, these long wooden sticks covered with thorns would make it suffer. Thorn pricks were what Red Smoke feared.

It had not yet been fitted with reins, but a saddle had been placed on its back.

This had already made it very irritable. The Red Smoke, which was accustomed to freedom, needed a long time to adapt to the saddle and reins. If the saddle and reins were put on all at once, it would probably starve to death.

Red Smoke had been adapting in this circle for seven days, and its irritable emotions had been effectively relieved.

It was time to let it choose its master.

The Demon Mountain captured Red Smoke with his bare hands, but he was not a Crab Claw Peninsula person. After receiving the gratitude and friendship of all the peninsula people, and after obtaining the sincerity and understanding of the two killed chiefs' tribes, he and Lady Jeyne entrusted Red Smoke to Chief Com Warner, allowing the peninsula people to let Red Smoke recognize its master according to their rules.

The Demon Mountain and Jeyne declared to the peninsula people that they were not here to seize the Red Smoke beast, but to distribute compensation materials and recruit soldiers.

The Demon Mountain's feat of capturing the Red Smoke beast for the Crab Claw Peninsula made him famous throughout the peninsula, becoming a [Forever Family] with the same status as the wizard chief. All the tribal warriors, people, and chiefs were grateful and respectful to him.

The peninsula people respected the strong!

With the help of the major chiefs, the materials had all been accurately distributed and completed. The news of the recruitment had also spread to all corners of the peninsula. The peninsula warriors who came to enlist in the army had been coming in an endless stream these days, partly to become soldiers and partly to see the century-old event of the Red Smoke Divine Beast choosing its master at the foot of Warner Mountain.

Going to King's Landing to be a soldier was a good way out for poor families in the peninsula. As long as they were not obstructed by the tribal chiefs, many young people were willing to leave the peninsula to become soldiers and work.

The candidates for Red Smoke's recognition were the nine most powerful tribal leaders. If Red Smoke was captured solely by a tribal leader, there would be no need for a recognition ceremony. However, if the leaders captured it together, a ceremony would be held for Red Smoke to choose its master.

The first to enter was Ragren Foka, the great chief of the Foka tribe, holding Red Smoke's favorite fresh, tender grass. The Foka tribe was not far from the Warner tribe, and their warriors crowded the outer circle. Many infantrymen and the tribe's women followed the chief's wife.

Ragren Foka entered the arena with a shield in hand, as was the custom. Swords, sabers, and axes were not allowed; Red Smoke could only be conquered, not killed.

Red Smoke's injuries had been treated by the tribe's wizards and elders, and after their assessment, Red Smoke had regained its health.

It had been starved for four days and deprived of water for four days to reduce its strength and agility. A weakened Red Smoke would be easier to tame.

Red Smoke watched Ragren Foka slowly approach it, remaining quiet as if it were an elegant maiden.

Thousands of people in the audience watched the arena with bated breath. The Foka tribe's warriors held thorny poles and rattan shields, ready to rush in and save their chief at any moment.

Red Smoke quietly ate all the grass that Ragren Foka offered it.

Nearly a thousand people from the Foka tribe, men and women, cheered!

Red Smoke had chosen to recognize a master!

Ragren Foka was overjoyed, his body trembling with excitement. He withdrew his shield and cautiously reached out to grab the saddle. As long as he got on its back and Red Smoke didn't go berserk, it would be his.

The Foka tribe was already the strongest tribe on the peninsula, blessed with fertile valley plains, rich soil, abundant water, and the largest population on the peninsula.

Ragren Foka had the potential to become the peninsula's king, unifying it once again.

The other eight leaders looked somber.

They didn't expect Red Smoke to recognize a master so quickly.

Vagner Gall, the new leader of the Gall tribe, was disheartened. Lady Jane had promised him a chance to ride Red Smoke, but it seemed that opportunity might be gone. If Red Smoke recognized a master, Ragren wouldn't allow him to ride it. Lady Jane was a blood witch but didn't understand many of the peninsula's customs.

Ragren Foka grabbed the saddle, but Red Smoke still didn't move, its eyes devoid of any murderous intent. Its two ruby-like eyes shone brightly, as if they could speak.

Ragren tentatively applied force, Red Smoke still chewing on the fresh, tender grass. He lightly placed one foot on the stirrup...

The entire arena was silent!

It was as if the wind had stopped!

Jane and Mountain watched all of this with a group of generals and cavalry warriors. Erin, Anguy Clegane, Brienne Tarth, Zeli, Polliver Clegane, Dunsun Clegane, and others were all unwilling. Polliver, Erin, and Dunsun were very angry because they had sacrificed Ser Gratton's life but only received an empty title from the peninsula people for Mountain, 'Family Forever'.

Ragren Foka raised his shield to the Foka warriors, then flipped over and straddled its back... A deafening cheer erupted from the Foka tribe...

But suddenly, everything spun, and Ragren realized he had missed and fell heavily to the ground. The always quiet Red Smoke had suddenly turned around, causing him to miss his mount. One of his feet was caught in the stirrup, dragging him to the ground. A putrid stench with peach blossom mist-like air sprayed into his face. As his head spun, he suddenly felt a sharp pain. The unicorn opened its mouth and bit off half of his face. His screams were shrill and piercing, making stomachs churn...

The Foka tribe's warriors immediately rushed into the arena, but it was too late. Red Smoke followed up with a stomp of its front hooves, one foot crushing his chest, his armor caving in; the other foot crushing his neck, breaking it... Retreat, lower its head, charge forward, its long horn pierced through the armor and into Ragren's chest...