Game of thrones: the Sunblode rise

Chapter 64: The Power of Preparation

As the war dragged on, Ivar Sunblode's true strength began to reveal itself—not just in his cunning strategies, but in the miraculous system he carried, a gift from a world long forgotten. The system, an enigmatic tool with roots in Ivar's past life as a history teacher, had proven invaluable, a quiet and relentless force shaping the Riverlands' survival against impossible odds.

The System's Daily Boons

Every day, the system granted Ivar ten points, which he could spend in its vast and mysterious "store." The store offered goods and knowledge from a world far removed from Westeros: advanced training techniques, schematics for weapons and defenses, supplies to sustain his army, and even ideas that inspired technological leaps.

That morning, as Ivar sat alone in his solar, the system's familiar interface appeared in his mind, clear and orderly:

[Current Points: 60]

Store Categories:

Supplies

Equipment

Knowledge

Training Enhancements

Special Forces

The store hummed with potential, its options unfolding before him. Supplies were essential with the Riverlands ravaged by war, and Ivar selected a shipment of grain and dried meat, enough to feed his army for a month.

[Points Spent: 10]

The goods would arrive in a remote, hidden storage location outside Riverrun by nightfall, as they always did. The store's ability to deliver without fail—even in the most dire circumstances—remained one of its greatest assets.

Next, Ivar turned to the Knowledge section. A manual on advanced siege engineering caught his eye, its techniques offering a new way to fortify Riverrun's defenses while reducing resource consumption.

[Points Spent: 10]

Finally, he allocated 10 points to Special Forces, summoning ten elite soldiers who would join Timothy Sunrise's team. These men and women were enhanced with peak physical abilities, loyalty beyond question, and an innate understanding of combat strategy.

[Points Spent: 10]

Satisfied, Ivar closed the interface. The system's resources were limited, but with careful planning, they could turn even the bleakest situations to his advantage.

The Army's Secret Strength

In the fields and forests surrounding Riverrun, Ivar's forces trained with a discipline rarely seen in the Riverlands. The system's enhancements had transformed them into something more than ordinary soldiers.

Timothy Sunrise stood in the training yard, overseeing the newest batch of enhanced recruits. These soldiers moved with precision and purpose, their eyes sharp, their movements fluid.

"Again!" Timothy barked, watching as they executed a synchronized drill. "Your enemy won't wait for you to figure it out—move faster!"

The soldiers repeated the maneuver, their swords flashing in the sunlight as they advanced in perfect unison. Watching from a nearby hill, Lysa Blackthorne marveled at their transformation.

"They don't even look like men," she said quietly. "More like wolves—hungry, focused."

"That's the idea," Timothy said, his grin sharp. "They're faster, stronger, and smarter than anything Tywin's got. And they've got something his men don't—faith in Ivar."

Lysa crossed her arms, her sharp eyes scanning the training yard. "Faith can only take us so far. What about the rest of the army? Morale is fragile, and the war's taking its toll."

Timothy's grin faltered. "That's true. But Ivar's got a way of fixing things, doesn't he? Those shipments keep coming, and the men know it. They trust him to keep them fed, armed, and alive."

Relief in Dark Times

Later that evening, the promised shipment of supplies arrived at the hidden depot outside Riverrun. Ivar rode out to inspect it himself, accompanied by Lysa and a small contingent of guards.

The storage cave was well-concealed, its entrance hidden by dense foliage. Inside, crates of grain, dried meat, and barrels of clean water were neatly stacked. Ivar ran his hand over the grain sacks, a rare smile crossing his face.

"This will sustain the men for weeks," he said. "No more rationing, no more scraping by."

Lysa's expression softened as she studied him. "You always seem to have what we need, just when we need it. I've stopped asking how."

"Sometimes it's better not to know," Ivar replied, though his tone carried a hint of amusement. "Just be glad we have it."

As they returned to Riverrun, the soldiers along the walls cheered when they saw the wagons laden with supplies. The sight of abundant food and clean water lifted their spirits in ways no speech ever could.

The System's Subtle Power

That night, Ivar sat alone in his solar, the glow of the system's interface flickering in his mind. Though the system had proven invaluable, it was not without limits. The points came slowly, and the goods it provided could only stretch so far.

"Show me a report of recent uses," Ivar commanded.

The system responded, displaying a detailed summary:

Recent Purchases:

Food Supplies: Sustaining 3,000 soldiers for 30 days.

Special Forces Recruits: 10 enhanced soldiers.

Siege Engineering Manual: Distributed to engineers.

Remaining Points: 30

Ivar studied the report carefully. Every choice he made with the system had to serve a purpose, each resource stretched to its maximum potential. Yet, even with its power, the weight of responsibility remained heavy.

"Victory isn't free," he muttered to himself. "Every move costs blood, sweat, or coin. The system only gives me the tools—it's up to me to use them wisely."

A Glimmer of Hope

As the days passed, the effects of the system's goods became evident across Riverrun. The soldiers were stronger, better trained, and better fed than ever before. Morale soared as the men realized that their leader, against all odds, always seemed to find a way to provide for them.

In the training yard, Timothy's new recruits outpaced even the most seasoned veterans, their enhanced abilities making them a force to be reckoned with. In the war room, the siege engineering manual inspired innovations that strengthened Riverrun's defenses and gave Ivar's army a critical edge.

But perhaps most importantly, the system's boons gave the people of the Riverlands something they had not felt in a long time: hope.