xiii. The Final Battle

Sunggyu was dying to talk to Admiral Lee Howon right at that night. Asking many things. Demanding an explanation for everything. But the entire fleet engaged in a busyness right after the admiral marched out from his room. He didn't even see Sunggyu who was still standing in front of his door.

The armada of forty ships was really busy. But though they were in a hurry, all the soldiers and the sailors who did the jobs worked with caution. They worked without sound in the still and dark night. Pirate Zhang Yixing that lined two miles ahead must never knew what they did.

They moved all the remaining cannon ammunition to the secret chambers. Prepared barrels of gunpowder and wicks. Transferred all of the equipments to the logistic ships and the high-official ships. All the surviving soldiers and sailors with wounds all over their body worked hard until morning came. Even Eagle Eye also helped carrying the cannons.

Admiral Lee Howon stood tall in the Sky Blade's deck. Supervised all the activities. Then glared at the armada of pirates. Sunggyu never seen eyes that glowing with sure like that before. All night long, Sunggyu didn't have the opportunity to approach the admiral, because like the other soldiers he was busy to move their armaments.

--

Nine o'clock finally present itself. The final day.

Exactly as expected by Admiral Lee Howon, Pirate Zhang Yixing decided to attack with unimaginable force. Their last hit.

The canoes was doubled in number.

With pirates that twice as bold.

Unlike the usual, this time Sky Blade, Eye Gaze and the other eight warships sailed forward valiantly. Embracing the thousands of canoes.

Zhang Yixing who stood in his ship sniggered. "Stupid, now they are really desperate!" It was too funny for him, Armada of Floating City had just picking a battle with the thousands canoes.

Zhang Yixing smirked, actually since last night he already wanted to command hundred of his warships to attack forward. This battle would end faster than he thought it would be. That stupid armada of forty ships would only last an hour or two at most. After they took control on some ships, he would instructed all of his pirates ships to attack with full force. They didn't need to fear the cannonballs if half of the warships of their enemy had been taken over.

Zhang Yixing's prediction was right.

Even before one hour all the crews in Sky Blade and the other warships had cluttered. Sunggyu and Sungyeol jumped to the sea to run away, so did the other soldiers. The admiral and Eagle Eye hopped in to a small boat that tied up in the stern of Sky Blade, left abandoning their pride, biggest and most beautiful ship. All of the other warships also abandoned.

Trumpets blown. Admiral Lee Howon instructed the rest of armada of forty ships to retreat. Seeing all the commotion through his binoculars, Zhang Yixing guffawed. He was so happy with his certain victory. Finally, after a full month, this bull of armada met their doom. Zhang Yixing's lips curled into a smug smile. He raised his hand, giving code.