Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 417: Sea Lions(5)

Chapter 417: Sea Lions(5)

Blake allowed his men a moment to revel in their victory, their laughter and jeers rising above the crackling flames. The sight of the Imperials flailing in the fire, their discipline reduced to desperate screams, was a welcome one. But he knew better than to let them linger in their triumph.

The second enemy vessel was closing in—fast. The ship on the right, the one whose boarding attempt they had stalled, was now gaining ground. The Imperials aboard it had adjusted their course, using the Roaring Axe's distraction to creep into striking distance. Their archers were already lining up along the rails, ready to unleash a deadly volley.

Blake's grin vanished.

"Enough cheering!" he roared, his voice like a thunderclap over the deck. "You want to live to gloat about this later?! Then get your shields up and your blades ready! We've got more company!"

The laughter died instantly, replaced by the sound of boots scrambling across the deck. Shields were raised, weapons drawn, and heads snapped toward the incoming ship.

Blake turned toward his archers, his voice sharp and commanding. "Loose at will! Don't let them get comfortable!"

Even as the first arrows flew, Blake knew the crew was in for another brutal fight. The Imperials had learned from their comrades' fiery fate. They weren't coming to be set ablaze—they were coming to kill.

The only silver lining in the chaos was that the third ship—the one that had been meant to join the assault—was now effectively out of the fight. Had the left-side boarding vessel survived, it would have acted as a bridge, allowing the third ship to throw its soldiers across and overwhelm the Roaring Axe from both sides. But now, with the wreckage engulfed in flames, that path was cut off.

Normally, the Imperials would have maneuvered around the burning hulk, circling to find another opening. But maneuvering required space, and space was something they did not have. The sea was too tightly packed with vessels, the battle raging in every direction, leaving no room for elegant repositioning.

And soon the straweberry on top of the cake arrived as before the third ship could attempt a desperate push, another Confederation vessel slammed into its side—one of Blake's allies, standing firm beside him in the chaos of war.