The Bernan guards stood lazily in the darkness before dawn, yawning profoundly and trying to chase away sleep. One more hour and they would be relieved from their observation post by fresh soldiers. In fact, the guards doubted they were even needed as a significant number of navy ships were preparing for the assault against the Arcadians. The rising sun's first rays slowly illuminated the undersides of the large and fluffy clouds hanging in the sky. The silence of the sleeping world wasn't disturbed by even the quietest of sounds until one such cloud roared with the fury of legendary dragons and drowned Lake Puella in actinic fire. The terrified guards froze in fear, unable to comprehend what was happening for a long moment. Petrified in shock, they didn't notice the four black-clad figures that snuck up behind them and knocked them out cold. Unbeknownst to the unconscious guards, HMS Victory and HMS Fairy had arrived to bring the fury of Avalon upon the enemies of their King.

However, this wasn't the only outpost that secured the makeshift harbour. Some outposts were silenced, but the one that still had the Bernans inside started lighting alarm pyres and ringing the emergency bells. But neither was necessary anymore, as the screams and swears from the harbour itself were a clear indication the ship's crews noticed being under attack. The Bernan Navy was caught off guard, and they were paying the terrible price for their complacency. The first five ships to be sunk had no chance. With merciless pinpoint accuracy, the artillery fire ripped their unprotected hulls open, allowing the cold water of Lake Puella to complete the destruction. Despite the ringing alarms, the camp below seemed to be sleeping or was paralysed by the unexpected attack, and it took the destruction of a few more ships for the people to start running in panic. The crews tried to reach their vessels while some airships began to take off with what little crew they already had on board. Finally, a protective barrier engulfed the entire lake, and as soon as it stabilised, it started deafly moaning under the relentless punishment coming from Victory and Fairy. However, Bernans were clueless about the attackers' whereabouts and couldn't decide what to do.

•••

"We had ten kills before they managed to raise their barrier, Ma'am," her first mate confirmed. "I'm not sure, but we might have crippled at least five more as well."

"I think it was eight," Janet replied with a happy smile. The Bernans had gathered forty-five airships in preparation for the confrontation with Elisabeth's forces. "They were totally not expecting us."

"The first five ships took off! It looks like they are going to scatter and search for us!"

"Keep shooting!" the first mate yelled.

Thanks to the Goddess-Queen Hestia, HMS Victory and HMS Fairy were shrouded by the powerful illusion. They were protected by the camouflage it provided and the distance from which they could engage with the enemies. The two ships tried their best to collapse the fairly impressive barrier, but it might take way too long. However, they were prepared for such a concern. Scion Arani, leading his storm eagles, arrived on the opposite side of the harbour. The large birds briefly shined with a cold, blue light as they charged their mana and rained bolts of lightning down upon the protective dome. The shield protested loudly, shrieking as it shrunk and cracked, exposing a few more ships that the Arcadians instantly targeted. With a few more kills to their names, Victory and Fairy prepared to reposition. The barrier whined and crackled loudly, but its smaller dimensions allowed the Bernan mages to recharge it before it collapsed altogether. Some of the Bernan ships were already taking off in various directions like a swarm of angry hornets whose nest was attacked by an impudent daredevil.

The two ships took opposite positions around the lake and picked their targets randomly. They rained relentless fire upon any ship that dared to leave the cover of the barrier, crippling them or destroying them outright. Another five Bernan ships were destroyed before the Bernan Captains formed small formations inside the barrier and emerged at once, fanning the area in search. Upon witnessing their newest tactic, Admiral Sparrow signaled the HMS Fairy to retreat. Unfortunately, the smaller ship was in a position that would be discovered much earlier than the Arcadian flagship. Scion Arani also noticed that and sent some Eagles to give time to HMS Fairy. The Brig gained altitude and began its retreat when a sudden burst of flame grazed its side. One of the Bernan ships had somehow noticed the Arcadians and managed to hit the airship, even though it was a few times further than the theoretical maximal range of their cannons. Fairy wasn't prepared for that as her shield was lowered to maximise the effect of the illusion, so the hit dealt significant damage.

"Not good..." the first mate noted in a calm voice. "We need to aid Fairy."

"I don't think so, Captain Gustav. Scion Arani is heading there." She pointed out towards the largest Storn Eagle. "But we can give them a few broadsides to make them rethink their plans."

"Aye, aye! Cannons!" the first mate smirked as he turned towards the crew. "Fire!"

Admiral Sparrow sighed, disappointed. She had hoped to destroy more Bernan ships, but that was life for you. She focused, watching HMS Fairy gain speed and altitude as the smaller ship safely departed from the ambush site. In the meantime, Victory also prepared for its return when the Bernan barrier below flickered and collapsed with a loud sound of shattered glass. One of the enemy ships had succumbed to the Storm Eagles' fury and was destroyed, falling right on top of the protective barrier that couldn't withstand something like that. The Elf hesitated momentarily, minding the King's words about not being greedy, and she took a deep, whizzing breath. 'I'm sorry, my King...' Janet thought as she turned towards Gustav Deere, her first officer.

"Gustav, we are going to do something stupid," she announced to the large sailor loudly enough to be heard by the nearby crew. "The Bernan's barrier has collapsed, so we are coming for them, boys and girls!"

"Aye, aye, Admiral!" the first mate replied with a bold and vicious smile.

Her orders and his response were met with cheers as the crew prepared for the battle. They knew they couldn't keep the illusion if the enemy ships approached them, but they believed in their ship. Victory, as if she had heard them, made a sharp, metallic sound as if someone drew a giant sword as her shields prepared for the battle. Up until the last possible moment, they hid behind the illusion provided by the Goddess-Queen of Arcadia. They had almost reached an optimal position on the Bernan’s flank, but the illusion was suddenly broken. Three Bernan brigs had been coming their way and had gotten too close, forcing it to be dropped. The brigs started evasive manoeuvres the moment they saw the massive ship of the line; HMS Victory was looming menacingly in front of them, and a panicked Bernan helmsman tried to avoid a collision. That decision cost them dearly as the brigs positioned themselves in the worst possible position, across the broadside of Arcadia's flagship, showing their sides. The fifty-seven cannons unleashed hell upon the three much smaller ships and destroyed them. Two of the three ships cracked in half, falling in flames to the ground, but the third one ceased to exist altogether, consumed by the ship's core explosion.

"Nice!" Janet Sparrow yelled and pointed at the unprotected ships still bobbing in the lake's water. "Cannons, fire at will at the anchored ships below! Casters! Prepare to defend the ship!"

The remaining Bernan ships were not panicking any longer. They tried to flank Victory, and while Janet had already destroyed twenty-five of them, they still had twenty ships at their disposal. The last six ships managed to take off from the lake and headed straight towards the Arcadian flagship. Sixteen Bernan ships were still combat-ready, while four tried to flee the battlefield, but their fate was already sealed. Arani's Storm Eagles fell upon them, tearing down their sails and drowning them in a blizzard of lightning bolts.

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"Keep position!" she yelled as she pointed at the six brigs approaching them from below. "CANNONS, FIRE AT WILL!"

The superior range of Victory allowed the Arcadians to avoid being targeted for a long time. But the Bernans finally got in range and opened uncoordinated fire that still missed most of the time. Victory's shields flashed with each hit they received but held without problem. Seeing the supposed invulnerability of their enemy, Bernans on the left flank hesitated and slowed down a little bit, but all the others pushed fanatically forward. The next two Bernan brigs met their end before Janet felt the need to give any more orders. However, instead of retreating, the vicious Elf ordered the crew to begin ascending. Victory slowly gained altitude with the enemies still approaching and showering her shields with more accurate fire. Only when two more enemy ships were destroyed did Janet smile and relent.

"All right, Boys! We abused the Bernan hospitality, so we should leave the party. Turn starboard and full speed ahead!"

"Hahaha! Aye, Ma'am! Full speed ahead after turning starboard!" Gustav Deere replied. The hits decreased as they turned around. The cannons that still had the Bernans in their field of view continued to fire, making the task of chasing HMS Victory much harder. The Eagles harassed the Bernan fleet as well, but it was apparent that they wouldn't be able to stop them. Arani landed on the middle deck of Victory with an ugly wound on his belly. The healers rushed to him, as did the Admiral and her officers.

"Lady Sparrow... I was under the impression that you promised our King not to do anything stupid." He seemed serious, but he had sparks of amusement in his eyes.

"Well..." The Elf played along and pouted, making a few nearby sailors laugh as she opened her hands in a powerless gesture. "I tried..."

"Anyway, head southwest and keep or even lose a bit of altitude. Twirll has prepared a welcome party for the Bernans." The giant Eagle looked at the healers who tried to patch him up and nodded in gratitude. "Thank you."

"As you order, Lord Arani." Janet nodded towards her first mate, who turned and headed towards the helm deck as he yelled orders the entire way there. She looked straight into Arani's eyes and lowered her voice. "If I die here, tell my King that my only regret is if Victory dies with me. If anything, I'm grateful for everything he has done and his trust in me. I had to seize that one-of-a-kind chance back there."

"I will. However... Lady Sparrow, I will relay the direct order of King Theon he issued you at this very moment." The Elf proudly straightened upon hearing that and salutted.

"I'm ready, my King!"

"You are forbidden to die, Admiral. You have to return home. That's an order."

"Aye, aye, my King," she replied with a grim smile as her ship's shield started whining in complaints as the twelve ships of the Bernan Navy fired, close enough to take their turn in paying back for what Victory had done to their comrades.

"Godspeed, Admiral. May the winds of Zephyr be favourable to you!" Arani opened his wings and left the Elf behind. With his wounds cured, he transformed into living lightning and burned one of the closest brigs into cinders as he seemingly collided with it. The remaining enemy ships instantly took him as their target, giving Victory precious moments to recharge her impressive shields.

After about fifteen minutes of relative calm, disrupted only by the occasional whizz of Bernan fire deflected by the shield, the spotter yelled, "Sails on the horizon!"

"For Eriar and Hestia!" Janet felt panic as she dashed towards the forward observation deck, opened her spying glass, and looked ahead.

A number of unmarked ships were hiding high behind the storm clouds, directly on Lord Arani's course. She hesitated for a moment, and after taking a deep breath, she decided to trust her King to the bitter end. "Keep the course! Ignore them!"

"Aye, aye..." The spotter gave her an incredulous look, but he returned to his duties.

She looked at the ships that chased her, and it seemed like they had not realised the presence of these new ships. She nervously watched Arani's fight with the last remaining ship from the six that had initially followed in Victory’s wake. He clawed and tore open the hull, but his movements were sloppy and slow. In a last effort, the Storm Eagle scion managed to cast a bolt of lightning that set the Bernan brig on fire. Thankfully, the ship quickly tilted on its side and plummeted to the ground, but Arani did not engage another enemy ship. He glided away from the battlefield, causing Janet to nod grimly. She had decided earlier that the scion should flee in case of severe wounds. She couldn't risk Bernans obtaining vast amounts of experience for slaying such a powerful Raid Boss. However, that meant the Victory was alone against ten enemy brigs. The enemies focused solely on the majestic ship of the line, bombarding it with relentless fire from every cannon in range. Worse, the fire from Victory herself almost ceased as the magi-cannons needed to be recharged. The mana reserves in the ship's storage were long gone or being redirected to the shields.

"Come on..." Janet snarled angrily under her breath, thanking her Lord internally for making her ship a flying fortress. She was still at the ship's bow, checking on the unidentified ships from time to time.

"The shield may fail at any moment!" one of the officers yelled after the next fifteen minutes of relentless bombardment from the enemy ships.

"Damn it..." the Admiral sighed but then instantly yelled as she decided to return to the helm's deck. "Brace for the impact!"

The shield shattered with the sound of broken glass, and the first enemy charges licked the proud hull of Avalon's greatest ship. As if encouraged by the shield collapse, the ships of the Bernan Navy pushed forward in formation like sharks baited by the fresh blood in the water. But that recklessness cost them dearly, as Victory was not helpless prey. The recharged cannons resumed their deadly fire, focusing on the leading ship’s starboard. The ship of the line’s more accurate and powerful blasts massacred the brig's bow and marked another kill for Arcadians. The hull under Janet's feet rumbled and cracked as the enemy’s return fire ripped open the side of the cargo hold. She was about to yell another order when the nearby explosion threw her into the middle mast. She screamed in pain and felt at least some of her ribs crack on the impact, but her auto-heal rune started working instantly, probably saving her life.

"Ekhu!" She coughed blood and tried to stand up, but she couldn't. Hazily, she saw a giant hole had been torn into her ship. One of the sailors dashed towards her and lifted her. With a very weak voice, she asked, "What's the status?"

"We're still sailing, Ma'am!" the Human responded as he moved her towards the bow of Victory. "But the Holy Bastards stopped shooting. They're preparing to board."

"They can't get my ship..." That last bit of information was like a slap to her face.

She clenched her teeth and tried to stand up, but the pain all over her body was almost too much for her. The sailor slowly helped her turn around while she looked for her first officer. "Tell Gustav he is in charge until healers put me back together."

"He's dead, Ma'am, along with everyone in the aft of Victory. Those bastards got our mana capacitors." He lowered his head. "It's a miracle that we are still afloat, Ma'am. A third of the crew is dead or out."

She gazed numbly into the distance until wrath took over, and she yelled angrily. Admiral Sparrow drew her rapier, and despite the mind-numbing pain, she straightened up. She pointed it at the Bernans, who had managed to get within boarding distance and grabbed ahold of the Arcadian flagship with grappling hooks. It was a mere moment before they began their boarding.

"Let them come!" Janet felt relief as her wounds closed and the bones healed, thanks to the nearby healer’s efforts. She smiled viciously. "To arms, my boys and girls!" She raised her shining sword above her head and yelled even louder. "For the King!"

"For Arcadia!" hundreds of voices replied to her battle cry as the sailors and marines prepared to welcome Bernans on board what was left of the HMS Victory.