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#399 - Chapter 133 Heavy Losses

On the land, Stannis's face was as gloomy as the clouds before a storm. His eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the horrific scene on the sea. One by one, the lights on the warships went out, as if swallowed by an invisible force. In the darkness, screams echoed, like sharp swords piercing the heart.

Despair and helplessness filled Stannis's heart. He knew that the trapped fleet was doomed. At least several thousand brave sailors were being brutally slaughtered by the Others, their lives extinguished in this terrifying night. And even more terrifying, these dead sailors might soon be resurrected by the Others, becoming their soldiers, and attacking his side.

Although the defenses on the shore could be held for the time being, as the sea froze, the wights would be able to attack the flank of the land from the ice, making the situation even more severe. Fortunately, the Others' army did not continue to attack the land, but chose to concentrate their forces on attacking the warships at sea.

The screams lasted for about three hours, eventually ceasing abruptly. A deathly silence enveloped the sea, with only the sound of waves lapping against the rocks on the shore. The human warriors all understood that there was no sign of life there. The fleet that had escaped naturally wouldn't just stand by and watch. The naval commander, his face ashen, issued orders. All ships were to maintain movement to prevent being frozen again. The projectile weapons on the warships never stopped firing, targeting not only the wights clustered on the ice but also the ships. After all, their comrades on board were already dead, and no one knew if those ghostly things would sail them. To prevent the enemy from using those ships, they had to be destroyed.

Stannis's heart was bleeding because the space within the bay was limited, and most of the supporting fleet consisted of agile two-masted and three-masted sailboats. And more than eighty percent of these ships were his, many having followed him since the Battle of the Blackwater, some even recruited from the Stepstones and the Eastern Continent. This was undoubtedly a heavy blow to him.

Time gradually passed, and dawn approached, but the wights did not launch another attack. Instead, they silently retreated back into the haunted forest. This mysterious forest seemed to conceal endless secrets and dangers, causing fear in people's hearts.

Stannis stood quietly, his eyes fixed on the still-burning wreckage of the ships. His heart was as heavy as lead, filled with grief and anger. The destroyed ships not only represented the strength of his army but also the capital he needed to reclaim the Iron Throne. Now, they were reduced to ashes, scattered on the cold sea, as if mocking his efforts and sacrifices.

He silently vowed to make those despicable Others pay the price; they must be held responsible for this disaster. His gaze turned resolutely towards the distance, determined not to let anything stop him from moving forward.

At the same time, officers and leaders busily organized the soldiers to seize the time to rest. After such a thrilling night, no one could sleep soundly. They needed to regain their strength to prepare for the challenges ahead. The soldiers were exhausted, but they knew that only by staying vigilant could they survive.

As the first rays of dawn broke, the icy fog that had enveloped the battlefield yesterday gradually dissipated. The warm sunlight shone on the earth, bringing a glimmer of hope. However, the ice in the bay still remained, and since it was magically created ice, it was now only a thin layer, having lost the support of magic.

Melisandre watched all of this, her keen insight allowing her to discern the limitations of the Others' magic. She speculated, "The Others' magic is not endless; they also have limits." Her voice was calm and firm, carrying a convincing power. "The range of the ice fog last night was so vast that it was a great drain on the Others. So now, they can only wait for their magic to recover and cannot continue to cast large-scale magic for the time being." These words brought a sense of relief to the people. Although the enemy they faced was incredibly powerful, as long as they could find a way to fight the Others, it would be possible to defeat them.

Stannis looked ahead with a serious expression and slowly said, "I hope it's as you say; we do need some time. How is the evacuation work in the rear progressing? Is there any new information?" His eyes revealed concern about the situation.

Jon took a deep breath and replied with a firm tone, "Your Majesty, Bran sent a letter via Summer. The evacuation of the Free Folk is going very smoothly. After a whole night of efforts, more than 20,000 people have been successfully transported away, with children on the priority evacuation list. However, it will take more time to complete the evacuation. To save time, the Night's Watch has set up a settlement on Skane Island."

Stannis nodded slightly, indicating understanding, and said, "In that case, we need to hold out for at least two more days." He frowned, pondering countermeasures.

Jon then added, "If we include our soldiers, it may take even longer."

Stannis sighed helplessly, then looked up at the sky, silently praying, "Then we can only pray for the Lord of Light to bless us! Unless the gods appear, I really can't think of a better way."

Just as they were talking, Davos hurried over, his face filled with worry. He saluted Stannis and said softly, "Sorry, Your Majesty! Salladhor Saan sent someone to report..."

Stannis interrupted him, saying in a heavy tone, "Speak! It must be a report on the heavy losses suffered by the fleet last night. I want to hear what other bad news there is." He braced himself for the worst.

Davos said with a solemn expression, "Your Majesty, last night, the Others launched a large-scale spell, freezing the sea along the coast for half a league. Due to the need to support the battle on the shore and the range, most of the small and medium-sized warships needed to get close to the shore to fire. However, when the Others suddenly attacked, these warships could not retreat quickly and were trapped on the ice. According to Salladhor Saan's statistics throughout the night, a total of 263 warships were surrounded by the Others, with a total of 6,724 sailors and combat personnel on board. Afterward, some people chose to jump into the cold sea to escape, but because the seawater was too cold, only a few were rescued."

"Smash!" Upon hearing this news, Stannis angrily crushed the wooden cup in his hand. In the fierce battle of the whole day and night yesterday, their casualties were less than two thousand. But now, because of the Others' sneak attack, they have lost so many troops.

Davos continued, "Salladhor Saan also mentioned that to prevent the ships from falling into the hands of those evil things, he ordered an attack on the trapped warships. Although half of the warships have been burned, the ammunition on board is running out... He requests to retreat and rotate with other fleets."

Davos hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to report the truth to the king. He bowed deeply and said softly, "Your Majesty, Salladhor Saan's fleet has suffered severe losses. Perhaps we should consider having the fleet from Skagos come to support. Lord Galon's ironclads are renowned for their strong protection and long-range firepower and are recognized as one of the best warships in the Seven Kingdoms."